From LP to Operator to Business Owner: Sam Khairi’s Pivot from Real Estate to Entrepreneurship

In this episode, Brad chats with Sam Khairi, founder of Afto Capital and a former mechanical engineer who walked away from a secure 15-year career to chase freedom through real estate and business ownership. Sam shares his journey from passive investor (LP) to active syndicator (GP), the challenges of entering the multifamily space full-time in 2022, and how he's now scaling a portfolio of small businesses with the long-term goal of fueling real estate investments.

 

🔑 Key Topics Covered:
Why Sam’s first LP investment was the best decision he ever made

The lessons and missteps of trying to “go big” in syndication too fast

Pivoting into small business acquisition when multifamily deals stopped penciling

Why buying a $65K house in Cleveland taught him more than any course

The difference between LPs and GPs—and which role might be right for you

Key struggles of running remote service-based businesses

Why Sam is choosing corporate ownership over franchising

The long-term strategy: using cash-flowing businesses to fund hard-asset real estate plays

 

💬 Memorable Quotes:
“I thought I’d raise all the capital and become the next Grant Cardone... and reality hit fast.” — Sam Khairi

“That $65K house beat the crap out of me, but I learned more from it than anything else.” — Sam Khairi

“Two plus two doesn’t equal four in small business—it equals ten. That’s the power of scale.” — Sam Khairi

 

🔗 Connect with Sam Khairi:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsamkhairi

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samkhairi

 

🎙️ Connect with Host Brad Weaver:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradweaver