Getting to know... Chaim Grunfeld

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Chaim Grunfeld, serial entrepreneur and founder of London-based connectivity business SIMSINLIFTS - known for supporting elevator connectivity systems - talks about his love of solving problems, delivering long-term impact and speaking six languages...

We know you as director of Prime Connect and SIMSINLIFTS, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

I’m a problem-solver. 

I enjoy identifying overlooked gaps and building practical, recurring-revenue businesses that grow steadily over time, rather than chasing quick wins. 

I’m also very numbers-driven, and genuinely enjoy analysing Excel spreadsheets, balance sheets and profit and loss accounts to understand how a business is really performing.

Long-term impact, strong relationships and doing things properly matter to me, with integrity, consistency and sustainability at the core of how I work.

Did you always want to work in the telecoms and connectivity sector?

Not at all. 

I initially started a property investment company, which I still own and run today. 

While we’ve expanded it steadily over the years, property can take a long time to turn around. 

When I later spotted an opportunity in telecoms, what appealed to me was the recurring revenue model – it felt very similar to property investment, but with the ability to scale more efficiently.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best part is seeing a solution you’ve built come to life and being used in the real world. 

Taking an idea from concept to something that genuinely solves a problem for customers is extremely rewarding.

The hardest part is when things don’t go to plan. 

Missing a crucial deadline or letting a customer down, even unintentionally, stays with you far longer than the wins, and is something I take very seriously.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Building businesses from scratch by identifying real problems in specific niches and fixing them. 

Whether it’s multi-tenanted connectivity solutions, SIMSINLIFTS within the lift industry or applying the same thinking to the house in multiple occupancy market, I’m proud of creating focused solutions that serve a clear need and scale sustainably over time.

How do you relax outside of work?

I’m very disciplined with my working hours, which means I don’t tend to get overly stressed. 

I focus on work during office hours and make a clear effort to switch off outside of that time. 

Spending time with my family is a big part of how I recharge. 

I also enjoy skiing, listening to business and strategy podcasts, and reading biographies of successful founders. 

I don’t read much fiction; I’m naturally drawn to learning from real businesses and real people.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

I speak six languages and write in two alphabets. 

English is my first language, while Flemish and French come from growing up in Belgium.

I also speak Hebrew and Yiddish. 

I moved to the US at 14 to study, where I also learned Spanish. I still speak at a conversational level.

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