02. Blockchain to Blue Collar: Scaling a Service Biz to $1M ARR w/ Davis Marklin (Alum, Founder)
Recent grad grows his service business to $1M ARR!
Davis Marklin is an SRBA Alum and Board Member, and he's the recent founder of Turned, a rapidly growing Airbnb cleaning business.
As a student, Davis founded Marquette Blockchain Lab with Alec Shaw, earning Wisconsin Inno 25 under 25. Since, he's pivoted out of tech and into something very different - cleaning apartments.
Listen to hear how Davis became a success in this blue collar business, and where he plans to go next.
Connect with Davis on our SRBA Slack Community, or hear him speak as a panelist at SURGE Expo24 (this November at Stanford).
Introduction
In this latest episode of the Surge Streams podcast series, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Davis Marklin, a 2018 Marquette University graduate and founder of Turned, a rapidly growing Airbnb cleaning business. Davis' founder journey took him from founding student organizations to running a successful service company, with revenues approaching $1 million annually. Davis opened up about his unexpected transition from blockchain technology to cleaning services, his approach to expansion, and the valuable lessons he learned along the way.
From Blockchain to Blue-Collar Success
Davis' entrepreneurial spirit took root at Marquette University, where he co-founded the Blockchain Lab, an initiative focused on blockchain education and consulting. After graduation, he shifted gears into a completely different industry: Airbnb cleaning services. Davis explained this shift as a combination of curiosity and recognizing a gap in the market. “I was very interested in blockchain,” Davis recalls, “but I realized there were fewer competitors in the home services space, and that’s where I saw the opportunity.”
It’s worth noting that Davis’ journey into blockchain as a student evolved from more technical interest and consulting activities to broader events. The experience of organizing events, then, helped prepare him for what came next.
Davis launched Turned in 2020, offering premium cleaning services to Airbnb property managers and owners. The company quickly expanded from Chicago to Austin, Texas, marking a significant milestone in Davis’ entrepreneurial journey.
Davis Marklin facilitates a panel at the Milwaukee Blockchain Conference, 2018 at Northwestern Mutual.
At that time, the conference was the largest covering exclusively Blockchain-related topics in the Midwest.
Expert speakers drew crowds from throughout the region and beyond.
The team of students that organized and led the conference, including students from the MU Blockchain Lab and 1881 Event Productions.
Challenges of Scaling a Service Business
Expanding into new markets is never easy, and Davis shared the difficulties of scaling his business. One of his major challenges was finding trustworthy operations managers. "People are everything in this business," Davis emphasized. "You have to have someone you can trust when you're not physically in the market."
For the Austin expansion, Davis made a strategic move by promoting one of his top Chicago employees to manage operations in the new market. This decision proved to be pivotal in ensuring the business maintained its high service standards while growing.
Davis finds his true calling, sparking the launch of his
new, scaling business called Turned.
Key Lessons from Davis' Journey
1. Pivoting is Part of the Process
Davis' shift from blockchain to a cleaning business might seem unexpected, but it highlights the importance of adaptability in entrepreneurship. He shared how his initial business model—competing on price—was unsustainable, which led him to pivot toward a premium service offering.
2. Grit is Essential
Being a Founder, especially in the service industry, demands perseverance. Davis recounted the difficult first two years of his business, during which he struggled to pay rent and experienced high employee turnover. His determination to push through these tough times was key to his success.
3. The Power of Networks
Much of Davis’ early success can be attributed to his strong network. From landing his first job out of college to securing financial backing for his startup, Davis leveraged his connections effectively. “Your network is one of your most valuable assets,” he said. “You should start building it in college.”
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Davis also stressed the value of seeking advice from those with more experience. By positioning himself as a learner, he was able to build relationships with mentors who provided him with critical advice and even financial support during tough times.
5. Focus on Quality and Reliability
Turned differentiates itself by offering peace of mind to its clients. The company guarantees that properties will be cleaned properly and on time—every time. “Reliability is the biggest problem in this industry,” Davis explained. His ability to consistently deliver high-quality service has helped Turned command premium prices and grow a loyal client base.
Looking Ahead
With his business gaining momentum and expansion into Austin underway, Davis is focused on continuing to grow Turned and further diversifying his client base. While he’s open to the possibility of selling the business if the right offer comes along, for now, his sights are set on refining operations and expanding into new markets.
Davis' story is a testament to the power of resilience, curiosity, and the ability to pivot. His journey from blockchain to blue-collar success offers valuable lessons for any student or entrepreneur looking to carve out their own path in the business world.
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Davis' Website
Organization - https://tryturned.com/
Davis' Social
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davismarklin
Twitter / X - @davismarklin
Instagram - @davismarklin95
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Host Owen Raisch Social
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenraisch
Twitter/ X - @owenraisch
Instagram - @owenraisch
[00:10] Introduction to Surge Streams and Davis Marklin, a Marquette graduate and founder of Turned.
[01:05] Davis' journey from blockchain technology to starting Turned, an Airbnb cleaning service.
[02:22] Challenges in transitioning from blockchain to blue-collar work and the early days of Turned.
[04:08] Expanding Turned from Chicago to Austin and the difficulties of scaling a service business.
[05:22] The importance of trustworthy management and Davis' story of promoting an employee from cleaner to operations manager.
[07:22] Building a business in a new city and how Austin's market dynamics differ from Chicago's.
[08:40] The risks of expansion and how Davis navigated product-market fit and financial challenges.
[09:21] The operational complexities of running a service business and learning to ensure reliability in a competitive industry.
[11:08] Lessons from Davis’ earlier career in blockchain and event management, and how they applied to his current business model.
[17:04] Davis’ reflections on building credibility and leveraging networks for business success.
[21:18] The importance of grit, curiosity, and resilience in entrepreneurship.
[25:30] Davis' experience with underpricing his services and how he pivoted to offering premium cleaning services.
[28:29] Balancing financial risk with growth opportunities, and Turned's future goals for expansion and potential exit strategies.
[35:21] Final thoughts on scaling, managing customer concentration, and top lessons Davis learned from his entrepreneurial journey.