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Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Lee Comerford: Along with my partner Louise, we moved to Girona (Spain) for better cycling conditions. We found a cycling paradise and wanted to help other people experience it. We saw a huge gap in the market for a quality local provider. Then our guests started asking us to take them to new places through Europe so we did. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Eat Sleep Cycle? Lee Comerford: Eat Sleep Cycle offers cycling tours worldwide and has Cycling Hubs in Girona and Málaga. From these hubs we offer cycling services like bike hire and cycling day trips. Eat Sleep Cycle also has an online and bricks and mortar retail leg. Great Companies: What makes Eat Sleep Cycle different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Lee Comerford: Eat Sleep Cycle has a unique business model because we offer cyclists a 360 degree service, from the bike they ride to having an amazing experience on that bike. Really we have built a cycling brand with a strong community backing due to our grass roots foundations. Our customers would say we provide the friendliest and welcoming service compared to competitors. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Lee Comerford: Starting a business in a foreign country is always difficult, I am English and we have a Spanish business. I quickly looked for the local people that were connected and willing to help us. We lost €1 million in 2 weeks when COVID hit and travel ground to a hault. We never stopped working and remained positive, always looking for ways to keep supporting the community of cyclists (virtual cycling tours and local community social rides for example). This is when our retail business grew to absorb the costs of our team, we didn´t want to lose them. Now there is a crash in the cycling retail business and again we are adapting. External conditions are always changing. The important thing is to stay strong, have faith and adapt quickly. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Eat Sleep Cycle? Lee Comerford: We regularly ask ourselves what we are doing and why. Our core is our cycling tours, it´s what we love doing. We break down barriers through cycling, like visiting a place you never would have dreamed of. It is also a sustainable tourism which needs to be every business focus for the future. So we plan to grow our cycling tours business A LOT the next 5 years. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Lee Comerford: You do not need to re-invent the wheel, you can always do something better than a competitor, just follow your passion because in the down times you need that motivation.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Kimberly Zorrilla: Before moving to the US, I was working as an attorney in Venezuela. This opportunity came to me and I was happy to keep helping people improve their lives on way or another. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Kiro's Cleaning Experts? Kimberly Zorrilla: Residential, Janitorial and Commercial cleaning services done Daily, Weekly, Biweekly or monthly. Great Companies: What makes Kiro's Cleaning Experts different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Kimberly Zorrilla: We believe in the power of a divine touch. With gratitude, we go the extra mile to positively impact your space and exceed your expectations. Integrity is at the core of our work. We operate in honesty, transparency, and doing what's right, always delivering consistent and exceptional cleaning results. We are very mindful to approach every task with full attention and care, creating a harmonious and clean environment that promotes peace. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Kimberly Zorrilla: We embrace any struggles and challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. Rather than viewing them as negative experiences, we see them as valuable lessons that propel us forward. We believe in doing due diligence to understand the root cause of any issue and take proactive measures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Kiro's Cleaning Experts? Kimberly Zorrilla: Over the next five years, my company’s plan is to grow exponentially in the commercial sector, guided by divine intervention as always. We will build a strong foundation in year one, expand our services to cater to diverse client needs in year two, and forge strategic partnerships in year three to enhance our market presence. By year four, we aim to expand regionally/nationally, with the ultimate goal of becoming market leaders by year five. With divine guidance, we will continually improve our services, ensuring excellence and exceptional customer value. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Kimberly Zorrilla: Write it down, and do a vision board. Stay humble, provide consistency, show up on time, do what you said you were going to do. Be disciplined, do what you’re supposed to do even if you don’t feel like doing it. Do it with love, integrity and enjoy the process! Mindfulness and Gratefulness.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Eshan Pachori: Prior to the inception of Aadow, my experience as a business owner utilizing email marketing revealed numerous inefficiencies and gaps within existing platforms. Despite the presence of several solutions, I found myself searching for the ideal platform that could seamlessly address all of my business needs. Furthermore, I observed a prevailing misconception among digital marketers and brands regarding the immense potential of email marketing in today's business landscape. This lack of awareness compelled me to embark on a mission to bridge this market gap and offer a comprehensive, user-friendly solution through Aadow. