Hello hello, future founder!
So, you woke up today, scrolled LinkedIn, saw someone post “Excited to announce my 2nd startup!” and thought — “Yaar, mujhe bhi kuch karna hai.”
Welcome to the club. 🙌
But before you jump into making a pitch deck or calling your college friend to be your co-founder, let’s talk. Starting a startup is exciting, but it’s also a bit like making biryani — looks easy until you’re halfway in and the rice is still raw.
Let’s break it down. Step by step. With no jargon. Just honest, desi-style gyaan.
1. What’s Your Idea, Bhai?
Every startup starts with an idea. But not every idea should become a startup. Ask yourself:
- Is this solving a real problem?
- Will people actually pay for this?
- Or is it just another “Zomato for pets” idea?
Pro Tip: Your idea doesn’t have to be unique. It just needs to be better, faster, or cheaper than what’s already out there.
2. Don’t Quit Your Job (Yet)
Yes, passion is great. But EMI is real.
Start small. Test your idea. Build on weekends. Get feedback from real people — not just your mom who always says “Beta, sab accha hai.”
3. Find Your “Startup Bestie”
Going solo? Brave.
But it helps to have a co-founder who complements your skills. If you’re a techie, find a business brain. If you’re the marketing mind, find someone who can code without crying.
Just make sure your startup doesn’t become a breakup story.
4. Build Something... Even if It’s Ugly
Don’t wait for the perfect product. Just build the basic version — what fancy people call the “MVP” (Minimum Viable Product).
If your startup was a dosa, MVP is the first dosa — not perfect, but edible. 😄
5. Talk to Your Customers, Not Just Your Laptop
Your startup isn’t for you. It’s for the people who will use it.
Ask them:
- “Would you use this?”
- “What do you hate about current options?”
- “How much would you pay?”
Note: If they say “free”, it doesn’t count. Indians love free things. Even tissues at restaurants.
6. Fail Fast, Learn Faster
Failure is part of the game. Your first product might flop. Your ad campaign might get 3 clicks — one of them from your own mom.
That’s okay. The point is to learn, adjust, and keep moving.
7. Know the Startup Buzzwords (So You Don’t Look Lost)
You’ll hear terms like:
- Pivot = Change your entire idea but pretend it was the plan
- Burn rate = How fast your money is disappearing
- CAC = Customer Acquisition Cost (aka kitna kharcha on getting one customer)
Write these down, impress investors later. 😉
8. Legal, Money, Boring But Important Stuff
Don’t ignore basics:
- Register your company
- Open a business bank account
- File your GST (seriously, do it)
- Get a CA you can trust (or one who doesn’t scare you)
9. Don't Chase Funding Too Early
Bootstrap if you can. Don’t build your startup just to raise money. Build it to create value.
Funding is not a badge. It’s a responsibility. And it comes with pressure — like Indian relatives during shaadi season.
10. Take Breaks. Breathe. Laugh.
Building a startup is tough. You’ll feel like giving up. You’ll compare yourself to 22-year-old founders on Twitter.
But remember — your journey is yours.
Take breaks. Have chai. Call your old friend. Celebrate the small wins. Like your first website visitor (even if it was by mistake 😄).
“A startup is like a masala dosa. Crispy outside, messy inside, but totally worth it.”
Hey, look at you
You read the whole blog! That itself proves you’re serious about this startup dream.
It’s not easy. But it’s not rocket science either. Just one step at a time, one decision at a time — and a lot of resilience (plus some chai).
So, ready to take that first step?
Let’s go, boss. 🚀
