From Restaurants to Racetracks: Tiger Tari’s Path of Entrepreneurship and Giving Back
Tiger Tari, a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and race car driver, earned his Bachelor of Science in International Business and Marketing from the Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University in 2000.
While active in JU football and crew, Tari, originally from Istanbul, launched his entrepreneurial journey with his brother by owning and managing two restaurants. Shortly after, they sold the restaurants and co-founded a software technology business, which eventually grew into a venture capital firm focusing on the niche software market within the insurance services sector.
He says being a JU student-athlete equipped him both mentally and physically. “Being a student-athlete prepares you for long, physically demanding days, along with the mental discipline required to push through,” Tari reflected. “You quickly realize that you can’t quit; it’s not just about you—it’s about the entire team relying on you to do your part.”
Tari Brothers private equity firm, Tari Ventures, is now a prominent force in the industry. With investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Turkey, the firm is continually growing and helping innovative tech companies thrive. Beyond his venture capital endeavors, Tiger also introduced Papa John's to Turkey as the master franchisee, with 68 restaurants and counting.
In addition to being a successful entrepreneur, Tari is also an accomplished race car driver, recently bringing home a class-winning trophy from the 24-Hour Race in Dubai as one of 17 Americans participating in the international race.
“It was definitely an amazing experience, but now I have the Le Mans Porsche Cup race in France and International Motor Sports Association races ahead of me, so now it's time to move on and focus on the new tasks and challenges ahead,” he said.
Tiger’s passion for racing has always been an important part of his life. He remembers his excitement when his uncle, who lived in Germany, brought back a car magazine. “Rally racing was always more popular in Europe, but there was something about street-style car racing that caught my interest. It wasn’t until I turned 40 that I finally had the time to focus on myself and pursue my dreams.”
As the Founder of Star Spangled Racing, Tari competes in the International Motor Sports Association series, driving a BMW GT4 car in the Michelin Pilot Challenge and VP Challenge. His racing experience spans various competitor events, and he has earned over 30 podium finishes in both endurance and sprint races. His goal is to compete in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, bringing home victories for the United States.
Tari brings the same dedication to racing as he does to his other business pursuits. Recently, he visited campus and shared his international entrepreneurial endeavors with students in Dr. Selen Savas-Hall’s Global Business class. Tari believes it’s important to help the next generation of JU Dolphins.
“I never had a mentor and learned mostly through trial and error. However, I realize there’s a much more effective way to learn through mentoring, without the high cost of time and money, “he said. “Now, I want to give back because I truly value how knowledge can be passed down to future generations.
His advice to up and coming Davis College business students is to have a good attitude and never give up. “Simply going to college and earning a degree won’t change your life. It’s your attitude and your desire to add to your knowledge that truly matter. Remember, never quit, no matter what the challenge.”
Tari takes full responsibility for both his successes and failures, noting that being accountable and staying real with yourself is crucial.
His most satisfying accomplishment, he says, is character development. “I'm always striving to become the best version of myself. It’s not a finished job but rather a lifelong pursuit of perfection.”