[EO Chicago] Reshaping Hiring Through Technology and Personal Grit With Vikram Seth

Vikram Seth is the Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl, where he provides AI-driven remote staffing and digital solutions to help businesses scale using top talent, particularly from Latin America. Under his leadership, his companies have helped US enterprises — including Fortune 500 clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Best Buy — hire tens of thousands of employees and improve their talent-assessment processes. What began as an internal tool, Ducknowl is now a widely used SaaS platform.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[03:25] Vikram Seth talks about what they do at Simpalm and Ducknowl
[06:38] How Ducknowl helps companies see candidates beyond the résumé through video and skill assessments
[09:40] How AI proctoring works to prevent cheating and maintain integrity in candidate evaluations
[11:00] Why standardized screening questions and documented scoring reduce hiring bias and improve fairness
[12:58] The biggest hiring mistakes and why companies lose great talent when searching for perfection
[17:41] How a pizza shop owner transformed operations using Latin American virtual staff recommended by Vikram
[22:01] Where Vikram’s journey began in India, and how a move to Tanzania opened an unexpected door to the US
[44:41] Why Vikram says necessity and the encouragement of others fueled his drive to push past obstacles in the US

In this episode…

Hiring has always been a mix of intuition and imperfect information. Résumés rarely tell the full story, and interviews often reward confidence more than competence. So how do you really uncover potential in a world where traditional hiring signals keep failing?

According to Vikram Seth, a longtime builder of technology and global talent pipelines, the answer starts with giving people a fair chance to show who they are. He believes many great candidates are overlooked simply because their résumés don’t “speak their language,” a challenge he understands personally. Drawing from years of helping companies hire at scale, he explains how video screenings, structured assessments, and clear data can cut through the noise and reveal true ability. He also points out that hiring isn’t just about tools — it’s about patience, context, and understanding that new talent needs time to settle in before they shine. The result is a process that’s more humane, more accurate, and far more effective for long-term growth.

In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Vikram Seth, Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl, to discuss reshaping hiring talent through technology and personal grit. They explore why traditional screening fails modern talent, how structured assessments can reduce bias, and what companies misunderstand about finding the perfect hire. Vikram also shares his remarkable journey from washing dishes to Georgetown — and the mindset that carried him forward.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments

“Sometimes a résumé doesn’t speak much about your skill set.”
“When you have nothing to lose, you have you, you have to play your cards right.”
“Within a 30 minutes, you will able to understand whether you want to go with this candidate or not.”
“When you hire somebody, you gotta need to be patient enough…the first month is going to be the storming phase.”
“EO actually gave me the opportunity to meet people with similar mindset.”

Action Steps

Build a structured, merit-based screening process: Standardizing interview questions and assessments ensures every candidate is evaluated fairly and consistently.
Use technology to validate skills early: Incorporating tools like video responses and skill tests saves time and highlights true capability beyond résumés.
Shorten hiring cycles with pre-vetted talent pools: Maintaining a dynamic database of strong runners-up allows faster fills and prevents losing momentum on critical roles.
Set realistic expectations for new hires: Understanding the storming, forming, norming, and performing phases helps teams support employees through their ramp-up period.
Delegate operational tasks to free leadership bandwidth: Offloading repeatable work enables founders and managers to focus on strategy, growth, and higher-value decisions.

Sponsor for this episode…

At Rise25 we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your ‘Dream 200’ relationships and partnerships.

We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways.

#1 Podcasting

#2 Strategic Gifting

#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program

At Rise25, we’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.

We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.

What do you need to start a podcast?

When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution – you just need to show up and talk.

The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI, which is the most important component. Plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.

We make distribution easy.

We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.

Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, FreshBooks, and many more.

The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.

Podcast production has a lot of moving parts and is a big commitment on our end; we only want to work with people who are committed to their business and to cultivating amazing relationships.

Are you considering launching a podcast to acquire partnerships, clients, and referrals? Would you like to work with a podcast agency that wants you to win?

Rise25 Cofounders, Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran, have been podcasting and advising about podcasting since 2008.

#2 Our Comprehensive Corporate Gifting Program

Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.

At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our corporate gift program is designed to simplify your process by delivering a full-service corporate gifting program — from sourcing and hand selecting the best gifts to expert packaging, custom branding, reliable shipping, and personalized messaging on your branded stationary.

Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience. Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable.

Discover how Rise25’s personalized corporate gifting program can help you create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.

Email us through our contact form.

You can learn more and watch a video on how it works here: https://rise25.com/giftprogram/

Episode Transcript:

Intro: 00:02

Welcome to the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, where we feature top founders and entrepreneurs and their journey. Now let’s get started with the show.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 00:12

Jeremy Weisz here, Founder of InspiredInsider.com, where I talk with inspirational entrepreneurs and leaders. Today is no different. I have Vikram Seth. You can check him out at SimpalmStaffing.com and Ducknowl.com

It’s duck the letter N and then owl.com and Vikram, before I formally introduce you Vikram has a fascinating background, fascinating journey which we’re going to dig into. Before I do, I always like to point out other episodes of the podcast that people should check out. There was a really good one with Nicole Donnelly. She talked about different AI tools, and Vikram and I know each other through EO.

And so Nicole is a fellow EO member. Another one that was interesting was David Anderson, the CEO of Off Madison Avenue, also in EO, and just talked about vision and the company and kind of how they grew their business and Ethan King of EO Atlanta and he’s got a couple companies and so check that episode out as well. And this episode is brought to you by Rise25. At Rise25, we help businesses connect to their dream relationships and partnerships.

We do that in a few ways. Number one, we’re an easy button for a company to launch and run a podcast. We do the strategy, accountability, and the full execution and production. Number two, we’re an easy button for a company’s gifting, so we make gifting and staying top of mind for your clients, partners, prospects, even your staff. Simple, easy and affordable.