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Aadow? Eshan Pachori: Aadow offers a range of services designed to enhance email marketing and advertising efforts. These services include: Email Marketing Solutions: Aadow provides a comprehensive email marketing platform with features such as AI-driven content generation, A/B testing, unlimited contacts, and advanced analytics. Media Planning: Aadow assists businesses in strategizing their media campaigns, including selecting the right channels, optimizing budgets, and scheduling ad placements effectively. Media Processing: The platform offers media processing services, ensuring that media content, such as images and videos, is appropriately formatted and optimized for various advertising channels. Media Buying: Aadow aids businesses in purchasing advertising space across digital platforms, helping them secure the best ad placements for their target audience. Advertising Agency Services: Aadow serves as a full-service advertising agency, offering expertise in designing, executing, and managing advertising campaigns across diverse channels. Customized Business Software: Aadow develops and provides tailored business software solutions to meet specific organizational needs. Marketing Consultation: Aadow offers consultation services to help businesses develop effective marketing and advertising strategies, leveraging data-driven insights. User Training: Aadow provides training and support to ensure businesses make the most of its features and services. Great Companies: What makes Aadow different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Eshan Pachori: Aadow distinguishes itself from numerous other service providers in several key ways: AI-Driven Innovation: Aadow leverages cutting-edge AI technology to provide personalized email marketing solutions. Its AI-driven content generation and sector-specific customization offer a unique and tailored approach to email campaigns. Comprehensive Features: Aadow offers a rich set of features, including unlimited contacts, no daily sending limits, A/B testing, and advanced analytics. This breadth of capabilities provides businesses with a one-stop solution for their email marketing needs. Versatility: Aadow caters to a wide range of business sectors, from education to real estate and beyond. Its versatility makes it suitable for businesses of all sizes and industries. User-Centric Approach: Aadow prioritizes user experience, ensuring that its platform is user-friendly and accessible to both beginners and experienced marketers. This focus on usability enhances customer satisfaction. Market Awareness: Aadow recognizes the underutilization of email marketing's potential in today's business landscape. Its mission is to fill this market gap by providing education and tools to help businesses harness the power of email marketing effectively. Sector-Specific Customization: Aadow tailors its services to various sectors, ensuring that businesses receive email marketing solutions customized to their specific industry needs. This sector-specific approach is not common among competitors. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Eshan Pachori: Starting a company like Aadow involved overcoming various challenges and struggles, which we addressed through determination and adaptability: Market Education: One of the initial hurdles was the lack of awareness about the potential of email marketing among businesses. To overcome this, we invested in content marketing, webinars, and educational materials to inform potential clients about the benefits of our services. Technology Development: Developing the AI-driven features of Aadow required extensive research and development. We overcame this challenge by assembling a talented and dedicated tech team and fostering a culture of continuous innovation. Initial Traction: Gaining traction in a competitive market was tough. We offered a free plan to attract users and gradually convert them into paid customers through the platform's value and effectiveness. Scaling: Scaling operations efficiently was a challenge, given limited resources. We optimized our processes and invested in scalable infrastructure to handle growing user demand. Competition: The email marketing industry is crowded. To stand out, we emphasized our AI-driven features, sector-specific customization, and user-friendly interface. User Adoption: Encouraging users to switch from existing platforms to Aadow was a gradual process. We leveraged our unique features and demonstrated value through case studies and testimonials. In essence, our journey was marked by persistence, adaptability, and a commitment to providing value to our users. By addressing these challenges head-on and continuously improving our product and services, we've made significant strides toward our goals. