Driven by zeal, college drop-out takes biz route

BANGALORE: He once was the driver for an IT company boss. He nursed a dream and pursued it till it became a reality — he now manages his own company and created about 160 jobs.
M P Ganesh Kumar (43) manages N G Associates, a facility management company which provides housekeeping, chauffeur and security services to corporates across Bangalore. Ganesh hires dropouts, poor and underprivileged persons and gives them a fresh start in life.
Ganesh grew up in Jalahalli and attended BEL School and College.Later, this college drop-out set up a transport company but due to financial difficulties, shut shop. In 1998, he started working as a driver for Raghuram Kote, who was with Ivega Corporation.
Ganesh soon became Kote’s Man Friday. When Kote started his own venture Iteamic in 2003, he offered Ganesh the job of overseeing administration and facility management. “Ganesh would pretty much handle everything. He has no ego hassles and would do any job — be it electrical, driving or administration,’’ Kote says.
Ganesh started handling the logistics of drivers, housekeeping staff and security personnel. “By 2008, I had learnt the ropes and was confident of setting up my own he says.
When he was ready, he shared his plans with Kote, who immediately funded his venture. What’s more, Iteamic was the first client. Kote, now the president of CIBER India, says: “I’m an entrepreneur myself and our aim is to create more jobs. Ganesh had the drive, passion and ambition, so we supported him in having good governance practices and financial controls.’’
Kote Foundation, started by Raghuram Kote in memory of his father, the late Vasanthakumar Kote, to promote socially responsible entrepreneurship, offered Ganesh Rs 3 lakh to start his business. “Our foundation is not a charity, but we fund projects with the potential to create jobs for the urban poor,’’ Kote says.
Just 18 months since its inception, NG Associates aims at achieving a turnover of Rs 40 lakh by this year-end. Ganesh acknowledges his boss’s help. “He is my mentor and helped me learn things fast,’’ he says. Ganesh is grateful to his wife Nirmala: “She is the backbone of the company. When I spent most of the time in my earlier office, she stood by me and helped me set up our company.’’