You just give, give us a list and we do everything else. It’s not less of like one off. We like to send a campaign of gifts. So think every four months for 4 to 5 years, right? You know, for me, Vikram, I think much like yourself, you know, the number one thing in my life is relationships.

I’m always looking at ways on how I can give to my best relationships, and I found no better way over the past 15 years than to profile the people and companies I admire on the podcast, and also send them sweet treats in the mail. So if you have questions, go to rise25.com or email support@rise25.com I am really excited to introduce Vikram South. He’s the Founder of Simpalm and they create niche digital solutions for companies.

They also have a staffing solution where they’re focused on Latin America, a virtual assistant staffing company, which we’ll get into. He’s also if he wasn’t busy enough with that. He’s Co-founder of Ducknowl, which is a talent screening and assessment platform. So basically the platform helps you to save time, reduce cost and screen the best talent. And the two companies help us businesses scale through technology and top talent through Latin America.

And his journey is very interesting. It’s really. You know, Vikram, I think you agree. The American dream of hard work, grit, washing dishes to Georgetown, to building global teams. And I’m excited to have you.

So thanks for joining me.

Vikram Seth: 03:10

Well, thank you very much for having me. And, you know, thank you very much for all the kind words.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 03:15

You know, start off, we’re going to get into your background journey and how you got here. But just give people a simple overview of Simpalm and then Ducknowl.

Vikram Seth: 03:25

Sure I mean like Simpalm has been started almost like over a decade before me and my partner named Piyush Jain. I mean, when actually he started this company with a vision of, you know, like that technology on the palm, right? What does that mean is if you see the name of the symptom, he was having a vision sim sim sim card on your palm so that you know the custom solution, the mobile apps and everything, that actually that’s the vision of the, you know, the company, the technology side. When I join him actually as a partner then actually obviously. I mean, my whole background of my entire life story is all about the people connection, relationship.

And I brought the, you know, like the people part into it, you know, where actually we got heavily involved in technology stuffing. You know, we’re actually we work with a lot of enterprise clients here in the US, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Best Buy, all those type of, you know, the enterprise client while working in the technology and staffing industry for almost like a seven, eight years, we realized that there are some issues in the process. You know, there are some issues in actually assessing the talent as well. So then actually we ended up creating another SaaS product called Ducknowl.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 04:35

I guess this makes perfect sense. You’re like, we have a staffing. Yes. Right. And we you know, you provide the, you know, some niche digital solutions for companies.

You’re providing staff. And now you have to screen them. And that’s you’re spending a lot of time on that.

Vikram Seth: 04:51

No 100%. And Jeremy I mean there is a there is a there is a funny story behind it. I mean, like we didn’t have the intention to create doc and all as a SaaS product when actually me and Piyush, we developed this product we developed to use this product internally. I mean, you know, so that our process can get better. I mean, you know, like when actually we submit the candidate to our enterprise client because you know what?

Overcome you know, our competitor was bigger companies. You know, other staffing companies, there were a lot more bigger there were a lot more workforce. Only edge that we have was, you know, the technology background. So that’s exactly what we did. I mean, rather hiding a lot of like the army of the people, which anyways, we couldn’t afford it.

We ended up, you know, creating that technology, that technology can actually help us to get into the front of those hiring managers. So the entire doc and all idea was just to use the product internally. And I was lucky enough, you know, when actually we created this product. I mean, you know, like a lot of our clients started asking, hey, by the way, what product that you guys are using. It’s a great product.

So this happened with us 4 or 5 times. And then I was lucky. I mean, I was surrounded with like, you know, great minds like you, you know, and they told me like, hey, maybe this is the time for you guys to create another company and make this product a SaaS product. So no more secret sauce anymore. So then actually, you know, like me and Piyush, actually, we came with a decision that, okay, you know what?

We should actually make Ducknowl as a SaaS product. And then actually we should start, you know, writing other staffing companies or even the companies to know that, you know, this is the right way to do assess the talent. So that’s how the Ducknowl came into existence.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 06:29

What were the key features, Vikram, that you built into that for yourself, that you found maybe weren’t in other solutions or there was just important in this process?

Vikram Seth: 06:38

See, I mean, the Ducknowl is also a Ducknowl is very close to my heart also because it also tell a little bit of my story as well. What happened? I mean, not necessarily. I mean, I personally feel like because I have an experience with that. I mean, sometime résumé doesn’t speak much about your skill set, right?

You know, specifically, I mean, or especially I mean, like, I’m talking about, like, you know, before AI before ChatGPT, you know, at that time when I was actually looking for, like, a job. I mean, I was not very good in writing the résumé, but that doesn’t mean I’m not good at it. You know what? Actually, I was good at it, but I never get a chance. What Ducknowl does is.

I mean, obviously, I’m, you know, like a duck. And I’ll give you a fair chance to showcase your skill set in a video format. So if you are not good in writing the résumé, you will get another chance to present yourself in a video, right? And I’ll also give you a chance, you know, to showcase your skill set in a in a multiple choice question format where actually if you are a strong candidate, your skill set actually will be displayed in your test result, right? So with all that data that I actually have, I mean, whether actually, you know, analyzing your communication skill set via video or, you know, like checking your skill set via multiple choice question test.

I mean, that actually make you, you know, I think competitive candidate in front of like a lot of other candidates. So basically, I mean, the Canal sees the candidate beyond the résumé. You know, I hope I answered you.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 08:08

Yeah. Talk about the name.

Vikram Seth: 08:10

Okay. The name. Well, I mean, the name is a funny story. I mean, obviously, I mean, when actually we were brainstorming the name, you know, we we want to have some name that actually has some sort of the, you know, like the reasoning behind it. If you see the Ducknowl, if you have ever seen the duck, duck is trying to find the food from the mud.

