Business

Entrepreneur Zain Kheraj Strikes Success With New Startup

Published

4 years ago

August 25, 2020

There’s a saying, ‘The enemy of innovation is comfortable complacency.’ Zain Kheraj lives by this motto. A dream is at the heart of any innovation. Zain’s dream was to be an entrepreneur. To live this dream, however, he first had to switch tracks: He had to leave his ‘day job,’ a job which was predicated on an earned University degree. Just as it took an inner drive to earn a degree, eventually changing life tracks required a constant, inner drive. This innate, strong, personal drive has paid off for this young entrepreneur, who now owns and runs multiple businesses, including TrustMySystem (TMS) – a sports consulting and analytics company.

Zain comes from an immigrant family where the prevailing expectation was to get a good education, enabling him to find a corporate job, and thus, to begin building a career path. He did start on that path, having earned a degree in finance at the University of Georgia, followed by securing a position at Berkshire Hathaway. Though he worked at this “great company” for nearly three years, he and his brother had started a side-business during that same time period. That side-business proved to be an awakening for Zain. At that three year mark, he could not leave Berkshire Hathaway, while also responsibly attending to the way of his heart! He, along with his brother, found that the true “master” to serve – their hearts – were embedded in entrepreneurship. “We chose to leave great companies in which we both had great stable futures to go all out on our passion. It was incredibly risky,” Zain mentioned.

During his three years at Berkshire Hathaway, while being a sports fanatic all his life, Zain recognized a gap in the sports betting market – a need for more transparency. So upon leaving his former profession, he and his brother, Farhaz, founded TrustMySystem (TMS). The company is grounded in providing its clients with all the facts, so they can make informed decisions, instead of doing what many handicappers do, and that is, to show you what they want you to see.

With TMS, they wanted to separate themselves from the competition by providing consistently great customer service in a professional and honest manner. This combination of passion, hard work, and transparency has netted them a lot of attention – especially from competitors who are quick to follow in their innovative footsteps. “We are trendsetters in our industry. Usually, when we start a product or a marketing campaign, others are quick to follow,” Zain added.

Despite the initial hesitancy from his parents in fully supporting Zain, the Atlanta-born entrepreneur managed to start up a real estate business and several other small businesses in addition to the TrustMySystem startup. Instead of focusing all his energy on one company, Zain continues to expand his portfolio and skills. He is currently involved in a number of real estate projects, and also hopes to break into the fast-food market. Currently, Zain hopes to open up his own chain of fast-food restaurants – something he has always been excited to try.

There’s a saying, “Where your treasure is, so will your heart be also.” For Zain, that treasure intimately involves the customer. Zain recently explained to aspiring entrepreneurs: Winning is about helping others, and with that, comes a customer-centric approach. He insists that it’s important to always keep things professional by making customer needs and queries a top priority and to stay focused on all the relevant details, to ensure that they are getting quality service.

Zain says that even if everything he had tried had failed, he wouldn’t have regretted a thing. Because he knew it was important to follow his aspirations and see where they could possibly lead.

If you want to know more about Zain and his company, you can follow his company’s Instagram page @trustmysystem and have a look at their website trustmysystem.com.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.