IPN Spotlight: Shahzil Amin (Managing Partner at Karlani Capital)
Shahzil Amin, who goes by Shaz as many people butcher his real name, is the founder of two companies on two different ends of the spectrum. The first is Blue Track Media, a mobile advertising company which he started right out of high school. The second is Plugged, which is a premium headphone manufacturer that he started during his senior year in college. In April 2014, Blue Track Media was acquired by Karlani Capital, where Shaz now takes on the role of managing partner where he focuses on investing in passionate entrepreneurs with great ideas.
What skills have helped you in your career?
I focus more on my traits than my skills, as my skills aren’t anything that others don’t have. First, I’m obsessive. Once I’m sold on an idea all I can do is think about how I’m going to make it big while tackling all the possible hurdles that may appear. Second is my ability to think outside of the box to solve problems and create partnerships. The ability to routinely find creative streams of revenue and cost-effective solutions to problems is something I pride myself in. But that trait comes from my ability to obsess and completely indulge myself in the opportunity or problem. Last but clearly not the least, it’s my genuine and blunt nature that’s helped me tremendously. I give 10x more than I get back. I see the best in people until they prove me wrong. And most importantly I’m blunt and I remove myself from negative people and negative situations. Not many people will highlight the types of things that have helped me in my career but these traits were crucial for my success.
What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
I wish I had known how mentally and emotionally taxing the entrepreneurial journey is. Most people think that business issues, such as sales, employees, etc are some of the toughest things for entrepreneurs. I agree they are, but in my opinion the mental toll that the journey takes on them is just as tough. Imagine working 18-20 hours a day and seeing slow progress. Imagine losing friends and family due to their inability to understand what it takes to be successful or the envy that secretly builds up on their end. Imagine being responsible for the life of the employees you hire as well as their families’ well being. I wish I had known how all these issues would come to shape my life and my future.
What is next for you in your career?
It’s hard to predict the future, but what I want next for me is to work on an “Elon-type” of problem, something far greater than I can realize myself. Everyone wants to be Elon and will talk about him, but there are very few people who are willing to devote their life tackling grand issues. There was an interview that Elon gave a couple years ago where he said his wish was that the world’s best and smartest entrepreneurs and developers would stop working on internet companies and tackle the next big issue. That stuck to me. I’m not looking to create another Facebook or Instagram. I want to create another Tesla, SpaceX or Solarcity. I want to wake up and know I’m making a difference in millions of lives around the world. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, but I gave myself a goal to figure it out by my early 30’s. However usually the best ideas just come to you without you chasing them.
What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I audit classes at local universities. I don’t need another degree or an MBA, I just like to learn, especially when it’s free and there are no grades involved. As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly learning on the job.
What advice would you offer to others?
Many founders start a company for themselves, but I think about it differently. Start a company for someone else, someone you deeply love. Because most of the time you’ll eventually get over letting yourself down. But when you’re doing it for someone you love, you’ll work that much harder just to make sure you don’t let them down.
Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Entrepreneurship
• Venture Capital
• Talk Therapy
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