So Ducknowl actually has to go through a lot, you know, to find the food from the mud. So exactly the same analogy. I mean, like when the résumé touches a Ducknowl, so Ducknowl, if the if the 50 people apply for the same job, Ducknowl can tell you that who are the prioritized résumé? Which résumé that you should go first to the recruiter. So basically you know what duck analogy come from there.

You know what? Try to find the best résumé out of like you know, hundreds of résumé. And the owl part comes from like all is a symbol of wisdom in a lot of different cultures. You know, the owl part also come with over cameras. You know, you are on a video camera.

You know, if you try to cheat. We have a AI proctoring as well. We will we will actually we will let recruiter know that you are trying to cheat, you know, and our whole video aspect actually come from and also we have over 350 different tests that covers technology non technology psychometric test. You know so that’s where the Owl part comes. And if you combine both.

So we came up with the name Ducknowl.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 09:35

You mentioned it could help catch cheaters. How does that work.

Vikram Seth: 09:40

Well I mean like for example I mean if we have seen that in the past when we were working in a technology side, if you send somebody a, you know, a test, you know, via link. Anybody can do that test. I mean, like if you are sending that test to me, I mean, my friend sitting in India, they can do that, you know, to stop that or to minimize that. Actually, you know, what what we did is we bring the concept of like a AI proctoring, for example. I mean, if, you know, AI proctoring, if you try to if, for example, somebody else is taking your test or even you are taking your test, we take the random picture during the test.

And also if you try to navigate away from the screen, we record your screen, right. And all that information is going to recruiter and, and also I just want to mention one more thing. We are not doing anything without telling the candidate. Candidate is a fully aware of this functionality. Right.

So this actually will minimize, you know, the situation or the scenario where actually, you know, like a somebody else is pretending you.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 10:42

I noticed on your site there’s a couple features as far as you know, your screening candidates in a in a specific way. And I know companies have been sued for biases. Can you talk about how your software relates to that?

Vikram Seth: 11:00

Correct. I mean, you know, as I said earlier, I mean, like, you know, like in our case, I mean, if any candidate apply, everybody get like, you know, the video screening request and all the candidates will get the same set of the questions, right. You know, if all the candidates get the same set of the question, then actually the second round is we actually invite them for the technical screening where every candidate received the same set of the multiple choice question test. Definitely. I mean, our entire hiring is based on the merit.

You know, the first is, you know, like how you are actually articulating, you know, the how you are articulating yourself on the video. The second is, you know, your result in the test and all the data is actually all the data is documented. So if anybody want to see that, why actually you give it. Why you give a chance to Jeremy or Vikram. You know, we have the proof for that.

Hey, you know what? Jeremy made a great score, and Jeremy answered all the video questions in a very structured format. That’s why the Jeremy got the interview request or where. Actually, we invited Jeremy for the final round of interview with us. So in in my experience, that makes entire process, you know, the data driven, you know, and the bias free.

And in addition to that, I mean, like sometime we have noticed that in our field where actually, you know, Jeremy is a great candidate, but then there is a Vikram is the second best candidate, but we only have one job, right? But now we have this dynamic data. If tomorrow, I mean, I have a same job pop up before even opening up the job and spending money on indeed or LinkedIn. I will actually call Vikram first because I know that Vikram was my second best candidate when actually I was working for this job, you know, a month before. So basically, you know, Ducknowl helps you to create a dynamic library of the candidates.

[Continue to Page 2]

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 12:42

I’m curious, you know, you’ve you and you’ve helped companies hire tens of thousands of people over the years. Yeah. What are the biggest mistakes you see people making with the hiring process?

Vikram Seth: 12:58

Yeah, I mean, the.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 12:59

I mean, maybe ones you made early on before you had I mean.

Vikram Seth: 13:02

In my experience, I mean, you’re like, I personally believe that. I mean, nothing is perfect, right? You know, I believe that, you know what? When you hire somebody, I mean, like, you gotta need to be patient enough. You know, the first month is going to be the storming phase, right?

It’s not like that. The candidate is going to come and start delivering it. No, that’s not going to happen. You know, it’s a storming phase. And then actually it’s going to be the forming phase where actually the person is going to assimilate to your team.

Then there is going to be the norming phase when everything is going to be the normal, and then it’s going to be performing phase. Right. And I feel like the biggest mistake that people do that I mean, sometime I mean, like I’ve seen a lot of projects, you know, they, ended up losing a great candidate in the hope of finding a great candidate. Why? Why?

I mean, because, you know, they they want a perfect candidate. They want to have a perfect, perfect skill set. They want a perfect communication skill. They want a perfect psychology, you know, or psychometric tests. So what does that mean?

Is that mean is, you know, you are actually you are actually dependent. Dependent upon a lot of different variables. Yes, you can do that. But then you forget to align your project timelines if you want to deliver your project in a certain time frame, but you are taking too much time to hiring the right skill set, right? And as I said earlier, I mean, but at the same time, we have a lot of clients who follow this model.

I mean, you know, where they understand that, hey, you know what? We need a skill set, right? Skill set in the right amount of the attitude. You know, they understand that there is going to be a certain part where they have to compromise and they do that, you know, in a hope that, hey, you know what? The first month is going to be the storming, you know, and the performing is going to come after a few weeks.

You know.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 14:48

You think people have really like super high expectations and need to, you know, first, train some people first.

Vikram Seth: 14:57

I mean, Jeremy, I mean, you know, we deal with the technology resources as well as a non technology resources. But you’re absolutely right. I mean, you know, when some people or some business owner I mean they believe that I mean if they hire somebody that somebody is going to come with a magic stick and they’re going to solve the problem. Right. But but I personally feel like, you know what?

When you hire somebody, somebody is coming to your home, you know, for and it’s your responsibility to make that person feel comfortable in your onboarding process. Right? Once the person feels comfortable, I mean, you’re like a then definitely the person has a skill set. You had an interview with the candidate, then that person will deliver. But first of all, make the person feel comfortable in your in your in your, in your organization.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 15:44

So once there’s like let’s say you get, you know, there’s several people that come through this whole process. Maybe there’s like three people. Are there certain best practices or mistakes you see? Okay, now we’re actually gonna conduct a interview, right. Because Duncanville helps kind of sift through hundreds, maybe thousands of candidates at points to now you’re talking to a couple people.

