story of emonks
In 1999, my college mates, Ranjeet and Madhu and I felt the suffocating grip of corporate life. We yearned for something more - a company built on strong values, honesty, and inspiration.
With the nascent internet as our canvas and a noble cause in our hearts, we launched our venture from a shoebox room. Armed with one computer, a borrowed laptop, a shared vision, boundless enthusiasm and zero coding skills, emonks started with a bang.
From Left - Ranjeet, Madhu and me
But the dotcom bubble soon burst, and the money dried up fast. A large corporate giant made us an offer to sell out, but we refused - monks are not slaves. We folded the company, but the entrepreneurial spirit lived on.
From Left - Sharad, Ravi, Vikrant, me
Embarking on yet another entrepreneurial journey, this time with my childhood friend, Sharad Batra, we ventured into the realm of Velocity. Our mission? To revolutionize third-party logistics solutions. Armed with a sprawling 3000 sq metre vertical warehouse, we catered to a prestigious clientele including Havells, Avon, Jubilant, Teva, and more.
By implementing cutting-edge ERP systems and pioneering changes in supply chain operations, we ushered in a new era of professionalism, advanced warehousing technology, and data-driven insights. Sharad now runs a famous chain of restaurants in India, Cafe Delhi Heights, with his brother and my dearest friend, Vikrant. Read about their amazing company here.
However, the year was 2005, and the allure of New Zealand beckoned.
I moved to New Zealand with my wife, Tamanna (Tee to her friends), and our young daughter, Jia. Tee became a proud first employee of Google NZ, while Jia now attends university.
From Right - Tamanna (Tee) and me
Our younger daughter, Sana was born in 2010. Tamanna and I co-founded Search Experts just before her birth. Our beloved dog Walter and cat named Ice helped in achieving healthy gender ratios of 3 girls and 3 boys in the house.
From Left - Sam, board chair Dr. Neil Barns and me
In 2007, I joined the tertiary education sector, working alongside the business owner and my dear friend, Sam Alavi. A journey that started with tutoring school dropouts in New Zealand's lowest decile area of South Auckland to a large reputable organisation with revenues more than $30 mn just before Covid-19. You can read more about Future Skills here. I feel extremely privileged and grateful for the opportunity to form such wonderful and lifelong friendships at Future Skills.
In 2012, Madhu and Ranjeet, reconnected and formed one of India's first AI companies, revolutionizing India's complex and multi layered sales and product distribution structures. I am super proud of these guys and what they have achieved in such a short span of time. You can read more about their story here. Madhu and Ranjeet remain my inspiration.
monkhood continues
In October 2021, a routine checkup turned into a life-altering experience. I found myself undergoing a seven-hour quintuple cardiac bypass surgery, a stark reminder that life is both beautiful and fragile. This profound moment reignited my monkhood, a calling I had once embraced.
Now, I dedicate myself to supporting businesses of all sizes - from a simple chat to designing transformative digitisation strategies. I'm here to offer solutions, organize resources, and get things done.
If you're a small business owner or leading a division within a larger organization and feel lost or overwhelmed, let's connect over a cup of coffee. No strings attached, no fees. Let's chat and see if we're a perfect match. If not, something even more exciting awaits us both.