Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds, urges founders to move beyond the glossy allure of startup life romanticized by coworking spaces, viral social media posts and rounds of celebratory funding announcements.
“There is now an increasingly “startup romantic” air that describes startup life as working casually in a swanky collaborative workspace, discussing ideas all day, raising questions. fundraisers, giving gyaan on social media, hosting Friday night drinks. colleagues,” Gupta said. “Don’t fall into the trap.”
His message is a harsh reality. Real startup journeys are paved with painful execution, razor-thin budgets, limited resources, and the constant struggle to hire and retain talent.
Founders face constant rejection, relentless pressure to generate revenue at all costs, and long periods of uncertainty.
For many entrepreneurs, these challenges are exacerbated by bias. Dhruv Suyamprakasam, CEO of telemedicine startup iCliniq, opened up about how his journey took unexpected turns after facing discrimination from investors because he was not an IIT alumnus or not did not speak Hindi fluently.
Hailing from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Dhruv’s move to Bangalore in 2010 seemed strategic: a leap to the heart of India’s startup ecosystem. “It wasn’t the best place for us,” he later admitted, citing unrealistic growth pressures.
“In health care, you can’t afford to fail quickly. Investors expected us to reach 100 paid consultations per day, which is impractical in an industry based on trust.
Dhruv described the prejudice he faced: “I felt excluded because I didn’t speak Hindi, I didn’t study at IIT, and I came from a small town where many had no not heard of it. »
Gupta and Dhruv’s experiences highlight the gap between the illusion of a vibrant, inclusive startup culture and its underbelly. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the message is clear: don’t confuse the brilliance of the startup ecosystem with the work it requires.
