A Dreamer Who Dared
It was a long journey from a rag and a blackboard under a tree in the remote village of Rudawal, Rajasthan, to the portals of Harvard Business School. All I had was the desire to win, the ability to seize opportunities, and of course, destiny,” says Tushar Mittal,Founder, Studiokon Ventures, summing up his life until he founded a million-dollar venture.
Mittal’s entrepreneurial journey started even before he was 10 years old. “When my parents told me that they could no longer afford to pay for my comic books, I began to rent out my comic books in the village, and paid for my new comics myself. After a while, I began renting out my bicycle and cricket kit as well, in an attempt to remove the financial strain from my parents to cover my expenses,” Mittal reminisces.
After leaving home to study engineering in Kota, he completed a postgraduate diploma from NICMAR before landing a job at DLF. “However, there was a small problem. Even on a salary of a lakh per month, I could never save enough to pay off my family’s debt,” says Mittal.
“I had to aim higher, and soon I found my window. While working on offsite projects and during client interactions, I observed how business oriented all business-customer interactions were and saw an opportunity to be better. I met a lot of experienced contractors, but none of them were passionate about what they were doing. Any interaction with the customers felt very transactional. Deadlines were taken casually, and a project completed on time was a myth. I saw the opportunity, and decided to quit my job and start my own corporate infrastructure company,” says Mittal, explaining the origins of his venture.
Mittal founded Studiokon Ventures in 2009 with a meagre amount of money, a great vision and a bit of luck. In a rapidly advancing global marketplace where businesses are focused on building empires, what sets Studiokon Ventures apart is its focus on defining relationships rather than contracts.
“Swati, my wife, helped me secure my first client at SKV. I believe businesses develop through the bonds you create with your customers. I realised years ago that improving customer experience is the key to a successful business. Other businesses and industries have started to realise that now,” says Mittal.
“Today I am proud Harvard alumnus and StudioKon Ventures has grown into a $20 million corporate infrastructure company. But achievements are not mine alone, it’s all about team work,” says Mittal.
How important is the role of a mentor? “Growing up, I had some of the best mentors one could ask for. They opened me up to a world I had never experienced before, and it was then that my dream began to take flight. At my age today, if I want to learn and grow, I need to have a like-minded peer group to help me grow. “My main objective behind joining YPO (Young Presidents Organization) which is a global network of young chief executives, was to learn from the best and to be the part of the shared mission of becoming,” Mittal explains.
Mittal strongly believes that transforming the rural education system of India will go a long way in changing the entire landscape of employment and productivity in the Indian and global market.
“Through many competitions back in Rudawal, I aim at providing financial help to those who have the power to dream. After spending over a decade in the business world, I can tell you without a doubt that keeping your dreams alive is your biggest accomplishment,” says Mittal while sharing the some wise words around the success he has achieved through passion and hard work.
