Startup Movers Private Limited’s Post

Day 60: The Why Behind My Startup Journey Ever wonder why someone decides to jump into the startup world? For me, it wasn’t an overnight decision. I once dreamed of landing a job in Bangalore, a city pulsating with culture, towering buildings, and a vibrant startup scene. And I made it happen. After 5 years immersed in this dynamic environment, the entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t just around me; it became a part of me. I spent time with many inspiring people, asking them a simple yet profound question: "Why do you do what you do?" Their answers, varied yet passionate, sparked a realization within me. Understanding your 'Why' is the cornerstone of embarking on an entrepreneurial journey. So, here I am, sharing my founders' note, not just to tell my story but to highlight the essence of why I started. It's more than a business; it's a journey towards fulfilling a vision shaped by the very heart of Bangalore’s startup culture. #FoundersJourney #EntrepreneurialSpirit #StartUpLife #MyWhy

Merak MeetStreet in Gurgaon was one for the books! 💯 Reflecting on our journey with MeetStreet, we've now hosted 5 events across 5 different cities, shortlisting 52 businesses from a large pool of registrations. Each edition has highlighted the innovative spirit of early-stage founders, yet some challenges resonate universally. A few key hurdles we've observed: ➡️ Hiring: The first few hires are crucial lifelines for any business. Founders often find this process daunting as these early team members can significantly influence the trajectory of the business. Are there any firms (or even better, early-stage businesses) that specialise in assisting with these critical early hires across multiple functions? ➡️ Working Capital & Supply Chain Financing: A perennial challenge for businesses (more so, B2B ones), which we have observed getting mitigated with time (and scale). Despite its importance, solutions remain limited for early-stage companies. Founders, how have you navigated this tightrope? ➡️ Tech Roadmap & Development: For non-tech founders, establishing a tech foundation can feel like navigating unchartered waters. Until you find a permanent tech co-founder, where do you start? Are there any consultants who specialise in guiding early-stage startups? ➡️ Fundraising: The classic conundrum! It's often why many founders attend MeetStreet, hoping to unlock funding opportunities. But let's face it, early-stage fundraising might be more of an art than a science. How are you creatively approaching fundraising beyond the traditional VC route? MeetStreet isn't only about funding; it's about building a community where founders can share insights & explore solutions together. The learnings from these sessions have been tremendous & there's so much more to uncover as we continue this journey with many more gatherings to come. ✨ Merak Ventures #VentureCapital #Business #Startups #India #EarlyStage #Founders #MerakMeetStreet #VC

🚨 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐏 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 Flipspaces, an interior design tech startup, has introduced an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) allocating 5% of its equity to employees with over 1.5 years of service. The plan features a four-year vesting period and a one-year cliff, prioritizing leadership roles. As the company expands in India and the US, the ESOP pool will grow, aiming for a ₹400 crore revenue target. This initiative joins over 100 startups empowering employees through ownership.  #Flipspaces #ESOP #EmployeeOwnership #StartupGrowth #Leadership #StockOptions #TechInnovation #BusinessExpansion

🚨 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐏 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 Flipspaces, an interior design tech startup, has introduced an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) allocating 5% of its equity to employees with over 1.5 years of service. The plan features a four-year vesting period and a one-year cliff, prioritizing leadership roles. As the company expands in India and the US, the ESOP pool will grow, aiming for a ₹400 crore revenue target. This initiative joins over 100 startups empowering employees through ownership.  #Flipspaces #ESOP #EmployeeOwnership #StartupGrowth #Leadership #StockOptions #TechInnovation #BusinessExpansion

New learnings.. new advancements.. new heights in education 📝📚

Five of my close friends have been laid off from five different Indian startups over the past few months. They're not alone. In 2023, leading Indian startups have let go of 20,000 employees. While I don’t know the exact reasons for all these layoffs, my friends were let go because their companies couldn’t secure funding, failed to scale, or mismanaged investor funds. In fact, over 35,000 Indian startups that raised more than $5 million USD have shut down so far. What worries me is this isn’t just about companies closing; it means people losing their jobs. It’s a harsh reality, driven by unsustainable business models and the urge to scale too quickly. The dream of rapid scaling often pushes startups to chase higher valuations rather than focus on sustainable growth. They aim for fast growth and high revenue, even if it compromises the integrity of their business model. Sadly, as the statistics show, this strategy doesn’t always work. Many believe that the fastest way to success is to convince others of their potential wealth. If they succeed, the startup team becomes instant millionaires or billionaires.  But this perception is just an illusion. Focusing solely on high valuations is a dangerous path. It might lead to more dilution in the long run and could even result in your company’s failure. I've always believed in a different approach to scaling a business. For me, loyal customers are the most valuable investors. They return for more and refer us to others, creating a strong foundation for growth. When it comes to scaling, building a sustainable business is essential. Raise a smaller amount at a lower valuation and focus on de-risking the business before seeking additional funding. With patience and a consistent pattern of under-promising and over-delivering, you will have an easier time raising money, a more valuable company, and an equal or greater percentage ownership of it. Reasonable early valuations are not just a bargain for investors; they are also a bargain for entrepreneurs. Let's aim to build businesses that last, with secure employment opportunities with integrity and the trust of our customers. 

