(pronounced mah-KHAN) is a Hindi word that means “building” or “structure.” Shaik thought it was fitting for a real estate company (and was easy enough to pronounce for English speakers). Tyler pointed out the name can refer to building wealth for investors as well. Another unique marketing tactic Makaan employs is hosting monthly webinars to grow the potential inves- tor base while educating them on the company and the investing process. Already, Shaik said, there are enough investors in the database that even if only 5% to 10% of them invest in a project, they can meet fundraising goals. Shaik likes his investors to take a webinar to get to know the team and understand how Makaan oper- ates. For example, he said, they use a portal where investors can log in any- time to get updates. And if they don’t find what they’re looking for, they can
text investor relations for a follow-up call with someone who can answer their questions. He said the webinar highlights what makes Makaan different: its processes, transparency, and access to team members. GROWTH MODE Shaik outlined some of his plans for growth that will help Makaan become the billion-dollar company he intends it to be. Currently, most of his properties are in the Houston and Dallas metro areas, with one in Memphis, Tennessee. He aims to expand to more landlord-friendly states, including the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, and Arizona. As the company grows, he’s considering taking it public at some point in order to have greater access to equity for even bigger deals. Currently, Shaik invests 20% of his own money in each deal so
fellow investors have confidence that he has skin in the game. Going public and making bigger plays could change the math on his personal investments, he said, but he will continue to invest in each deal. No matter how the company changes, Shaik intends to stick to its fundamentals of providing excellent service to both tenants and investors. “It’s not rocket science. It’s straightforward—having that cus- tomer service, the investor relations and property managers, having a good team, understanding and respecting the tenant, and providing the best service,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do at the end of the day. That’s our goal.” •
Katie Bean is a former newspaper and magazine editor who loves telling the stories of businesses and great leaders. She is based in Kansas City.
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