Gurmeet Likhari and his social impetus Venture Brahma Tank
A philanthropic leader creating an impact through Funding Startups: Brahma Tank
The Brain Behind an Admirable Company 2024
This story sheds light on the profile of a dynamic entrepreneur. Not only is he a serial entrepreneur and technocrat, but he is also an angel investor and mentor with over 33 years of leadership experience across telecom, IT, lifestyle, hospitality, and real estate. Yes, he is none other than Gurmeet Likhari, who garnered our attention with his inspiring leadership and philanthropic initiatives. As President and Founder of MobileComm Group of Companies, he drives global growth while empowering startups. His venture Brahma Tank is his visionary brainchild to give back to society, which he believes is his moral compass to bring about waves of change.
On the path to bagging global acclaim, Gurmeet is always regarded as a trustworthy innovator. Gradually, he broadened his business interests to include value-added IT services, e-commerce, real estate, hospitality, and telecom infrastructure deployment. He frequently mentors new professionals, giving them the guidance and inspiration to make informed decisions and gain knowledge from his experiences. He has continuously shown that he has a penchant for spotting and developing potential.
Based on our chat with Gurmeet, we chose to share his success story with our readers to provide them with some fresh insights into the business world. Let’s explore his perspectives on industrial standards and his future outlook, which are motivated by his humanitarian activities.
Early corporate life
Gurmeet Likhari’s career started with his association with Punjab Communications in 1991, where he swiftly scaled up to R&D group involved in the design and development of high-bandwidth two-way radios. Later in 1994, he joined Essar Cellphone, where his core responsibility was to deploy a transport network for India’s first cellular network. His pivotal role in the nascent cellular industry in India sealed his image as one of the pioneers at Essar Cellphone, a major player alongside Airtel in the early days of cellular networks in India.
In the early stages of his career, the serial entrepreneur took bold steps that boosted his professional odyssey. He led initiatives to deploy transmission networks by cherry-picking and training fresh engineering graduates from reputed engineering colleges in microwave network installation and integration. His efforts culminated in the successful deployment of 318 cell sites in the Delhi area, marking the launch of the first cellular network in the region. His leadership was soon recognised, and he was entrusted with overseeing network deployment for Essar’s cellular networks in Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, and Punjab.
His expertise extended beyond India. He played a crucial role in acquiring cellular network planning software from England and later became the country head for Mobile Systems International, which later moved him to the USA in 1997. There, Gurmeet managed the services division until 2002. Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, he founded Mobilecom Professionals, Inc. and successfully ran the company for 22 years, with 1400+ employees in the USA, Canada, and India. MobileComm was later acquired by UST Global.
Creating a social impact: Brahma Tank
Brahma Tank is his most ambitious venture that is aimed at investing in and mentoring young entrepreneurs. The initiative draws inspiration from the concept of creation, much like the creator deity ‘Brahma’ in Hindu mythology and the popular American investment TV show ‘Shark Tank’. Brahma Tank seeks to support startups with financial backing and strategic guidance from a network of seasoned professionals across various industries.
Gurmeet’s vision is to create an ecosystem where innovative ideas can flourish, particularly those spearheaded by women entrepreneurs. In the face of this, he quips, “India is experiencing significant growth in AI, IoT, data analytics, e-commerce, and other advanced technologies. The focus is on leveraging AI to strengthen these industries and enhance the global visibility of Indian talent. The Indian government is making commendable strides in this direction, and he believes it is essential to support young entrepreneurs.
This support should not only be financial but also involve mentoring them on project selection and market opportunities. Recognizing that young entrepreneurs need both funding and guidance, I have assembled a group of close friends from various industry segments who share a similar philanthropic business vision. While there is always a financial interest, our primary focus is on helping startup entrepreneurs who have potential but may not have financial acumen to run as a business. While the project supports a social cause.
Brahma Tank’s focus is not limited to high-tech innovations. Gurmeet is passionate about supporting projects with a social impact, such as ecofriendly pottery making by traditional ‘Kumhar’ women. Also, his initiatives to aid street dogs by providing them food, shelter, and medical aid in India are on his bucket list. Implementation of these anticipated projects needs an approach based on business acumen and a deep sense of social responsibility. With this, he is ensuring that the projects he supports contribute positively to society. So for those in search of seed investments, Brahma Tank is the go-to destination for turning your dreams into reality under the tutelage of Gurmeet Likhari.
The tycoon’s philanthropic endeavours are equally noteworthy. Gurmeet has recognised the need to support underprivileged children in India. In view of this, he founded the Likhari Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that focuses on the skill development and education of young, underprivileged girls. He aims to provide these girls with the tools and opportunities to achieve financial independence. When asked to share his ultimate goal with the foundation, he shared that it is all about realising our potential and responsibility to give back to society after one has been blessed with substantial wealth and achievements. Hence, he is devoted to uplifting entire communities.
Years down the line…
As Gurmeet looks to the future, his pledge to endorse innovations and support the next generation of entrepreneurs remains steadfast. He envisions a future where a new wave of startups propels India’s growth in AI, IoT, e-commerce, and data analytics. His efforts through Brahma Tank and other ventures are geared towards making this vision a reality, providing young entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and support they need to succeed.
We believe that the entrepreneurial space needs more leaders like Gurmeet Likhari, who has a vision to make a difference to the people at ground level. He says “All this would not have been possible without the support of his family, who gave their support in his every endeavor & decision” He is an embodiment of thought leadership, an innovative approach, and a profound commitment to bringing about change.
We would sum it up by saying that he is leaving footprints to be followed by the burgeoning entrepreneurial generations. His story is not just of a successful businessman but of a way of life that has touched lives. As he continues to invest in the future of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and societal welfare, his story serves as a motivational capsule for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders worldwide.
