Not all success stories begin in fancy offices in Tier-1 cities. Some are born from sheer grit, relentless determination, and an unwavering belief in one’s own potential—no matter where they start. One such story is of a man from Solapur, Maharashtra, Nilesh Patharikar, founder of Suspect to Prospect who transformed his life from struggling to find a stable job to building one of India’s top lead generation companies.
Humble Beginnings in a Tier-3 Town
Born into a farmer’s family, Nilesh Patharikar, grew up studying in a vernacular medium school, barely fluent in English until 2014. Like many, he pursued engineering, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2016. Hoping for a stable career in the mechanical industry, he moved to Pune, but every job felt unfulfilling. Job after job, he quit within days, leading to frustration and eventually, depression.
Yet, in his darkest moments, he found clarity—his true skill was communication.
The First Steps into Sales
Determined to start fresh, Mr Nilesh took a job in Amazon customer service and then moved to call centers, learning the art of conversation. Soon, he transitioned to sales, selling GPS devices door-to-door to transport companies in Pune. It was tough, but it gave him real-world experience in handling businesses and clients. Then came the pandemic—a turning point. He landed a role in a Bangalore-based IT company, selling IT services, and in no time, generated ₹3.5 Cr in revenue. That’s when it hit him—lead generation was an untapped goldmine.
The Birth of Suspect to Prospect
With this realization, he started Suspect To Prospect, a lead generation company, as a side hustle while still working in a marketing firm. Slowly, he built a strong client base. By 2022, once he had 10 loyal clients, he took the leap—quit his job, and went all in. Starting from home, with just his wife and brother supporting him, he built the company brick by brick. Within a year, he hired two employees. Soon, he had 10 more. By 2023, he had his own office, a full-fledged team, and 25+ global clients across IT, tech, and B2B industries.
Today, Suspect To Prospect generates ₹1 Cr+ in annual revenue, proving that success isn’t about where you come from, but how far you’re willing to go.
Disrupting Lead Generation in India
While most lead generation companies operate from Tier-1 cities, he proved that talent and execution matter more than location. With 10+ years of real, hands-on sales experience, he is the only LinkedIn Top Voice in Lead Generation who has built success from ground zero. Now, he has set his sights on something even bigger—developing his own Lead Gen tool to revolutionize the industry.
Final Thoughts
His story isn’t just about lead generation. It’s about proving that anyone, from anywhere, can build something extraordinary. From door-to-door sales in Pune to global business scaling, Suspect To Prospect is more than a company—it’s a movement, showing that growth starts with the right opportunities. And this is just the beginning.
