Founder Thesis’ Post

Every few years, a new trend in the startup world catches the attention of VCs and this episode features a founder who has successfully navigated multiple such trends in the Indian startup scene. Gaurav Agarwal began his entrepreneurial journey with ZipGo, a ride-hailing startup that competed with industry giants like Ola and Uber. After an exciting journey with ZipGo, which eventually led to its acquisition, Gaurav hopped on his next big adventure in the D2C space- Nat Habit. With NAT HABIT, he and Swagatika are building a brand dedicated to providing fresh and natural skincare products to Indians. In this conversation, he discusses the journey of building ZipGo and starting Nat Habit, the importance of creating your website, curating the D2C experience, and the valuable insights gained from growing a business to a 100 crore ARR. 🎧 Listen at: podm.in/nathabit ▶️ Watch the full episode at: https://lnkd.in/drDBzMnN Entrepreneur India, Inc42 Media, YourStory Media #NatHabit #D2C #IndianStartups #FounderThesis

The Co-founder of Snapdeal | AceVector Group and Titan Capital - Kunal Bahl introduced the term 'Indicorns' At #TechSparks2024, challenging the obsession with #unicorns in India. He critiqued how the startup definition has become synonymous with a 'mythical creature'- an idea shaped in Silicon Valley, not by India’s realities. 'Why unicorn? Why $1 billion? No one truly knows,' he remarked, the definition of startup has become the mythical creature nobody has seen before & the terminology someone has defined in west someone in sillicon valley that is not ours! We as country India not in fragile state & we are strong foundation, not fragile ecosystem. He emphasized the need to celebrate what is authentically Indian - our successes, built on our own benchmarks, rather than adopting metrics and terms from the West. Why should our milestones be measured in another’s currency, or by foreign standards? It’s time for new terminology that resonates with India's startup ecosystem and its unique realities. The term 'Indicorn' defines a company with ₹100 crore in revenue, in the last 15 years and profitable. He argued that while aiming for billion-dollar valuations may seem unrealistic for many startups founders when they are doing 10 , 20 lacs or even 1 cr revenue imagining what bilion dollar valuation company will take them to build is unreal & you just dont know what will it take , what is the framework! But building a company with ₹100 crore revenue and which is profitable is not only achievable but also a more meaningful measure of success. Reaching this milestone, he assured, means creating a lasting, enduring company - one that is not reliant on the whims of investors and third-party opinions. He urged the Indian startup community to embrace the idea of Indicorns, not Unicorns, and to become ambassadors of this new paradigm - one that reflects the true spirit and strength of India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. YourStory Media Shradha Sharma Indicorns #IndianEntrepreneurship #CelebrateIndianSuccess #BuildInIndia #IndiaFirst #HomegrownInnovation #100CroreClub #ProfitableGrowth #LocalBenchmarks

Why do most startups fail? Join Navin Bachhawat and Rachit Poddar as they uncover the secrets behind startup success and failure. Learn, grow, and thrive together! 💡 #business #startupbusiness #marketing #rachitpoddar #navinbachhawat #success #motivation #startupindia #businesstips #startuptips #businessowners #inspiration #startupideas #succeeding

Bitter, Salty , naked but honest. Here is an open pitch or we can also call this a kind of open letter for all the hustlers, startups founders, d2c brands, small or be it any business in India. The advice is free ...take it or leave it. Feel free to disagree , agree or may be rent a bit 😄 #branding #socialmedia #growthhacking #performance #marketing #startups #hustlers #indianbusinesses

Post-Event Highlights: MVP Session by Floww Founders 🚀 We are thrilled to share the success of an impactful session on "Crafting a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Startup Success" conducted by Anish Kumar Singh and Prakhar Kumar Singh, the visionary co-founders of Floww! Held at B Hub, Maurya Lok, Patna, the event brought together an enthusiastic audience of entrepreneurs, innovators, and aspiring changemakers. 📸 Here’s a glimpse of what went down during the session: ✅ Practical insights on building and refining an MVP. ✅ Strategies for validating ideas with minimal resources. ✅ Real-life lessons from the journey of Floww. ✅ Engaging discussions on navigating challenges in the startup ecosystem. This event wasn’t just a session—it was a transformative experience, inspiring attendees to take their ideas to the next level. We’re proud to play our part in empowering entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality. 🌟 ✨ Special thanks to everyone who joined and made this event a grand success! Missed this one? Stay connected with us for more such insightful sessions in the future. #FlowwFounders #MVPForSuccess #StartupInnovation #EntrepreneurshipMatters #FlowwCommunity #MSMEs #Startups #MVP #Event