So what are some best practices when you’re actually interviewing them?

Vikram Seth: 16:12

See I mean, see I mean the Ducknowl does one thing. I mean, for example, if you are if you are my client, right. And I’m and my team is actually sharing the duck and a result the one thing happened, you already know the candidate. So when actually has a client actually you go and actually start having an interview with the candidate. You it you think that you already know the candidate because you already have seen the video, right?

You already actually know that actually in terms of the communication. You know what how candidate was you know like performing. So then actually obviously I mean then actually within a 30 minutes, I mean you will able to understand that whether you want to go with this candidate or not, you know, because what we have noticed that, I mean, if any of our candidate, sorry, if any of our client give an interview based upon Ducknowl video interview plus skill assessment 90%, there is a probability they will hire the person, right? Because as you said, I mean, anyways, I mean like over over team actually has vetted the candidate Ducknowl has vetted the candidate. So anyways, they’re only getting 2 or 3 candidate to pick, you know, and out of the 2 or 3 candidate, if they interview any one candidate or two candidate, 90%, they’re going to hire either one.

So that’s shorten the cycle.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 17:27

There is an example. You mentioned the storming and then forming. There was an example where There was an unlikely recruitment process at a gas station.

Vikram Seth: 17:41

Yeah. I mean, you like because we were with a lot of business owners as well. And, and I think that that specific example comes from the retail. I mean, you know, like the particular business owner owned a couple of pizza store or pizza franchisee, you know, most of the business owner, actually, I think in my opinion, I mean, they made this mistake. I mean, try to try to become a chief of everything, right?

You know, and obviously, I mean, you know, when actually you are in such a retail, you know, like a business, obviously you have a lot of chaotic environment. You got to need to order a food. You got to need to have a logistic control. You got need to make sure the pizza looks good, the temperature is good, the employees are showing up. So actually this particular business owner actually, you know, tried to be everywhere, right.

But also at the same time, you know he want to grow ten x as well. I mean the I mean I mean as you know that I mean the both are two actually the wrong assumption. So when actually we came into the play. We we told him, you know, why don’t you actually hire somebody who can actually optimize your operation? And his explanation was, I mean, like, I cannot afford somebody.

I mean, like.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 18:47

Because he had a chain of pizza.

Vikram Seth: 18:49

Correct. He had a chain of pizza. Right. But he but obviously, I mean, he doesn’t have that kind of the budget to afford somebody actually who can do that. I mean, you know, and managing 5 or 6 different pizza store then actually we actually we actually we actually tried to explain them, you know, what, all those tasks that you are telling us that can be done from anywhere.

You don’t need a physical person. But trust me, it was very hard actually, you know, to convince him because he never seen that world, right? He come from like a very old school, you know, like doing the things and, you know, like. And he was not ready to actually accept that. Okay, you know what, Vikram?

What you are saying is that anybody sitting from the Brazil or Argentina can do that. Right. And and then we told him, why don’t you try somebody that actually we actually suggested them for 30 days. And you don’t need to pay us anything. If nothing works, it’s all on us.

Right. And trust me, I mean, after 30 days, this guy come to me and say, like, Vikram, can I actually have 1 or 2 more people like that? Right.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 19:48

What were they doing?

Vikram Seth: 19:49

I mean, they were doing just all, you know, like, operational tasks that actually, you know, this person actually the the owner of the company was doing it. So now what? He has realized that in one month that, okay, you know what this person is capable of that he hire, you know, and she actually took all the tasks from his plate. Now he can focus more on the business development. He can spend more time with the investors.

He can spend more time, more time in in finding the, you know, the real estate where actually he can open up more pizza stores, right? He doesn’t need to actually call his, you know, like the the pizza store manager to ask, hey, you know what what what what what what do you want me to order? You know what, what grocery you need. Because this person is already doing all those tasks, right?

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 20:34

How did that person find you? It’s kind of random. I always picture technology businesses, you know, working with you or, you know, those type of companies like software, because I know you have developers and place developers and other various positions. How did a pizza owner find you?

Vikram Seth: 20:53

Well, I mean, the pizza owner find me. You know, that’s interesting. I mean, like the pizza owner find me, I mean, through some references, you know, as I said, I mean, like, I have another, I have another, I have another, actually, you know, the the client actually, who owns a lot of, like, a gaming parlors, you know, as you can see, a lot of gaming parlors. I mean, so obviously the gaming parlor has some pizza concept. I mean, because they have a little pizza shop and then the gaming machines and all that, you know, we actually work with them and we develop a platform called Bamboo Rewards.

And they were friends together. And, you know, I think over the drinks, I think they talk about, I mean, how they actually optimizing the Advising the resource and actually making sure that, you know, like there is a, you know, like a, an of amount of the delegation happen. And that’s how actually, you know, over another client actually helped us to connect with this, another retail, retail, pizza store owner.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 21:48

You know, I want to get into your journey a little bit and talk about a little bit where you grew up and then what brought you to the States.

Vikram Seth: 22:01

That’s a very good question. I mean, like, first of all, I, I, I born and raised in India. I mean, I come from like a city called Amritsar. Most of the people, I mean, like most of the people know, probably Amritsar is the city of the Golden Temple. If you know our religion, I mean, one of the religion named Sikhism actually founded actually in Amritsar.

So I born and raised in Amritsar. I did my undergrad in Amritsar, Sir. But now the second question that you ask, how did I came in the United States, you know, well, while growing up in India or while even doing my education, I mean, I have no plan to come to United States, right? You know, because I come from a very different background. I mean, like I always used to tell people, I mean, you know, when you grow up in certain circumstances where, you know, you were told, you know, to dream.

