A 360° view over Internet of Things — Pizza Time with Manav Gupta, CEO of Brinc

1X3T0kiJpZPfI3MWzn8ukbw scaled

Sometimes the most meaningful and inspiring conversations happen over casual meals. The Time Auction Blog is a snippet of our meetings with people who have found passion in their life and career, where we get a glimpse into their mentality behind their ventures.

A technology visionary, strategist, and serial entrepreneur, Manav runs at the forefront of the startup scene in South China — having raised a whopping $17.5M in venture capital for the IoT industry there.

With his company Brinc, he is driving deep consumer engagement in smart devices with products like soundbrenner — a body metronome, pilldrill — a medication tracking system, drone accelerators and other smart companions.

At their open space office in the historic PMQ building, we found ourselves surrounded by these smart devices, eating delicious pizza, and going through the years of Manav’s career: from manufacturing in Shenzhen, to managing distribution in Guangzhou and now diving into IoT here in HK!

We learned a lot about the digital future of China and so much more. Here are a few takeaways from the meeting:

1i9VqUVoj8eoSvyihQmeIDQ scaled
1UZcX6lMWFNbS JZvOoPJDA scaled
1mSuhyXba05dJl0wmEKPBdA scaled

What is your life motto or philosophy you live by?

I am very optimistic, I am very excited about the work we get to do, so I think you have to be very clear on your “why” — “Why you wake up everyday”. There were many days I wanted to sleep in and not get out of the bed, because we just have all our nights that get us very tired on the work we were doing. But usually what gets me up is the people we get to work with, the things we get to do. These are the triggers that wake me up very early.

1mTFPrEY3AtsC FMWp6xc0g scaled

I don’t think there are any key models, but it’s more around the concept of optimism, and what that can bring for the work you do everyday. It’s your mental state of happiness.

What is the habit or method for you to handle stress?

Workout or eat chocolate. Sometimes, you can get lost in a particular problem, you need to just get out. Also, I tried to work from home in the morning, and I come in to the office usually after lunch. Sometimes we come in early, we had a meeting, but I found the time I get for myself, is when I did my best work, because I can actually think peacefully and quietly. I cannot be disturbed, because when you get to an environment or office, you have to work with everybody, it gets very hectic. Therefore, we infuse a very flexible work culture here. Lot of people get to have their time to do the “thinking work” — the hardest work.

“When you are stressed, get out; go think about it; release; come back.”

1cb8Jhz6QIRjUljIjjamk5w scaled
1XTTBGtW4fQEtB8NxGALEhA scaled

What is one habit that has significantly improved your life?

Having a good group of people you can talk to, who give you guidance about the things you may be struggling with. It could be your friends, family, your business partners, or someone you talked to about something that is nothing about the work. Therefore, you can look at the bigger picture.

I think stress is just because you can’t see the bigger picture, and not knowing there are more than one way to solve the problem. That’s what you always get struggled. If you can get out of your own way, you can probably relieve yourself, and by yourself, sometimes — without requiring anyone else.

Also, we do Digital Sabbath, they actually turn off their phone for 2 days, and they don’t stay connected. During that you are actually figuring out what you are thinking, because while we are highly connected, we are actually crazily unconnected — it’s a non-stop stream of madness, so you need to get away from everyone in once in awhile. The internet is great but it’s also crazy.

1h4aE19hdBVTeQzNvw s6FQ scaled

If you have to give a lesson on something unrelated to your current career, what would it be?

Get a pet. I think pet is the biggest de-stresser in the planet. They are very pure, they have no stress. They are just very simple lives, not crowded by anything complicated.

Having a group of friend who can hang out with is pretty awesome too.

I think you have to find your passion and the work you love to do, and try to be present in every moment if you can. Try to be in that moment. Like, when you play with your dog, play with your dog; if you are working, work; if you are chilling, try not to think about the other stuff.

What is one ask or action you want everyone to take away from meeting you?

Keep trying to give back. The most rewarding thing you do in life is, to be selfless and give it back.

