Meet Merrill Mangalasseril | Energy Procurement Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Merrill Mangalasseril and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Merrill, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Freedom, flexibility, simplicity. Beginning the journey of entrepreneurship was driven by a desire for freedom, flexibility, and simplicity. Freedom from the constraints of traditional corporate structures allowed me to pursue my passion and vision unhindered by external agendas. Flexibility in managing my schedule enabled a harmonious balance between dedication to work and indulgence in personal interests and hobbies.
The inception of my business stemmed from identifying a gap in the energy deregulation sector, where small to medium-sized businesses were burdened by ambigious pricing structures imposed by energy brokers. Recognizing this, I aimed to simplify the landscape by offering transparent pricing models with minimal margins, ensuring fairness and trust in every transaction.
Ultimately, my entrepreneurial journey embodies the principles of liberation, adaptability, and clarity, striving to empower businesses while staying true to the values of integrity and simplicity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets us apart from others is our unwavering commitment to transparency, underscored by our open-book pricing model. Unlike many energy brokers, consultants, or procurement professionals who withhold their margin, we believe in full disclosure from the outset. It’s not uncommon for competitors to only reveal their margin when pressed by the client. For instance, there was a recent encounter with a Chicago-based group expressing interest in acquiring Ananta. What initially caught my attention was their claim of transparent pricing. However, subsequent interactions with their clients revealed otherwise, reinforcing our belief in the value of transparency as a differentiator.

This commitment to transparency has been pivotal in shaping our professional journey. It wasn’t an easy path, especially in the early days. We often had to undertake numerous deals without immediate returns just to showcase the value Ananta brings to organizations. To keep overheads low, I personally made sacrifices, including extensive overnight drives across multiple states, sleeping in my car, and making use of gym facilities for showers, all in the pursuit of cost-saving measures.

Along this challenging journey, numerous lessons were learned, with perhaps the most significant being the appreciation of time as the most valuable currency. Understanding the true worth of each hour and being able to monetize one’s self-worth grants the luxury of selectivity in partnerships and engagements.

If there’s one aspect of our business we could share with the world, it would be the simplicity and importance of our transparent pricing model. In the energy brokerage realm, every broker operates on a similar wholesale price from each supplier, with minimal variations depending on the supplier’s channel manager. However, the key difference lies in the broker’s ability to add their margin on top of this wholesale price. Through our transparent approach, we’ve consistently demonstrated the efficacy of this model, showcasing how brokers can outperform direct supplier representatives through informed decision-making and value-added services.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite place in Columbus, OH has to be Arch City Tavern, located on High St., and in the heart of the historic Short North Neighborhood. I’d start there because from a food and drink perspective, they adhere to many palettes regardless of who visits. Also, their lamb sliders are probably the best lamb burgers/sliders I’ve ever had. Similar to large cities like Chicago, IL, the city is a huge melting pot of people and cultures; however, scaled down to 1/100th of the size, so depending on what type of trip you’re looking for, and the type of food you want to eat, Columbus, OH, has a little bit of everything.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to my parents and my wife, Tina, for their unwavering support throughout my journey. In the early stages, my parents provided invaluable guidance and encouragement, laying a solid foundation for my endeavors. As I navigated the challenges of scaling my venture, Tina emerged as a steadfast source of support, offering unwavering belief and encouragement during even the toughest times.

Additionally, I want to extend a heartfelt shoutout to all of our clients who trusted us from the beginning and have continued to display loyalty through repeat business and renewals. Their trust and ongoing support have been instrumental in our growth and success, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve them.

Website: https://www.goananta.com

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCShyXIR8ooLUeUSxlXk5S-A