ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What does it take to rebuild after failure?
In this episode of Beating the Odds, Mike Dewey sits down with Shai Mauth, founder of Poké Shack, to discuss an entrepreneurial journey that spans three countries, multiple businesses, bankruptcy, the 2008 recession, and launching a restaurant just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down.
Shai shares how he grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, why he has always funded his businesses with his own savings, the lessons he learned from failed partnerships, and how persistence helped him build two successful Poké Shack locations in Illinois. Along the way, he offers practical advice on hiring, customer service, restaurant operations, and why learning from failure is one of the greatest advantages an entrepreneur can have.
Whether you're starting your first business or navigating challenges in an existing one, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons about resilience, adaptability, and betting on yourself.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why failure can become your greatest business advantage
- How to start a business with limited capital
- Lessons from surviving the pandemic as a restaurant owner
- The realities of hiring and managing employees
- How DoorDash impacts small restaurant businesses
- Why customer experience matters more than ever
- Advice every aspiring entrepreneur should hear
Listen now and discover how Shai Mauth truly beat the odds.
