Breaking News New COSU Member & Investor - Shivaas Gulati

[BoyWonder2]

Debts must've been in the accounts though right - or was the accounting fraudulent?

I’ve no idea.

I’ve just heard of at least three incidents of that happening. No idea on the amounts owed, or if there was more, but obviously RM was involved so anything is possible.

 

[shrimper61]

What's the betting, the people following Shivass on X has triple in number since 4pm.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

SHIVAAS Gulati is certain his understanding of technology will help brighten Southend United’s future.

The 36-year-old has joined the Shrimpers consortium after months of talks with chairman Justin Rees.

And, speaking exclusively to the Echo at Roots Hall this afternoon, Gulati admitted he cannot wait to utilise his own expertise for the benefit of Blues.

“I’m joining the board of the club firstly and we’ll figure out how I can help in different ways but there are lots of things I can do around the club,” said Gulati.

“I think primarily I bring a lot of experience in building tech business and how we can leverage technology to build a modern organisation to help everyone succeed.

“We all use technology in our work whether it’s co-ordinating, building strategy execution or social media.

“In football it’s everywhere and even managing the grass on the pitch is all planned by some technology company.

“There’s player recruitment, injury prevention, coaching methodology and also how we can approach partners and engage with our fans.

“How do we understand what they want and enjoy?

“I think my experience on being in a consumer financial service business lends very well to building that strategy and bringing that experience to the football side of things.”

Gulati, who is now based back in Seattle, has a long history of working in technology.

The entrepreneur has spent the last 19 years in ecommerce and digital financial products, co-founding Remitly back in 2011.

Gulati helped to build a global organisation of more than 2,500 people across seven countries and raised more than $400m before going public in 2021.

Most recently, Gulati led the launch of Remitly’s digital banking product in the US before leaving in December 2022 to spend time with his young family and explore new endeavours.

But all that came after Gulati first started working in the industry at a very young age.

“I’ve been a tech entrepreneur all my life,” said Gulati.

“I started my first business when I was 17 and that’s all I’ve done.

“I’ve started two businesses and the last one was the most successful.

“I left the business in 2022 but it’s doing great.”

However, Gulati’s involvements in his businesses means he possesses a wide skill-set.

“I come from a product engineering and computer science background but over the years I’ve done everything from marketing operations to compliance,” said Gulati.

“You name it I’ve done it, but I enjoy working with people and seeing how we can leverage technology to solve every day problems.

“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy but opportunities are everywhere.

“You’re seeing so much hype around AI and how that can help us be more efficient so it’s amazing and very exciting.”

Gulati is now excited to be teaming up with the Shrimpers.

And the move will see him achieve another ambition of working in football.

“I’ve always had a passion for the game both as a fan and playing as well,” said Gulati, who holds a Masters from Carnegie Mellon.

“I play in Seattle and a little when I was in London too.

“Football is a big aspect of who I am as a person and who we are as a family.

“ We go and watch games together and we all play.

“It’s part of our life in a big way.

“After I left my last tech business and took time off I started to think about how I could combine my experience in building tech businesses with my passion for the game.

“That’s how it culminated in getting involved with COSU and the team here.

“It's a fantastic club I think we can build up.”

Gulati was first introduced to Justin Rees by a mutual friend who also runs a technology business in London.

But he has also spent time with other members of the consortium.

“I’ve spent quite a lot of time with everyone in the consortium,” said Gulati.

“It’s a really good group of people.

There are lots of different backgrounds and lots of business owners with cool, calm heads who have their hearts in the right place.

“There is a lot of cultural alignment and I optimise very heavily on working with the right people.

“In football there is a lot of people all across the world who don’t have the right intentions so now, more than ever, it’s important to partner with the right people who have those same values.

“When times are hard it’s the values that will bring you together and help decide what the right thing to do is.”

The Shrimpers have survived their own off-field issues to take their place in the National League again this season.

But Gulati is also keen for Blues’ supporters to keep playing their part.

“I’ve seen the fans first hand,” said Gulati.

“I’ve spoken to them and been to the Blue Boar too.

“There’s real positive energy which I don’t think you see everywhere.

“We have some very special ingredients here for what I call the next chapter in the club’s history.

“I’m very excited.

“For me football is more than a game in all our lives, especially at Southend and the fans here.

“Making an impact on people’s lives is really important to me as well.”

Gulati currently achieves that by working on the board of trustees for the RAVE foundation, the charitable arm of Seattle Sounders.

But he is keen not to set unrealistic expectations at Roots Hall.

“It would be great to be back in the Football League but whether that happens in the next couple of years is hard to predict,” said Gulati.

“I believe in a big way that it’s all about people.