I lost 1 crore & almost 2 years of my life on my first startup… In 2015, I tried to build India’s Facebook (Yes, ZOFF is not my first company) The idea was: – As technology boom was starting to take over the Indian scene.  – I thought it was the best market to enter. Get the first movers advantage. – Started a social networking app called ‘CHECKEDIN’  – It meant to connect like-minded people based on geographical location. Naam toh suna nahi hoga, so you know the app didn’t really take off!😂 I gave it 2 years of my heart and soul, before admitting that it’s not taking off! Eventually, it was time to shut it down. But I knew there and then that my journey had only just begun. But, this wasn't failure, it was graduation! CHECKEDIN became my real-life business bootcamp. And, today, ZOFF is built on the lessons learned from that first "flop." So yes, take risks. Don’t be afraid to fail. Because that’s how you learn! And trust me, every major startup you see today was built by founders who faced failure after failure along the way. #startup #entrepreneurship #founder #failure #founderstories

Merak MeetStreet is coming home to Bombay! 🏠 We're passionate about supporting founders who are just starting out on their entrepreneurial journeys. That's why we created MeetStreet - a close-knit gathering where we can connect with ambitious B2B Tech entrepreneurs, dive deep into their businesses & explore how we can help them overcome the unique challenges they face. On Tuesday 27th August 2024, we're bringing MeetStreet to Bombay & we can't wait to meet the city's most driven founders. If you're early-stage, we want to hear your story. If you're solving a hard, real world problem & creating large scale impact, we'd love to connect. Register on the link in the comments below & we'll get back with a confirmation shortly 👇🏽 Merak Ventures | Manu | Sheetal #VentureCapital #Investments #Startups #Tech #B2B #Mumbai #India

Attention Startup Founders!! ↳ Facing challenges after your MVP launch? It’s common! You’ve got a fantastic product. Now, how do you refine your business model, penetrate the market, and drive revenue? Delhi Angels Den presents… DAD ki Startupshala! 👉 This is a FREE 5-day program designed specifically for startups with a ready MVP. We’re selecting ONLY 20 startups to join us. ↪ What’s on offer? ✓ Business Model Enhancement ✓ Effective Go To Market Strategy ✓ Revenue Stream Development ✓ Expert Mentorship Seasoned Investors ✓ Assistance with Government Grants and Scaling 💥 Apply now or scan the QR code in the video: https://lnkd.in/d_7Xsunn 💫 Key Dates: >> Applications: September 11-13 >> Interviews: September 14-16 >> Program: September 23-27 >> Felicitation Ceremony: September 27 📍 Seize this chance to be among the Top 20 Startups. Benefit from personalized guidance, investor demo days, and more. Ready to turn your startup dream into reality? 🌟 Act fast→ time is running out! Let’s achieve greatness together! #startup #dadkistartupshala #startupshala #startupopportunities #governmentgrants #gtm #limitedseats #DelhiAngelsDen

LAB32 is transforming startups by turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. 🚀 Subtl.ai | Perplexity style engines for everyone, a standout B2B SaaS startup, transformed its journey with LAB32, India's longest-running market readiness program. Our latest blog explores how the program helped Subtl.ai refine its Go-To-Market strategy, achieve product-market fit, and access critical networking opportunities. If you're building a B2B SaaS startup and are ready to scale, LAB32 Cohort 13 is the platform you need. Learn more about Subtl.ai’s success and how the program can accelerate your growth. 🔗 Read the full story and apply now: https://lnkd.in/gMVyPxkE Vinay Peddinti | Vijay Bawra | Rajesh D (Raj) | Ashia Avasthi | Ganesh Abhishek #InnovatewithTHub #InnovationEcosystem #IAmLab32 #Blog #B2B #SaaS #Startups #Entrepreneurs

A must-read post for every entrepreneur out there !!! As a first-time entrepreneur, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and steep learning curve of building something new. In India, as of September 2022, we saw an incredible 15,400% growth in active startups—rising from 471 in 2016 to 72,993 in 2022. With shows like Shark Tank India inspiring more people to take the plunge, the excitement around startups has never been stronger. But here’s the reality: over 90% of startups fail in their early years, often due to execution issues or unvalidated models. These numbers remind me that, as founders, we need more than just ideas—we need solid strategies, proven models, and a strong community to lean on. My goal is to build this LinkedIn profile into a hub for first-time founders—a place where we can share insights, lessons, and real experiences to help each other avoid the common pitfalls and achieve sustainable growth. This community isn’t a one-stop solution, but it can be a powerful resource for anyone starting out or looking to refine their approach. To all the founders and enthusiasts here: what’s one piece of advice or insight you’d share with someone just beginning their journey? Let’s help each other grow and build a more resilient startup ecosystem! #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #SustainableGrowth #FounderLife #CommunityBuilding