Here’s how the pandemic inspired this Apeejay alumnus to start his construction company

Manish Prabhakar, an alumnus of Apeejay School, Saket, is a hospitality and marketing professional. In December last year, he started his own construction company in Delhi. “My goal is to start my own hotel in Goa and this company will pave the way for that,” he says when asked about his entrepreneurial goals. In an interview, Manish reveals how he got the idea to start the company, real estate trends, and more. Read on:

How did you come up with the idea of setting up your company now given the challenges posed by the pandemic?

I have been managing hospitality and construction simultaneously. Once the second wave of the pandemic got over, the real estate sector witnessed a boom. In the area where I live in Goa, I saw a lot of people coming in and building houses. I thought if they can do it, why can’t I? That is how I came up with the idea of setting up something of my own. So, I came back to Delhi, and started my company. I construct builder floors in Gurugram. Now, I am in the process of getting another project in Goa. My goal is to shift to Goa and live there permanently.

What kind of challenges does the business involve in terms of meeting client demands, trends, etc?

We sell builder floors before they are constructed. So, that is when the client comes in with the requirements. There can be some hassle at times but that is a part and parcel of the job. Apart from that, there are some issues when it comes to the availability of workers given the large-scale migration amid the pandemic. While there are such challenges, it is a lucrative business to be in.

In the time of real estate, what kind of trends are you noticing?

People who were earlier working from home in tier-II cities are gradually moving back to tier- I cities now that jobs are becoming available again. So, they are looking for decent accommodation not in apartment complexes but in other areas that are enclosed and safe. Second, more and more young people are starting to buy property now as compared to earlier. As for Goa, which is my prime focus, there are a lot of celebrities who are buying houses or buying lands and looking for developers to make their dream villas. In fact, my goal is to cater to them in the next three-four years with an ample amount of setup cost and resources.

Of late, people have been looking at eco-friendly buildings. Do you take this aspect into account in the ones you construct?

In Delhi, we try to incorporate as many elements as we can—from heat-reflective bricks to proper cooling and ventilation, strong wires to beat the heat, airy and brightly lit compounds, dust-resistant and termite-resistant buildings, etc. In Goa, eco-friendly houses are quite in demand with many using a combination of mud and bricks. But an eco-friendly house is a little more expensive than a traditional one.

What was your journey at Apeejay Saket like?

I was one of the troublemakers (laughs). But all in all, I had a great time at school. The teachers taught us well and were a source of inspiration. I took part in almost all the school functions. I completed schooling in 1996. I have very fond memories—I am still in touch with many of my friends from school.