Movers & Shakers Interview with Poonam Vasantha Kumar

Tell us your name and a little about yourself. 

My name is Poonam Vasantha Kumar and I am the Co-Founder and CEO of Saavor Inc. I came to the US 6 years ago for my masters program worked for a while in midwest as an engineer. Raised capital and started working on Saavor from last year March and have been 100% dedicated to it.

What exactly does your company do? 

We provide an opportunity for everyone to start a small business from their home besides other services. (Home kitchens can be operated for sale of baked goods) Saavor is a mobile application platform that lets users order food from home(Baked Food), food trucks, restaurants and get it delivered. We also have other services where a person can book a home cook, server or a bartender on an hourly basis. Our application is not only for individuals but also for businesses who wish to send their staff out.
In order to promote inclusivity as opposed to exclusivity, we accept registrations from everyone and not just professionals.

What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them? 

My personal biggest challenge would be management of time as a student and as a CEO of Saavor. I had to work on my time management skills. Our biggest challenge as a company that we are facing right now is related to marketing, staying lean and competing in a tough environment is very challenging. We are facing this challenge by being more creative and working smartly. I am lucky that we have a strong core team.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career? 

Networking, visibility and strategy are very important for any startup. I wish I had someone to guide me from the onset of the project, we would have avoided few mistakes that we did along the way.

Who are your biggest influences and people you admire and why? 

My father inspired me a lot. He loved what he did and used to spend hours together to build his company and still smile at the end of it all.

Elon Musk besides many other successful entrepreneurs. He never gives up and is a risk taker. His journey from the onset is very inspiring and motivates me a lot.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? 

Dr Suneetha Thota and the rest of my family. It would not have been possible without them.

What do you see as your greatest success in life? 

Staying in the US on a student visa, going through so many challenges and hustling to realize my American dream.

Contact info
www.saavor.io
Instagram: Saavornow