Rick Mirza is an established businessman. The kicker is that he started when he was just ten years old, with his own landscaping business. Mirza has the entrepreneurial spirit in him – his many companies and interest in making a difference are evident of that.
Rick Mirza is a serial entrepreneur. He’s the CEO or founder of several businesses. Most importantly, though, is his company, Daulat, which is a private equity firm.”I realized that my background in starting companies, combined with my access to global investors, was in itself a business opportunity. While I was doing this for myself, I saw opportunities for investors to support other well-run, innovative businesses,” Mirza said. “That’s when Daulat took shape.”
Daulat is Rick Mirza’s main money-maker, but it’s so much more than that. Mirza loves to invest in start-ups that solve real-world problems. At Daulat, Mirza has created ways to pair investors with growing businesses both strategically and smoothly. “Just like vinyl records, some are valued at only a few dollars while others can fetch you thousands. As an entrepreneur, it is important to know the value of a business and also when and how you can turn a great profit from it,” Mirza says.
Daulat seemed to be right under Mirza’s nose – as a lot of great opportunities are. Mirza already had so many connections, and he was always interested in investing in companies that will make a difference. “I wanted more from my life than a college education and mediocre opportunities,” he says. That’s why he’s always had his eyes wide open for opportunities such as Daulat.
Rick Mirza didn’t come from a wealthy family network and he didn’t go to college. What he had in him from a young age were a solid work ethic and a powerful drive. Not only did he start a landscaping business when he was ten years old, but he went on to scale a wireless phone business from one mall kiosk to businesses now grossing millions. He has worked hard and has always kept his eye on the prize. Mirza’s hard work is why Daulat is such a uniue business. All of his businesses keep customers, business owners, and investors happy.
Rick Mirza’s success comes from how he differentiates himself: “Live, eat and breathe my brands and the people behind them. [It’s] not just a career,” he says. It’s a lifestyle. That’s why he focuses on businesses that mean something to him. He leads or partners in over a dozen companies and he’s the consulting investor in even more. He’s the director of charitable organizations like HOPE and PakTech. He has even written 3 books that enable Mirza to help people on an individual basis: 10 Things NOT to Invest in America; 10 Things to Invest in America; and The Intelligent Foreign Investor’s Guide to Investing in America.
Creating an impact is what’s most important to him. His advice to others is this: “I cherish the gift of waking up each morning and being given the chance to make each new day count. Seize each day with gratitude in your heart, try to avoid the mistakes made yesterday, and push yourself towards accomplishing the next milestone,” Mirza says. As Rick Mirza looks to the horizon for new opportunities, he’s focused on taking his solar business nationwide. He’ll expand his real estate business and take it into the new, upcoming market.