There is a massive technology-first emphasis in all that we do, and our ambition is to be the premier technology-enabled professional services provider: Anupam Satyasheel of Occams Advisory

“We are continually innovating and enhancing new technologies to help our clients improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.”

Anupam Satyasheel, the founder and CEO of Occams Advisory, recognized a clear and unmet need within the small and medium business (SMB) sector. This need specifically pertained to the absence of a reliable one-stop solution that could address the diverse business, financial, and professional service requirements of SMBs. In response, Occams positioned itself to address this need by serving as a comprehensive firm dedicated to SMBs globally. It specializes in three clearly defined service verticals: Business Services & Growth Incubation (BSGI), Capital Markets & Investment Banking (CMIB), and Financial Technology & Payment Solutions (FTPS). Through these expert services, Occams Advisory aims to provide holistic support to SMBs, offering solutions across various critical aspects of their operations and growth.

Occams Advisory is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.

The Silicon Review reached out to Mr. Satyasheel for an interview, and here’s his response.

Interview Highlights

Please tell us about the circumstances or events that led to the founding of Occams Advisory.

Midway through my much-anticipated Wall Street career, I realized the uneven playing field for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations through an accidental project to help a friend sell his food business. The lessons I learned while balancing my 70-hour work week with this voluntary project led to the genesis of Occams Advisory. As I went through the customary layoff-end job search on Wall Street in 2010, I found my professional calling—to form an SMB-centric professional services business that will bring high-end expertise to the middle market.

In the initial days of envisaging the vision of Occams Advisory, I also saw how SMEs can be overwhelmed by the volume of data and information that is available to them, leading to confusion, paralysis by analysis, and ultimately, poor decision-making. I saw a need for a company that could help businesses cut through the noise and focus on the essentials. Occams was founded on the principle that the simplest solution is often the likeliest to be executed well. We help businesses identify and prioritize their most important goals, and we develop clear and actionable plans to achieve them.

Our name, Occams, is inspired by William of Ockham, a 14th-century Franciscan friar and philosopher. Ockham is known for his principle of parsimony, which states that entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. In other words, the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is often the correct one.

We believe that this principle is just as relevant to business as it is to philosophy. When businesses are faced with complex problems, it is important to step back and look for the simplest possible solution. This often involves eliminating unnecessary complexity and focusing on the core elements of the problem.

At Occams, we are committed to helping businesses make better decisions by providing them with clear, concise, and actionable, integrated guidance. We believe that simplicity is the key to success, and we are passionate about helping our clients achieve their goals.

Setbacks are a part of every growing business. Tell us about a few roadblocks and learning lessons that helped Occams grow through the years.

Like any growing business, Occams has faced its share of setbacks over the years. One of our biggest challenges was initially gaining traction and establishing our brand. When we first launched, there were already several well-established consulting firms in the market. It took time and effort to differentiate ourselves and build a reputation for providing high-quality services.

An even bigger challenge came in the form of COVID-19. Given the SME's rich portfolio of clients, our client defaults and delinquency led to a precarious liquidity situation by the beginning of 2021. Even with the generous government support in the form of PPP and EIDL, the loss in collections and new clients was causing alarms.

Out of every roadblock comes new learning. COVID-19 taught us the importance of regenerational capabilities. In a resource-constrained environment, we decided to trim down a product line, focus on our strengths, and remove the operationally weak links. Two years later, we became the fittest, biggest, and strongest we ever were.

Q. As a one-stop firm serving SMBs worldwide, what are Occams’ key focus areas?

Our goal is to provide SMEs with the integrated, high-quality services they need to succeed, from inception to infinity.

Business Services & Growth Incubation: We help SMBs develop and execute their growth strategies. This includes services such as business planning, marketing and sales strategy, and operational efficiency consulting.

Structuring, Incorporation, & Accounting Advisory: We help SMBs choose the right business structure and set up their accounting systems. We also provide ongoing accounting and tax advisory services.

