Dugagjin's Bio
Born and raised in Prishtina, Dugagjin started his first business at the age of 13, selling locally made juices door-to-door. Same year, he kicked it up a notch and got into "production", making customized drink coasters for local businesses, with their logo and brand design. He sourced the art teacher of his older sibling to design the branded stickers and glued them on a "3x3" veneer, cut at a local mill from a large veneer sheet. He went on to getting his own booth at the local farmer’s market, and sold different items at different times, from eggs to women stockings.
As a high school senior he moved to United States on a student-exchange program, then pursued college, while working at least 40 hours a week. He self-funded his way thru college, starting as a restaurant busboy and moving up to a restaurant manager, managing over 50 employees.
In the midst of it all, Dugagjin found his true passion - Real Estate! He had an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a duplex while a freshman in college. He graduated Cum Laude with a Finance degree from University of Florida (UF) in 2003 and got hired at Lehman Brothers, as one of the 5 out of 800+ applicants.
To pursue real estate, he decided to quit Lehman’s and move back to Florida. In 2005, he raised funds from local investors and acquired, then sold, a four-plex for a good profit, got his real estate license (and mortgage broker license) and started working as a commercial real estate agent. He picked up quickly, got his real estate broker license, and founded Grand Capital Advisors in 2007, same year he received his Master in Business Administration (MBA) from UF.
As the economy crashed in 2008, he kept Grand Capital Advisors alive and well, by brokering deals and managing shopping centers and office buildings. He also founded two successful businesses, a clothing company (Scanderbeg Clothing) and an international trading company (Grand Trade LLC).
Couple of years working in the CRE industry, Dugagjin realized the CRE industry was behind in utilizing technology and identified several areas where technology could help the industry. In 2009, without any background in technology, he put together the plan and hired a team to engineer multiple platforms to facilitate the analysis, transaction, marketing and financing of commercial real estate, and ease the work of CRE professionals, which yielded several successful CRE tech ventures.
In 2011, as market started showing a beating heart, he accelerated the real estate brokerage business, alongside acquiring commercial properties in the Tampa Bay area.
He has analyzed and underwritten well over $300 million worth of real estate, transacted and closed over $60 million, handled the renovation of over 130 residential and commercial units and managed over 280,000 sq.feet of commercial real estate.
In 2018, he received his Professional Certificate in Real Estate Finance & Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A well-rounded CRE adviser, asset manager, investor and a serial entrepreneur, Dugagjin spends his days managing a portfolio of commercial assets, directs several CRE tech platforms and spends time with his family, while on a life-long journey of improving himself physically and intellectually. He loves taking long walks, sparring in Muay Thai, practicing yoga, and paddle-boarding.
As a high school senior he moved to United States on a student-exchange program, then pursued college, while working at least 40 hours a week. He self-funded his way thru college, starting as a restaurant busboy and moving up to a restaurant manager, managing over 50 employees.
In the midst of it all, Dugagjin found his true passion - Real Estate! He had an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a duplex while a freshman in college. He graduated Cum Laude with a Finance degree from University of Florida (UF) in 2003 and got hired at Lehman Brothers, as one of the 5 out of 800+ applicants.
To pursue real estate, he decided to quit Lehman’s and move back to Florida. In 2005, he raised funds from local investors and acquired, then sold, a four-plex for a good profit, got his real estate license (and mortgage broker license) and started working as a commercial real estate agent. He picked up quickly, got his real estate broker license, and founded Grand Capital Advisors in 2007, same year he received his Master in Business Administration (MBA) from UF.
As the economy crashed in 2008, he kept Grand Capital Advisors alive and well, by brokering deals and managing shopping centers and office buildings. He also founded two successful businesses, a clothing company (Scanderbeg Clothing) and an international trading company (Grand Trade LLC).
Couple of years working in the CRE industry, Dugagjin realized the CRE industry was behind in utilizing technology and identified several areas where technology could help the industry. In 2009, without any background in technology, he put together the plan and hired a team to engineer multiple platforms to facilitate the analysis, transaction, marketing and financing of commercial real estate, and ease the work of CRE professionals, which yielded several successful CRE tech ventures.
In 2011, as market started showing a beating heart, he accelerated the real estate brokerage business, alongside acquiring commercial properties in the Tampa Bay area.
He has analyzed and underwritten well over $300 million worth of real estate, transacted and closed over $60 million, handled the renovation of over 130 residential and commercial units and managed over 280,000 sq.feet of commercial real estate.
In 2018, he received his Professional Certificate in Real Estate Finance & Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A well-rounded CRE adviser, asset manager, investor and a serial entrepreneur, Dugagjin spends his days managing a portfolio of commercial assets, directs several CRE tech platforms and spends time with his family, while on a life-long journey of improving himself physically and intellectually. He loves taking long walks, sparring in Muay Thai, practicing yoga, and paddle-boarding.