In a business landscape driven increasingly by disruption and speed, Shahzad Dastoor stands out as a deliberate force—strategic, precise, and driven by purpose. As the Founder of Avas, a company focused on creating unparalleled experiences in the ultra-luxury wellness space, Shahzad is not just building a brand; he’s crafting a legacy. His journey from a seasoned business leader in high-stakes sales and marketing to the helm of an innovative venture is one of focus, resilience, and unrelenting ambition.
Early Roots: The Genesis of an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Shahzad Dastoor was 31 when he officially took the entrepreneurial plunge with the launch of Avas. But in reality, his journey started much earlier—shaped by years of deep engagement in business development, marketing, sales, and operations across sectors that demand precision and excellence. Specializing in ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNI) client relations and luxury real estate, Shahzad quickly developed an instinct for high-value negotiations and bespoke client servicing.
What drove him wasn’t just the thrill of numbers or scaling a business; it was the deeper creative pursuit of building brands that offer something truly special—something that could transform perceptions and lives.
The Birth of Avas: Where Luxury Meets Wellness
Inception Year: 2023
Present Status: Actively operating, laying the foundation for a market-disruptive luxury wellness brand
Avas was conceived not merely as a business, but as a vision to elevate how the affluent experience wellness. In an era where mental and physical wellbeing are becoming the ultimate luxury, Shahzad saw a massive gap in how premium wellness was being served. The industry was either too clinical or too commoditized. Avas was born to break this mold.
So, what does Avas do?
At its core, Avas is a luxury wellness brand, offering ultra-personalized, high-end wellness retreats, services, and lifestyle experiences aimed at UHNIs across the globe. From bespoke wellness journeys curated by global experts to immersive, tech-integrated health solutions, Avas is redefining what it means to “live well.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Shahzad’s focus is not only on providing luxury but on delivering value through meaning—wellness that is intentional, deeply personalized, and rooted in long-term transformation.
Disrupting the Market, Impacting Society
The societal impact of Avas lies in its approach: making holistic wellness not just a luxury, but a necessity for high-performing individuals. At a time when burnout and stress-related health issues plague even the most successful, Avas enters as a sanctuary—both physical and philosophical—offering sustainable wellness rooted in science, spirituality, and exclusivity.
Through curated programs, integrated diagnostics, and design-led wellness architecture, Avas is setting new benchmarks in the ultra-luxury wellness market. It doesn’t just serve a need—it anticipates and evolves with the lifestyle shifts of the global elite.
The Avas Edge – What Sets It Apart
Every brand claims to be unique. But Avas lives it. Its USP lies in its fusion of design, technology, and holistic wellness in an environment that speaks to the tastes and expectations of the world’s most discerning clientele.
Shahzad has embedded the brand with an obsessive attention to detail—whether it’s the signature scent of an Avas property, the curation of a healing cuisine menu, or the bespoke sleep optimization protocols designed for each guest. No element is too small. Every interaction is a story. And that’s what clients come back for—not just services, but experiences that are unforgettable.
The Road Less Traveled: Challenges and Crucibles
No entrepreneurial story is complete without its share of struggles, and Shahzad’s journey is no different. While he prefers not to quantify the emotional and operational rollercoaster, he is transparent about the trials: from navigating ambiguous market demands to managing the personal pressure of launching a high-expectation brand.
“Entrepreneurship has a way of showing you who you really are,” he says. “It strips you of pretense. It tests your stamina. And it constantly reminds you that if you’re not obsessed with your vision, no one else will be.”
There were moments of uncertainty, especially in the early phases—decisions that required balancing ambition with risk, perfection with speed. Avas is not a startup that followed a formula. It required intuition, insight, and an unshakeable belief in the brand ethos.
Professionally, Shahzad had to transition from corporate strategist to full-time founder—a shift that demanded him to not just manage people and processes, but to inspire belief in a dream that was still unfolding.
From Observation to Opportunity: Spotting the Gap
Shahzad’s vision for Avas was born from a keen observation: the luxury wellness space was fragmented, inconsistent, and often superficial. It lacked soul. Clients were spending tens of thousands on wellness retreats that were either too clinical or too gimmicky. What they really wanted was trust, transformation, and taste.
That’s where Shahzad saw his opportunity—to build a brand that wasn’t just luxurious, but emotionally resonant and scientifically credible. By fusing his understanding of UHNI psychology with a passion for holistic health, he created something that felt inevitable in hindsight—but required boldness and clarity to pursue at the time.
Essentials for the Climb: What It Took to Start
Launching Avas wasn’t about money or manpower alone—it was about vision, values, and validation. Shahzad made it a point to surround himself with domain experts—from integrative medicine specialists and architects to data scientists and luxury hospitality veterans. He knew that excellence could not be improvised; it had to be engineered.
At the core, he needed three essentials:
- A crystal-clear brand narrative
- A network of experts who believed in the mission
- The resilience to stay the course, even when external validation was scarce
The Personal That Powers the Professional
When asked what makes him unique as an entrepreneur, Shahzad doesn’t point to a credential or title. Instead, he talks about empathy—the ability to understand people, their desires, and their pain points, especially in the UHNI segment where needs are often unspoken but deeply felt.
His strength lies in human engineering—the quiet art of creating systems, spaces, and services that anticipate client needs before they are articulated. This emotional intelligence, coupled with a razor-sharp strategic mind, makes him not just a businessman, but a builder of experiences.
Lessons in Leadership: What Entrepreneurship Has Taught Him
If Shahzad had to distill his entrepreneurial learnings into one principle, it would be this: “Value Over Price.”
“In the ultra-luxury world, clients aren’t buying what you sell; they’re buying what you stand for. They invest in meaning, not materials. The moment you understand that, everything changes—your marketing, your service, your culture.”
His time in business has taught him that brand equity is built in silence—in the unseen, thoughtful touches that accumulate over time. There is no shortcut. Just consistency, conviction, and an unwavering focus on the client experience.
Words to the Wise: Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For those considering the leap into entrepreneurship, Shahzad offers grounded yet powerful advice:
“Don’t just chase opportunity—chase clarity. Be obsessed with your ‘why’. Know the problem you’re solving and for whom. Build something that makes people feel something. And most of all, don’t be afraid to go slow if it means going right.”
He also stresses the importance of mental resilience and emotional intelligence. Businesses fail or succeed not just because of strategy, but because of the founder’s relationship with uncertainty and change.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Avas
The vision for Avas is expansive. From flagship wellness retreats to digital wellness solutions for global clients, the roadmap includes product innovation, immersive tech integration, and partnerships with global hospitality leaders.
But Shahzad is in no rush. He’s playing the long game. Avas is not meant to be the biggest—it’s meant to be the best. And that’s a distinction Shahzad is fiercely committed to maintaining.
The Legacy in the Making
In a world increasingly obsessed with speed and scale, Shahzad Dastoor is building a brand that invites you to slow down, go inward, and rise higher. Through Avas, he is not just offering wellness—he is offering a new way to live, lead, and luxuriate.
This isn’t just a business story. It’s a blueprint for mindful entrepreneurship—and Shahzad Dastoor is just getting started.