I mean, coming into the United States is a big dream. So I was told, you know, I don’t have a right to dream above my means. And, you know, and I come from a blue collar family and, you know, and as you know, that, I mean, when you actually born and raised in a country like India, I mean, you are you are destined to be a laborer, right? So there is there was no question of there was there was not even a 1%, you know, like 1% actually, you know, like there was not even a 1% chance of me coming to United States. So me coming into the United States is all accidental.

You know, I would say like, that was my destiny. And I ended up coming over here.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 23:37

What was the then the first step? It sounds like from what you’re telling me, the story, there’s no chance of you coming here. But you did. So what was the the circumstance?

Vikram Seth: 23:49

Well, the circumstance was, I mean, like, I, I did my bachelor, you know, in India and I, and I want to pursue higher studies in India. I mean, I was a mediocre student. I was not like, you know, like the brightest or the brightest, you know, but for some reason, I couldn’t make it into my master’s program anywhere in India because, you know, I was looking only for those schools who actually take me as a free education, right? Because, you know, because of our financial restriction. I mean, you know, we could my father couldn’t or my parents couldn’t actually afford that higher education.

So I was only targeting those schools that actually can give me the free education and for some reason, because of the system in the country or because of my abilities, I couldn’t able to make it right. And then actually, there was an opportunity come to comes to me where that opportunity actually took me to a another country in Africa. I mean, some of you probably know this country as one of the best safari in the world, but I didn’t go to that country to do the best safari. I went to this country to do a work and the name of the country is Tanzania. So at the age of 2022, at the age of 22 years old, I left India and I ended up going in Tanzania.

And my door, my door to USA actually opened from Tanzania. So I’m always grateful to Tanzania as well. I had a great experience in that country. I mean, that was the first time actually, I exposed myself to a totally different culture, you know, totally different race, you know, and I think I was lucky enough. I mean, at a, at a such a early age, at the age of 22 year old, I mean, I was able to understand the human connection, the relationship and the power of, you know, and power of power, of being a just a, you know, like a genuine human being.

I mean, because a lot of stuff happened in Africa that made me to think that, you know, if you, if you, if you as a human being, I mean, you want to try to achieve something, there’s a whole universe behind it who is ready to actually help you, right? You don’t necessarily need to depend upon your family or the friends that you know them for. For a long time. You know stranger will come forward and help you. And and that happened with me.

That happened with me in my life. You know, a lot of people who know me, they know my story. And, you know, how can you know Jeremy? I mean, a stranger can give you 15,000 USD in a year of 2000, you know, like a six. So that happened with me.

Stranger gave me 15,000.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 26:29

Why did I do that?

Vikram Seth: 26:30

Well, I mean, I needed them, I needed I needed the money. I mean, like, that was I needed the money. I mean, to to come to United States or to apply for my visa and, and they and I borrow 15,000 USD from them. But I returned the money. But I mean the but the but the thing is, for me, it was a mind boggling.

I mean, me coming from the different culture, different race. You know, I didn’t born and raised in Tanzania, but somebody actually just like a stranger that I know him, you know, maybe last for like 3 or 4 months and I, I told him this is my problem. I really want to apply for the US visa. And actually this person come forward and he’s like, you know what? I’m here to help you out.

So so that is very humane to me. You know, that was very surreal to me.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 27:17

What was it like then when you came to the US?

Vikram Seth: 27:22

Well, I mean, that’s a good question. I mean, when I came in us, I mean, think about like, you know, like as a, as a kid in a, you know, like a candy shop, right? You know, like you come in United States. I mean, my, you know, it was a mind boggling for me to see the infrastructure in the United States. Right, because I have never seen anything like that.

I mean, I grew up in India. I actually ended up going in Tanzania, and now I’m actually in a, you know, one of the richest country in the world, right? So think about it. I mean, like I always say this to people, I mean, like I see the world like, you know, like India. I mean, you know, coming from the middle class country, the poorest country, and now I’m one of the richest country in the world.

I mean, I mean, obviously, I mean, everything looks great to me. I mean, and thanks to my friend, I mean, who came to pick me up from the airport, you know, and obviously, I mean, the moment you come out of the US, the first thing you see, the roads and cleanliness and, and that was that was mind boggling. That was mind mind blowing to me.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 28:20

Describe the scene in India and then Africa compared to the US then.

Vikram Seth: 28:27

I mean, it’s I mean, it’s a very hard to describe that. I mean, but I’m gonna I’m gonna I’m gonna try my best. I mean, like, I mean, for example, I mean, if you go to India, I mean, there is a lot of chaos. I mean, because obviously one of the biggest population in the world, I mean, like, people are nice, but obviously there’s a lot of things that are happening at the same time. Right?

You know, in Africa, I mean, like the things are very slow in Africa. People call this no hurry, no worry. This is Africa right now in us. I mean, you just come over here. I mean, you know, here you feel like everything is actually everything is on like some sort of, you know, like a cruise mode, right?

The cars are stopping at the light when actually they supposed to stop. Right? Everybody is following a process. Very process oriented, you know.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 29:16

Where did you actually first land when you came here?

Vikram Seth: 29:19

I landed in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 29:22

Why? Why there?

Vikram Seth: 29:24

Because one of my. One of my college friends, I mean, one of my college friends, he he used to live in the Washington, D.C., and and he was the only hope of me to coming to the United States, because I have when I came in 2008, I had nobody from my family, you know, who was in the US. So that was my only hope. And and then he’s like, hey, you know, you come to Washington, D.C. and then I said, okay, I’ll come.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 29:49

Were you coming here? Did you have something set up to do school here, or did you just come on a whim and you’re like, I’ll figure it out when I get there?

Vikram Seth: 29:58

Yeah. I just come on a whim. I just come on. I come here as a tourist. Yeah.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 30:03

So what were you planning on doing?

