Jugal Malani, a US-based Indian entrepreneur, whose journey to the US was not the usual one of entering the country as a student and then launching a start-up. Malani was born and brought up in a traditional Marwari family in Bidar, Karnataka. He completed his engineering degree from Karnataka University in Gulbarga. He had started his first job as a manager in a US-based trading company, which was run by his brother-in-law. In 1981, Malani moved to Houston to join his family business there.
That’s how Malani’s American dream had begun. He had left his young family behind to set up a foundation in the US, with his sister and her family providing him with a soft landing upon his arrival, Malani told TOI. When he received a green card, his wife and son joined him in the US.
When Malani’s company had valued multi-million dollars, in 1997, he along with his business partner Pradeep Gupta set up a venture Unique Industrial Product Company. Thus, he had started his independent entrepreneurial journey.
The business had grown considerably now that his company has more than 150 employees and 275,000 offices and warehouse facilities. Today, there are several companies under the umbrella of the Unique Group in different fields like heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), electrical, plumbing and oil field and fire protection. The Unique Industrial Product Company now imports from 10 different countries, including India, and distributes across the USA and Canada.
Malani often visits India and every trip carries significance. Before leaving his brother-in-law’s firm to carve a niche of his own, he had made a trip to India to talk to his parents. According to him, their advice had made Malani regain his determination, internal strength and confidence to embark on the new journey. He is proud of being part of the 200,000 strong Indian American community in Houston, which is the energy capital of the world as many engineering companies over there employ several Indian engineers.
Houston is recognised not only as the energy capital but also for its medical facilities, with a large number of Indian doctors holding prestigious posts in many famous hospitals like the MD Anderson Cancer Centre. Malani also serves as a trustee member of India House, an organisation built by Indian Americans to cater to the community at large.
