By An Entrepreneur by Choice!
Saurabh Bhatnagar is one of the Top Entrepreneurs from India. His last 2 Launches were both one of the top software Launches in the International Market. With both of them crossing the $100K mark in Sales Revenue.
But the journey was not always the same for him; says Saurabh. He has seen his share of lows, extreme lows, disapprovals, humiliation and moments of doubt. Every time, he says that he came out with positive mindset with the help of his sheer passion for his work.
Saurabh Bhatnagar giving lecture on Internet Marketing
First Touch with Entrepreneurship
Saurabh recalls that his first Entrepreneurial experience during his school days. When he started selling Cricket cards to his friends at Five Times Profit to ensure he gets to eat fast food every evening.
Also read: Brains Behind Brandonama – Vasundhara & Sandeep
Signs of Excellence
Saurabh was always a bright student. He scored good marks and got selected in the Top University of India – Delhi University. He pursued a degree in Physics Honours from Hansraj College. Coming from a small town like Dehradun, Saurabh says that was the perfect environment that he wanted for his Development.
He got introduced to a Network Marketing company while he was studying in 2nd year.
That company did 2 very important things in his life:
- His Introduction to Technology. Since the company’s Product was Selling & Creating Websites.
- Public Speaking
Both the things now a Vital component of Saurabh’s Business now.
USP Team Uprist
Saurabh recalls leading a Team of 300 & 4,000 respectively in the 2 Network Marketing companies he was a part of.
Saurabh says that his Biggest Power is his whole soul commitment to his Work. He was not afraid of going to College in the Company Formal suits and giving company presentations to Students in the Recess time, Break Time & the Time between the 2 Lectures.
He also told us about an incident in which he covered 4 States of India inside 2 Days, in which he gave almost 20 Presentations & Follow Ups while taking just 2 meals in between.
Such was his dedication & commitment that he bought his First Bike while studying in 2nd year itself. Saurabh also started weekly Presentations & Motivations sessions for his friends in Delhi University. He named it ‘Power House’.
Saurabh; Stage Anchoring in our USP The Survivor Event
Recalling, one incident Saurabh says he was talking to a random person during break time when a student from another college who had come to visit Hansraj college saw him and asked his friends that, is he ‘Saurabh Bhatnagar’, the one who bought his Bike.
Full-Time Entrepreneurship
In the year 2012, Saurabh finished his college. He was always clear in his mind that he would start a Business of his own. And that he is not a job material.
But the question was, “What should he start?”
He along with his team started a venture in Dehradun (his Home Town) called ‘Uprist Service Portal Pvt. Ltd.’ that provided a multitude of services from loyalty programmes to event management to manpower solutions.
That’s where the real test was pending.
Saurabh aged 20 at that time and he were trying to convince people 2-3 times his age what they should do for Marketing and what would be the Best Strategy for their Business.
Disregarded as Boys, Saurabh & his team had made a habit of listening to NO. At some places, we were treated as young kids too early to start, and at other places, we were disregarded as “Now you will tell us what I should do to increase my Business”.
Those were tough days. Going from Shop to Shop for the Business Partnership & to various doors, college stalls and open events for the Promotion of our own Business.
In one incident, a school friend of Saurabh once saw him distributing Pamphlets in the blazing heat. He asked Saurabh you are a graduated Physics Honours’ student. I can get you a better job than this.
Amongst so many challenges, Saurabh & his team roped in 70 Brands under their Marketing Portfolio in the first 3 months and a huge base of 28,000 USP Card Holders in the first 2 years.
By the end of 4th Year, Saurabh says his team had a Marketing Portfolio of more than 500 Brands and a Card Consumer base of more than 60,000 people. Also, they have a series of a successful event to their name ‘USP The Survivor’ which is amongst one of the Top Education Events of India conducted annually in Dehradun. In one of the editions, 5000+ people turned up for participating.
Network Marketing Target Plan made by Saurabh back in 2010
The biggest challenge, according to Saurabh for him was that none of his teammates & he himself was from a business background. And it took him time to understand the difference between the Business Model & the Revenue Model and they missed plenty of Revenue Opportunities because of lack of experience.
Saurabh’s Internet Journey
Saurabh’s introduction & interest in Internet Marketing had developed from the Days of Network Marketing. During his days of 13-14 Hours Daily work in his company USP Pvt. Ltd., Saurabh says he used to practice & learn his Internet Marketing skills every night for 3-4 hours.
It was then that he decided he should pursue his Passion for Internet Marketing. He & his long time college friend ‘Gaurav Madaan’ then got along to set up a base for their company – ‘Geeko Computech Pvt. Ltd.’ (India branch) & Geekotech, Inc. (United States).
From taking Projects from Brands for Online Promotions to Consulting Big Brands like Indian E-Commerce brand ‘TSX.in’ and MS Dhoni’s Gym Chain ‘Sports Fit’ Local Franchise, Saurabh has helped a lot of Businesses in achieving their Internet Marketing Objectives.
Saurabh got Awarded at Toastmasters International Speech Competition
Saurabh & his Partner figured out that there is a need of Social Media Automation Softwares in the Market to make the Work of Brands & Businesses easier to conduct their Social Media & Online Promotions.
It is then that they came up with the idea of:
1.) Live Suite Pro – Facebook Live Software (Gross Sales Revenue – USD 135,000
2.) GramKosh – Instagram Full Automation Software (Gross Sales Revenue – USD 115,000)
Just like Saurabh’s Entrepreneurial Journey his first Software Launch also was not smooth. He said, they faced DDOS Attack on their Site on the Opening Day (Peak Hours of Most Sales), attack on the 2 Selling Platforms, Paypal went down for an hour on the final day, compliance terms and so many other problems.
But they came out with positive colours out of it. After all the hardships he has faced in his life, this was a Small Problem for a Man & Team filled with Passion.
Saurabh & Gaurav
Saurabh says the Biggest Power of their Company is the Bonding between the two Founders “Saurabh & Gaurav”. He said, “Yes, we do have arguments sometimes, but the biggest benefit is at the end we know we are loyal to each other in both business & friendship terms, so it’s all cool always”
Public Plan for 2017 is 6 more Software Launches. And also few more Internal team plans which are not to be made public at this moment.
Saurabh said that now he is looking to make his in-house team strong with a Permanent Office Space in Gurgaon.
His Personal Plan is to keep producing real quality software that solves the need of the Market and to pursue his love and passion for Motivational Public Speaking. At present, you would always find him in Toastmasters’ Clubs giving speeches & participating in various tasks.
Toastmasters Prizes
From this article, Saurabh also wants to convey his thanks to many people – Rahul Bhatnagar, Sumit Yadav, Gaurav Madaan, Team Uprist, Saurabh Nailwal, Dhiren Chaudhary, Amit Nautiyal, Yogesh Prakash, Akshay Ahuja, Nishant Sharma, Roshni Dhal, Jai Sharma, Gaurab Borah, Harry Sethi Sir, BP Kothiyal Sir, Priti Ma’am and most importantly to his parents and so many more people for being a Pillar of Support always and for playing an Instrumental Role in his development as an individual & a businessman.
Connect – Facebook | Personal Blog: saurabhbhatnagar.com | Instagram
Share this story to inspire others and give your thoughts in the comment box below.
Comments