Vikram Seth: 30:06

See, I mean, like, while.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 30:08

It’s so interesting, right? I mean, were you planning to stay indefinitely? You’re just like, I’m going to come see.

Vikram Seth: 30:13

I mean, you know, like, I. I want you to understand that. I mean, like when you grew up outside the United States, you know, United States has always been like in a land of opportunities, you know? That’s how the people see this outside of the United States right now. Where and also, I mean, you know, as I, as if you if you remember, you know, like I was always want to go for the higher education, right?

So now I happen to come in United States. I have no plan. I have no family. But I have one dream that I want to go for the higher education in United States because, you know, you are in United States. United States has the best school in the world, right?

So, you know, there was very like, you know, like in your world, you know, in entrepreneurial world, we call this BAG, right? You know, the big, hairy audacious goal, right. So in my head, having no money in the pocket, you know, I’m thinking, hey, you know what? I’m in the right country right now. I want to go for the higher education.

That’s all I have in my head. But I have no money in the pocket. So?

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 31:10

So then how do you make that happen? Education is expensive when you got here.

Vikram Seth: 31:15

Oh, well, I mean, like, as I said earlier, I mean, you’re like, you know, I, I personally believe where there is a will, there is a way. Right. You know, and what happened in Africa where actually the stranger come forward and acquaintance come forward to help me out. I mean, I, I had realized that, you know, the law of attraction, you know, you know, very quickly early stages of my life, you know, when I came over here, obviously, I mean, as when you come over here, I started working as a I started my career as a dishwasher because I couldn’t find any job over here. 2008 Germany.

You know that that’s not the best year to come in the United States. You know, and especially I mean, none of none of the retail stores were ready to give any jobs. So I ended up going into, you know, like a as a dishwashing. I did dishwashing at that time. My English was also not very great.

My English was broken, you know. So during the dishwashing, I able to learn a different culture over there because I was actually working with a lot of people from the Latin America, right? From people from Mexico, people from Guatemala, people from Honduras, Brazil, you know, all sorts of different people. The only one thing was common with with me and with them was, you know, their English was broken. My English was broken.

Right. So, so we both kind of considered each other at the equal level. Right. And and to be honest, I mean, like, they were the only one who come forward and actually, you know, and accepted me as their own first. You know, I’ve been I’ve been into a lot of different situations where actually a lot of people from India, they look down at me, you know, I’m sorry to say that, but, you know, most of the people who born and raised over here as an Indian American, I mean, they were they were they were making fun of my accent.

Right. But but the people from the Latin America, they were not. Because even though I didn’t speak Spanish.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 33:08

People from India were making fun of your accent.

Vikram Seth: 33:10

Yes, 100%. People who born and raised over there.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 33:13

That seems weird.

Vikram Seth: 33:14

I mean, well, I mean, you know, there is, you know, people, people, people say that racism, racism, actually racism. Racism doesn’t restrict only at the color level. In my experiences, racism exists at a various different level, right? Like for example, maybe I look same that the way look I but the they probably looking at me and they’re probably laughing at me. Oh you know what?

You’re pronouncing this word incorrect. Then they laughed at me. Right. You know, definitely English is not my first language, you know, but that happened with me, you know? But not everybody’s like that.

But but but but what? Where I feel more, you know, like a closeness, you know, with the people from the Latin America because as I said, maybe the commonality was, I don’t know the language. They don’t know the language, even though I don’t speak Spanish, I don’t speak Portuguese, they don’t speak Hindi or or Punjabi that I speak. So we used to communicate with each other with the, with the, with our hand gestures with over with over literally. I mean the pure emotions, the the face and all that.

So that bring a lot more closer to me to that culture. Actually, you know.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 34:25

What did you want to go to school for then at the time, you know, you went on to Georgetown, right?

Vikram Seth: 34:31

Yeah. I mean, but but going to the Georgetown was not easy ride, you know, because obviously, I mean, you know, like are there is there is a, there is a story behind it of how that happened, you know, dishwashing to Georgetown, you know, like when I came in this country, I mean, I want to go for the higher education. And this is where actually, you know, while working in the kitchen, this is where actually I met Piyush, who happens to be my business partner. Right. He came into the kitchen, you know, and then I asked him, I want to go for the higher education, you know, is there a way that you can help me?

Right? He’s like, yeah, I mean, this is my business card. Why don’t you call me? I was like, you know what? In us, everybody give a business card, but nobody picks up the phone.

Everything goes to the voicemail. You know, I’m already very frustrated. Please don’t give me your business card. And he said, I’m not that type of person. You know, maybe you just call me, I’ll help you.

And. And then I remember that actually, I called him, you know, and I said, hey, you know what? This is where I want to go. This is this is I want to go for the higher education. And and I remember that.

I mean, he he picked me up. He, he took me to certain some of the schools, I mean, you know, then actually, I was able to get myself into one of, like, a very small school, you know, I don’t think so. That school exists anymore. It’s name is Stratford, very private school. I actually went over there and actually I got admission.

Right now I’m working as a in a restaurant, so everything is going fine. But while working in Stratford University, I still feel like, you know, that’s not the school that I imagined in my in my dreams. Because when actually as an, as an immigrant, you you see American University. What comes into your head? You.

Your head comes in like a big, you know, the big campuses, right? You know, lush green gardens, you know, you know, like all those buildings comes. But where I was going in a school, there was a simple, like, office building, and I was going over there once in a week. Right. And and I was I was not learning anything new because that school was, you know, was there, but but I was not learning anything.

And then and then one day, actually, I was in the kitchen and then I was on my break, I was browsing an internet, and I asked the owner of the restaurant, hey, you know what? There is a one school pop up. And I was so naive. I was so naive. I asked the owner of the restaurant, what do you think about this George Town?

And then the owner of the restaurant looked at me and he’s like, are you kidding me? I mean, this is the one of the best school in the country. What are you trying to do over here? Are you trying to go over there and get admission. I feel like I didn’t ask you about that.