Capital Markets & Investment Banking: We help SMBs raise capital and acquire or merge with other businesses. We also provide investment banking services to SMBs that are looking to exit their businesses.

Q. Can you introduce us to your services? What are their main features?

Our main services include the following:

Business Services & Growth Incubation: We help SMBs develop and execute their growth strategies. This includes services such as business planning, marketing and sales strategy, and operational efficiency consulting.

Features:

• We have a team of experienced professionals who can help you develop a realistic and achievable growth strategy.
• We can help you identify and target your ideal customers.
• We can help you to develop and implement effective marketing and sales strategies.
• We can help you improve your operational efficiency and profitability.

Structuring, Incorporation, & Accounting Advisory: We help SMBs choose the right business structure and set up their accounting systems. We also provide ongoing accounting and tax advisory services.

Features:

• We can help you choose the right business structure for your needs, taking into account factors such as your tax liability, asset protection, and future growth plans.
• We can help you set up your accounting systems and develop a bookkeeping routine.
• We can provide you with ongoing accounting and tax advisory services so that you can focus on running your business.

Financial Technology & Payment Solutions: We help SMBs choose and implement the right financial technology and payment solutions for their needs. This includes services such as ERP systems, CRM systems, and payment processing solutions.

Features:

• We can help you assess your needs and choose the right financial technology and payment solutions for your business.
• We can help you implement the chosen solutions and train your staff on how to use them.
• We can provide you with ongoing support and maintenance services.

Capital Markets & Investment Banking: We help SMBs raise capital and acquire or merge with other businesses. We also provide investment banking services to SMBs that are looking to exit their businesses.

Features:

• We have a team of investment bankers with significant expertise who can help you raise capital from investors.
• We can help you identify and evaluate potential acquisition targets or merger partners.
• We can help you to negotiate and execute complex business transactions.

Q. Can you provide us with one or two success stories, detailing specific client challenges and how Occams’ solutions contributed to their success?

In the wake of COVID-19, there have been dozens of businesses reeling under the twin pressures of capital inadequacy and a disinterested labor force. One of such businesses had toppled too far and was emerging from bankruptcy when they signed up with us for a broad engagement. Over the last two years, not only have we helped them restore financial and business health, but they are also robustly placed to be acquired by a strategic buyer for a high double-digit million valuation. This client had several financial, operational, and strategic challenges, which we solved in an integrated and customized way. The secret sauce was our bespoke solution targeted at resolving their interconnected business problems.

The second story is of a client who was referred to us by one of the law firms we work with. This healthcare business had significant tax dues to government agencies. Even though they had negotiated installment-based repayment plans, the strain of these payments was hurting the business and hindering their growth. That multijurisdictional presence was potentially a source of tax efficiency but had become a reason for burdensome tax liabilities. Over the course of an 18-month engagement, we were able to resolve, eliminate, and streamline the structural drivers of their tax issues. By the time our engagement was completed, not only had their tax issues been resolved, but they were also in thorough compliance with all tax-relevant jurisdictions. We were able to achieve this miraculous turnaround through our critical insights into tax planning, tax credits, and tax resolution, coupled with our expertise in financial planning and financial efficiency.

Q. Tell us about the Occams team. What value do they bring to the company?

The Occams team is composed of high-level experts and distinguished professionals. We have a team of business experts, financial advisors, investment bankers, and technology specialists who are passionate about maximizing human potential through helping businesses scale. They have a real understanding of the challenges that businesses face, and they are able to develop customized solutions that meet the specific needs of clients

Q. What continuing learning opportunities do you have for your employees?

At Occams, we believe that continuing learning is essential for our employees to remain effective and competitive in their careers. We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to help our employees develop their skills and knowledge, stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies, and prepare for new challenges and opportunities.

