Sandeep Verma is part of one of the fastest growing alternative investment management firms in the Middle East, North Africa and South-East Asia (MENASEA) region, providing tailored solutions to its broad client base offering private equity across Healthcare, Education, Food & Beverages and Logistics sectors, based in Dubai.
What’s your story?
Born to a lower middle-class family, grown up in a 60 square foot room – my so-called world – in Calcutta (now Kolkata), widely regarded as the “cultural capital” of India, and is also nicknamed as “City of Joy”. It is really intricate to accomplish your aspirations when you don’t know where to begin with. I graduated from St. Xavier’s College back in 2004, did my CFA & MS (Finance) from ICFAI, India, and started my career as an Equity Research Analyst at a Kolkata-based boutique stockbroking firm when I was 21. With continuous struggles, hard-work, blessings and God’s grace, I am now part of Dubai-based Regulus Consultancy, one of the fastest growing alternative investment management firms in the Middle East, North Africa and South-East Asia (MENASEA) region, providing tailored solutions to its broad client base offering private equity across Healthcare, Education, Food & Beverages and Logistics sectors.
What is your involvement with Investment?
At Regulus, we are principally responsible to drive organic as well as inorganic growth across our different platforms. I work primarily with our Healthcare platform called “AVIVO Group”. Growth through acquisitions is an integral part of our strategy that captures and creates efficiencies in healthcare delivery throughout the investment cycle – from origination until exit. Our vision is to create a region-wide healthcare network through a buy-and-build strategy, acquiring profitable and non-capital intensive healthcare businesses and integrating them into a unified entity.
How did that come about?
It was definitely not a smooth ride. We wanted to bridge the gap between the demand and supply in the region’s healthcare sector. Currently, AVIVO Group owns and operates 47 healthcare facilities including small hospitals, medical & diagnostic centers, pharmacies and medical aesthetic products distribution businesses across the Middle East.
What are some of the key things you have learnt about Investing?
There is a huge difference between an investment and a successful investment. Entry and Exit point of such investments define everything. Start early. Executing an opportunity at a right time makes a big difference.
What mistakes do you see less experienced investors making?
Mistakes are common to happen. We all make them. I strongly believe that if we are not doing any mistakes, possibly something is wrong. As we say, life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes. What is more important here is to make sure that we don’t repeat them instead learn from them. Make your investments carefully. Learn thoroughly about it before investing into it.
What mistakes do you see Entrepreneurs making?
Apparently, managing ego issues are really difficult. These three letters can destroy everything, and the absence of this can help us accomplish anything.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is “What are you willing to do to make your dreams come true? Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Are you willing to take actions? Are you willing to push past your fears and doubts? How much faith and belief are you willing to have? DECIDE and ACT NOW!”
What advice would you give to those seeking funding?
Believe in your Dreams. Believe in your Ideas. Growth needs Patience and Perseverance.
Who inspires you?
My dreams. My family.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our day-to-day life is something excites me.
What business book do you recommend the most?
I am not a big fan when it comes to business books, but I strongly recommend my readers to please watch the following video link –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3kliNm48E
Shameless plug for your business/organisation:
Established in 2011, our Healthcare platform, AVIVO Group has grown to be one of the most trusted and leading healthcare service providers in GCC. It currently offers quality healthcare services through its existing 47 healthcare assets which include 2 highly reputed Hospitals, 29 Medical / Specialty Centres including 11 High-end Dental Centres attached with sophisticated Dental Labs, 6 Pharmacies & 2 State-of-the-art Diagnostic Facilities. We are one of the leading distributors of high-end aesthetic medical equipment & products in the MENASA region and are the second largest stand-alone premium aesthetic service provider in the UAE. The group has over 200 qualified doctors, each being an expert in their respective field along with 1,200 plus compassionate employees serving over 1 million patients a year.
AVIVO Group strives to become one of the largest integrated healthcare services providers in the region, delivering unparalleled quality standards in healthcare coupled with easy access for patients. We want to ensure maximum accessibility for patients across the spectrum of demographics and income through a diverse portfolio of hospitals, medical centers, niche surgical facilities, diagnostic facilities, and other related assets. The group has expanded its presence in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon as well as KSA, and is set to enter/further expand into Oman, Saudi Arabia, North Africa and South-East Asia over the next phase of its growth.
How can people connect with you?
I am reachable at –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-verma-a5b15913/
or
[email protected]
Social Media profiles?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-verma-a5b15913/
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This article is part of the World Business Angel Forum media partnership with AsianEntrepreneur.org
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