The Beginning
Anmol Upadhyay’s experience in technical positions and business development has been instrumental in the success of Valere.
Coming from a small city in India named Neemuch, Anmol Upadhyay has always been fascinated by technology at a young age. There was always a small part of him that had the ambition of owning his very own company one day. This interest in technology led him to pursue an education in Information technology and later a career in a big digital engineering firm. Anmol has transitioned from technical positions, such as QA Engineer, to more business development-related roles, such as being a growth hacker. Anmol’s experience in both technical positions and revenue-generating sales roles has given him a unique perspective on the industry. He understands not only the technical aspects of software development but also the business side of things. This combination of skills has been invaluable in building Valere into the successful company it is today.
Yet little would he suspect that a random conversation that he started on the internet with Guy Pistone, a successful startup founder, would kickstart not only a global software development firm but also a brotherhood built upon trust and a shared vision of how technology can be used to make meaningful things.
We sat down with both Anmol and Guy to discuss their stories and the ups and downs of running a business together despite living in separate parts of the world.
Q. How did you and Guy meet?
Anmol: We met via LinkedIn message. I was talking to so many similar people at that time, so I didn’t know how this particular conversation was going to go. Guy piqued my interest when he sent me back a mysterious message saying “I have an opportunity”. This message kept me thinking “What kind of opportunity is he talking about?”.Q: After you decided to launch Valere, what was the first step that you guys took?
Anmol: The first step was the toughest, as I was working full-time with another company and Guy had other commitments. Initially, we started Valere part-time, but after some time, we both understood that part-time would not work and we would have to switch full-time to Valere and this can actually be called a major first step. Guy: We also decided that Upwork was a good acquisition platform, so we immediately created an account under my name and started bidding and generating sales while Anmol recruited developers to join our team.
Today, Valere has over 130 employees and over 5 locations around the world.
Anmol: Being in opposite parts never slowed us down because I used to work during US hours only. To be honest, when we started Valere, we actually had nothing to lose, and we both were involved in other jobs/ventures.
Guy: When developing a service that works between two counties we faced many issues, related to process communication, etc. For a while, I felt like we were just putting our heads against the wall. However, we kept pushing and iterating on the process and tighter communication. Then at a certain point, everything became completely streamlined.
Q. What are some shared values or interests that have contributed to your strong friendship and successful partnership?
Anmol: Trust is the main factor. Trust is what started Valere. In the beginning, there were doubts, but we passed that time. We used to talk for an hour every day, which resulted in building that trust. Guy even tested me by giving me his credit card information at that time, but I used my credit card instead of his. Guy: Trust and integrity. I learned early on that Anmol has good morals, which align with mine. I also saw some humility early on when my dad passed away. This allowed him to see a side of me that not many people see, thus growing our relationship. I think when you build something with someone, it creates a special bond. I was talking to Anmol daily for years, holding him accountable more than anyone had probably ever done in his life. I was able to be very honest with him with my thoughts and trust it wasn’t going to upset him too much to leave me.Q. How do you navigate disagreements or conflicts within your friendship while also running a business together (while also being so far apart)?
Anmol: We talk through it. We don’t discuss problems too much; rather, we work on solutions. Guy: By hearing both sides, I would make sure I heard Anmol out and was empathetic to his situation. We also resolved conflicts knowing that this was the challenging stage of the startup and knowing if we could push through, things would get easier.Q. Can you share a memorable moment or experience that demonstrates the strength of your friendship and how it has positively impacted your business?
Anmol: There have been incidents where one of us was angry or over-aggressive over specific things but deep down we both knew that this was a temporary negative moment because we knew that we both needed each other in the end. Such negative moments have actually strengthened our friendship. Guy: When we got our first big check… when we got that, it was real for us… this was only about 6 months into starting.Q. In what ways do you complement each other’s skills and strengths as co-founders, and how has this synergy contributed to the growth of the company?
Anmol: Guy has a goal and he is always running toward that. People get distracted sometimes but he is fully focused. I think that’s what you need in a partner and that’s what contributes to growth. Guy: Anmol is an amazing culture builder. He is very socially savvy and he knows how to negotiate and get people excited to work. I think also he is willing to listen to me, willing to learn, and coachable which made it easier to put in early processes. We are also always sharing things about each other that bring us closer. I would share my crazy ideas and he would give me meaningful feedback.Q. After working with Guy and getting to know him, what did you learn about Americans or US culture that you liked or disliked?
Anmol: I think Americans are more patient as compared to Indians, their tone is always soft even if they are angry and the same goes for Guy.Q. What was it like to finally be able to see each other in India recently after starting the company?
Anmol and Guy were finally able to meet each other for the first time in 2022 since starting Valere together.
Anmol: It was great. The good part is that we were both very normal when we met because we had been speaking almost daily for the last 3 years. It was like I had known him since the beginning. He is my brother from another mother.
Guy: Amazing. Seeing him and some of the people I had been working with for years almost three years, was amazing. I felt instantly comfortable around him.
Looking Back
When asked, “What advice would you give to other co-founders who are also close friends or considering starting a business together?” Guy and Anmol both noted that there is nothing more important than being laser-focused on the processes of selling and building. It is also important to take full ownership. “It is the sailor’s responsibility to sail, not the passengers,” said Anmol. Anmol and Guy’s unlikely partnership led to Valere becoming a globally recognized expert in AI development. Anmol and Guy have even bigger plans for the future. They aim to onboard more AI and machine learning talents, broaden their services on the newly launched OpenAI Experts platform on Upwork, and even help orphanages and old-age homes provide better living conditions. The duo is confident that, as long as they are together, they will be able to create meaningful changes in the world through their determination and trust.Work with Anmol and Guy’s Team
<iframe width=”1120″ height=”630″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/kvavCzCWA0o?si=rDPOWyVyPwmarAHB” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe> Curious to learn what it’s like to work with Anmol and Guy and their rockstar team at Valere? You can visit their website at valere.io. With a proven track record of success and an award-winning team, Valere can help you harness the power of AI to achieve your business goals, visit their website at valere.io to learn more and get started today. Contact them today to unlock the potential of AI for your business! Valere is an award-winning software development agency that has built over 300 top-rated applications for startups and Fortune 500 companies in all verticals like healthcare, finance, sports, fitness, education, and more. Their apps have been featured by the New York Times, and have been consistently recognized as Apple App Store’s top featured apps, TechRadar, and Google Play Store’s top featured apps! Schedule a call with us today to learn how we can help your team create the perfect software or application that can Accelerate Your Business Goals!