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Aadow? Eshan Pachori: In the next five years, Aadow envisions significant growth and evolution in several key areas: Market Expansion: Aadow aims to consolidate its presence in the Indian market by becoming the go-to solution for email marketing and advertising. We will continue educating businesses about the power of email marketing and how Aadow can serve their needs effectively. Global Reach: Beyond India, we plan to expand our reach to international markets. Aadow intends to establish a strong foothold in neighboring Asian countries and then gradually extend its reach to a wider global audience. Product Enhancements: Aadow will continually invest in enhancing its platform. We plan to introduce even more AI-driven features, sector-specific customizations, and integrations to make email marketing more efficient and personalized. User Growth: We anticipate substantial growth in our user base. Aadow will continue to offer a free plan to attract users and, over time, convert them into paid subscribers as they experience the benefits of our platform. Innovation: Aadow will stay at the forefront of innovation in email marketing. We plan to research and develop new technologies to address emerging industry trends and challenges. Strategic Partnerships: We will seek strategic partnerships with other technology providers, businesses, and agencies to expand our reach and provide holistic marketing solutions. Community Building: Aadow will build a strong user community through webinars, workshops, and events to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among our users. Customer-Centric Approach: Our focus will remain on providing top-notch customer support and assistance to ensure our users get the most value from Aadow. Overall, Aadow's future holds the promise of becoming a global leader in email marketing and advertising. We will continue to innovate, expand our offerings, and educate businesses about the untapped potential of email marketing in the digital age. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Eshan Pachori: Embrace Change and Stay Agile In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, adaptability is key. Be prepared to pivot, iterate, and refine your strategies and offerings based on market feedback and changing conditions. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they often lead to valuable insights. Stay open to learning, stay nimble, and keep your focus on providing real value to your customers. The ability to adapt and evolve is what sets successful startups apart in today's competitive business environment.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? NANCY GITHOITHO: My mother was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer in 2017. She died exactly one year later 2018, due to stigma caused by society, lack of support group and low self esteem after loosing her breast. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by LIMAU CANCER CONNECTION? NANCY GITHOITHO: Psychosocial Cancer support groups, we train local women groups on how to knit and donate knitted breast prostheses that enable women to regain their dignity. We also provide referral services to hospitals. We educate the community on early symptoms of breast cancer through country wide breast cancer awareness events . Great Companies: What makes LIMAU CANCER CONNECTION different from hundreds of other similar service providers? NANCY GITHOITHO: We believe in For us by us leadership style .Limau is ran by cancer patients and a board/staff that has been directly by cancer. We lead by compassion, integrity and livable experiences. We engage patients everyday and so we are in a better position to advocate on their behalf. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? NANCY GITHOITHO: My greatest challenge was running psycho social support groups and loosing so many patients in the platforms. I felt Hopeless and I was also suffering from burn out. At one point I contemplated closing the non profit for lack of funding, but the members begged me not to, because that was their only home where they came to seek refuge. I overcame the burn out by going back to the gym and practicing yoga and meditation. What kept me going was the resilience of the patients we serve and their assurance of everything was going to be ok. i must admit I have met a lot of destiny helpers along the way. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for LIMAU CANCER CONNECTION? NANCY GITHOITHO: We recently partnered with Grow with Google digital program, where we plan to roll out in a few months. We introduced this program to enable our patients and caregivers, learn digital skills which will help them access remote jobs. Where they can work from home as they recover or take care of their loved ones suffering from cancer. We are looking for a space we can set up a hub to bring this to life as a Community Cancer Resource Center in Kenya. We hope to open more resource centers across the country. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? NANCY GITHOITHO: Patience and learning from experience. Everything happens for a reason.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Hariprasad renjala: Corruption and Non Ethical standards in companies, Family responsibility made me start a business. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Renjala infra Pvt Ltd.? Hariprasad renjala: I am civil engineer and As Civil Engineer we will provide project services as TurnKey basis, Planning, Designing, Funding, and construction Earth work to Finishing like ready to move Handover. and We have Class 1 Electrical Licence from KPTL. we do electrical works also. and We have two more verticals, one is YOGEE CHITS PRIVATE LIMITED, and NANDINI HOUSE BUILDING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY. Great Companies: What makes Renjala infra Pvt Ltd. different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Hariprasad renjala: Ethics, Quality and Relationship, we will deliver what we promise. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Hariprasad renjala: Financial struggle, de motivation from Close circle, Rumours against me, The self confidence and Ethics my parents Blessing supported me to overcome these problems. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Renjala infra Pvt Ltd.? Hariprasad renjala: Planning to achieve at least 50Cr. Turnover and 500 Employees in my company in next 5 years. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Hariprasad renjala: Don't expect profit in a day, Business is a bundle of Loss and gain. Do the business with positive thing and confidence.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Mohit Sharma: firstly just wanted to start some parallel business with on going steel business . Than did RnD on laundry industry, even there are lot of vendors or startups but there is huge gap in delivering quality laundry . So we dived in this gap and growing. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by ORANGE BUBBLE? Mohit Sharma: wash iron fold , steam iron , dry-cleaning , premium laundry , shoe Clean , cloth alteration. Great Companies: What makes ORANGE BUBBLE different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Mohit Sharma: We are different from others by giving subscription , pickup and drop locker system in apartments , 1 hour express delivery , pickup n drop , using organic chemicals , packaging is our main highlight by which cloths doesn't get spoil till delivery. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Mohit Sharma: Struggle was to find perfect area , budget , choosing machines , brand name , color combination and challenge to get skilled and knowledgeable staff , where to invest in marketing . I overcomed from all these by planning for long-term , took training how to wash and how to use chemicals , even in starting days i washed the cloths of customers and trained my staff , so now no one can beat me in this industry . People say you can start laundry without any experience, believe me this is very difficult to start without experience. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for ORANGE BUBBLE? Mohit Sharma: to deliver service on time , we planning to put laundry outlets inside appartments . And in 5 years minimum 100 outlets , Not only into laundry but also want to add others services like electronics , mobiles , salon , cafe etc. So whenever someone think about these kind of services, the first name should be orange bubble. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Mohit Sharma: Always respect the money spent by consumer , so deliver the worth of their money spent .

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Capt Niriksha sanil: So the idea struck to me and my husband Ajay Kakade whilst working on a video as he being a music director in the media industry. Since we are artists by passion what better way to get going with a media production house. A platform where we cater digital and commercial services to our prestigious clients. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Space media Productions? Capt Niriksha sanil: Ad films digital and commercial/ corporate videos/ documentary films / Animation videos (2D & 3D) and our extended services also include website design and development/ mobile application/ graphic designing & social media marketing. Great Companies: What makes Space media Productions different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Capt Niriksha sanil: Space Media Productions is just not a mere coincidence to happen it’s an amalgamation of brain and heart put into it, where the most experienced team is on board with us to give quality work than quantity. As we believe in delivering the best output to our customers and clients. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Capt Niriksha sanil: As it’s said, “There are no free lunches in the world.” Every company or an individual for that matter does go through ups and downs in life. I’m no exception, from being a commercial pilot to now a entrepreneur I feel my journey has come far more better. The most challenging part of this is time constraints / over ambitious on expectations/ and over demanding. The only key to overcome this is patience and to being a good listener, that’s how we deal together as a team and work on best results. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Space media Productions? Capt Niriksha sanil: I see this as a journey of a lifetime with everyday learning and growing with my team. And 5 years down the line Space Media Productions will be at its utmost high recognition. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Capt Niriksha sanil: There is nothing one cannot do. It’s all about passion and perseverance so follow your heart and do the right things you will never fail.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Bharti Mehta: My driving force has always been helping people and getting things done. I saw an opportunity to support talented creators by providing them with a platform and resources to pursue their dreams in the content industry. This vision led me to establish Content Studio, where we emphasize the importance of loyalty, trust, and an incredible work ethic. