Immigrants Building Companies

Asim Amin

Welcome to Immigrants Building Companies, where we uncover the extraordinary journeys of entrepreneurs who crossed borders, overcame challenges, and redefined success. Hosted by Asim Amin, Founder and CEO of Plumm, this podcast isn’t just about business, it’s about resilience, determination, and purpose. Each episode dives into the struggles, failures, and victories that shaped these founders, offering lessons on turning adversity into opportunity. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or curious about the human side of success, tune in and be inspired to break barriers

  1. 12/31/2025

    What Scaling a Business 40x Really Took

    “Most people think founders have to sacrifice themselves.” James says that belief can make you successful, but broken. In this episode, I sit down with James - who once lived overseas building businesses as “the only foreigner in the room”, scaled a company 40x in three years, and later scaled a family recruitment business to 88 people across five countries before selling it in 2020. We talk about what growth really costs and why James chose a different definition of success: one built around presence, health, and a life that actually works. In this conversation, we get into: Why “job security” can be a dangerous illusion - and how it shaped his entire career The brutal truth about marketplaces: “the only power sellers… are bike thieves” The shift founders must make in the scaling phase: from “do more, go faster” to “do less, achieve more” Why founders chase control when they’re stressed and how it quietly wrecks teams and decisions The real value of a business coach: not advice… but a pure space to think clearly and lead better If this episode hits home, subscribe and share it with a founder who needs to hear it. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Why James is “an anomaly” guest 00:00:27 - China at 18: choosing the uncomfortable path 00:02:02 - Language, identity, and becoming a generalist 00:03:30 - The fear of losing your edge without language 00:04:44 - How culture changes business and trust 00:05:34 - The Philippines: being young in an age-hierarchy culture 00:06:44 - Jardines’ program: training “mini CEOs” 00:09:29 - “Job security is a fallacy” 00:10:12 - Scaling obsession: fast, but sustainable 00:12:02 - Flipping the playbook: people-led to product-led 00:13:07 - The lifestyle trap: “it wasn’t owned” 00:14:35 - Generalist skills as the safest bet 00:18:32 - First startup: an online bike marketplace 00:19:28 - “You don’t know what you don’t know” 00:22:04 - Attention vs product: the painful mismatch 00:22:49 - “Power sellers”… and the dark reality 00:24:38 - The hard choice: scale it or stop it 00:26:59 - When a ‘failure’ becomes a launchpad 00:27:56 - Back to family business: scaling to 88 people 00:28:46 - Why he didn’t start again after the exit 00:30:39 - Designing life first: family, stress, and priorities 00:31:06 - Coaching: combining practical + personal 00:33:23 - The “value capture” question and why he avoided it 00:35:28 - Defining success: happy wife, happy son 00:37:19 - Why founders trust ex-founders more 00:40:45 - Why founders resist coaching (and what it really is) 00:42:30 - Coaching as “time back” and better decisions 00:44:56 - The hiring belief that changed everything 00:48:23 - “Successful but broken” - the founder sacrifice myth 00:49:03 - AI anxiety, competition, and modern founder pressure 00:51:11 - James’ 3-part framework for founders right now 00:55:45 - Final question: what he’d tell his 18 year old self 00:58:38 - Closing: “We will be talking after the pod.”

    1 hr

  2. 12/17/2025

    Your Home Is Stressing You Out (And You Don’t Know It) | 5 Pillars Of Health & Longevity Spaces

    Your stress isn’t just “in your head”, it’s built into your environment. In this episode, Karina Valencia breaks down how the spaces we live and work in quietly shape our sleep, stress, energy, and long-term health and why the “fix” isn’t more biohacking… it’s rebuilding the fundamentals. What you’ll take from this conversation: Why passport/visa limbo can delay your dream and how she used that time to iterate The moment motherhood made her say: “I’ll build my own company.” How longevity buildings work (air, water, circadian light, sleep design) - and why you “feel it” more than you see it Practical, low-cost habits you can start today: sleep rhythm, meal timing, ventilation, and stress downshifts If this hit home, subscribe for more conversations like this - and share it with someone who’s been running on empty. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Expectation vs reality moment 00:00:57 - Consistency is the real “hack” 00:01:44 - 11 years in the UK, 9 countries 00:04:06 - The fear of building 00:05:19 - Becoming British: identity + freedom 00:08:23 - Why London feels different 00:09:34 - “I never saw myself founding” 00:10:40 - Motherhood bias at work 00:12:26 - Why healthspan became the mission 00:14:17 - Stress, pregnancy, and the real cause 00:15:45 - Angina, stents, and stress reality 00:17:22 - What longevity spaces actually include 00:20:08 - Designing for sleep, nutrition, movement 00:21:33 - ROI: when developers say yes 00:24:22 - Who actually buys into this 00:26:49 - The 5 pillars of health 00:31:29 - Is the market growing fast? 00:33:05 - Clients come educated, globally 00:34:27 - Longevity hub vs your daily life 00:36:06 - You don’t “fix” - you reset fundamentals 00:39:58 - Could this work as a day clinic? 00:40:33 - What if you can’t afford it? 00:41:41 - Ventilation: the £20 upgrade 00:42:58 - Sleep as a ritual, not a need 00:44:17 - Meal timing and deep sleep gains 00:46:57 - Laughter, hugs, and real recovery 00:49:18 - What she’d tell her younger self 00:52:58 - The future: staying open 00:53:26 - Final takeaway + social presence

