Unconventional entrepreneurship is all about breaking free from established paradigms and finding creative solutions to modern challenges. Unlike conventional entrepreneurship, which often follows a well-trodden path, unconventional entrepreneurs are trailblazers and pioneers in uncharted territory. They dare to think differently, blending artistry, technology, and an entrepreneurial spirit to disrupt industries. In this rapidly changing business landscape, it’s individuals like Vera Kretschmar who embody the essence of unconventional entrepreneurship. Hailing from the serene German countryside, Vera’s journey to becoming a prosperous entrepreneur has been nothing short of exceptional. With accomplishments spanning real estate, finance, and aesthetics, she exemplifies unwavering determination, ambition, and a unique talent for recognizing opportunities
Following her academic pursuits in business school in Frankfurt, Vera’s insatiable hunger for knowledge and hands-on experience led her to the vibrant city of Los Angeles, where she pursued further education. Her early nurtured passion for finance and stock trading paved the way for internships at prestigious institutions such as Goldman Sachs in New York. Nevertheless, it was her professional stint in property management that eventually transported her to the bustling streets of China, where she oversaw retail leasing operations for CB Richard Ellis.
Challenging the Status Quo
It was during her tenure in China that Vera’s entrepreneurial drive began to flourish. Managing her corporate responsibilities alongside ventures in angel investments and crypto enterprises, she discovered a profound ardor not just for investing, but also for the establishment and nurturing of businesses. This newfound zeal for entrepreneurship propelled her on a global journey, navigating through Switzerland, Italy, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, as she continued to expand her investment portfolio and hone her discerning eye for promising brands and companies.
Vera challenges the conventional notion of fitting into a predefined mold. “You think you’re different, you think you’re doing something with your life that has never been done before. Yet the reality today is that we are all put into a made-to-measure box. As an entrepreneur, I don’t fit that box,” she declares, “and neither should you.” she shares.
She emphasizes that modern business life, especially the online narrative, tends to be overly formulaic and driven by algorithms. She firmly believes that true entrepreneurial success hinges on genuine business experience rather than relying on polished corporate messages that may ignore underlying realities.
The Essence of Entrepreneurship
“The very definition of being an entrepreneur is about risking what you think you have, using your experience and then just going for it,” says Kretschmar. “If I had waited until I thought I knew everything about business and life until I started my first business, I would still be sitting on my hands today,” she says.
In 2018, Vera Kretschmar established her home in Singapore, a place where she excelled in the field of investment banking while working with Ivory Capital Asia, a boutique advisory firm specializing in real estate investments. As the Managing Director, her role involves managing investments, fostering strategic collaborations, and facilitating introductions for large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
Navigating Challenges with Confidence
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented Vera with a unique opportunity to explore possibilities in Indonesia, a place she was attracted to due to her family connections. Leveraging her background in corporate real estate and her passion for property and interior design, she embarked on a multifaceted journey. This journey involved renovating villas, establishing a beauty clinic, launching a marketing agency, investing in a restaurant, and creating an educational foundation for children.
Anaya Aesthetics, the flagship of Vera’s ventures, stands as a distinguished high-end aesthetics clinic, offering an extensive range of state-of-the-art treatments. From cutting-edge laser technologies like Exilis and Pico Laser to revitalizing HydraFacial and body-transforming EMSculpt, the clinic offers a wide array of advanced beauty solutions. Furthermore, Vera ensured that treatments typically administered by medical professionals, including Botox, fillers, and fat injections, were readily available. This commitment guarantees that clients receive nothing short of exceptional care.
Today, Vera is an investor in Vie – Live Life Better, founded by Sabrina Villard, which helps users set consistent habits, interprets daily moods and encourages a better mental, emotional and physcial well being throughout the day. Vie delivers awareness and strategies to make your day better, says Vera. As an astute investor, Vie is just one of the many ventures in which Vera has invested, reflecting her overarching mission to promote innovative solutions that improve the quality of life.
Vera firmly believes that success in entrepreneurship lies in defying conventional wisdom, being open to failure, and recognizing that specialization in specific fields is not a prerequisite. Entrepreneurs seize opportunities, take calculated risks, and understand that the answers to problems can be found along the journey. Confidence in the idea that there is a solution to every challenge is at the core of an entrepreneur’s life.