A huge shout-out to Manav for hosting a night of great conversations and pizza, and along with our lovely volunteers for raising a total of 106 volunteer hours to Hands On Hong Kong, Youth Empact, KELY Support Group and more!

For more amazing opportunities to meet amazing people through volunteering and our mentor gatherings, visit Time Auction for all the details!

This article originally appeared on our blog on Medium: https://timeauction.medium.com/a-360-view-over-internet-of-things-pizza-time-with-manav-gupta-ceo-of-brinc-1e668c5d0d55

Updated on 6 May, 2021
Share on

Volunteer Your Skills for Worthy Causes

Ever thought you could volunteer with your skills?

Discover volunteer projects where you can use your skills to support causes – all while building your resume, gaining references and making a difference!
Discover Projects
【2024義工活動】點樣加入義工行列?5大義工服務種類推介
你對「做義工」嘅認識有幾多?好多人都未必熟悉除咗賣旗籌款同探訪老人院之外,仲有咩其他類型嘅義工服務。究竟坊間有邊啲做義工嘅途徑,可以搵到適合自己嘅義工機會呢? 其實香港大大小小嘅慈善團體或非牟利機構  (NGO) 都會招募義工,而非牟利機構嘅義工服務範疇亦非常多元化,包括技能義工 (Skilled-volunteers),善用義工嘅個人技能同專長服務社會。你可以根據唔同嘅服務種類,或者按自己嘅喜好、關心嘅社會議題選擇義工機會。以下係5種常見嘅義工服務範疇同機構簡介畀你參考: 目錄 (一):動物福利 (二):長者服務 (三):青年發展 (四):環境保護 (五):社區服務 技能義工配對平台推介 常見嘅義工服務範疇(一):動物福利 如果你係狗奴、貓奴,或者鍾意動物,不妨考慮做動物義工!除咗有機會親身接觸毛孩之外,仲可以利用自己嘅一技之長,支援NGO嘅日常運作。雖然根據政府公佈的數據,動物棄養嘅數量有持續下降趨勢,但因近年的移民潮影響,保護動物慈善協會表示棄養寵物個案兩年升近三倍。因此,很多關注動物福利的團體都十分需要義工加入服務行列。 義工服務性質:清潔籠舍、照顧動物、活動推廣等 香港動物基金 Hong Kong Paws Foundation 香港動物基金係一間完全依靠慈善捐款同義工支持嘅動物福祉組織,希望拯救被虐待、遺棄同走失嘅動物。 香港愛護動物協會 SPCA (HK) 香港愛護動物協會係本港首間兼顧動物福利各方面嘅慈善團體,提倡善待動物,同時打擊同防止虐待動物。 Bring Me Home (Suppaw) Bring Me Home (Suppaw) 係一個寵物社交網站,亦係香港首個無償動物領養平台。 嘉道理農場暨植物園 Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden 嘉道理農場暨植物園為需要支持的農民提供農業援助,幫助他們過上獨立嘅生活; 並為公眾提供休閒同教育體驗。  Team for Animals in Lantau South (TAILS) 南大嶼山動物保護隊為有需要的貓狗提供救援、醫療、絕育、養育、庇護、寄養同領養服務,包括那些 流浪、被遺棄、受傷、虐待同忽視既貓狗,大力提倡動物福利,相信教育可以創造有利於香港動物嘅變革。 立即發掘更多! 常見嘅義工服務範疇(二):長者服務 隨著香港長者人口上升,越來越多關注老人家嘅機構都招募緊義工,希望為老友記送上更多關懷。 義工服務性質:家居維修、網頁設計、文字翻譯等 […]
The Moore’s Law in Learning — Dinner with Fritz Demopoulos, Co-founder of Qunar
Sometimes the most meaningful and inspiring conversations happen over casual meals. The rel="noopener nofollow">Fritz’ success in being one of the few who cracked the China market (without speaking a word of Mandarin) — founding Qunar, China’s largest travel portal, and now investing at Queen’s Road Capital, he shared with us his principles that got him […]
Top