Failed at school – Now he’s helping everyday people launch million-pound startups

A business expert who finished at the bottom of his class is now flipping the script by helping everyday people become millionaires through a Dragon’s Den-style programme.

Samsher Singh has always been hungry for money.

But back when he was in school, his grades and attitude were more of a barrier than a launchpad, until one business class changed everything.

READ MORE: Mortified woman causes intersection road block as ‘useless’ self-driving car refuses to drive

Now, at just 30 years old and with three companies under his belt, he’s using what he’s learned in the real world to help others bring their business ideas to life.

“I’ve met a lot of people who had a business idea but never believed in themselves,” says Samsher, who runs the mentoring company Hukm Launch Pad.

“A year later, they’ve seen it elsewhere and been disappointed that someone else got in there first. Those are the people we’re helping. It’s not as difficult as you think to turn an idea into a financial success when you’ve got the right support. We’re doing the heavy lifting, all you’ve got to do is trust in yourself.”

Hukm, which means “destiny” in Punjabi and also happens to be the name of Samsher’s son, was created with one clear goal in mind: connecting business founders with investors.

Samsher designed a 12-week programme called Launch Pad that brings these two worlds together.

It costs £15,000 to join, but that investment can be quickly recouped thanks to the expert guidance and top-tier connections that come with the package.

Some of the 280 businesses that Hukm has worked with are now worth millions, all within just a few years of launching.

“It’s a simple five-step programme, but it can change people’s lives forever,” Samsher says.

“We focus on the tech side of things. We build a commercial-ready MVP, which is just a working version of someone’s idea, that can be tested and shown to investors.

From there, we create everything they need to get started; their website, social media presence and a professional pitch deck, so they’re ready to start selling or meeting investors straight away.”

But the support doesn’t end with just the technical bits. The programme also includes mentoring, startup survival skills, and direct access to other founders who’ve gone from having an idea to running billion-dollar companies.

“It offers a bit more of a personal approach and one that almost anyone can understand. Our workshops aren’t just about how to run a business, there’s also a focus on wellbeing and mental focus.

There’s one we run called ‘Conscious Decision Making’, which is about understanding your consciousness to create a decision, led by Dav Panesar, the UK’s leading expert in this space.

For example, we ask ‘What’s the difference between intellect, intuition and intelligence?’ Not many people can answer that correctly but this workshop teaches you how.”

“And of course, we also invest in these companies to give them a helping hand, and in return, we get to see some of the rewards in our bank account.

There’s also pitching days, where we bring in investors, just like Dragon’s Den, which is funny, because I always pictured myself as a Dragon.

Selling is the most important part of any business, it’s the driving force behind making things work right, so you’ve to sell yourself, too.”

When Samsher was a kid, he imagined a future as a car salesman. But things shifted in sixth form, when he picked up Applied Business as a subject and discovered a passion for entrepreneurship.

That’s when he and a few friends started a mini business making printed hoodies for clubs and year groups at school, and it turned into a solid success.

Later, he applied for a coursework-based degree in Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management at Lord Ashcroft International Business School in Cambridge. But by the time he got there, he already had one business under his belt.

“The year before I went to university, I set up my first-ever solo business. It was called Bucks Munch and was essentially an online voucher cloud for local restaurants, pubs and bars to give them a space to promote any deals and offers.

At the time, franchises had a space to do it but there was nothing focused on family-run businesses. In four months, I had 175 customers on board and was making £3,000 per month.”

After graduating, Samsher went into sales and quickly made a name for himself, bringing in record-breaking commissions thanks to what he calls his “gift of the gab.”

He spotted a gap in the market and started a lead generation business for people buying telematics, something similar to Compare the Market.

It worked, and he ended up selling that business for over seven figures.

Soon after, he partnered with his friend Gautam Passi to create a mobile app for opticians and pharmacies to find locums without using recruiters.

It wasn’t easy. It took years of work and a steep learning curve, but after four years, the app caught the attention of a pharmaceutical recruitment company that made them an offer Samsher couldn’t turn down.

From there, he launched Hukm Launch Pad, after realising that a lot of people needed help with technical development during the early stages of their business.

Since starting in 2023 with a team of just four, Hukm now employs 52 people with offices in London, Dubai and Delhi, covering all time zones.

Samsher, who lives in London, says that the best piece of advice he has for any founder is to stop fearing what’s ahead.

“You’re only fearful when you’re not confident in what you’re offering. What we see with our founders is that they come in all nervous.

But come week six, they know how to talk and deliver with belief. And so when they pitch to investors in the final week, they’re ready to go. It makes them pitch-perfect.”

“But my biggest piece of advice is that nothing beats hard work. There needs to be a balance between health and effort, though. Keep yourself grounded within the journey, as it’s the most interesting and profound thing you’ll ever experience.”

READ MORE: Teacher buys food for hungry students until viral TikTok brings thousands in donations