Self-made success stories are powerful and inspiring, showcasing the unwavering determination, hard work, and passion that drive individuals to achieve their dreams. One such inspiring success story is that of Amarinder Singh, the founder of Clove Dental, which has become India’s largest dental chain.
Singh’s journey began with his early education in Delhi, followed by his time at Rashtriya Military School in Dehradun and later in Nigeria. His father worked in the education department for a government officer, and his mother was a school teacher. After graduating with a five-year engineering degree, he worked as a plant manager in 1989. He then earned a scholarship to pursue his Masters in Engineering at the prestigious Waterloo University in Canada.
Following his Master’s degree, Singh held Supply Chain Manager roles at renowned companies in Canada, including Proctor and Gamble and Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals, earning a substantial salary. He furthered his education by obtaining an MBA from Harvard in 1998. In 1998, he moved to San Francisco to launch Simplexis, a B2B education venture, alongside two of his Harvard friends. They secured a remarkable $35 million USD in funding in March 2000, even earning a feature in Time Magazine. However, they sold the business in 2002.
In 2010, Singh made a significant decision to return to India. It was during this time that he observed a concerning gap in dental healthcare in India, combined with his own negative experience at a dentist, which ignited his passion to improve the industry. He invested $1 million USD (Rs 7 crore) to establish the first Clove Dental clinic. “I was at the clinic for a tooth filling, and everything was going fine till I had to rinse and spit. That’s when I saw the drain was dirty and unhygienic, I was disgusted to see the rot there. That drove me to venture into the market,” Singh shared in an interview. He added, “Dental care in India was lacking in various things such as infrastructure, hygiene, and sterilization. I saw the majority of Indians need some form of dental care, but only ten per cent were going to a qualified dentist.”
Singh’s vision was ambitious: he aimed to establish 600 dental clinics within ten years. Within a short period, Clove Dental became a prominent dental care provider across India. The company reached new heights in November 2023 when Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) invested $50 million (Rs 417 crore) in Investcorp-backed Global Dental Services, the parent company of Clove Dental. Clove Dental also received recognition as the Top Tech Driven Dental Chain at the Times Business Awards 2023.
Today, Clove Dental has grown into a nationwide chain with over 350 clinics, serving over 35,000 patients and generating a turnover exceeding Rs 140 crore in 2019. As of December 20, 2022, the company is valued at $191M. Its annual revenue as of March 31, 2023, showcases its continued success.
Amarinder Singh’s story is a testament to the power of identifying a need, pursuing innovation, and relentlessly striving for excellence. Clove Dental’s impact on the Indian dental landscape is undeniable, serving as a beacon of quality, accessibility, and technological advancement in the field.