    54 min

  3. 12/03/2025

    From War, Rejection and COVID Chaos to UK Tech Leader (with Jasmine Sayyari)

    She survived a collapsing healthcare system, a rejected US visa, political turmoil, and a pandemic that nearly killed her and still built three companies from scratch. In this extraordinary episode, Jasmine Sayyari shares her journey from medical doctor in Iran to UK tech founder, community builder, and Inspiring 50 award winner. She takes us inside the fear of working through COVID with no PPE or vaccines, the grey hair that formed in six months, and the exact moment she realised she had to rebuild her entire life elsewhere. From fleeing political instability to starting a business from a Telegram channel, living out of a suitcase in Istanbul, getting rejected at the US Embassy, and finally building Chansey AI in London, Jasmine explains the resilience, creativity and raw survival instinct behind her success. In this episode you’ll learn: How crisis shaped Jasmine’s ability to build fast, lead through uncertainty, and spot opportunity Why her first “accidental startup” became a blueprint for lean, profitable growth The truth about immigration, fear, identity and belonging Why she believes upskilling will define the next decade of work How Chansey AI is rethinking employability, job matching, and internal mobility Why Jasmine says: “Don’t hide. Build in public.” If you’ve ever doubted your path, this conversation will shift something deep. Subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs inspiration today.

    55 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    The Delusional Strategy That Built His Entire Life

    What if being “delusional” is the only reason he made it? In this raw and revealing episode, Tobi Oluwole shares how he built his life with intention, storytelling, and a level of delusion he believes every successful immigrant needs. From moving across continents to quitting Shopify the day after buying a house, to generating over 300 million impressions on LinkedIn, Tobi explains the mindset, strategy and frameworks that transformed his life. We talk about designing your future through writing your own eulogy, applying delusion where the odds actually work, why immigrant founders succeed at higher rates, and how storytelling became the engine behind every opportunity in his career. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why Tobi believes delusion is a strategy, not a flaw How writing his own eulogy changed every decision he made The truth about immigrant pressure, sacrifice, and ambition How storytelling on LinkedIn built a global business Why fear of judgment stops 99% of people from succeeding How to design a life you can actually live, not escape from If you’re an immigrant, an entrepreneur, or someone trying to build a life on your own terms, this episode will shift your perspective forever. Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think and inspire how you live. Chapters 00:00:00 — The Anomaly in the Room 00:01:06 — Growing Up on Three Continents 00:02:19 — The Football Dream Meets Reality 00:03:54 — Accepting Limitations Without Losing Ambition 00:05:35 — Why Quitting Can Be a Skill 00:07:41 — The Power of Delusion (Used Correctly) 00:09:27 — The Strategy Behind His Delusion 00:11:00 — Raised by Builders: The Family Influence 00:13:00 — Laid Off, Broke, and Rebuilding 00:14:42 — Why Shopify Became His MBA 00:16:36 — Buying a House, Then Quitting the Next Day 00:18:38 — Writing a Eulogy to Design His Life 00:20:34 — The Identity That Drives Everything 00:22:30 — Living in Your Own Design, Not Society’s 00:23:40 — Does He Believe in Manifestation? 00:25:10 — Being a Seed Sower, Not a People Pleaser 00:27:14 — Harvesting Without Apology 00:28:40 — How Shopify Taught Him the Storytelling Framework 00:30:03 — The LinkedIn Post That Changed Everything 00:31:39 — Becoming a Magnet, Not a Hunter 00:33:00 — The Real Reason People Don’t Post Online 00:35:45 — Pushing Past Judgment and Execution Barriers 00:37:45 — Why Personal Branding Feels So Hard 00:39:26 — Why LinkedIn Is a Cheat Code 00:41:09 — Why He’ll Never Be a ‘Content Creator’ 00:43:26 — One LinkedIn Lead vs Twenty Social Leads 00:45:32 — Building Businesses from Attention Alone 00:47:08 — The Toronto Conference: A New Chapter 00:49:38 — Immigration Is Not the Problem You Think It Is 00:52:50 — What No One Says About Immigrant Sacrifice 00:55:07 — Solving the Problem Instead of Complaining 00:57:48 — Need-trepreneurs vs Want-trepreneurs 01:00:47 — What He’d Tell His Younger Self 01:02:55 — Gratitude, Grounding, and the Long Game

