This is your second business at a young age. Does entrepreneurship traits run in the family?
I believe age has very little to do with business success. I am, however, a first-generation entrepreneur in my family. My first venture was about Smart Machines [providing multiple mobile phone-charging slots and other such services at public places]. I worked for about three years to transform the venture into a successful business. As a market-aware business-person, when I saw my venture peaking and saw headwinds and challenges coming for such a business, I made a successful exit. I have dedicated my time to the next big thing — WhizKey — ever since.
What have you learnt so far from being an entrepreneur?
The single most valuable lesson I have learnt is that sustainability has to be the most important goal of any successful business. Entrepreneurs have to focus on sustainability in each and every dimension of their venture, whether financial, technological, operational or even creating a team. All visions and agendas, whatever you set out to achieve, can be realised if business owners focus their energies on sustainable developmental agendas. It is the right thing to do.
What has been the biggest challenge that you have faced?
One of the biggest challenges that my partner and I faced when we started our company was the fear in the market to work with new ventures or smaller companies, and especially the ‘cheeky ones’ in artificial intelligence like us.
If you had to do this all over again, what would you do differently?
Despite starting our company in the first wave of fourth Industrial Revolution companies, one thing I would have preferred is starting even earlier before some of the significant players established their presence in the market. Our early-bird advantage would have been even greater if we had done that.
Which already successful business venture do you wish you'd started?
Apple — hands down. It is one of the most successful privately-owned companies in the world. Apple started as an innovation venture, became the industry leader and changed the way people interacted and worked with technology. Also, their share value and the company’s net worth is awe-inspiring.