How Vivek Malik went from freelancer to serial entrepreneur

Vivek is the founder of Big Data Marketers, Reputique, Make it happen events and The Smoke Spot

A journey of a 23 years young self made entrepreneur, Vivek Malik. A lot of entrepreneurs face umpteen hurdles embarking a business and oftentimes their journey is unpredictable. Ultimately, determination, grit and nimbleness propel them to success. That’s the lesson which Vivek Malik’s story teach to budding entrepreneurs. He took his first step as a freelancer towards his dreams. But now with his hard-work he has earned a good name and place in the marketing industry. Vivek is the founder of Big Data Marketers, Reputique, Make it happen events and The Smoke Spot.

Big Data Marketers and Reputique are Marketing and PR firms growing digitally worldwide and becoming a favored marketing and PR partner for Influencers and online businesses across the World. The Smoke Spot is a startup aiming to change the smoking lifestyle for Indian consumers. And Make It Happens is an events company he started with his brother. However, he has now turned his entire attention towards his primary venture, Big Data Marketers.

Vivek says, "Being an entrepreneur is about having a creative idea, an idea that works, something people need, something they'll want, something that's scalable. And that idea only works as long as you start embracing your purpose, your mission, show determination & consistency, stop procrastinating and begin working outside your comfort zone. Entrepreneurs have a certain kind of spirit that keeps pushing them forward."

Starting from rock-bottom

Vivek had been a Delhi University alumni and just like any normal Indian kid, opted for a field of study he had no interest in. He soon realised his degree won’t get him anywhere and in desperate need to prove himself he started interning at Inc42, Launchora, Visibility Blasters and The Misfits which gave him exposure to digital marketing and business development.

Soon after the graduation he moved to Hyderabad to continue his marketing journey and began working at Movietime Cinemas but couldn’t work for long because the passion that runs in his viens to start his own startup didn't let him sleep peacefully, therefore left his job. Vivek launched his own startup to commence a new journey but failed immensely due to lack of market experience. Even then he didn't loose hope because he knew if obstacles are coming in your way, it means you are on a right path of success. With the support of an understanding brother and supportive father, he was able to launch his own marketing firm, Big Data Marketers. He stayed away from family to work, to build clients and even often went hungry due to financial hardships. But Vivek believes, "It's all about the right time and I will bring mine soon".

A new door opens with rays of hope

It wasn't long before being jobless and hustling to find clients when Vivek got an opportunity to meet Ayub Khan and step into the biggest entertainment industry of India, Bollywood. Ayub Khan, offered Vivek an opportunity to assist him with a PAN India talent hunt show, Indian Fiesta. For Vivek, this was a transformative task, as he was able to develop first hand PR skills working alongside one of the biggest names in events and the PR industry of Bollywood.

Vivek developed unique insights through his work alongside Ayub Khan. He explains, "Stay consistent and be persistent. Never give up until you complete your tasks and reach your goals. With clients, negotiation and communication are key. You can charge your clients double what your competitor does as long as you can prove to them that you have the right skills."

The hard work paid off, helping him get out of debt and even save to branch out into new ventures. But it was no easy feat. Vivek recalls, "The debt was huge, and no one believed that I pulled it off, but I know how much hard work it took to achieve it. In the beginning, I gave it everything I had. During one stretch, I worked on 5 projects and remembered working 48 hours straight to finish them all. It was worth every second.”

From freelancer to entrepreneur and Aiming for a bigger market

Soon as pandemic hit the world and the project Indian fiesta got on hold. Vivek knew it’s time to focus on his own firm, Big Data Marketers. Within a year when the world was crumbling he expanded his firm to Dubai with 100+ clients and launched a new PR firm, 'Reputique' to focus on national and International PR for his clients that helped him earn a stellar reputation among his clients.

At this point, Vivek Malik started to think about how he could use his internet marketing and PR prowess to launch a viable new startup. Seeing opportunity in the Indian consumer and lifestyle space, he came up with Smoke Spot, India’s first ever brand focusing on the smoking lifestyle of consumers. He feels, with the right set of products, he can change the people who smoke and can reduce the harmful effects of it.

Entrepreneurship is a journey, not a destination

Vivek shows that entrepreneurs don't have to kick off their careers with a can't-miss idea. They can instead take the time to build a foundation that gives them the freedom to develop their ideas and with perseverance and hard work, they can build a thriving business. Hailing from humble beginnings, driven by a desire to be productive, passion to do prove his worth groomed him as an individual entrepreneur.

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