See how iSpeak is Catering to the functional needs of MSME

iSpeak Corporate Services Pvt. ltd. is a Bangalore based startup founded by Shanthan Malashetter S. iSpeak is the company having 7 directors who are experts in their field. They cater to the need of companies who need expert guidance in the field of Marketing / Finance / HR / R&D / Sales / Management except for their trade secrets.

We are Business Doctors as clients call us. i.e We give ECG Reports to every BUSINESS. To check the pulse of business and to understand if its according to industry standards. First step of growth is always ANALYSIS of its existing business in a realistic basis, says Shanthan.

We got an opportunity to talk with Shanthan, the founder of iSpeak. Read his full interview to know more about his journey as an entrepreneur and about his startup.

Give a brief info about your startup?

It is a Bangalore based company and its founder and director is CS Shanthan Malashetter S, ACS, IIMB (EEP), Mkt Anaytics (UC, Berkeley).

This is a company having a combination of 7 directors consisting of CA / CS / IIT / IIMB EEP & NLS under one roof. BUT STRICTLY ITS NOT ONE STOP SOLUTION. We work on the following models:

We are Business Doctors as clients call us. i.e We give ECG Reports to every BUSINESS. To check the pulse of business and to understand if its according to industry standards. First step of growth is always ANALYSIS of its existing business in a realistic basis.

Also, we are the FIRST in industry to work as VIRTUAL COO in the market. Where we handle their functions of business including (Marketing / Finance / HR / R&D / Sales / Management) except for their trade secrets. This makes US accountable for our clients business. So no more a client has to worry and blame himself.

Currently, we are catering companies with 2-8 yrs of existence in the industry to work on the above model.

 

What made you start your startup and what problem does it solve?

IF Agriculture is the backbone of India, its nervous system is MSME’s (Micro, Small & Medium Size Enterprises).

Most of them in this stream are expertise in 1-2 functions (Out of 7 broad functions of business) and firefight for the rest of the aspects. I hail from a business family, which ran sincerely for 90+ years and got shut recently. As they followed the traditional style and waited for market to approach them. It broke me down completely. The family was literally in tears. This gave me a hard attack on my thought process.

When I started to dig the grave I realised, Most of the MSME focus on either operations or max on Finance. We need to understand EVERY Business shall focus on following functions,

Marketing / Sales / HR / R&D / Finance / Operations / Management
That’s when we came together to touch base the ocean full of entrepreneurs and drive them in the right direction
Today we are driving the entrepreneurs in focusing on each functions of biz and helped them solve following aspects,

Traditional Style of operations with CONTEMPORARY Approach

Shield business from External Forces & Go compete internationally

KNOW their competitors, Market and have spearing strategies to be ONLY 1

Position & Brand themselves

Build the business without their presence

Tell us about yourself, your previous jobs/ventures? What were you doing before this startup?

Am a Business Analyst & Strategic Consultant!

Qualifications:

Graduate in Commerce from Madras University

Qualified Company Secretary from ICSI

Strategic Consultant from IIM Bangalore (EEP)

Marketing Analytics from University of California, Berkeley

Pursuing Six Sigma (Black Belt) from ISEL

Serving  & Served As,

Founder – Director of iSpeak Corporate Services Pvt Ltd

Director at Red Satin Events Pvt ltd

Non Exec Director in HIPL Pvt Ltd & FISMAC Global pvt ltd

Corporate Consultant & Advisor in multiple verticals of Industry

Ex Vice President & Director at SLS Pvt Ltd

Ex Start up Mentor & Chief

Ex Advisor for Edu-Preneurs & FMCG biz

Where is your startup based out of? Why do you think that is the best place for you?

iSpeak is based out of Bangalore and this is amazingly a happening place. But we also have spread across to Chennai and partially to Kerala already. BY Next year we would be placed in Hyderabad and Mumbai too.

As a startup founder, what are you paranoid about? What keeps you awake at night?

It gives me chills down to my spine when I see TO-DO List. It is as big as an ocean but am unable to cater the whole lot. We are doing our best to reach the max.

Who are your competitions and how are you better than them?

Am Niche in the industry. I compete for myself. I have seen a lot of motivational speakers in the industry to help MSME’s. I want a realistic and practical approach for me to push the standards ahead to drive the force. I train the market to know their competitors to understand their moves and step strategically.

But in the case of MY biz, its a new step in the market and am BUILDING competitors slowly to keep the market active and alive.

How hard is it to have a work-life balance as a startup founder and how do you manage it?

Frankly, you are as good as your team. When your team thinks equally or better than you, then the business grows much faster than what you believe it be. Office shuts at 6 sharp (NO Matter What) but, we burn midnight oil to shape things better. Also, proud to have life partnered who enjoys this arena as she’s one among the directors and knows the way ahead.

Have you raised funding? If yes, then we would like to know the details. If no then please tell us if you are looking to raise.

I advocate to my clients always, FIRST build your biz so strong that your valuation in numbers and in realistic terms shall be unbeatable. Funding is support after YOU Prove your work to be a billion dollar worth.

We don’t intend to raise funds. We are strong in the market to sustain and grow organically & aggressively

 

What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? Why do they have that? What’s the reality?

They always wonder how do I get updated on multiple industry as I keep hopping onto different industry every now and then. They look at me working on new arena very frequently.

Reality is, am FUNCTIONAL expert and not Domain expert. So, I really don’t mind in what industry we work in. We take each functions sincerely and apply them  on client business.

 

What gets you excited about this company?

On the one hand, you make enough to your bank account and on the other a greater satisfaction every time we help client see growth in finance and non finance terms.

Many a times, client see us like a BUSINESS Doctor as we cure the problem and hand over healthy version of business. There are situations we turned around their business and gave new life to it.

Tell us how a day in your life looks like? Your schedule for a day right from the time you get up till you hit the bed at night.

Recent past, I started focussing on health grounds and early morning I give time to ONLY two things working out and talking my heart out to my spouse.

Office is loveable enough to be there the whole day. I ensure I meet up no less than 6-8 clients a week (New and old proportionately).

Ensure I work with R&D team on daily basis to keep my clients updated and to help my knowledge bank.

For sure, I talk with Mentors & Frenz to keep myself goal oriented and also to balance personal life.

I end up the day with some books and movies to entertain and relax.

 

Tell us about your team and how did you meet each other?

As I told earlier, its a combination of 7 directors consisting of CA / CS / IIT / IIM & NLS under one roof and 3 mentors from Global companies. Most of them are my Professional Colleagues and rest are my mates in student life. I built the team handpicked and very thoughtfully. I am proud to have this team with multifarious background and culture.

 

 

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