BUSINESS KLUB Podcast – Sudev Rajah with Surge Kalashnik
Every entrepreneur has a story. Some start with a big idea. Others, like Serge Kalashnik, start with failure. But what separates winners from the rest isn’t luck—it’s grit, timing, and learning when to pivot.
In this Business Klub Podcast, host Sudev Rajah chats with Serge Kalashnik, a serial entrepreneur with a story that spans industries, countries, and countless challenges. Serge shares how he went from being an immigrant hustling to survive, to building companies in sectors ranging from hospitality to blockchain.
Starting From Scratch
Serge’s story begins with a simple truth: starting over is hard. As an immigrant, he had no connections and limited resources. But he had drive. That drive fueled his early ventures—many of which didn’t work out. Instead of giving up, Serge took each loss as data. He looked at what failed, why it failed, and what could be done better next time.
Sudev asks what kept him going when things went south. Serge credits his mindset. He never saw failure as the end. Just feedback. That perspective helped him keep moving, trying new ideas, and eventually—winning.
Building Businesses Across Industries
Serge isn’t a one-industry entrepreneur. He’s launched ventures in tech, real estate, hospitality, and beyond. That kind of range is rare. But Serge says the principles don’t change. Whether you’re opening a restaurant or launching a crypto startup, the basics still matter. Understand your audience. Build trust. Deliver value.
He explains how he vets new opportunities. It’s not just about passion or trends. It’s about solving real problems. Serge is always listening—watching what people complain about, where systems break down, and how to fill those gaps.
He shares a story about entering the hospitality industry with zero background, yet finding success by obsessing over customer experience. That obsession became his edge.
Learning From Failure
Failure isn’t fun. But for Serge, it’s been a teacher. He recalls one venture that cost him everything. The product was solid. The team had talent. But they misread the market. It took months of denial before he could accept the truth.
When Sudev asks how he recovered, Serge gets real. He says you can’t skip the pain. But you can’t stay in it either. After every failure, he gives himself space—then gets back to work. With each mistake, he refines his playbook. That constant learning fuels his resilience.
He also talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Ego kills businesses. But feedback grows them. Serge emphasizes staying humble enough to listen and strong enough to act.
Creativity Meets Problem Solving
Creativity isn’t about art. It’s about solutions. Serge credits much of his success to creative thinking. He’s always asking, “What’s a better way?”
One example: during a cash crunch in one of his ventures, instead of taking on bad debt, Serge restructured how clients paid. That single shift kept the company alive. Another time, he used unused restaurant space as a test kitchen for food startups. It saved money and opened a new income stream.
Creativity, he says, isn’t a talent. It’s a habit. It comes from curiosity. From questioning everything.
The Balance Between Family and Business
Entrepreneurship can consume your life. But Serge refuses to let it consume his family. He’s candid about the trade-offs. There were times when the hustle took over. Missed dinners. Late nights. Constant stress.
Eventually, he realized something had to change. Success at work meant nothing if he failed at home. So he set rules. No work during family time. Daily check-ins. Even tech-free weekends.
That balance didn’t just help his personal life. It made him a better leader. Calmer. More focused. More grounded. Sudev points out that many founders crash because they don’t build that balance. Serge agrees. Burnout is real. So is regret.
Looking Ahead: Blockchain and Real Estate
Serge isn’t done building. His latest focus? Merging blockchain with real estate. He sees huge inefficiencies in how properties are bought, sold, and managed. His new venture aims to change that. By using smart contracts and tokenization, he believes the future of real estate will be faster, safer, and more transparent.
He’s also excited about the potential for fractional ownership. That could open real estate investment to people who’ve been locked out. Serge lights up when he talks about this. It’s not just about money—it’s about impact.
Sudev asks how he stays ahead of the curve. Serge says it’s about staying curious. Reading, testing, failing, repeating. The world’s changing fast. Entrepreneurs who win don’t wait. They adapt.
Advice That Sticks
As the episode winds down, Sudev asks Serge what advice he’d give to new entrepreneurs. Serge keeps it simple. Start with honesty. Be brutally honest about your skills, your market, your money. Lies—especially the ones you tell yourself—can destroy you.
Then he talks about the power of execution. Ideas are easy. Doing the work every day—that’s where winners are made. He says success isn’t sexy. It’s repetition. Clarity. Consistency.
Sudev presses him on what he’d do differently. Serge pauses. He says he would’ve asked for help sooner. Found mentors earlier. Trusted others with more. Many mistakes came from trying to do too much alone.
He leaves listeners with one last thought. You can’t lose if you don’t quit. Keep learning. Keep building. Keep moving.
Watch the full episode here.
