After devoting years to earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Eli Chmouni found himself frustrated and restless in a job he couldn’t stand. Rather than accepting another 30 years of the same, he began to explore the idea of working for himself doing something he loved. From that point, Eli says, there was no turning back.

Today, Eli is the founder of SURF, a media distribution and rideshare entertainment company that places tablets in rideshare vehicles. But this is not his first venture. He's actually a four-time entrepreneur, making successful exits from two of his companies within two years of launching them.

In this interview, Eli discusses how a winning a competition jump started his foray into entrepreneurship, how he determines which ideas to pursue, and how he recovered from his darkest moment as an entrepreneur. He also shares stories about his mentors and the important lessons they taught him.