Episode 18: How To Build a Million-Dollar Startup from Scratch with Bhavya Barot

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Michael Lim (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lim-1bb1ba112/) from The Solopreneur welcomes Bhavya Barot (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyabarot/) Co-Founder at Spaces.

From surviving a terrorist attack to building and selling multiple companies, Bhavya’s journey is a testament to resilience, bold decision-making, and the power of relationships in entrepreneurship.

Meet your Host: Michael helps solopreneurs add $2-5k to their businesses using my proven Limitless Writing System™. With over 1,000 customers and more than $100k in client sales, his strategies have empowered many entrepreneurs to thrive. He also shares his expertise with an audience of 80,000+ followers on Medium. Michael Lim is also the host of Solopreneur Launch: Your Digital Nomad MBA. 

Shownotes:

00:00 - Intro

01:12 - Inspiration for the startup

01:34 - Identifying gaps in the CRM market

01:55 - Finding a co-founder through travel

03:30 - Selling multiple businesses

03:50 - The impact of visa challenges

04:12 - Entrepreneurial spirit from childhood

05:30 - Starting the first company at 17

07:10 - Self-teaching coding in high school

08:29 - Scaling the business through high-profile clients

09:53 - Learning business skills without formal education

10:53 - Working with Kenya’s biggest companies

13:43 - Finding support through startup communities

14:27 - Selling the first company at 24

15:34 - The emotional struggle of selling a business

19:16 - Scaling three businesses at once

20:13 - Selling all three companies in 2021

21:13 - Searching for a new co-founder

22:40 - Experimenting with a lead generation startup

24:15 - Pivoting into sales training

25:22 - Visa issues forcing an exit from the fourth startup

26:38 - Learning about venture capital in Africa

27:21 - Moving to Southeast Asia to find a co-founder

28:03 - Meeting the current co-founder in Bali

28:21 - Reflection on life-changing moments

33:07 - How the attack shaped his mindset

35:43 - Lessons from meeting Kenya’s richest entrepreneurs

36:16 - Handling uncertainty in entrepreneurship

37:05 - Shifting from valuing money to relationships

37:29 - Common Mistakes Startup Founders Make

38:24 - Future of AI and its role in CRM

42:11 - Tech ecosystem in Bali vs. San Francisco

Michael Lim: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lim-1bb1ba112/

Bhavya Barot:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavy

Spaces:

https://www.spacesos.com/

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solopreneur-launch-your-digital-nomad-mba/id1779389863

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@michaellim.co3

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