What does it take to go from picking blueberries and cold-calling radio ads to building a global e-commerce empire?
For Ronnie Teja, it started with immigration, grit, and a belief in bootstrapping over shortcuts. In this episode of the Scale You podcast, Ronnie unpacks a journey marked by late nights, thick-skinned hustling, and the discipline to build not one, but three thriving companies—while living across Bangkok, Berlin, and Vancouver.
An Immigrant’s Start: From Airbeds to Ads
Ronnie’s journey began in India, but it took a life-changing turn when his family moved to Canada. They went from middle-class comfort to cramming four people into a one-bedroom apartment. Ronnie’s early Canadian life was humble—working low-wage jobs and sleeping on air mattresses. But within 24 hours of arriving, he had already found work. That hunger for progress has never left.
Self-taught in digital marketing, Ronnie’s resume soon included stints with Team India and Jamaica during the 2010 Winter Olympics and roles at HSBC and Best Buy Canada. But even then, his entrepreneurial fire was already lit.
Branzio Watches: Hustling Through Hong Kong
Ronnie’s first leap into entrepreneurship came with a simple revelation: watches had a gross margin of up to 80%. The idea sounded too good not to try. After getting burned through Alibaba, he flew to the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair on a $500 ticket, sleeping on a friend’s couch and knocking on every exhibitor’s door.
One factory owner saw his persistence and gave him a chance. With $5,000 and unmatched hustle, Ronnie launched Branzio Watches—an e-commerce brand now selling in over 66 countries. That factory remains his partner to this day, a testament to loyalty in business.
Scaling Beyond: Software and Supplements
Ronnie didn’t stop at watches. His curiosity and drive pushed him into two more verticals:
-
Truly Office: A non-subscription alternative to Microsoft Office, offered as a one-time $49.99 purchase.
-
Reeiv.com: A supplement brand focused on sleep optimization, with aspirations to condense 12 hours of rest into 4–6 productive ones.
All three ventures may serve different markets, but Ronnie's entrepreneurial DNA ties them together: build fast, adapt faster, and always stay grounded.
Behind the Scenes: Systems and Teams
Ronnie emphasizes that his success isn’t a solo story. “It’s not the Ronnie Show,” he says. Each brand operates with dedicated teams for marketing, creative, media buying, and customer service. These teams are globally distributed—from Venezuela to India—giving him 24/7 operations while he travels or works remotely.
Centralization didn’t work for his setup. Instead, he optimized around interest-based alignment, giving his team members roles in brands they resonate with. A fitness enthusiast? You work with Reeiv. A tech geek? You're in software. This structure powers efficiency, loyalty, and passion.
Struggles and Growth: The Wild First Six Months
The first half-year was chaos: banned PayPal and Stripe accounts, no working credit cards, and solo management of every business function—from customer service (as “Mr. John” with a thick accent) to media buying. Ronnie even shifted his sleep schedule to match Australian time zones, working from 2 a.m. to noon, then hitting the gym—if he could.
He eventually found guidance not in books, but through conversations. Talking with seasoned entrepreneurs gave him the practical knowledge no guru course could provide.
What Drives Ronnie Teja?
Despite the success, Ronnie remains grounded. His motivation? Two-fold:
-
Giving back to entrepreneurs—especially those just starting. He offers time and mentorship freely to those who show initiative.
-
Chasing scale. He’s obsessed with understanding what it takes to run a $100M—or even $1B—company. Not for the money, but for the systems, discipline, and evolution such scale requires.
Keep Your Roots, Dream Bigger
Ronnie’s mom—a counselor—gave him a powerful mantra: “Keep your feet on the ground, and your dreams in the sky.” He lives that out daily, refusing to forget his immigrant roots while pushing for global influence and innovation.
If 300 Ronnie Tejas existed? The world would see an army of givers and builders—people who create, share, and scale relentlessly.
Watch the full episode here.
Connect with Ronnie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniesteja/
Want to have a Remote Executive Assistant in your business? Your journey starts here: 2xyou.com/scorecard.