No KPI Captures: what Lasha Azariashvili from Immigrant Invest shows through the way he works — interview for “10 On The Weekend”
“10 On The Weekend” is IMI’s weekly (roughly) feature where each episode asks the same set of ten questions to different IMI Pro representatives. The format helps you get to know the guest better—more personally and in a calmer setting than in typical business discussions.
This episode features Lasha Azariashvili, Head of Business Development at Immigrant Invest.
How do you spend your weekends?
Mostly with my family and outdoors. I try to disconnect from screens starting from Saturday morning.
Three main business goals for this year
My three key goals for 2024 are:
- Expand our network of referral partners in the US, where demand for HNW mobility is growing.
- Strengthen our position in the European Golden Visa market while programmes are still open—or at least not yet tightened.
- Improve client retention through post-residency consulting.
What worries you most about the business right now?
Programme instability. Governments close or redesign initiatives, and they also change special tax regimes without giving long notice.
For example, the NHR reforms in Portugal were a real shock—let’s put it that way.
What book is currently on your bedside table?
The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age.
How and when did you get into the industry?
I entered this space about three years ago.
Before that, I spent nearly ten years building go-to-market strategies. I joined Immigrant Invest to apply that experience in an industry where it genuinely matters.
What moment makes you most proud as a service provider?
A family from a higher-risk jurisdiction—my father had serious health issues.
We accelerated the processing of Portuguese residency so the children could access healthcare and education across the EU. My father even wrote to us by hand. “No KPI captures” is exactly about stories like this.
What market development surprised you the most over the past year?
The speed of demand growth coming from the Middle East. We expected a trend, but the scale was genuinely impressive.
If you could go back ten years, what decision would you change?
I would invest in compliance infrastructure earlier. Ten years ago, many focused mainly on deal volume.
Companies that started building AML and due diligence early are practically “out of reach” today. Those who didn’t either get squeezed harder by the market or end up under scrutiny.
If I could go back, I’d hire a compliance lead in my first year.
Which person in the investment migration industry do you most admire?
I’d highlight Rafael Sintron from Wealthy Expat. He created a truly recognizable position in the market. His approach to content makes complex topics understandable—in a way that only a few in the industry manage to do so far.
What will you be doing in five years if everything goes according to plan?
I’ll be leading a team that becomes the “default” for clients who need a single, integrated solution—mobility and capital structuring—covered in one conversation.
If you’re interested in Golden Visa options and want to understand how programs, requirements, and tax regimes evolve across countries, this interview with Lasha Azariashvili is a great starting point: it highlights practical principles for long-term client support and the value of post-residency consulting. For a clearer view of current pathways and a strategy tailored to your situation, explore https://digital-nomad.gr/en/goldenvisa.
Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr
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