    1h 5m

  5. 09/04/2025

    From War Child To Founder: Tijana’s Journey To Redefining Success

    She grew up in a war zone, arrived in London with nothing, and built one of the UK’s most exciting female-led creative agencies. Tijana Tamburic, co-founder and CEO of Female Narratives, shares her extraordinary immigrant journey, from bunk beds and burnout to building campaigns for global brands like Bumble and Merell. This is a story of resilience, hustle, and redefining success on your own terms. In this conversation: Growing up in Serbia during war and moving to the UK The immigrant mindset: autonomy, proving your value, and finding belonging Building Female Narratives and creating campaigns with purpose The hidden cost of overwork, burnout, and redefining success in your 30s Chapters 00:00:00 – Meet Tijana: Founder of Female Narratives 00:00:38 – Born in a country that no longer exists 00:02:36 – Returning to Serbia as war breaks out 00:05:01 – Escaping Belgrade & moving back to London 00:06:14 – Growing up fast & raised for autonomy 00:08:09 – Adapting to a new culture & proving worth 00:11:22 – Class divides & being told ‘you’re not one of us’ 00:12:59 – The drive to prove value through success 00:14:04 – Addicted to stress & chasing validation 00:16:01 – The immigrant safety net: bunk beds & starting a business 00:18:22 – Publishing comics & hustling early ventures 00:20:17 – Modeling, freelancing & never working for anyone else 00:25:00 – Moving to LA on an ‘extraordinary ability’ visa 00:29:49 – The kitchen floor idea: Female Narratives is born 00:32:11 – Building an all-female creative collective 00:35:31 – Riding the wave: Bumble, Nike & global campaigns 00:37:55 – Rebranding for inclusivity & brand intimacy 00:41:30 – Clients from female-led apps to heritage brands 00:43:41 – The power of events & being the host 00:50:44 – Scaling vs. staying sane: choosing balance 00:57:04 – Redefining success & setting financial goals 01:03:39 – The breaking point: burnout & physical collapse 01:08:35 – Lessons from burnout & learning boundaries 01:11:04 – What I’d tell my nine-year-old self

    1h 14m

  6. 08/28/2025

    She Built The UK’s First South Asian Pre-Loved Fashion Platform

    What if the outfits you wore once could have another life and save you money while saving the planet? Anoli Mathur, founder and CEO of Circular Threads, shares her incredible journey from management consulting at EY to creating the UK’s fastest growing platform for pre-loved South Asian clothing. From the struggles of cultural identity growing up in London to spotting a gap in the wedding fashion market, Anoli has built a business that’s rewriting the rules of tradition, sustainability, and style. In this conversation, we explore: How immigrant roots shaped her identity and entrepreneurial drive The painful truth about waste in South Asian fashion Why brides and grooms are embracing the “pre-loved” movement The future of sustainable weddings and circular fashion This is a story about heritage, identity, and building a business that challenges the way we think about clothing, culture, and sustainability. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Anoli Mathur, founder of Circular Threads 00:30 – An immigrant story shaped by chance encounters 04:00 – Growing up in London & struggling with cultural identity 07:00 – Fitting in vs. celebrating heritage 10:00 – Life in consulting & the spark of entrepreneurship 12:30 – The loft discovery that sparked Circular Threads 15:00 – Why South Asian fashion is broken 19:20 – Selling vs. renting – what really works 21:00 – Menswear, bridal wear & expanding the market 23:20 – From weddings to wardrobes: new customer habits 26:00 – How long can outfits last? 28:30 – Solving the “clothes in storage” problem 34:30 – The environmental impact of South Asian weddings 36:40 – Why price and design matter more than sustainability (for now) 39:20 – Building a movement beyond fashion 42:00 – The future: partnerships, accessories & one-stop shop for weddings 44:30 – Final reflections & why sustainability must also be convenient

