Who says you can't be passionate about empowering others and providing top-notch service? That's exactly what drives Neelesh Patel, President and owner at Net Friends. He's not just passionate, he's got the results to back it up.

He's been equipping small businesses with Fortune 500 level IT services for years, helping them compete with the big guys. Tackling IT challenges head-on, from life-saving hospitals to pioneering research labs, spanning life sciences, healthcare, education, and professional services. Neelesh’s exceptional service and dedication didn't go unnoticed; he earned a promotion in 2012 as Net Friends introduced their first management layer, by 2015 he had risen to Vice President, securing an ownership stake in the company, and by 2021 he was appointed the position of President.

In 1999, he launched his tech career as a consultant at Bind Networks Solutions.  He was an MCSE (think IT black belt!), and his skills were in high demand. Walmart.com needed a complete overhaul of their messaging and collaboration platform. He designed and deployed solutions that transformed their digital communication operations, taking them from country roads to superhighways! He was the Steph Curry of Microsoft Exchange, helping countless Bay Area organizations ditch the outdated Lotus Notes and switch to the powerful collaboration tools of Microsoft.

Consultant by day, entrepreneur by night! Neelesh leveraged his consulting experience to develop cost-effective solutions for small businesses in the Bay Area. He launched his first venture, Minaxi Network Solutions, affectionately named after his mother, and it thrived even during the dot-com crash. Why? Because he placed customer service at the top of his priority list.

His business development chops turned into a software startup rocket in Costa Rica! After navigating the business world on both sides of the border (and scoring a win by selling Minaxi Networks), he set his sights on bringing "enterprise muscle at a small business price" to the RTP area, all to be closer to family in North Carolina.

Net Friends was the perfect fit. They were like his business soulmate, sharing his passion for building rock-solid, enterprise-grade solutions with a laser focus on making customers happy.