Bengaluru: Where Hustlers Build and Dreams Take Flight 💡 Every corner of this city tells a story—a story of ambition, grit, and people quietly building the next big thing. Take Tracxn, for example—valued at $85M, working out of the 3rd and 4th floors of a simple building. No fancy headquarters, no distractions. Just bold ideas and relentless execution. 🔥 I recently had the privilege of representing KrispCall at the Bengaluru Tech Summit. Walking through the streets, I could feel the pulse of this city—the passion, the drive, and the hunger to innovate. Bengaluru is more than a city; it’s a movement, a mindset, and a breeding ground for greatness. This is what makes Bengaluru special: It’s not about where you start, but what you build and where you’re headed. 🚀 Here’s to all the dreamers, doers, and innovators making magic happen behind the scenes. 🌍 What’s your favorite startup story or moment of hustle? Let’s hear it in the comments! 👇 #Bengaluru #Startups #TechSummit #Hustlers #Innovation #KrispCall

Your outlook on the matter is absolutely to the point Stuti Ashok Gupta. Unfortunately with all the success stories and Shows like #Sharktankindia, a lot of aspirants have been drawn towards entrepreneurship. They start with a me too idea and end up winding earlier than struggle even starts. Even when they have all 4Ps of marketing, they fail to efficiently grow into profits and rely on investment to pay out for overzealous expenses, specifically losing out money on customer acquisition and growth. At Shareakart Services Private Limited we have a very unique system for customer acquisition and retention with ROAS of over 10, while CLV reaching over 10x within a year's time. Our platform costs ZERO to implement and run and there is no monthly fee, making it completely risk free for a D2C startup.

✨ Thrilled to have played a role in hosting Bangalore Slush’D! My journey with Headstart has been nothing short of incredible. Even as someone relatively new to the startup ecosystem, I've had the privilege of being part of some truly groundbreaking initiatives. Bangalore Slush’D was the latest in a line of exciting experiences, and it was an absolute blast! A special shoutout to Vaniya Dangwal Eternal, who led the charge, pulling off an incredible event despite many challenges. Her leadership (& especially the composure under pressure) was nothing short of extraordinary. 🌟 I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the amazing Volunteers at Headstart who supported Bangalore Slush’D. Working closely with the Bangalore team, especially Kiran Chockalingam, has shown me why Headstart can undertake such massive initiatives and execute them so well. It’s leaders like Kiran, who, with their unwavering dedication, have built solid foundations across cities—one small yet impactful step at a time over a considerable period. While I’m (relatively) new to the startup world, the exposure and connections I’ve gained through Headstart have been greatly invaluable. But more importantly, this year, I've been learning to realize certain nuances of the impact that we create in the ecosystem - mainly that it’s the small, consistent steps we take that empower us to undertake such massive endeavors. This insight has been transformative in how I approach my contributions to the ecosystem. Bangalore Slush’D stands as a testament to the 17 years of the consistency & relentless dedication by Headstart as an organization - and how much better we can get. To more such amazing things that we can do 🥂 Before i conclude - couple of special mentions: Weren’t the design & production elements at Bangalore Slush’D super amazing?? Thanks to Apoorve Arya, Muskan Dakuda - an wowelz interacteka team. They never fail to impress - hats off! I also learnt a great deal about marketing from Srinath Nair- a truck load of practical, implementable, and amazing ideas (which worked wonders btw) 2024, so far, has been an absolute blast—both professionally and personally. It feels new, refreshing, and like a precursor to something big and beyond. 🚀

The startup ecosystem is feeling the strain. Over the past year, startup closures surged by 60%, with bankruptcies now seven times higher than in 2019. Tightened funding, driven by higher interest rates, has hit many sectors hard—except for AI, which continues to attract significant investment. As a result, startups are cutting back, especially on hiring. Seed-stage companies have trimmed their teams, and even Series C startups are operating with workforces 43% smaller than last year. Hiring freezes are more common than layoffs, with early 2024 seeing the lowest number of new hires in four years. The mantra of "doing more with less" is becoming the new normal. #Startups #BusinessGrowth #2024Trends