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Content Studio? Bharti Mehta: Content Studio specializes in creating content across different formats, including animation and live-action productions, within the Delhi NCR region. Additionally, we offer a top-class green Chroma studio with the best acoustics in the region, which we rent out to our corporate clients and creators. Great Companies: What makes Content Studio different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Bharti Mehta: Content Studio stands apart due to our unbeatable infrastructure, work ethic, and the exceptional coordination we maintain to complete projects within any given timeline. We're committed to delivering outstanding work, and our dedication to excellence is apparent in every project we undertake. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Bharti Mehta: Every business faces struggles, especially during its early stages. Establishing a standard of work and bringing people up to that level has been a challenge, but it's one that we've grown to love. We firmly believe that good work, combined with good intentions, eventually pays off - and that belief has been validated by our success. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Content Studio? Bharti Mehta: We envision Content Studio as a leading production house with a diverse portfolio of projects, both local and international, across various genres and platforms. We plan to expand our client base, invest in cutting-edge technology, and explore new content formats and platforms. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Bharti Mehta: Embrace change and stay informed about the ever-evolving content industry and technology landscape. Persistence, adaptability, and a strong work ethic are crucial, but it's also essential to keep your finger on the pulse of industry advancements and trends to maintain a competitive edge.

Great Companies : How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Lucky Rohilla : Our idea for the business started from our own experiences when we were trying to find mentors who could provide us with guidance in our journey towards achieving our professional goals. We realized that there was a huge disparity between access to expert advice and guidance, and that this gap was further widened by the lack of structured platforms to connect with mentors. This led us to the idea of Quantel, an expert marketplace and a mentorship platform, where individuals and organizations can easily find the right people to help them reach their goals. Our goal is to provide experiential learning to individuals and organizations throughout India with access to the people they aspire to become. Quantel was incepted with an idea to help individuals head start and ramp up their careers by 10X while gaining mentorship from real industry experts. Today, we have grown multifold both vertically and horizontally by enabling clients to access the latest insights from the most successful mentors in their field. Great Companies : What are the various services provided by Quantel.in? Lucky Rohilla : We are an expert marketplace to enable people to learn and upskill themselves from the Top 1% of industry experts. We make quality personalized mentorship accessible to everyone to upskill India’s untapped & underutilized talent, and to train them for some of the most in-demand jobs in the world. We offer 1:1 sessions with various mentors, live cohort based programs in domains like Consulting, Analytics etc to help students and professionals get the latest industry knowledge to start, transition, or level-up their career. In the B2B segment, we work with some top UPSC coaching institutions across India to provide customized mentorship programs for their students from the top civil services officers. We serve businesses to upskill their employees and increase retention by offering customized mentorship programs for them to develop required skills. We aim to cater all the mentorship needs for individuals and businesses through our pool of highly vetted mentors. Great Companies : What makes Quantel.in different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Lucky Rohilla : One unique aspect of the mentoring services we offer is the high degree of personalization and customization that we provide. Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all approach to mentoring, we take the time to understand each client's specific needs, goals, and challenges, and tailor their mentoring plans accordingly. This personalized approach allows us to provide highly targeted and effective guidance and support to your clients, helping them to overcome obstacles, identify opportunities, and achieve their objectives. By working closely with each client to develop a customized mentoring plan, we can ensure that they receive the individualized attention and support they need to succeed. Furthermore, our mentoring services are designed to help clients at all stages of their careers and businesses, from individuals just starting out to established organizations looking to grow and expand. This breadth of expertise and experience allows you to offer a wide range of mentoring services and strategies, ensuring that each client receives the guidance and support that is most relevant and effective for their unique situation. Overall, our personalized and customized approach to mentoring sets you apart from other providers and enables you to deliver high-quality, tailored support that helps your clients achieve their career and business goals. Great Companies : What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Lucky Rohilla : One of the biggest struggles we faced when launching