Word of mouth (WOM) is often hailed as the holy grail of marketing, especially in India. It’s free, it’s trusted, and it spreads like wildfire. But if you’re relying on WOM as your main growth engine, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Why? Because WOM is unpredictable and uncontrollable. Ju…
Most Indian startups are leaving money on the table by ignoring talent from Tier-3 cities. If you think the best minds are only in Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Delhi, you’re behind the curve. Tier-3 cities are teeming with skilled graduates who not only match but often exceed the capabilities of their m…
Relying on a single revenue stream is like building a house on sand. It looks solid until the first storm hits. If you’re an Indian startup founder banking on one source of income, you’re setting yourself up for a crash. In a market as volatile as India, with its unpredictable regulations, divers…
Think your startup can cut corners on founder skill development? Think again. The brutal truth is that most Indian startups skimp on this crucial area and pay the price with failure. Startups like yours need more than just a great idea or a fat funding round. You need founders who are equipped wi…
Think the media is your friend? Think again. Early-stage hype is a seductive trap that’s lured many Indian startups into oblivion. You crave the spotlight, but here’s the hard truth: early media attention can destroy your startup before you even get off the ground. This isn’t a Silicon Valley fai…
Think global, act local. A noble mantra but let’s face reality: if you’re running an Indian startup and ignoring local supply chain hurdles, you’ve already set yourself up for a fall. You might be dreaming of scaling up like Infra.Market or OfBusiness, but without grasping the intricacies of Indi…
You can’t build a scalable startup on jugaad. Period. It might get you through a pinch, but it’s a shortcut that could send your startup spiraling down faster than you can say “Series A”. In India, jugaad is celebrated as a cultural badge of honor, but when it comes to startups, it often becomes …
Fast growth is the siren song of the startup world. You’ve hit product-market fit, and the urge to scale quickly is overwhelming. But let me tell you, fast growth might just be the worst thing for your Indian startup. It’s not just a theory; it’s a reality that too many founders wake up to when i…
Let’s cut to the chase: your first investor meeting is likely a colossal waste of time. That’s right. If you’re an Indian founder, strapping on your best pitch to woo investors, you’re probably barking up the wrong tree. Not because your idea isn’t brilliant or your execution isn’t flawless, but …
Aniruddha Malpani of Malpani Ventures on the one thing that infuriates investors more than missed targets: silence. Why founders go quiet — and why it’s the worst mistake they make.
