From Corporate Career to Padel Entrepreneur: My Journey

Davy Sanh made a significant move from his established career in corporate roles to follow his passion by starting a padel club in Singapore. Despite the challenges, his enthusiasm impressed affluent investors.

A Shift from the Boardroom to the Padel Court

I began my professional journey at KPMG in Paris, working as an auditor for five years. This role marked the start of my 15-year stint in the corporate realm spread across several firms before relocating to Singapore in 2014.

Eventually, I achieved a comfortable six-figure income as a manager with Grab by 2024. However, despite being competent at my job, I wouldn't say I excelled. Observing the rapid progress of my colleagues, a question arose: how could I surpass just being adequate?

Placing My Bets on Padel

Around a year ago, I decided to leave my corporate life for a new pursuit: Pop Padel. Padel, rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, is particularly attractive because it’s easy to pick up and the games are brief. Seeing its burgeoning success across Europe and the Middle East, I knew Asia was ripe for its introduction, and I wanted to be a part of this evolution.

Even though I questioned if I was suited to this endeavor, my longstanding passion for racquet sports provided a foundation. This risk was one I deemed worth pursuing, given my deep understanding of sports culture and personal enjoyment of padel.

Turning Passion into a Business Venture

Starting the club required intensive fundraising, an often discouraging process when potential collaborators opted out. Despite these setbacks, the financial knowledge I garnered during my time at KPMG proved invaluable in formulating a compelling business proposal.

By showcasing my expertise and networking capabilities, I was able to rally a supportive community. Some investors were also players who believed in the project's authenticity and took the risk to invest.

Through persistent dedication and research, we secured a significant financial boost from Apricot Capital and even expanded into Malaysia.

Padel: A Networking Haven for the Affluent

Among the wealthy, padel is emerging as a preferred networking medium, akin to golf, because of its intimate playing environment. Sharing the court allows meaningful interactions away from the formality of traditional networking events.

The Joy of Seeing Smiles on the Court

Entrepreneurship involves non-stop engagement. From dawn till late, my work is relentless, yet deeply rewarding as seeing individuals leave the court invigorated beats any corporate achievement.

This path has expanded my ambitions beyond personal recognition, aiming to broaden the Pop Padel brand and witnessing the impact of sport on community well-being.