PANKAJ KUMAR SINGH

Narrating A Saga Of Innovation, Inspiration and Excellence

PANKAJ KUMAR SINGH

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

PCS Ventures

E very entrepreneur’s journey is unique, filled with ambition, resilience, and the drive to make a difference. Pankaj Kumar Singh, the Founder & CEO of PCS Ventures, is the embodiment of these qualities. With nearly two decades of experience in purchasing and supply chain management, he took a leap of faith from a successful corporate career to building something of his own. His company, PCS Ventures, isn’t just a business—it’s the realisation of his dream to create meaningful change in industries like Automotive, FMCG, and Food Processing. Whether implementing advanced ERP systems like SAP and Microsoft Dynamics or leading the way in clean-tech or aspiring startups, Pankaj is always pushing the envelope. Under his leadership, PCS Ventures has become a powerhouse, creating jobs, driving growth in the startup ecosystem, and earning recognition along the way. We had the chance to sit down with Pankaj to talk about his journey, the strategies that fuel his success, and his vision for the future.

How did you transition from purchasing and supply chain management to fintech and financial services with PCS Ventures?

Over 15 years in purchasing and supply chain management across various sectors, both in India and abroad, offered me invaluable exposure to the challenges and opportunities within the Corporate & MSMEs segment. My engineering background was complemented by a strong affinity for data and finance, which naturally led me to spot an untapped business opportunity in this space. After discussing this with my longtime friend, Sanjeev Kumar, we identified the potential scope of business and decided to make the transition into financial services. This led to the founding of PCS Ventures during a time when India’s startup ecosystem was gaining momentum. My corporate experience played a crucial role in establishing the PCS Ventures brand, earning the trust of global and Indian brands like Baskin Robbins, Nilon’s, and Kongsberg Automotive early on.

As a founder and CEO, what values or principles guide your leadership style at PCS Ventures?

As a founder and CEO, my leadership is guided by the ‘4D Framework’: Dialogue, Delegation, Diligence, and Delivery. Dialogue ensures open communication and transparency, aligning the team with the company’s goals. Delegation empowers team members, fostering ownership and accountability, which drives growth. Diligence emphasises the importance of thoroughness and attention to detail in our work, ensuring highquality outcomes. Finally, Delivery is about consistently meeting and exceeding our commitments to clients and stakeholders. These principles form the foundation of our culture at PCS Ventures, driving our success and ensuring we fulfil our promises.

What's your top lesson for future entrepreneurs?

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is the transformative power of honesty. When you embrace transparency and integrity, you build unbreakable bonds with investors, customers, and suppliers. To the entrepreneurs of tomorrow: Embrace agility, fuel your passion for growth, and let honesty be your compass. These principles are not just the foundation—they’re the catalysts for extraordinary, lasting success in your ventures.

What was your biggest challenge while building PCS Ventures, and how did you overcome it?

One of the biggest challenges at PCS Ventures was product positioning in the highly fragmented investment banking and financial services sectors for startups and MSMEs. The market, often dominated by an agent-driven culture, led to suboptimal customer outcomes. To address this, we refined our approach and positioned PCS Ventures as a ‘Big4 firm for Startups & MSMEs’, which is certainly a “Firstof-its-kind” initiative in the world. This strategic move set us apart from unorganised players. It also earned recognition from senior leaders at the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), Queen City Fintech (QCF) and Your Story, who appreciated our entrepreneurial journey and innovative positioning.

What do you consider to be your personal strengths that have been instrumental in your entrepreneurial journey?

My key strengths in entrepreneurship are passion and perseverance. Passion fuels my commitment and drive to create impactful solutions, while perseverance ensures I push through challenges and stay focused on my goals. These qualities have been critical in building a successful and resilient company.

Which achievement at PCS Ventures are you most proud of, and why?

One outstanding achievement is our participation in EUREKA 2023, initiated by E-CELL, IIT-Bombay. Out of 18,000 applicants in this national-level startup challenge, PCS Ventures was selected as SEMIFINALISTS, placing us among the Top 200 startups. This recognition is particularly meaningful as it validates the significant problem we are solving and has greatly boosted our team’s morale and confidence.