I asked you, how is the school? He’s like I said, it’s a great school. The long story short, I mean, you know, like, then I asked my, you know, like, current partner, you know, the business partner. Hey, you know what? How is this school?

He’s like, it’s a great school. And I feel like he’s like, you should apply for that school. And he jokingly told me, like, you know what? You should go and meet people there. You know, I took it very seriously.

I ended up going over there and meet the dean of the Georgetown.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 37:42

Did you just walk up and knock on his door or what? Or her door?

Vikram Seth: 37:45

Yeah, I just knocked on the door. Right. Yeah. So. And I was lucky enough I was able to get it through.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 37:51

And what did you say when you walked in?

Vikram Seth: 37:54

I mean, I was.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 37:54

Can you let me in here, like.

Vikram Seth: 37:56

100%? No. You’re right. I mean, like, think about it. I mean, at that time, my vocabulary was very limited, you know?

So that’s what I said. He asked me, how can I help you, son? And and I said, like, you know what, sir? I mean, this is how I used to pronounce at that time. I mean, I need admission in the school, you know, and I need your help.

So I was very direct and and and he’s like, you know, well, I mean, you know, this is not admission office, right? But then obviously, I mean, you know, like, we had a conversation almost like a 20 minutes. And then actually, I was I was able to convince him to give me the admission and, but there were some conditions and I fulfill all those conditions and, and I was able to get myself into Georgetown.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 38:41

What were you studying there when you went?

Vikram Seth: 38:44

I actually studied over there. Entrepreneurial biotechnology. That’s the first time that I heard the word entrepreneur from Georgetown, right? You know, because me coming from, like, you know, my entire schooling in India was in a public schooling and any, any anyone actually who’s listening me from India, they know that. I mean, what does that mean is, you know, if you come from like a public school from India.

So for, for me, entrepreneurial world, first time I actually listen in Georgetown. So thanks to Georgetown, I mean to to teach me, you know, the entrepreneurial you know like the mindset.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 39:22

So once Vikram, once you finished there, when did you start working with your current business partner?

Vikram Seth: 39:30

Well, I mean, like, once I finish over there, I mean, obviously, I mean, like, I was looking for a job, right? You know, I was looking for a job, actually, in a in a pharmaceutical world or in a biotechnology world. There is a funny story also. I mean, like, if you allow me I mean, I’m happy to share that how that happened. I mean, you know, see, I mean, when, when I actually graduated from the Georgetown, I was actually international student, right?

So obviously, I mean, I have a lot of visa restriction and everything, a lot of time, I mean, all these big companies, I mean, you know, like they say that I mean, we are open for everybody, you know, you know, E and or blah, blah blah, right? But the moment you apply your application doesn’t even go to them. All those applicant tracking system, they rule you out. The moment you say that I need a sponsorship in the future, right. No call.

Right. It doesn’t matter, you know? So obviously, I mean, I didn’t get any phone call, you know, I was I was getting frustrated because having a degree from the Georgetown, you know, and the and the clock was ticking, you know, and you.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 40:33

Need a job to stay in the country.

Vikram Seth: 40:35

Yes. Yes, I needed a job. And then one day, I mean, like, I was standing I was standing in the bus stop, somebody I mean, I think the lady was from us. And she looked at me, I looked at her and she asked me out of the blue. I mean, she asked where this accent come from, right?

My accent. And I said, like, yeah, I mean, I born and raised in India. Before I say anything, she’s like, oh, you must be working in technology. Right. You must be working in a technology, you know.

I said no at that time, but then I came back home. First I thought like, okay, why? She was labeling me, but then I. But then actually.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 41:17

She is labeling.

Vikram Seth: 41:18

Right? But then I thought, like, you know what? She gave me the great idea, right? She gave me the great idea. Because you know what?

She maybe I’m banging the wrong door. Maybe I am not. I am not over here for the working of pharmaceutical. You know, maybe this face is not for that. Maybe this accent is not for that.

This lady is teaching me something. She is my she. She’s my guru. I mean, if today I met her, I want to I want to say thank you to her. Because then I went back home and I told myself, you know what I got?

I need to do something, you know, and then then I then I get myself into technology, project management and all that, and and the rest is history. Now that’s why we have our Simpalm, you know, technology business obviously. I mean the later I joined Piyush. Piyush is actually PhD from Johns Hopkins. You know, he didn’t tell me.

He told me when I actually graduated from the Georgetown because he doesn’t want me to feel bad that you know what? That he went to the big school and I didn’t go, but when actually I graduated from the Georgetown, then he told me, hey, there is a surprise for you. I have a PhD from Johns Hopkins. But but that was back to the story. The lady was the reason I stepped into the technology.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 42:31

And then at what point do you reconnect or do you kind of forge that business relationship with.

Vikram Seth: 42:39

I mean, you know, that was I remember that I mean, I was working I was working for some companies. I mean, like because I work as a consultant for the corporation. And then one day, actually, I remember that she invited me for dinner at his home in he used to live in Maryland and on the dining table. Piyush at that time already started Simpalm. He was doing this custom.

I mean, how this, you know, like the staff augmentation has been working and how is this been actually been handled here in the United States. And I think, you know, we can do in a better way. And then he said, like, you know, but you know that, I mean, you are going against a lot of big companies, you know, you know, I said like, you know, but I want to try. And then as usual, he said, if you want to try, I’m in. You know, I already have this company that I actually registered.

Why don’t you work? Why don’t you actually work with me and try your idea? And then actually, I ask, what would this idea work? Then he said, like, then we will be a partner, right? You know, and and then he allowed me to work on my idea, which was more on the human side, the staffing side.

And that works out. You know.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 43:55

What strikes me about the journey in the story is your mindset. Inside. Each piece you could have stopped. You could have given up. You could have listened to everyone else who says this is impossible.

