Abeer Raza is the Co-Founder of Tekrevol. Abeer is a thought leader, influencer, visionary, and successful entrepreneur. Abeer provides the leadership and energy that has inspired the creation of Tekrevol. Abeer Raza joins other leading Bestselling Authors, International Speakers & Entrepreneur, and Co-Founder’s taking part in our Leader Roundtable Interview Series. The DotCom Magazine editorial team is delighted to have Abeer join us for our Leader Roundtable Interview.
Let’s start by telling us about your business.
Tekrevol is a digital solutions and technology company that provides startups, mid-size businesses and enterprise companies with mobile app and web development, game development, and digital business solutions.
We bootstrapped the company back in 2016 with an investment of $100. In the last 4 years, we have seen exponential growth, with an annual revenue of $2M-$5M . We’ve scaled from a team of 5 to a team of 120+, with our global footprint encompassing 6 different locations.
We were recently positioned as the best mobile app development company in Houston based on Clutch’s leader matrix, alongside many other global accolades.
Q: Please tell us how you make sure your customers will become raving fans of your company?
I think that our edge has always been our willingness and ability to go above and beyond the basic scope of mobile app and web development.
Our focus is to treat every client as a technology partner. We use our knowledge and expertise to not just develop apps based on our client’s initial idea but we also work alongside them to evolve their ideas into their best versions.
Plus, I think we have a wonderful team that is exceptional at building relationships and understanding the perspective of our clients and I think that just helps with making the client journey ever so comfortable and smooth.
Q: Please tell us the one thing that separates your business from the competition?
I think what sets us apart is our culture and priorities. We develop apps and websites with the mission to create entrepreneurial success stories.
From ideation and planning to the launch, we work with the client to make sure that everything makes perfect sense from the standpoint of a brand. For us, a high-functioning digital solution is the bare minimum, the goal is to add a bit of a revolutionary twist to the overall success strategy.
Q: And to finish this section, please tell us what is the one major key to your company’s success?
I think a major reason for success is the culture that’s driven by our entire team. We have people who understand the difference between being happy and being content.
As a team, we’re never content, we’re always hungry, hungry to do more, to achieve more, and most importantly to learn more. That’s our secret to the growth of our company and the growth of our people, both of which I think are interdependent.
Every individual wants to associate themselves with something exceptional and they put in the work to achieve that, and help each other achieve that.
And I think that as long as we can maintain this culture and as long as we help build each other as individuals and work together to solve problems, overcome challenges, and keep trying new things and innovating, we will continue to grow.
Q: For our readers just starting to build a company, what advice can you give entrepreneurs just starting out with a new venture?
Don’t stop experimenting, iterating, and validating. For those who haven’t read “The lean startup by Eric Ries”, do that and understand the importance of validating your idea and the right way to do so.
I think it’s also important to be in love with your idea. For me, that’s important because unless you have a huge investment in, growing your business is going to be difficult. But if you’re truly passionate, you’re going to treat that difficulty as a challenge, rather than as a struggle and while that’s a very thin line, that difference can be the difference between success and failure.
Lastly, dream big, work hard and smart, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
Q: For entrepreneurs seeking to build a business as successful as yours, what big piece of advice can you give them when times get a little challenging?
There are three things that I thing are absolutely crucial.
1) Learn to talk to yourself the way you would talk to a loved one, when they are in a challenging situation. You have to be your biggest critic and your biggest motivator and while people are very good at the prior, we’re not taught the latter and that’s something you should must learn yourself.
2) Be open to change. In the 21st century, things are super fast. Trends come and go, technologies keep evolving and opening new doors, while closing the old ones, and consumer behavior changes erratically. This means that you should always be ready to analyze the market and make changes, be it small or a complete pivot. Having that fluidity and being comfortable with having to pivot is something that’s crucial.
3) Lastly, just because things are looking a bit on the low does not mean that your people are insincere or not working hard, mostly it’s just the overall approach. I’ve seen too many business owners disenfranchise their people at the time when they need the most motivation i.e when things are not looking too good. I understand that sales pressure is hard to deal with and not achieving targets is a problem, but when such a time comes, it’s important to stay away from blaming teams or individuals, rather to work together to come up with a solution. Because I think that even if the hard way works in the short run, in the long-run it deteriorates your work culture, resulting in irreversible damage to your organization.
Q: In today’s fast changing business environment, how do you stay abreast of things?
Invest in your people and their individual growth. The only way you stay ahead in a fast-moving industry is if your people are equally fast-moving on an individual level.
Think of their professional and technical growth as part of your company’s goal. That’s because you can’t always hire all the best people in all departments, in each position. You have to help transform the people you have into the best people in the industry. So invest in their training and development and you’ll be good.
Q: What is your “Why”? In one sentence, why do you get up in the morning?
I want to use my expertise in technology to improve the lives of communities and people around the globe.
Q: In one sentence, what is the most important thing one has to do to be a great leader?
Being a good listener and being open to the possibility of being wrong.
Q: In one sentence, describe how important your customers are to your business?
Them achieving success brings us closer to achieving our mission as an organization.
Q: In one sentence, describe a positive way that technology can make the world a better place?
Turning dreams into reality has never been as possible as it is today, thanks to technology.
Q: In one sentence, tell us how something positive to motivate our readers?
The adventure is worth the stress, so keep going!
Q: In one sentence, tell us how you start your day to get ready?
An honest conversation with myself to remind myself about why I do what I do.
Q: In one sentence, describe how you handle rejection and setback?
By seeing the rejection or setback as a learning experience to make sure I succeed the next time.
Q: In one sentence, describe what your hiring philosophy is?
People who are not just qualified for a job but also encompass the core values of the organization.
Q: In one sentence, describe how you keep your sanity in a competitive business environment?
By visualizing the happiness that’s on the other side of a challenge.
Abeer Raza, thank you so much for participating in the DotCom Magazine Leader Roundtable Interview Series. We appreciate you participating in this important roundtable interview series, and helping our readers learn more about what it takes to build a great company and become a great leader. We wish you, your family, and of course Tekrevol, nothing but the best.
Website
www.tekrevol.com
Twitter
https://twitter.com/abeerraza4
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/abeer.raza
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeer-raza-77b97528/
