Most Indian founders I encounter are drowning in advice that doesn’t apply to their reality. You’re not in Silicon Valley, and you don’t have the luxury of time or capital. What you need is to influence your way to traction, not just to raise money. I’ve seen too many founders chase funding inste…
Most Indian startup founders are running towards a cliff blindfolded, yet they’re convinced they’re on the right track. The myth? Raising massive amounts of capital early on is the golden ticket to success. The reality? More startups drown in excess capital than those that die of starvation. Here…
Most Indian founders miss the mark on influence. You’re too busy building the product, chasing the next funding round, and scaling operations. But here’s the cold truth: ignoring the power of influence is setting you up for failure. Influence isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the substratum of every su…
Most Indian startup founders are guilty of a fatal mistake: ignoring the art of conversation with key stakeholders. You think it’s about the pitch deck or the financial model, but it’s not. It’s about the relationships you build. If you can’t get your stakeholders on the same page, your startup i…
Most Indian founders drown in their own assumptions, thinking that being the next unicorn is just about a killer app and a flashy pitch deck. Here’s the hard truth: it’s not. Your startup’s survival hinges on mastering what I call the “Seven Levers”—psychological principles that dictate how peopl…
Here’s a sobering truth: you can’t outsource influence. You can hire an agency to amplify your voice, but the core conversations that build a startup from the ground up are yours to own. No one else can convince your first engineer to join when their family wants them safely employed in a bank. N…
Most founders think building influence is about screaming the loudest in a crowded room. Wrong. Influence isn’t about volume; it’s about precision. The real product of your startup isn’t just your service or widget; it’s your influence. Master that, and you’ll stop being the startup that nobody c…
You think you know influence, but you’re probably wrong. Most founders think influence is a tool they can pick up whenever they need to dazzle investors or charm customers. But influence isn’t a magic wand; it’s a muscle you need to build deliberately. And here’s the truth: you can do it in 30 da…
If your startup strategy involves cutting corners and making questionable ethical decisions for short-term gains, you’re digging your own grave. In the Indian startup ecosystem, where everyone knows everyone, your reputation is your most valuable currency. Screw that up, and you’ll find doors sla…
Most Indian startup founders think AI will instantly boost their influence. Here’s the truth: AI won’t make you influential if you have nothing genuine to offer. It can, however, make a true founder faster, more precise, and harder to catch unprepared. Use AI as a rehearsal room, an editor, or a …
