Founder
Yogi Patel
Oklahoma City University, 1999
Years in Business
26+
Concept Success Rate
90%
Locations Built
12+
Active Businesses
5
The Beginning — 1999
Creating Opportunity When There Was None
Yogi Patel graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1999 — one of the most turbulent economic periods in recent history. The IT crash and the aftermath of 9/11 left limited job opportunities for new graduates. Rather than waiting for opportunity, he created it.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering passion for business, Yogi entered the world of entrepreneurship full time — a decision that would define the next 26 years of his life.
The Climb — 2006
From Near-Bankruptcy to 12 Locations
Yogi began his entrepreneurial journey in the gas station industry. Early missteps and misplaced trust cost him nearly five years of valuable time. But in 2006, he purchased his first gas station with real estate and transformed it into a major success — marking the true beginning of his ascent.
He went on to create and scale his own concepts: Winexpress and Liquorxpress — growing them to three Wine Express locations and nine Liquor Express locations, building a powerful brand presence across South Carolina.
After facing setbacks that led him to exit that field, he launched a new upscale chain — Wine and Bourbon Barn — opening three locations in just six months while mentoring new entrepreneurs through the process.
The Purpose — 2019
Prayog Is Born
Five years ago, Yogi founded Prayog — meaning "experiment" in Gujarati. What began as an idea evolved into a management company designed to help entrepreneurs transform vision into turnkey businesses.
Prayog specializes in startup development, operational structuring, branding, marketing strategy, and scalable growth systems. Yogi's mission is simple: help others avoid the costly mistakes he once faced and accelerate their path to success.
Across 26 years in business, with only two significant losses — including a Kumon Learning Center and one restaurant exit — Yogi maintains a 90% success rate in concept development, location selection, and operational execution.