Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ankesh Kumar, Founder of Slide.travel, located in Palo Alto, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Slide.travel is a social platform focused on travel. We allow people to share trip ideas in short videos.

Tell us about yourself

I've worked on numerous startups, raised $50m+ in funding, sold patents to Google, and had successful exits as well as a number of unsuccessful outcomes. I really enjoy the challenges in early-stage companies. Specifically identifying the product-to-market fit.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Probably stating a venture, ATsystems, without any funding, being cash flow positive from the beginning. $1m in the first year, $5m in year 2, $15 in year 3, $25m in year 4, and selling to TMP, the parent company of Monster, the following year.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Managing the emotional roller coaster. Not getting too high when something good happens and, conversely, not too low when you have a disappointment.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have a solid partner; it's hard to do a venture alone.
  2. Be honest and truthful to yourself if you're not getting traction, pivot, or fold.
  3. Balance your family and social life, including leisure activities, walking, exercising, Yoga, etc. You have to realize it's a marathon, so prepare accordingly.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://slide.travel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ankesh.kumar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slide.travel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ankesh99kumar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankeshkumar/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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