Transparency seems to be the least regarded virtue in the startup ecosystem. Everyone stakeholder talks about its positive while forgetting to apply it. Founders will not tell the team about the real state of fundraising or money in the bank. An investor will never tell you he is not interested in you anymore. An employee …
Category Archives: startups
Micromanage
The modern-day organization has gone bonkers, managers have become a surveillance machine. How does it matter what an employee wears and what time he comes and goes back from work? Why does he need to share his social media details or his affiliations to the management? I thought startups were about innovation and creativity. Nobody …
Hype
Hype is synonymous to oxygen in the current startup ecosystem. It is not limited to calling oneself a thought leader or a serial entrepreneur. Everyone is an expert in something, everyone calls himself or team a hustler. Most founders are under survivorship bias while investors on the hunt for a Unicorn. As a result, everyone …
advice
This crowded world of smart communication has a side effect. We have experts and advisors everywhere. Open Twitter, and you will find an investor sharing wisdom on running a successful startup. Open Hacker News, and you have some product guy sharing his wisdom followed by 1000 others in agreement or against it. …
Culture
One thing which differentiates an organization is its culture. Founders need to lead it. There is a famous saying: “Monkey see, monkey do.” If founders are dishonest with board or investors. Can they expect honesty from their employees? A toxic culture fueled on masculinity or in-fighting with teammates will do more bad. Why will employees …
Book Notes: When Coffee and Kale Compete
Last week my friend Rajagopal advised me to read “When Coffee and Kale Compete: Become Great at Making Products People Will Buy” The book introduces the interesting concept of Jobs to be done or JTBD. What I liked about and made me glued to the 200 pages of the book is one simple thing: Building …
On managing your team
Running a startup is not an easy job. You have to keep everyone happy from customer to team member. While some people fail at it others excel in building a successful company. I recently read Inspired by Marty Cagan and PPP was the take away for me from it. People If you will hire right …
Business advice from Ashish [my friend]
I studied my 11-12th with Ashish & have known him for over decade. We grew up together, he got married and blessed with two kids and running a successful business in Delhi. I am here in Bangalore, trying to figure out what is next. Last week I was in Delhi all for him, because we …
Random Thoughts: On first time founders
One advantage of living in Bangalore, Silicon Valley of India is that you are surrounded by entrepreneurs as well as investors be it a microbrewery, cafe or restaurant. Walk to DYU Cafe at Kormangala or Starbucks koramangala/Indiranagar or youngistaan indiranagar, you will see the action where a team is pitching to an investor or a …
Startup Ideas #3
In continuation with my previous post to share startup ideas that I would love to see flourish, here is my second post with more adept ideas that should become startups. Startup Ideas For The Week: Beard stylist: The trend of gentlemen keeping a beard is not new. It will be great idea to have a …