“It’s not just the people who own the club it’s people who support the club both inside and out.

“If we have the right people and we do the right things then the results will take care of themselves.

“If we recruit the right players who fit culturally, if we set them up for success they will perform.

“If we support our staff and, if we engage like we are with the fans advisory board and listen to fans I think good things will happen.

“We’ll need patience but I can’t wait to be involved.”

I know we might only have another 3 to 5 years before the East Stand is pulled down.....but can they get some new seats for the Directors Box. People pay quite a bit to sit in there!

 

[Redbridge Blue]

You are correct.

Usually there is a breakdown of shareholdings at Companies House but I can't seem to find one. I note that on 18th October the Memorandum and Articles of Association - might make interesting reading if anyone has the time to do so.

 

[cerbera45]

Should be interesting come January or even more so pre season, see if we sign many players for££££s

I was under the impression that in the NL there is currently no transfer window(?)

 

[tommy tucker]

Another money man has put his faith in the club .Cant see how fans are skeptical Justinn is a shwed man i guess he did his home work on this new member As far as im concered it is all good for SOUTHEND UNITED .

 

[southendkid]

I’m wary of this news. I think Anton Johnson getting involved was initially welcomed, I think Vic Jobson getting involved was initially welcomed, I think Martin Dawn buying out Jobson was initially welcomed so you’ll understand why I’m going to be cautious.

I actually really liked that we were owned by, one member aside, a local consortium of people who had grown up in the area and had Southend in their blood.

I’m wary of a board that half are based in Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Seattle. Are they going to have their finger on the pulse? I’m wary of a consortium where there are massive wealth disparities.

If I’m being honest I don’t like the idea of being a billionaire’s play thing and I don’t like the idea of us being someone’s investment. I get that that is the world we live in but I’m not going to celebrate it.

Hopefully he is a good addition, hopefully the consortium have done their DD but I’ll wait to see how this turns out before celebrating. Sorry for being cynical but when something is too good to be true there’s usually a reason why…

I'd be worried if he'd bought out the consortium but unless there's more this than meets the eye he's just 1 of a dozen people with a share in the club, if he tries to make it his plaything then the rest of consortium can shoot him down. His interview didn't really imply he'd be ploughing money in either.

 

[tottenham541]

I was under the impression that in the NL there is currently no transfer window(?)

Yeah but can we only sign players for a fee outside the football league

 

[tallboyblue]

I'd be worried if he'd bought out the consortium but unless there's more this than meets the eye he's just 1 of a dozen people with a share in the club, if he tries to make it his plaything then the rest of consortium can shoot him down. His interview didn't really imply he'd be ploughing money in either.

Presumably when an injection of cash is required into the club each member of the consortium pays their proportion according to their shareholding. Now we seem to have a new member possibly much wealthier than the others.

 

[lreed567]

I know we might only have another 3 to 5 years before the East Stand is pulled down.....but can they get some new seats for the Directors Box. People pay quite a bit to sit in there!

Haha this fellas probably just invested a fair bit of money and poor blokes sitting on a wooden seat

 

[BoyWonder2]

Yeah but can we only sign players for a fee outside the football league

No. We can sign players for a fee whenever. Well up to our transfer window, which is the last Thursday (or third Thursday, I can’t remember) of March I believe.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

I don’t know Shivaas personally but I do know people who do in the PNW business community and they speak very highly of him. A very shrewd guy who won’t throw money at something just for a whim. Not surprised that this wasn’t a quick courtship.

 

[kentblues]

Presumably when an injection of cash is required into the club each member of the consortium pays their proportion according to their shareholding. Now we seem to have a new member possibly much wealthier than the others.

Not quite.
Yes in terms of funding day to day running costs.
I would think more in terms of access to capital on preferential terms. In simple terms leveraging directors loans (or loan) to take the club forward. In the end he is is one of 11 consortium directors and that structure provides significant protection against issues related to any single director..

 

[Tommy2holes]

Not quite.
Yes in terms of funding day to day running costs.
I would think more in terms of access to capital on preferential terms. In simple terms leveraging directors loans (or loan) to take the club forward. In the end he is is one of 11 consortium directors and that structure provides significant protection against issues related to any single director..

Exactly, strength in numbers

 

[Floval Flyer]

Well connected bloke, most notably Jeff Bezos. If he could be our 12th man then we’re sorted

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

There will likely be more

 

[PrawNZ]

 

[Callumturner22]

Sounds very promising and was well received news when seeing it after work today for sure .

 

[Bromley Blue]

Announce the Shivass Gulati East Stand

I’ve been calling it that for years.

 

[Tommy2holes]

There will likely be more

Inside knowledge??