Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Narendra.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved from Indonesia to the United States in 1999 with my uncle and his family and lived in New York for over 7 years. I was self-taught pretty much in everything. Combined with a vibrant energy and abundance of opportunities, I was fortunate to have worked in many different industries while living in “Big Apple”.
Starting and growing a business is always what I have been passionate about. I started my first business at the age of 8; I rented out my comic books that had piled up in my bedroom. Although it was a totally failed business because no one returned any of the books, I came to the realization that I can make money doing anything by being resourceful and with more thoughtful planning.
Fast forward, my wife and I moved from New York to Bali, Indonesia, where I started a coconut oil business. Back in 2007, the benefit of coconut oil was fairly unknown and it was pretty difficult to penetrate and educate the market at the same time. In addition to trying to market coconut oil, I told my wife that I also wanted to bottle coconut water but stopped myself from doing that because I had doubts. I wondered: “Who is going to drink coconut water from a box?”. With this missed opportunity, I promised myself to trust my gut feeling from then onwards. Additionally, I learned it is critical to have a good mentor, solid team, relevant technology, design thinking as a strategy for innovation, and with adaptive marketing approach, anybody can achieve the impossible in business.
The successes and failures of my business journey have taken me to where I am today. And after moving back and forth between the U.S. and Indonesia, my family decided to settle in Orange County, California. At this strategic location, I am able to support companies from San Diego to Los Angeles.
In the last decade, I have created several successful startups and my role has slowly morphed into that of a strategist since with my skillset and interests I can provide a better impact this way helping other companies. One example includes joining a small startup at its inception and growing it into a multi-million dollar company which recently went public and will be trading by the end this year. ANKARTA has been an important vehicle to support small businesses and help them achieve their goals.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As an entrepreneur, I expected the path to be neither perfect nor smooth. At first, a few barriers such as language, cultural, business approach, etc. were the main struggles I had to grow my business. But by utilizing the most fundamental (and by far, the best) skill that humans can ever have – ADAPTABILITY – I have been able to overcome the challenges.
ANKARTA – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a business owner myself, I know for sure that these are the list of must have in a business: 1. Branding, 2. Marketing, 3. Technology. These are crucial no matter what industry the business is in.
ANKARTA focuses strongly on building strategies during the initial stages of a business in the areas of branding, marketing, and technology in order to sustain and grow the business.
We believe in taking an educational and consultative approach to helping a company understand its SWOT within digital marketing, technology, and operations. We guide business owners through the process of selecting the right platform, technology, marketing strategy, and standard operating procedure. Our support is best fit for e-business companies.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally believe that success and the greatest accomplishments in life are passing on positive values and fulfillment to the next generation.
I live by accepting what life gives me while keeping my integrity in everything I do. The minute I wake up, I strive to take advantage of the opportunity to do better every day while I still have the chance to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ankarta.com
- Phone: (858) 815-3567
- Email: [email protected]
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