Exploring Life & Business with Maiwand Kakar of Prime Stratix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maiwand Kakar.

Hi Maiwand, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always believed that success lives on the other side of risk. If I had played it safe, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

My story really begins when I was 15. I left Afghanistan for Turkey with my mother, not for adventure, but out of necessity and hope. It was a huge leap into the unknown. Many people doubted I’d even get the visa, let alone build a future in a new country. When we arrived, I had to work while studying, learn Turkish from scratch, and adapt to a completely different culture. It was overwhelming at times, but it taught me resilience, responsibility, and how to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear.

Over time, I gravitated toward technology and business. I started learning web development, digital marketing, and how the online world could open real opportunities. Eventually, I decided to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and launched my own marketing agency. In the beginning, it was just me—wearing every hat, from sales and strategy to design and implementation.

After a few months, I realized that if I wanted to grow fast and build something truly special, I needed people around me who were strong in areas where I wasn’t. So I pitched the bigger vision to a close friend of mine, Elias Azimi—an Afghan-Canadian actor based in Toronto whose newest work is in the A24 comedy series Overcompensating on Prime Video. He loved the idea and joined as a co-founder. Later, Sultan Jeddi also came on board, and together we shaped what became Prime Stratix.

The industry is competitive, and we didn’t start with a big portfolio or famous clients. We had to earn trust one project at a time—by overdelivering, staying transparent, and treating every client’s business like our own. Within our first year, we had the opportunity to work with The Mega Gym, one of the largest fitness brands in Canada. We helped transform their digital presence with a high-performing website that reflects their energy and scale. For me, that project was more than just a milestone—it was proof that the risks, sacrifices, and long nights were worth it.

Looking back, the common thread in my journey is risk: leaving home at 15, starting over in a new country, launching a business from scratch, and then betting on a bigger vision by bringing in co-founders. I’ve learned that when you take strategic risks, trust your instincts, and build with the right people, uncertainty can turn into opportunity. That’s how I went from a teenager starting from zero in Turkey to building a digital agency that helps other businesses grow.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but the challenges have shaped the way I build and lead today.

One of the biggest challenges came very early: leaving Afghanistan for Turkey at 15. That decision meant starting over from zero—working while studying, learning a completely new language from scratch, and adapting to a culture that was very different from what I grew up with. It was tough and uncomfortable, but it’s also what built my resilience and my mindset around taking risks.

Later, when I started Prime Stratix, the challenges changed but didn’t disappear. For the first few months, I was building the marketing agency on my own—handling everything and trying to prove that the idea could actually work. Starting a business in such a competitive industry like digital marketing required a lot of persistence and willingness to take risks without any guarantees.

One of the hardest parts was client acquisition. In the early days, we didn’t have an extensive portfolio, so convincing businesses to trust us wasn’t easy. We had to prove ourselves by delivering exceptional work, going above and beyond, and consistently showing that we could create real results. That took time, relationship-building, and a lot of patience.

Along the way, I’ve had setbacks—moments where things didn’t go as planned. But I’ve come to see, like Jeff Bezos said, that the real regret would be not trying. And Steve Blank’s idea that “no business plan survives first contact with customers” has been true in my experience too. The road hasn’t been smooth, but every challenge has pushed me to learn, adapt, and come back stronger.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Prime Stratix?
Prime Stratix is a Canada-based digital marketing and web development agency that I co-founded with Elias Azimi and Sultan Jeddi. At our core, we help businesses build an online presence that doesn’t just look nice—but actually brings in leads, clients, and revenue.

We work with businesses in Canada, the USA, and Europe, and our focus is on giving them a clear, modern, and results-driven digital foundation.

What we do / what we specialize in:
We bring several key services together under one roof:

• Web design & development – fast, modern, conversion-focused websites
• SEO – local SEO, technical SEO, on-page optimization, audits, and keyword strategy
• Paid advertising – Google Ads, Meta (Facebook & Instagram), TikTok, and YouTube
• Content & strategy support – messaging and structure that aligns with growth goals
• AI & automation – AI chatbots/assistants and marketing automations that save time and improve response speed

Rather than treating these as separate services, we’re known for building systems: websites, SEO, ads, and automation that all support each other. We care about performance—clear messaging, fast load times, clean structure, and a real plan behind the design.

What sets us apart:
We’re a Muslim-led, Afghan-founded agency, and that identity genuinely shapes how we work. Honesty, integrity, and fairness are not slogans for us—they’re tied to our values and faith. Because of our Afghan-Muslim background, we naturally treat our team, partners, and clients like family. Working with us isn’t meant to feel distant or purely transactional. We want our clients to feel that we are fighting for their business as if it were our own.

We’re also a young, trend-aware team. We pay close attention to new tools, strategies, and creative trends, and we adapt them thoughtfully to each client. We’re very intentional about avoiding “cookie-cutter” marketing plans. Every business has its own story and audience, and our job is to make sure they stand out—not blend into what every other agency is doing.

What we’re most proud of brand-wise:
I’m proud that we’ve been trusted by bigger brands like The Mega Gym in Canada to work on something as important as their website and digital presence. But just as importantly, I’m proud that we’re building a brand grounded in character as much as performance—where how we treat people matters just as much as the results we deliver.

What I want readers to know:
If there’s one thing to remember about Prime Stratix, it’s this:
we take your business personally—in the best way. We’re not here to offer quick fixes or one-size-fits-all templates. We want to be a long-term partner, bringing honesty, fresh ideas, and real care into the digital side of your business, and working on it with the mindset that your success is our responsibility too.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up in Afghanistan, I was always very curious about how things worked—especially anything related to technology. If there was a radio or a small gadget in the house, I was the one taking it apart and trying to put it back together, just to understand what was happening inside. I didn’t have access to a lot of modern tech, so whatever we did have, I treated it like a small “experiment.”

At the same time, I loved being outdoors. I spent hours playing football and cricket with friends. Our playgrounds weren’t modern or furnished with soft materials—if you fell, you really felt it. I was constantly getting cuts and bruises, but I didn’t mind; there was a kind of freedom and joy in those long days outside.

I was also quite serious about school. I tried to be a good student and stay on top of my studies. Looking back, that mix of curiosity, physical energy, and discipline shaped who I am today: someone who likes to understand things deeply, work hard, and keep going even when the environment isn’t perfect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.primestratix.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismaiwand/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiwandkakar/
• Twitter: https://x.com/thisismaiwand
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisismaiwand
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/biz/prime-stratix-mississauga
• Other: https://share.google/7Z35t3m4RMs3KskoY