Pat Patel founded Intelliswift in 2001. The company, which has offices in Burbank, offers IT solutions as well as software engineering.
Patel, who also serves as the company’s chief executive, said he “became an entrepreneur out of sheer necessity,” launching his company after “experiencing a setback during the dotcom bust and a personal economic loss in a partnership business.” The company is No. 26 on our List of Minority Owned Businesses.
Question: How did you get your business started?
Intelliswift was launched as a system integrator reselling and implementing web services and BPM, which I envisioned as future technologies. Since the company was established a month after 9/11, it was a tough time growing an SI business. I did it nonetheless, because I wanted to prove myself and be ready when the market turned around.
Do you like being your own boss?
I enjoy being my own boss. I like the freedom and liberty of running my own business, and I don’t think I would ever be able to work for someone else again. Early on, quite a few of my friends would advise me to take a steady job given my economic loss in the prior business, but I was confident about myself. Also, I was pining to prove that my past lack of success resulted from circumstances and market conditions and did not necessarily prove my merit as an entrepreneur.
How has the pandemic affected your business?
Our business is very people-intensive and requires many meetings with multiple people involved. Since the dynamics of in-person versus video conference calls are vastly different, we experienced some growth stagnation. However, things started turning around in 2022 when customers and individuals were more willing and open to meeting in person.
What’s the best aspect of running your own business?
I love having the luxury to either make decisions that grow the business or learn from the experience of taking calculated risks and failing. I am grateful for being in charge of my time and life – I even took the time to pursue an MBA from Wharton while running the business. Providing jobs to more than 1,400 people is an unparalleled feeling, and I am proud to grow an organization and reap the fruits of the labor invested. In addition, I enjoy mentoring and guiding others from my experiences and giving back.
And the worst?
I have a very positive mindset and do not see any downside to running my own business.
What advice would you give someone who is about to start their own business?
Be clear about your end goals, and have a plan, but also be open to pivot based on market demands and dynamics, while being aware of external conditions. Have a mentor early on, align yourself with your industry consortiums, and attend conferences related to your line of business. Collective knowledge can save you from repeating mistakes. Always be on the lookout for building value and going up the value chain in your respective business.
Has being a minority business owner affected your business? How?
We have witnessed the advantages as well as the disadvantages of being a minority business. Some industries resist change and prefer to deal with traditional companies, unwilling to evaluate businesses based on their capabilities. We have also seen an advantage working with larger firms that have a dedicated spend towards minority businesses and are willing to provide newer vendors a chance to showcase their offerings.
Do you think you’ll ever start another business?
Yes! I have already invested in two other ventures unrelated to our business line by helping other partners build, acquire, and grow in different competencies. I love sharing my experiences and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with ways to avoid mistakes so that they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. So yes, I would be open to starting other businesses without any hesitation.
— Hannah Madans