Quantel was gaining traction and building a loyal user base. To overcome this challenge, we leveraged our network of experts and mentors by engaging them with potential users, and providing free resources to help them learn more about our product. We also worked to develop a strong social media presence, allowing us to reach a larger potential user base. Another challenge we faced was onboarding experts and mentors. To overcome this, we created a streamlined onboarding process and developed an automated onboarding system. This system allowed us to quickly and easily onboard new experts and mentors, while also providing them with the necessary information and resources they needed to succeed on our platform. Additionally, we faced the challenge of developing our technology to make it easy to use and intuitive. To overcome this, we worked with experienced developers to create a platform that was both user-friendly and reliable. We also partnered with industry professionals to ensure that our platform reflected the latest trends and technology. Finally, we faced the challenge of staying competitive in an ever-changing market. To address this, we made sure to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies, and we invested heavily in research and development. We also took the time to understand our customers’ needs and develop products and services that met their expectations. We also sought to create strategic alliances with other ed-tech companies to help foster growth. Great Companies : How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Quantel.in? Lucky Rohilla : In the next five years, Quantel will continue to focus on providing experiential learning and mentorship services. We plan to expand our services to include a range of courses and workshops, both online and in-person. We will also build and strengthen our community of mentors and students, and leverage our reputation to become a leader in the ed-tech industry in India. With our commitment to providing the best mentoring experience to our customers, we aim to increase our revenue by XX% year-on-year. We aim to achieve this through organic growth and strategic investments. Great Companies : If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Lucky Rohilla : My advice to someone just starting out as an ed-tech startup founder would be to focus on building a strong foundation first. Identify and target a niche audience that you can serve, develop a comprehensive business plan, and create a product or service that meets their needs. Once you have a solid foundation, you can then focus on marketing and scaling your business. Additionally, it is important to stay current on trends in the ed-tech space and to continuously evaluate feedback from users to ensure you are meeting their needs.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Parveen Sharma: The AEC industry (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) is a manpower-intensive industry. The projects are getting bigger, and more complex and need quick turn-around time. Most companies don’t have the manpower available to mobilize on short notice. ‘The BIM Engineers’ provide that additional manpower (BIM Architects/Engineers) to cater to that surge capacity requirements. We call ourselves a ‘Surge Capacity Partner’. This also shields the companies against the possible consequences of ‘Short term Hiring’ or ‘Hire and Fire’ policies. This also helps the Design/Construction companies to make a balance between on-roll employees and staffed employees (sources from ‘The BIM Engineers’). Those companies don’t have to invest in hiring/waiting/hardware/software/office/internet etc. and ‘The BIM Engineers’ is a one-stop solution for short or long-term staffing requirements for Design/CAD/BIM staff requirements. This arrangement also shields our clients against any possible ‘recession’. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by The BIM Engineers? Parveen Sharma: ‘The BIM Engineers’ provide BIM/Design/CAD staffing services to global clients. We provide BIM Modeling, Design Development, Clash Detection, Coordination, Value engineering, and Quantity Surveying services to the AEC industry. Great Companies: What makes The BIM Engineers different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Parveen Sharma: ‘The BIM Engineers’ with its global presence in 20+ Countries and experienced manpower of 500+ Engineers, have created a niche space for itself. The unique proposition of quickly available experienced manpower suits large multinational clients and they see ‘The BIM Engineers’ as a strong partner to cater to their short-term and long-term staffing requirements. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Parveen Sharma: Creating a new business category, and introducing it to some of the largest Design and Construction companies around the world was a challenging task. However, with our innovative team, we were able to showcase the benefit of collaborating with ‘The BIM Enginers’, and clients were convinced about our business model. Now we are working with 22 out of the top 30 Design companies in the world. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for The BIM Engineers? Parveen Sharma: ‘The BIM Engineers’ have witnessed a 50%+ Growth rate in the last few years and we are targeting to become a global company with a presence in 40+ countries with the largest pool of experience and trained resources to cater to the ever-growing AEC industry. We want to achieve these goals by introducing new cutting-edge technologies and bringing more efficiency to the engineering sector. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Parveen Sharma: Persistence is the key. If you believe in your business model, try to showcase the strong side of your idea and people will believe in it.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Mamta Gahlaut: I’ve been baking and cooking from an early age, and during my years as a housewife, my family has always appreciated the food I’ve made. Upon shifting to Bangalore due to my husband’s job, I started working further on my hobby of cooking as well as baking. I completed a course in the bakery as well but was not quite satisfied. Healthy cooking has always been my priority, so I started creating my recipes using whole wheat, olive oil, millet, and other such ingredients and started selling them in the neighborhood. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and I decided to set up a business in the healthy baking line. My business – then called BHealthy Cakes was one of the pioneers for healthy baking in Bangalore and has since then inspired many such ideas. We have now shifted to a Private Limited Company with the brand name “Cravoury” Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Kyraa Healthy Cakes and Foods Pvt Ltd? Mamta Gahlaut: Production of cakes, artisan chocolates, bread, and other baked products. Customization of cakes and baked products. Door delivery to customers via orders from phone or website. FMCG services of the same products via third parties such as Swiggy, Zomato, etc. Production of cake premixes and DIY kits for customers. Corporate gifting for cakes, chocolates, and cookies. Bulk orders, Wedding orders, Anniversary celebration orders, Occasion cakes. Great Companies: What makes Kyraa Healthy Cakes And Foods Pvt Ltd different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Mamta Gahlaut: As our initial business, Bhealthy cakes was one of the first businesses in the healthy baking segment in Bangalore. We possess a vast knowledge of healthy recipes and alternate ingredients and strive to constantly improve the same. This grants us a strong base for our business. We can offer Gluten-free, Vegan, sugar-free, and Whole-wheat among others as options for our cakes, something that most brands lack. The variety of options in such segments (gluten-free, sugar-free, Vegan, Whole wheat) is what ultimately distinguishes us from other brands and allows us to retain repeat customers that order from us regardless of delivery distance. All our cakes are baked fresh and are only prepared on order, due to this we are unable to sell cakes to walk-in customers immediately, but we can ensure the quality, freshness, and safety of our products. We also customize cakes and perform minor customizations at the bakery whereas if the cake is a major theme cake we can assemble it at the venue as well to ensure there is no damage during delivery. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Mamta Gahlaut: Since my concept from the very beginning has been Whole wheat and healthy cakes, without the use of preservatives, we initially struggled as the vast majority of consumers were not willing to purchase whole wheat products or were unwilling to pay extra for the whole wheat options. In 2019 however, there was a shift in the market with an increasing number of consumers focusing on healthy items and preservative-free food. This led to an increase in our orders and the expansion of our brand. During the Covid-19 pandemic not just Bangalore or India, but the entire world has noticed the shift in demand towards healthy cooking and baking which has been a boon not only for us but for many more in this segment. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What do 5 years down the line look like for Kyraa Healthy Cakes And Foods Pvt Ltd? Mamta Gahlaut: We plan to grow by utilizing the franchisee system and expanding the number of outlets. Such franchisees will follow strict guidelines and will continue to produce healthy and preservative-free food as is our company’s policy. Within 5 years we plan on having stores Pan-India with multiple successful franchisee outlets Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting, what would it be? Mamta Gahlaut: Business will always have ups and downs, and part of being a good and successful entrepreneur is to learn how to persevere but also how to cut your losses. Evaluate your business thoroughly and stick by it without giving up but do not be unrealistic and know when to conserve your strength instead of pushing on. Perseverance is the key to business.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Julie Traxler: Maverick Mentors (formally SB PACE) started as a direct result of the pandemic in March of 2020. As the world was shutting down entrepreneurs and small business owners were beginning to panic about next steps. There was so much uncertainty in the world, and I wanted to be a source of help, information, and calm for my friends, family, and network who owned small businesses. My initial intention was to help friends and family. I had downtime (like the rest of the world) and with a background in operations, leadership, team building, change management, and mergers & acquisitions, my goal was to help small business owners make a pivot at the start of the pandemic. I wasn’t charging anyone for my time, I wasn’t thinking about it as a business. Plus, I knew so many people were hurting financially. That was the reason I was talking to people, to help them out of the mess - not to dig a deeper hole. Over time more and more people started calling, looking for different kinds of help. