WHY THE NEXT GENERATION ISN'T WAITING FOR A JOB TO BEGIN A CAREER

A growing shift on campuses is pushing young graduates to treat entrepreneurship as a first career, not a later gamble

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To examine how students today are thinking about placements, risk, and early entrepreneurship, we spoke to Shekar Nair, Coach, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Upekkha, an early stage accelerator and fund for Indian founders building AI software.

His vantage point places him in constant conversation with first-time founders, including those deciding between a stable job and a serious idea. His observations offer clarity on what motivates young builders, the signals that matter, and the realities behind the choices they face.

What changes have you seen in first-time founders today compared to ten years ago?

A decade ago, most people started up after a few years at Infosys or Google or maybe after an MBA. Today, founders are younger, bolder, and shaped by hackathons, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, and role models. Many come straight from tier 1 and tier 2 colleges and they are asking sharper questions: “Can I build something globally relevant from day one?” or “Why should I wait five years to be ready?” Technology diffusion, especially AI, has levelled the field.

Among the founders you meet, how many decline placements or study abroad? Why do they do it?