    45 min

  7. 08/21/2025

    Harris Cheng: Disrupting Content Creation with Jupitrr

    He never worked for anyone. And he doesn’t regret a single failure. Harris Cheng, co-founder and CEO of Jupitrr, takes us on an inspiring journey from photographer to entrepreneur, breaking down barriers and disrupting the content creation space with AI. From his roots in Hong Kong to building companies in Toronto and London, Harris reflects on the mindset shift that led him to create a platform that’s revolutionising the way we make videos. In this conversation, we explore: The immigrant founder experience and navigating cultural identity Why personal branding isn’t just about social media How Harris built a community of 150,000 users with zero paid marketing How Jupitrr is reshaping content creation with intelligent editing This episode is filled with raw insight and powerful lessons for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, tech, or the immigrant journey. 👉 If you found value in this episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned for more powerful stories. Chapters 00:00:00 – From Hong Kong to London Harris’ story begins in Hong Kong and his move to London. 00:02:57 – Why He Left Canada The decision to leave Canada and pursue bigger dreams. 00:05:25 – Being an Immigrant Founder in London Facing challenges and building a new life as an immigrant entrepreneur. 00:07:18 – Culture Shock & Identity in the UK How adapting to the UK culture shaped Harris’ perspective. 00:10:22 – What Hong Kong Hustle Feels Like The fast-paced, high-energy mindset that defines Hong Kong’s work culture. 00:12:27 – Upbringing in Obedience vs. Creativity Balancing conformity with creative expression from a young age. 00:16:52 – Why He Never Worked for Anyone Harris reflects on his choice to never be an employee and the lessons from that. 00:18:20 – Building Freehunter & His First 100K Users The journey of creating a platform that grew exponentially. 00:20:16 – Why Personal Brand ≠ Social Media Breaking down the real meaning behind personal branding. 00:23:45 – The Real Power of LinkedIn & Attention The key to using LinkedIn to grab attention and build influence. 00:28:12 – The Algorithm Is Killing Your Videos How algorithms are impacting video content and engagement. 00:30:39 – How YouTube, TikTok & LinkedIn Compare A comparison of video performance across platforms. 00:32:50 – Where Jupitrr Videos Perform Best How Jupitrr helps optimize video content for maximum impact. 00:35:06 – The Secret to Getting VC Attention Harris shares his strategy for catching the eye of venture capitalists. 00:37:04 – LinkedIn Is Betting Big on Video Why LinkedIn is pushing video content and what it means for creators. 00:39:13 – Can AI Replicate Lara Acosta-Style Edits? The potential of AI to replicate high-end video edits. 00:42:48 – What Jupitrr Actually Does An in-depth look at how Jupitrr transforms video editing. 00:46:59 – Talking Heads Are the Future Why talking-head videos are a game-changer in content creation. 00:50:50 – The New SEO: Getting Found in ChatGPT How ChatGPT and AI are changing the way we think about SEO. 00:55:08 – How to Rank in AI Search Practical advice on ranking content in AI-driven search engines. 01:00:23 – Jupitrr’s Vision for the Future Harris shares his vision for the future of content creation. 01:03:07 – Why You Need to Start Now The urgency of adopting AI in today’s fast-moving digital landscape. 01:05:13 – What He'd Tell His Younger Self Harris offers powerful advice to his younger self on building success.

    1h 12m

  8. 08/14/2025

    Quantum Tech: The Future of Cybersecurity Explained

    What’s the future of cybersecurity in a world where quantum tech is transforming everything? In this episode, Wenmiao Yu takes us through her journey from Singapore to the UK, from growing up in a highly competitive education system to pioneering the use of quantum technology in cybersecurity. Key Takeaways: Cultural Shifts: Moving from Singapore to the UK and how it shaped her view of resilience and inclusivity. Quantum Tech Demystified: An insider’s look at the booming field of quantum computing, sensing, and communications. Building a Future-Proof Business: How Wemya’s company is enhancing cybersecurity with quantum random number generators. Navigating the Quantum Space: From early challenges to raising funding, learn how the quantum industry is evolving and what’s driving its growth. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about the intersection of technology, security, and the future. Chapters 00:00:00 – From Singapore to the UK: A Life of Change 00:04:05 – Cultural Shock: Moving to a New World 00:07:15 – How Early Education Shapes Our Futures 00:12:00 – The Journey into Quantum Tech 00:16:30 – Quantum Sensing, Computing, and the Future 00:22:40 – Building a Company from Scratch 00:27:00 – Navigating the Quantum Investment Space 00:32:10 – How Quantum Tech Is Changing Cybersecurity 00:38:20 – Quantum Encryption and the Future of Security 00:43:00 – The Challenge of Educating the Market 00:47:30 – Scaling Quantum: From Space to Smartphones 00:52:00 – Advice for Anyone Looking to Enter Quantum Tech 00:57:00 – A Lesson from a 10-Year-Old Moving to the UK

    35 min
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About

Welcome to Immigrants Building Companies, where we uncover the extraordinary journeys of entrepreneurs who crossed borders, overcame challenges, and redefined success. Hosted by Asim Amin, Founder and CEO of Plumm, this podcast isn’t just about business, it’s about resilience, determination, and purpose. Each episode dives into the struggles, failures, and victories that shaped these founders, offering lessons on turning adversity into opportunity. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or curious about the human side of success, tune in and be inspired to break barriers

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