“The Intention Behind The Word ‘STARTUP’ Is Scalability, Or Else, IT IS A NEW BUSINESS”

Afflicted with real questions—not just startup buzzwords—aspiring founders in India must rethink scale, funding, and survival. It all begins with mindset, models, and meaningful action. That is what Sundara Nagarajan, Managing Director of Innovation Scaleup Advisors, said during an engaging session at the EFY Expo in Pune.

- SUNDARA NAGARAJAN, Managing Director of Innovation Scaleup Advisors Private Limited

Rather than simply calling it the 'starting of a business,' the word 'startup' captures the ambition and vision behind it—a captivating pursuit of today that builds tomorrow. But when the dreamers step into reality, one asks, “How do I raise capital for my startup?” Another adds, “I do not even know how to register a company or find funding—where do I begin?” Queries keep flooding in, “Should I work part-time before jumping in full-time? What is the success ratio for startups? Are product businesses more successful than service ones? Can services be productised to scale? What happens if the team quits early on?”

These are not just theoretical questions, but real concerns from people ready to act, not just study. And that is precisely where I begin: action. In entrepreneurship, this is fundamental because general case studies rarely help. Every business is unique. Success does not follow a script—it follows your ability to move forward, one successful decision at a time. One must be ready to work within one’s means and business context.

Years ago, when someone said they were ‘starting a business,’ it usually meant they had lost a job, given up an academic or government service, or failed a competitive exam. A few were drawn to an opportunity they perceived as a more valuable use of their time in life. Their family and acquaintances generally did not encourage them in India. Today, the situation is somewhat better in that respect of social excitement. But, not all such business enterprises can be called a startup.