In the Season 1 finale of Behind the Business, Faheem Savja sits down with Rahim Karmali, Founder and CEO of Serv, a fast-growing translation agency. From working on his honeymoon to navigating the challenges of fatherhood and entrepreneurship, Rahim shares the raw and real story behind building a business from scratch.
Rooted in service and shaped by his background in competitive badminton, Rahim opens up about:
- Spotting a gap in the translation market
- The early days of Serv and learning from a tough business split
- How AI is reshaping the industry — and why localization still reigns
- Balancing the demands of family and entrepreneurship
- Why authenticity and persistence are critical for success
With lessons in grit, growth, and staying grounded, this episode is a candid look at the hustle behind a business that helps brands be understood around the world.
Stay connected with #behindthebusiness :
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📱 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/behind-the-business-podcast/
Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(0:37) Founding Serv Translation Agency
(3:37) Pivoting and Launching with Partners
(7:26) Why the name "Serv"?
(9:21) Experience in Northern Pakistan
(11:55) Athletics and Business
(13:44) Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
(16:46) No Days off - even on vacation
(18:36) Seeing your product out in the wild
(20:17) The impact of AI in the industry
(23:18) Impact of Rahim's Family on Entrepreneurship
(28:33) Business Development on crutches
(31:06) Moving the business to Toronto
(34:02) Relationships - in life and business
(37:20) Lessons from Nine Years in Business
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