What was it early on? You could have never left India in the first place, right? What do you think it was in you that was like. You know what? I know that I grew up in this blue collar family, but I’m going to do this other thing.

I’m getting out of here to the US or Africa or whatever it is. What was it? Where did you get that mindset from? You think?

Vikram Seth: 44:41

I think, I mean, like I always say this necessity is the mother of invention, right? You know, when you have nothing to lose, you have you you have to play your you have to play your card, right? I mean, for example, when I came in us, I mean, you know, yeah, I could have actually adopted that path where actually, you know, I could ended up actually in the restaurant industry and actually, you know, like working actually as a undocumented or working actually as a but I saw the life of those people when actually I was, I was living in a same home where actually all the Latin American were living. I was listening their first hand stories. Right.

And then I told myself, you know what? If I want to, if I want to? And even they told me, you know, like in, in, in, in the Spanish that I can understand that, you know, they told me like, you know what, this world is not for you. And then I told myself, if I want to live in this, if I want to live in United States, I need to go and educate myself, right? Because I don’t want to have that life.

And now you know what you said. Like where I this where I get this positivity, the energy, I think from the people because think about it. I mean, all the people, the Latin American people that I’m living with them, they have no blood relationship with me, but they have an expectation, okay, this guy will actually will do something different because they were watching while I’m going to the school and I’m also washing the dishes. So for them, actually, you know what really doesn’t matter what country I come from, for for them, it really doesn’t matter. I mean, what religion I come from, for for them, what really mattered was I am working with them in the same kitchen.

And this is the guy actually, who tried to do something different. So there I think there I think there are all the positive, you know, the blessings were helping me in somehow that give me the power so that I can go and knock the door of the Dean with my broken English.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 46:28

The other thing that strikes me is that you, even from getting to the US and then getting to Georgetown and further, you put it out there and you ask, right? Yeah. You know, you just take action, you march down, you knock on the dean’s door, you ask, probably same thing. You weren’t, like hoping and dreaming of $15,000 to get the visa to come over to the US. Like you probably put it out there, I imagine you talked to a bunch of people.

How do I do this? And you asked and you know you took action on it. Yes. Of course, like someone was generous to help you. Yes.

But you have to put it out there. Right? And that’s what you did. I’m wondering, I have one last question, Vikram. First of all, thank you.

Thanks for sharing your journey. It’s fascinating. It’s amazing what you’ve done. You know, you plop someone in a foreign country and then, you know, with nothing, no money or anything. And so it’s really amazing.

So I have one last question about some of your entrepreneurial influences throughout the years. But I do want to, you know, encourage people to check out SimpalmStaffing.Com check out simpalmstaffing.com. You can check out Ducknowl.com. But who are some of your entrepreneurial influences.

It could be colleagues mentors. It could be distant people that you’ve learned from, whether it’s books or podcasts or something like that as well.

Vikram Seth: 48:03

You know, like, I’m very simple man, you know? So I have a very simple idols as well. You know, I think the first one, I mean, you know, like the one, the person that actually who gave me 15,000 USD, right. You know, I think if even if, if he would not have given me that kind of money, I would never be able to make it over here. Right.

I and and then I think, you know, another one. I mean, the the owner of the restaurant. Right. The owner of the restaurant. I learn so much from him.

I mean, the leadership style. Right? For example, I mean, I was very new in the country, and he was the one who served like, you know, like what you should do so that you can actually be better, right? So, I mean, I, I’m still in touch with him. I mean, whenever I go to Virginia, I, I meet him, you know, he’s the one I think my another idol was my, the dean of the, you know, like the Georgetown, the biotechnology department, who who was visionary enough to see that spark, right.

If he would not give me the chance, I would never able to make it. You know, other idols, I mean, you know, like all those people. I mean, like, I work with them. I mean, in the restaurant industry, I mean, specifically, I mean, in the kitchen, I saw them I mean, like how their resilience. Right?

I saw them, I mean, like, it’s it’s very easy to say that, but it’s very hard to live that life where actually you don’t see your family for the last ten years. You’re working over here and sending them the money, right? Those were my idol, right? You know who who made me who I am. That’s why probably.

I mean, the God has given me the chance to work in the people business, right? Maybe I’m not into some other business. I mean, you know, I don’t own a gas station. I don’t own any restaurant. I came into the people business because my entire life is all.

All about the people and all those people. I mean, come from nowhere.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 49:59

What about through EO or EMP?

Vikram Seth: 50:03

Well, I mean, yes, I mean, the EO came in my life. I mean, you know, like, you know, in a later down the year, I mean, you know, that. I mean, you are also EO member. I mean the when actually I, when actually I reached certain milestone. I mean, you know when actually I ended up joining EO, you actually open up a, a very different world right.

You know the EO actually gave me the opportunity to meet people with a similar mindset, right? Where actually my connection can go up to the global level. Right? You know, for example, I mean, you know, Germany, I mean, I was in Brazil and I was in Argentina, I mean, ten days before. I mean, I met a lot of awesome people over there.

Right? And there are a lot of good people in EO who want to do the good deeds for a lot of people, you know, who who are actually in who, who actually come from like the world that actually has nothing to offer to them. So actually, I think you gave me the the power of the connection that actually I can my connection is not only limited to Chicago, only my connection is all the way now from, you know, like a star from India to staff and to the Brazil. So almost I mean, you can cover the entire world, I mean, with this connection. And you actually ended up, you know, thanks to you, I ended up meeting a great person like you.

So you played a very vital role in my journey as well.

Dr. Jeremy Weisz: 51:27

Vikram, I want to thank you. Everyone. Check out SimpalmStaffing.com and DucknOwl.com and we’ll see you next time. Vikram.

Vikram Seth: 51:35

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Outro: 51:37

Thanks for listening to the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast. This episode is powered by Rise25. Please subscribe and check out future episodes.