Cardon

Cardon is a direct-to-consumer men's grooming and personal care brand that develops skincare products utilizing cactus extract and advanced Korean research and development. The company formulates a variety of items specifically designed to address common skin concerns such as shaving irritation, redness, and sensitive skin, offering daily moisturizers, grooming essentials, and a men's sunscreen product. Initially launching through its proprietary website, the brand expanded its omnichannel distribution strategy to include major e-commerce platforms and physical retail partners like Amazon, Macy’s, small independent boutiques, and local barber shops. To support its ongoing retail expansion and product development initiatives, the enterprise secured a $100,000 business grant through a pitch competition hosted by Macy’s Workshop and participated in Tower 28’s Clean Beauty School program for additional distribution strategy advice. Cardon was founded in 2019 by Narae Chung and Jacqueline Oak.

High-Level Overview

Cardone Capital is a real estate investment firm founded by Grant Cardone that acquires, manages, and improves multifamily apartment properties and commercial office spaces to generate near-term income and long-term appreciation for everyday investors.[1][2][4] It democratizes access to institutional-grade deals typically reserved for wealthy individuals or large institutions by pooling funds from over 19,000 accredited and non-accredited investors across 27 funds, raising more than $1.6 billion since 2016, with a portfolio valued at $5.3 billion including 14,200 apartment units and over 500,000 square feet of office space.[1][2][4] The firm emphasizes high-growth markets, trophy properties, and innovative strategies like combining real estate with Bitcoin for targeted 20% returns, positioning itself to disrupt traditional syndicators and REITs.[1][4]

Origin Story

Grant Cardone, with over 35 years of real estate investing experience, founded Cardone Capital in 2016 to open high-quality multifamily and commercial real estate opportunities to retail investors excluded from elite deals.[1][2][4] Cardone, a prominent entrepreneur, author, and founder of the 10X Movement, leveraged his track record to build the firm, which has evolved from standard property acquisition to innovative funds blending real estate with assets like Bitcoin.[1][4] Key milestones include rapid scaling to a $5.3 billion portfolio and expansions into self-directed IRA/401k investments, reflecting Cardone's shift from personal ventures to a platform serving thousands of investors.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Investor Accessibility: Enables non-accredited and everyday investors to participate in large-scale, institutional-grade multifamily and commercial properties via pooled funds, bypassing banks, brokers, and middlemen.[1][2][5]
• Proven Scale and Experience: Manages a $5.3 billion portfolio across 43 multifamily properties and 500,000+ sq ft of office space, backed by Grant Cardone's 35-year track record and flawless execution.[1][2][4]
• Dual Return Strategy: Targets near-term cash flow from rentals and long-term appreciation, enhanced by hedges like Bitcoin integration for higher targeted returns (e.g., 20%).[1][4]
• Fee Structure and Operations: Charges structured fees including 1% acquisition/disposition and 1% annual management, with a focus on high-growth markets amid inflation; uses variable-rate financing for leverage, though this exposes it to rate hikes.[5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

While primarily a real estate firm, Cardone Capital intersects with tech and fintech trends by pioneering crypto-real estate hybrids, such as Bitcoin-backed funds, amid rising interest in decentralized finance and alternative assets.[1][4] This rides the wave of retail investor democratization via digital platforms, accelerated by blockchain and easy-access investing apps, allowing non-accredited participation in a $12 trillion+ market historically gated by accreditation rules.[1][7] Market forces like inflation, high interest rates (e.g., from 3.75% to 7%), and post-pandemic property demand favor its focus on income-producing multifamily assets in prime U.S. locations, influencing the ecosystem by challenging REITs and syndicators with retail-scale aggregation and tech-enabled outreach.[2][5] Its model amplifies retail investor influence in commercial real estate, blending traditional assets with crypto volatility for "perfect hedge" narratives.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Cardone Capital is poised to expand its $5.3 billion portfolio through new funds targeting $150 million+ raises in inflationary environments, potentially hitting $7 billion+ AUM via Bitcoin synergies and sales training tie-ins from Cardone Ventures.[4][5][6] Rising rates pose risks—evident in 2022's 33% distribution cuts—but leverage on appreciating multifamily assets could drive outsized gains if inflation persists.[5] Trends like crypto adoption, remote work boosting office conversions, and fintech lowering investment barriers will shape its path, evolving its influence from disruptor to mainstream hybrid REIT alternative, empowering retail investors in a volatile economy.[1][2][4] This builds on its core mission, turning everyday capital into institutional-scale real estate power.