Our continuing learning opportunities include:

• Internal training programs include business skills, certificate programs, technical skills, and soft skills.
• Online learning resources: We provide our employees with access to a variety of online learning resources, including e-books, articles, and tutorials. This helps our employees learn at their own pace and on their own time.
• Mentorship program: We offer an informal but effective mentorship program that pairs new employees with experienced employees who can provide them with guidance and support.
  

In addition to these learning opportunities, we also encourage our employees to learn from each other and to share their knowledge and expertise. We do this by creating a culture of learning and collaboration and by providing our employees with opportunities to network with each other and participate in cross-functional projects.

We believe that our continuing learning opportunities are one of the things that sets Occams apart from other companies. We are committed to investing in our employees and helping them to develop their skills and knowledge. This investment pays off in the long run, as it allows us to attract and retain the best talent and provide our clients with the highest quality services.

Q. What new endeavors is Occams currently undertaking?

Occams has continuously endeavored to look beyond the horizon and bring solutions for the next generation of problems. Our new product line includes:

• Occams Ventures is a regenerative capital fund that will invest in businesses that are aligned with Occams' philosophy of a regenerative economy. These businesses will be inspired by the multiple bottom lines of conservation of value through regenerative deployment of capital that promotes regenerative practices such as restoring ecosystems, revitalizing communities, or implementing circular economy principles.
• Digital Assets: With the evolving landscape of the financial world and the growing significance of Bitcoin, Occams has created a high-value Bitcoin advisory service. The business will be called Occams Digital Assets and aims to harness the potential of Bitcoin, not just as a financial asset but also as a pivotal tool in climate mitigation.
• Mental Wellness: Dedicated to helping clients enhance their employees’ productivity through proactive investments in their mental health and well-being. This will include offerings such as mindfulness and well-being programs, mental health counseling, and behavioral health coaching.

We believe that these new endeavors will have a transformative impact on our clients’ businesses as they solve some of their most pressing problems. We are committed to these services, as they will create a more sustainable and prosperous future.

Q. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

We believe in the non-negotiable power of technology to ‘terraform’ businesses. There is a massive technology-first emphasis in all that we do, and our ambition is to be the premier technology-enabled professional services provider. We are continually innovating and enhancing new technologies to help our clients improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.

Our capital allocation strategy is committed to a regenerative economic model and social sustainability. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to make a non-negative impact on the world. The Occams Ventures fund will invest in companies that are working to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.

As Occams continues to grow and inspire a series of entrepreneurs to achieve their potential in the years to come, I stay in perpetual gratitude for the opportunity to lead this company and to work with such a committed team of professionals.

Anupam Satyasheel | Founder

Anupam is a visionary entrepreneur who founded Occams Advisory in 2012. Under his leadership, Occams has driven remarkable results for its clients across industries and geographies. Inspired by his vision and driven by its outstanding leaders, Occams has grown rapidly and achieved multiple media recognitions, such as 7 times Inc.'s Fastest 5000, 4 times FT America’s Fastest 500, and Fortune’s 300 Most Innovative Companies 2023.

Anupam acquired his academic rigor at top-tier academic institutions like New York University, London Business School, and the University of Delhi. He honed his leadership skills at a mix of rapidly growing start-ups and Fortune 500 brands on Wall Street, including Barclays, Merrill Lynch, and Scotia Capital.

Based in Long Beach, CA, Anupam balances his professional commitments with a fulfilling personal life as a dedicated father and husband. Anupam's quest for knowledge extends beyond the business world. He immerses himself in literature on individual and team development, leadership, and astrophysics, constantly broadening his horizons. Anupam’s life goal is universal literacy and a nurturing and nourishing world for children. He has been leading the way to that end while serving on the boards of Child Literacy and The Blossom Project. Both of these organizations provide educational opportunities to the underprivileged. 

“We believe in the non-negotiable power of technology to ‘terraform’ businesses.”

“Our capital allocation strategy is committed to a regenerative economic model and social sustainability.”