Chipotle of Sushi

Shaan and his friends planned to create Sabi Sushi, a fast-casual sushi restaurant chain positioned as the "Chipotle of sushi." The concept was to replicate the assembly-line, customizable model that Subway uses for sandwiches and Chipotle uses for burritos, but applied to sushi.

Key Points:

• Business Model:

  • Fast-casual sushi chain with customizable options
  • Modeled after successful chains like Subway (sandwiches) and Chipotle (burritos)
  • Apply the same assembly-line format to sushi

• Initial Funding:

  • Won a business plan competition
  • Received $25,000 in prize money
  • Split between three co-founders (~$8,000 each to live on for a year)

• The Decision:

  • Shaan chose this over a $120,000/year job
  • Called it being "strategically broke" - money poor but time rich
  • Committed to one year of living on minimal funds to pursue the idea

• His Father's Advice:

  • His dad thought the sushi idea was "terrible" but encouraged him to do it anyway
  • Reasoning: Shaan was "switched on" - energized, motivated, developing skills
  • Key principle: "Sometimes life is about motion, not direction"
  • Better to start paddling in the fog than wait for perfect clarity
  • Once in motion, it's easier to change direction when you see a better path