Imagine an intelligent man starting their day early by waking at 5:00 am, fitting in a workout, and drinking greens and lemon water to get their system going. By 6:30 am, they’re at their desk preparing for the day and ensuring they are completely organized before the employees show up.
Only a thoroughly foresighted person can fit this bill and be destined for success. Speaking of whom, say hello to Jay Modi, who is on top of his game with over 20 years of business experience under his belt within multiple business sectors. He’s dabbled with food manufacturing, asset management, movie production, and real estate and is now making fintech and technology his prime focus.
Jay, born in London, moved to Canada in 1997. He attended the Western Canada High School in Calgary, Alberta, then the University of Calgary. It was at university that Jay started his first business, an Organic Pasta Company.
His entrepreneurial heart was in his business, so he chose it over completing his degree, later citing it as one of the best decisions he ever made. His determination to succeed has always been evident, and bringing about change instead of letting it come to him is one of his driving forces.
Surrendering to his spirit, he started his first proper business in the year 2000, when he was just 16. While that was a household goods trading company, he ventured to create the pasta company two years later. He then launched a real estate “Fix and Flip” company, which ended up being quite a successful venture.
After the Fix and Flip company, he expanded into Land Development and Asset Management in 2008 and ran that company from 2008 to 2015. During that time, from 2012 to 2014, he also turned towards Hollywood and worked at Paramount Studios as a producer, having worked on approximately 12 motion picture films. It was in 2016 that he started his fintech company ‘Approval Nation Inc.,’ the venture that currently holds his entire focus.
Like many thriving entrepreneurs, Jay has had some wildly successful ventures and some disappointing setbacks – including his asset management fund going downhill in 2018. However, Jay is not one to let his setbacks dictate the future. Had he shied away from taking risks, he would not be where he is today – founder of one of Canada’s fastest-growing financial technology firms.
“Failure also grounds you and humbles you as a person and a business professional, allowing you to move forward with much more experience, tenacity, and knowledge on running a business and avoiding certain pitfalls. I am 100% certain that my success today is a result of all of my life experiences combined,” Jay notes.
If there is a quote that Jay lives by, it is, ‘Throw me to the wolves, and I’ll return leading the pack.’ These words came to him in the form of a conversational exchange, but they stuck with him, and their impact can be seen in his success today
