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Startups have been an integral part of my life: my source of fun and challenging work.  Working as an entrepreneur has taught me some really valuable things that I would like to share with you, the reader.  For one, I learnt that it is a full time job; trying to maintain a startup part time means that much less focus. Focus is a crucial factor.  Keeping your mind focused on the goal while living with uncertainty and vague assumptions can wear one down but perseverance is definitely the winning point in the game called entrepreneurship. You know one doesn’t need to be an incredible software developer or technical genius to begin a startup but you sure are the one who will take it forward.

So, know everything about your product. Arm your determination with knowledge and instead of a step forward you might take a leap. Many people I have talked to who are involved in startups had no business knowledge or experience but, they understood that to evolve one must learn.  It looks like a huge disadvantage, but you are the one who came up with the idea and you really think it is feasible.  That is enough to begin the journey.  Hence, just like a parent who raises a child, you too must learn to nurture your idea and find a way to bring it to fruition.  Is it any different than one learning to build a house or a computer?  Everything continues with learning and that makes entrepreneurs perennial students who fall frequently but pick themselves up again to keep going.  Working in a startup is like a crash course in growing as a person while at the same time building a business entity.

Of course, a lot of the time, entrepreneurs are not alone. They have family and friends (unless you are really one of those loner genius types).  Begin easing your path by using those connections that you have. Explain to your family what you are doing and why. Prepare them with the scenario for the next 2-5 years. Before you ever have to convince a customer, client, or investor talk to the people who will be most affected by your decisions.  The questions and concerns that they bring up will help put things in perspective for you prior to the onset of making your idea a reality.  Plus, talking to a friend or family who can invest money can significantly help financially, funding your product until it becomes sustainable.  Don’t go directly to VCs or angel investors initially.  If the product is strong and self sustaining, investors will show interest.  With a higher valuation, you will also gain more benefits.

Think about your product at least ten times before you talk to others.  It will help you to understand it in a better way. Put down your design on paper and review it as often as you can. Work out how to increase your customer base. Become active on the social circuit as well as use social media to get the word out about your product and your company’s vision. Write blogs.  These initial activities should definitely be honed before going out to startup events or marketing channels.

On an ending note, mistakes may occur but only experimentation and learning can truly turn an average startup into a successful venture. How will one know what works if one doesn’t try? Furthermore, trying sure can lead to innovation and some interesting surprises. And don’t forget the work environment, no 9 to 5 work day – it limits you; set your own hours and schedule.  Give yourself all the freedom to express yourself and watch as the picture unfolds.  Work for your idea, not the money. Creativity should be given free rein without the confines of money, schedules, rules, etc. At last, remember your idea is your baby. You will nourish it and learn from it which in turn will definitely produce rewards.

1. I learnt you must start it full time. There is no part time startup. There was never and there will never be part time startup. I started full time for Kyayaar and 99Presents.
2. Learn by example. You don’t need to be kick ass software developer. But you must know everything about your product. Even you are not developing your startup product; you are the one who is taking it forward. You are the driver of your journey. I didn’t develop everything on Kyayaar and 99Presents, but I drive my team together towards one goal. If you changed or missed the path, it’s your mistake not your team.
3. Focus is crucial factor. When you work, you must only work. Even if Google stock price would be crashed to $150, you must focus on your work. You should do market validation of your product genuinely.  I was late to introduce Facebook API in Kyayaar, but then I make sure to use it for 99Presents in early stage.
4. You must evolve. You will and have to learn many things in process.
5. Explain to your family what you are doing. Make them ready for next 4-5 years.
6. There is a big difference between Innovation and Clone. There is no middle situation between these 2 factors. You must know about this and have guts to tell to others.
7. If you are not developing the product, you must have geeky technical team or person in your team.
8. You don’t need to think about revenue at idea stage.
9. Think about your product 10 times even before you talk with others. It will help you to understand your product in a better way.
10.  First design should be on paper with your darling pen. Draw as many times as you want.
11. Be social. Have beer with friends at least twice a week.
12. Develop the prototype before asking for angel investment. I built the prototype after making a survey in international market. Investor saw both, prototype and strong idea (survey), and we got investment.
13. No need to go to startup events to market your product or idea. It’s just the waste of time and money. Make your product prototype first and start talking with friends & family, that’s how you start marketing. Even start writing about your product on blog.
14. If you don’t have money to build the product, talk with someone (friend or family member) who has money to invest. Don’t afraid that your idea can be stolen.  Do not directly go to angel investors. Don’t even think about VCs at this time.
15. Don’t start marketing with FAKE facebook, twitter, g+ or with other social media identity. It might ruin your reputation.
16. Innovation is the key. I don’t believe that Idea has to be innovative to make product successful. It can also be implemented in an innovative way.
17. Don’t define the work schedule. You must work when you want to and when you need to. Startup is not the 9 to 5 work.
18. Don’t become workaholic. I play games, make tea/omelet and read books when I like to.
19. Work for your idea, not for money. If product gets success, other things will come automatically. Remember dialogue from 3 Idiots movie, “Kabil bano kabil, Kamyabi to Sali jakh marke piche bhagegi.”
20. At last, Remember, Your idea is your baby. You will nourish and learn from your idea.