Today we’d like to introduce you to Soham Desai.
Hi Soham , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We grew up in Scranton Pennsylvania. Our parents were always entrepreneurial in nature mixed with building community. They came to America from India to build a better life for themselves and their children. Our father appreciated cars but we shared a room and we took it to the next level. Some say it was meant to be given we slept in car beds through high school (not by choice in the later years lol) We always bonded over cars. Working on them, understanding new features, going to car shows, you name it. We also saw frustration in the buying process that has persisted throughout the years. The traditional dealership model wasn’t built for enthusiasts. It was built for volume — move the metal, hit the numbers, markups and schemes, on to the next one. For buyers who actually care about what they’re getting into, that process has always felt like a mismatch. RISO Motorworks was founded on a different premise: what if the people selling you the car were just like you? What if they’d driven similar builds, followed the same forums, understood why you care about service history and whether the previous owner ran a tune? That’s exactly what RISO brings to the table. Based in Pflugerville and fully operational for two years, we specializes in buying and selling enthusiast cars across the board. We’re also working on some fun partnerships to bring some dream builds to life. No fluff. No filler inventory. Just cars that actually matter to people who actually care. Two years into the operation, RISO Motorworks has carved out a reputation in the central Texas enthusiast community built on trust, transparency, and the kind of hands-on knowledge you don’t get at a big-box lot. Every car that comes through is evaluated the way an enthusiast would evaluate it — not just the sticker specs, but the full story. It’s the dealership the brothers always wished existed. Now it does.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If anyone tells you building a business is a smooth road, they’re lying. A key to our drive is our family. We both come from different backgrounds. I’ve spent time working in operational, tech and delivery roles at startups and Enterprise size corporations. My brother has successfully built his own businesses as well. Together we make a good team but even then there were stumbles. Getting our license took time, finding the right inventory, building the full operational run book, filing requirements, finding time! But we’re persistent and determined. I pride myself in building relationships and being part of the community. I think that’s what is paying off the list 7 months where our progress began to speed up. That coupled with both of us being operationally minded and creating a playbook. Turning a hobby into a business is mentally tough too
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My brother, Rishin – is a periodontist and has built his name and several practices with his business partner throughout central Texas. He makes up our quick decision making and foundational business building backbone. His work ethic, sense of family and community and ability to figure out anything is what makes him a rare breed
I, Soham, have spent my life in several industries (financial services, healthcare services and technology, and technology products), mainly operating in program management, operations, strategy and delivery roles helping my companies and customers execute and realize value from the products and process they buy and use. I also pride myself on relationship building and community building. I firmly believe the people around you help shape your successes and should be the main focal point. I’m the day to day face off the business.
What sets us apart? Simple things: Consistency, honesty, community, and empathy
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think it’s an intersection of a few ideologies.
Be honest with yourself – what do you truly care about and want to prioritize your time on? What areas do you need support or to be challenged in when making decisions/completing work
Surround yourself with people that make you better and you make better – we all have things to learn from each other, no matter the age of experience – build a community that truly makes you want to be the best version of yourself and give the same to that community.
Show up – go to the event. You don’t have to talk to everyone but even if you find one person, that’s a new story and perspective you’ve gained and that they’ve gained from you. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and seek out the people that show up for you and show up for the people you care about in whatever capacity you can
I easily thrive off meeting people and meeting in social settings. My brother isn’t particularly always into them but he shows up because he knows there’s people there that will benefit from him being there and vice versa. We help support each other in that way too. He helps me focus, I help him open up.
Finding mentors takes a lot of these ideologies together. You may have multiple at a time and you should also mentor people in my opinion. We all have something to learn.
For a structured mentorship I always come prepared with topics or a problem I’m trying to solve to discuss with that mentor that I think they could help. They also come with the attitude to help support, not just give advice and dictate. Often they answer my questions with more questions to get me to figure it out. They’re advice is more in forms of stories of situations I can relate to. I do the same when I’m mentoring.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.risomotorworks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risomotorworks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DLZqcwEpX/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohamndesai
Image Credits
Howard Kay
