E45: The Pratik Kothari (TechArk) Interview

TechArk founder and CEO, Pratik Kothari came to America with a small loan and a big dream. After graduating from Old Dominion University with a Master’s degree in Computer Science, he worked hard to become Chief Technology Officer at a local Virginia Beach company. During this time, he found himself freelancing most nights and weekends and it became more and more apparent that he was ready to take the next step. TechArk Solutions was born. Only a few years old and already winning awards, TechArk is going places and we’re not slowing down anytime soon. Tell us what your company needs and we’ll develop a solution just for you. https://gotechark.com/ - In 2014, Hamilton Perkins founded Hamilton Perkins Collection, an independent brand, designing and producing unique and award winning bags and accessories from recycled materials. Hamilton Perkins Collection exists to create timeless limited edition bags made from recycled plastic water bottles, pineapple leaf fiber, and billboard vinyl. The result is that no two bags are ever the same. Our first design, the Earth Bag Premium, was created so that our customers would not only carry a bag that was stylish but carry a bag they could be proud of. We surveyed more than 1,000 consumers to obtain their thoughts and feedback for each component of the Earth Bag Premium, which soon became one of our most popular designs. Perkins was the winner of the Virginia Velocity Tour hosted by the Governor of Virginia, and the recipient of a HUD Community Development Block Grant. The non-profit B Lab honored Hamilton Perkins Collection as a "Best for the World Overall" B Corporation in 2017. Hamilton Perkins Collection has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Money Magazine, and The Washington Post. The brand is currently offered in nearly 100 leading department stores and specialty stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe.