EP34 - Amit Grover - Redefining True Grit

In today’s world, the term “entrepreneur” is used quite a lot. It
may even be used to describe you! In this conversation marathon,
we dig deep and ask what it means to be an entrepreneur? Is it
about having that great idea? What about taking risks? Or, is
there something more to it than those things? We explored and
redefined the meaning of the true grit of an entrepreneur that
has a story like no other! 


Meet our Guest  


Amit is the Founder and Managing Partner at Grover Impact
Ventures, an aspiring Venture Capital Fund Manager building a USD
50 Million impact fund domiciled in Dubai. 


From humble beginnings in New Zealand to Grover & Company's
expansion into Australia, United Arab Emirates, and the United
Kingdom, Amit has come a long way in understanding the impact of
cross-border business on the small-medium enterprise
ecosystem. 


A summary of our conversation  


The seeds of entrepreneurship were planted early on in Amit's
childhood, and his desire to be accepted by others grew during
these years. There was always this burning desire to be somebody
that people would accept and admire.  


In 2005 Amit moved to New Zealand to do his MBA. After which, he
worked for a consulting company called Boston Consulting Group.
Working with one of the largest consulting businesses in the
world, advising top CEOs in Australia and New Zealand, made him
realise that instead of building somebody else's ambitions and
dreams, it is time to build a brand for himself and quit his
corporate job. 


In 2007, from a swanky office and a $10,000 suit to sitting in
his jeans and T-shirt in a cafe, Grover and Company was founded
and he began using his consulting skills to advise mid-market
companies in New Zealand and Australia on how they should expand
internationally. 


In 2012 Amit opened an office in Sydney with 75 people working
for him out of three offices and he felt on top of the world.
Then, in an unexpected turn of events, in 2013 whilst he was on
an official visit to India with a client, he fell severely ill.
He was in the ICU for 22 days fighting for his life. This phase
taught him how to respect Life. 


Finally, in August the same year after recovering he went back to
Auckland to find he had lost all the money, his clients were
gone, and was in a bankrupt situation. His house, his car and
everything were sold off to pay his debts. Friends, relatives and
colleagues disappeared. Nobody wanted to associate with him. He
found himself cleaning the toilets of the Auckland Railway
Station with tears because he couldn't believe a guy like from
the family he came from, the schools he had gone to, the
corporate career he had had, now finds himself in this situation.
That was his darkest period.  


Like they say miracles happen from within and an idea struck him
and he headed to the bankruptcy office and said "There are two
things you can do, you can either file bankruptcy, chapter 11 and
all my debts get wiped out and you don't get a dime. Or you can
give me $5,000 that I am going to use to buy a laptop and a
co-working desk and I will give you all the money I owe with
interest." Amit bounced back and within six months he got his
first client. 


Everything changed again and his financial failure completely
decimated. He was building a business that was doing about $9
million in turnover. 


When we asked Amit what his “I Dare To…..” statement was, he
simply said, “I Dare To be 18!”  


This entire story is one of adaptability, which is the core of
what being an entrepreneur is about. The true grit of an
entrepreneur isn’t just found in their successes, but also in
their failures. It is not easy to keep going after failure but it
pays off when you learn from them.  


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