If you haven't already, please study our free Bootstrapping Course and Investor Introductions page. I have long believed that Go BIG or Go HOME is complete BS. I have seen entrepreneur after entrepreneur build a small but profitable, slower growth business as a first outing, followed by a much larger, higher growth business as a follow-on venture. When we spoke in 2017, Ultra Mobile Co-founder Rizwan Kassim had done exactly that. He is also Co-founder of Mint Mobile, and the parent company of both Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile was acquired by T-Mobile in 2023. Sramana Mitra: Let's start at the very beginning of your journey. Where are you from? Where were you born, raised, and in what kind of background? Rizwan Kassim: My mom is from East Africa. My father was born in Karachi. They both came here in the 70's. I was born in Simi Valley, California, and lived there for about a decade and then moved up to Victorville. I went to UCLA. Sramana
Some of the emirate’s hottest restaurants, from fast casual to fine dining, are opening across the globe as the region’s hospitality businesses mature and expand. Dubai-based Fundamental Hospitality will spend $140 million through 2024 opening 18 restaurants and clubs concepts such as Gaia, NYX and Shanghai Me including a dozen in international locations like London, Miami and Marbella, Spain. Kinoya, a beloved ramen restaurant that grew out of a supper club, will debut in London on Saturday in Harrods department store. And the group behind Trèsind Studio, an Indian restaurant that won its second Michelin star this year, plans to open several spots in India by the end of the year.
"Deadpool" actor Ryan Reynolds bought an ownership stake in prepaid carrier Mint Mobile years ago, but a T-Mobile acquisition will soon shake things up.