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had an opportunity in front of me. Maverick Mentors recently celebrated its 3 year anniversary. Still a baby business in many ways, but we’ve seen a lot in the past 3 years. And we’ve served over 500 small business owners. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Maverick Mentors? Julie Traxler: Maverick Mentors offers both mentoring and consulting. From a mentoring perspective we do 1x1 mentoring, group mentoring, masterminds and masterclasses. We specialize in what I like to call the “messy middle”. Anyone who owns a business has been in the messy middle. The euphoria of starting a business has long worn off, but you’re fully committed to growing your business. Things are hard, growth is slow (or stalled) and you’re feeling the frustrations of being an entrepreneur. We help entrepreneurs move through that phase. From a consulting perspective we are a bit of a Swiss Army Knife. My background in Mergers and Acquisitions plays a significant part in that. I spent years working with small businesses that had been acquired, leading the charge to integrate them into their new parent company. That work taught me all about small businesses from front to back. I use that knowledge to help clients achieve their goals. Whether it’s leadership development, building a high performing team, operational efficiencies, preparing for exit, or anything in between - I’ve probably done it. Great Companies: What makes Maverick Mentors different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Julie Traxler: At Maverick Mentors our number one core value is “we don’t sell you sh*t that you don’t need”. We are always looking for fire ourselves. And by that I mean - we want our clients to be self-sufficient. We don’t want an entrepreneur or small business owner to be paying us for years. We completely understand the financial challenges that most small businesses go through, and we have a lot of respect for those challenges. So our goal is to understand the problem and the client''s ideal solution, assess the situation, develop a plan, execute, observe and iterate, and then move on. Ideally, this model shows clients that we are partners in success and when they face another challenge they will come back to us for help. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Julie Traxler: That’s the thing with being an entrepreneur, the struggles and challenges grow with you. I look back at the challenges I faced when I launched Maverick Mentors and they were right sized for where the business was at. There is definitely no shortage of struggles when you’re building something different. Early on I had this belief that “if I build it, they will come” which was pure nonsense. I laugh at that concept now. You still have to build a brand, market, let people know you exist, provide a great service, and sell. When I launched Maverick Mentors, It took me almost 6 months to realize that I actually had to sell. How embarrassing is that? Now I’ve got a team of people working at Maverick Mentors and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. Thankfully (and not by accident) this is a high performing team full of leaders, but knowing that I am responsible for ensuring others can pay their mortgages is something I take very seriously. And the only way to ensure that happens is to serve our clients well. I truly believe that taking money from clients comes with tremendous responsibility. We have to deliver on everything we commit to, and ideally we are over-delivering. The challenges that Maverick Mentors face today typically center around capacity planning (we are hands-on), and making sure the team is getting enough down time. I don’t want to burn out my strongest asset, my people. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for SB PACE? Julie Traxler: As strange as this sounds, my goal is to offer less services in 5 years. I sit down every 6 months and look at the data from our clients. What services are people coming to us for and how does the client's needs stack up against the things we love to do? If our goal is to be of service to our clients, then we have to love what we are doing. We can’t offer the best version of ourselves doing things we hate. And I didn’t start a business to do work I don’t love. Over the next several years I’ll continue to assess and modify. I know far more today than I did 3 years ago. I can’t even imagine the knowledge I will have five years from now. I’m excited about the evolution that’s coming for Maverick Mentors and our clients. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Julie Traxler: The hardest lesson I had to learn (and relearn) as an entrepreneur is that “support never comes from where you think it will”. And by that I mean we expect our family and friends to support our entrepreneurial journeys, but it rarely works out that way. People are busy with their lives, and unless they personally need to buy what you are selling, their support is going to be more limited than you think. But - that actually ends up being good news. Because you’re going to build this entire new network of friends who are on a similar journey. So your world will expand and you can keep your friends and family relationship as they are, without the pressure of them supporting you in ways they simply are not capable of doing.