Lessons I learnt after 4 ventures failed within two years.

I spent my 4 years in the entrepreneurial journey. I loved the journey. There were ups and downs. Failure after failure. Learnt several lessons. No doubt I have grown from a novice. And still learning a lot.

I took the opportunity to write the experience that I learnt and applied in this journey. I cried, feared and blamed but moved from one phase to another. How fast you learn and grow defines your journey. I love to share with the budding entrepreneur who is taking up this journey. Hope people would gain something out of my best experience. So go ahead:

Initial Days:

I have started my journey of entrepreneurship in late teens. When I entered my college for hons degree.

Those years were full of entertainment and a new way of life of creating something valuable.

That thought doesn’t come easily. All by learning from scratch over the years.

I spent whole lot of more than two years to find what I can do in this field.

Still learning and upgrading my thought to be better and better version my mine everyday.

There were lots of ups and down in this journey but in college days. Feeling low is like chilling out with friends, when it seems.

But outside of college yes it does matter on the working style. But I learnt to overcome this phase within 6 months. How to act on low and high days. I will talk about this later sometime.

I read some millions of pages on Internet. And more than 50+ books on entrepreneurship and about top leaders. I inspired by the stories and kept on digging till I get what I want. I don’t know why I was doing that but I loved to read. So I did and That are helping me now.

First venture:

On that note I started my first venture around some academics related and helping to young buds who want to enter the college in coming years to University of Delhi.

I took a page and noted down the things. what I need to implement that. I put my all experience how to make this possible. I was not a Techie and have lack of resources too. I didn’t found any friend near by me who can build a website.

I took few weeks to write the possible FAQs. What other information I can provide to the new comers to help them who are in need. I found very interesting at that time working actively to support and help students.

After working on this project. I didn’t found any link to make it successful. My semesterial exams too came and my focus changed to that and project get aside. After the vacation. I thought to work on this. But hiring a techie would cost me some 50k. That I don’t have.

I got some support from friends. But they were too not interested in investing. All I can say they were job seeking mind. So, can’t able to see the potential. I kept on telling everyone who asks me what else you are doing other than studies. I told them what I was building.

I failed to build that. Eventually I was loosing interest too. So I focused how to solve this problem. For months of reading and learning I found the solution to integrate with some friends of friends or go to the event happening around you.

I found lots of events are happening in the city and I was not awared about these things because of the environment, I get in the college.

When I attended one event of exhibition show. There first time in my life get the chance to interact with true entrepreneur.

That was Founder of UrbanClap. The question which I was thinking to ask. Have the same doubt to another guy. I got the kudos that people are facing the same problem as I. And I get the answer which I read on the Internet. I got excited that yes I am going on good track to be there.

Actually, I have lot more expectation from that event. But disappointed little bit. I got the invitation to attend the event as an college entrepreneur. I was feeling really very special while I was there. Still I can remember the situation and my emotion.

I learnt it and moved on from that phase. On that way, I attended several events mostly for free. I met with several young and experienced entrepreneur.

Interacting with them helped me a lot. I get the basics of attending the event and moved fast. Now I knew that which event to attend and which to leave. And why events are important. So, overall A well learning path in my early twenties. With a failure and a much awaited experience.

Second venture:

I would not tell the whole story like before. But In short I would say this venture was again on the note upon my fear of finding some part-time job. So that after finishing my college days. I can continue my entrepreneurship journey.

For that I need to earn. But student are less skilled. and They don’t have connection. To make that connection. I can do is organised this unorganised service sector.

Again I wrote whole bunch of things on paper and draw it on rough page. What are the requirement and what I need to do. I was still reading a lot at that time than working on the project. I spend most of the time reading and watching videos.

I get the answer as in the above venture. I was attending the events as well in those days. I shared my problem with a guy who was running a IT company. I met him several time before and he assured me to work on further. Research well on this. Meet me within next three day. He said We have a team we will do for you. Either way not for free but taking equity in your start-up. I said ok.

So, I get the techie. I have the drawing and what I need, I thought. But being a first time entrepreneur don’t know several things that will hurt you when you find it’s not working. I did market research for few weeks. Filled Form around hundreds of pages. Make a spreadsheet of all the entries.

I was too excited that in my early twenties I am going to make a hit. Which I was dreaming day and night blindly.

But that ended with a learning that your vision is not clear. You don’t know anything. Yes I will admit that I lack experience. No doubt about that. But I was cleared what I want. I shown them the revenue model. Everything which I need to prove that.

But they judged me on the note that I have weak financial and this business will not make anything.

Today With the same idea of having services to the city dwellers got $34 millions of funding from Ratan Tata. And I am proud that those people are solving the problems.

Finally I got the chance to work on some more complex problem. So I am not worried than being happy to create value other than that. There is number of opportunities. I am still in my early twenties. This world has given me some other destiny to chase.

Third venture:

This start-up was well not thought more. But as I have noted several ideas in my notebook. I keep on looking in few weeks. What else If this failed. As reading gives you the way of thinking, observing and learning lots of stuff. Which you don’t find in the normal text book.

I was kept on observing and realising that what the industry are doing. At that time I become the fan of e-commerce. I read several articles that e-commerce will grow at this speed and that speed. That much of value. Many more companies going to be the next unicorn.

I was struggling with my journey and college was at the end. How I will make it? Will I be able to continue my journey? Several question strikes me hard.

I thought I have one month. I have to gain positive energy and post the strength to do something in this sector. That might work. If I failed what I will loose. I have nothing to loose. I compromised my study. Day and night kept on working to find the right way to start it.

Out of e-commerce which sector I have to choose. In which I can grow. After reading and analysing within my capacity. I found that second hand car needs e-commerce boost.

I found few start-ups that were working. They were in initial stage. Not too far they have started. I can get the boat to swim.

For that I need a partner who wants to work into that sector. Most of my friends are busy doing their study or fun as college life is ending. I have to survive. So, I have to work.

I have to work hard. They are not going to even discuss the things. I was not bad seller. Whenever I get my mate, I tried my best to discuss what I want at the end of college life.

Finally, I get the deal from a friend of mine that we will do this with a connection at near by market. Starting from bike. First we will provide with a redesigned bike. With new looks. Means a serviced one.

Later we will switch to car. I said ok. Yes, we will do that. My last semester went most worst than I can think of. I studied well but performed very less than expected in my whole academic career.

Study affected, exams got over and everyone returned to their home. Project disappeared and I left alone. So, a period of loneliness started more than before.

You have to accept that being an entrepreneur means have to face the loneliness.

Now, it’s Fourth One:

This time after a year and more. I regained my energy to go alone and build something that I love. Which will have some value to the users.

I entered the service sector business. This time I have taken the opportunity to compete with well established firm. Which have set standards but there is doubt that they will come to bottom level to serve.

And I was right they don’t served to bottom level even though there products could help to reduce environment effect. Every day we are facing the challenges. I thought they would come over the years but they don’t compromised. Still we are facing this challenge.

If they would forwarded their venture. We may have saved millions of trees and mother earth may have got some relaxation from deforestation.

I thought I would fix this one. Because I was reading or watching this news many times.

Again with my experience I made the details available to discuss with the interested people. But due to high production cost. I said to myself. Lets wait for few years and see what you can do then.

The project seems far away and so l left it for the future cause. I can’t do it right now.

Conclusion:

What I learnt is believe what you do. Have a clear vision for your product and services.

Don’t expect that someone would do that. You are the creator end driver of the bus. If you fail. that’s you. No one is responsible.

Take a dream to solve a problem. Most important find how? People leave this part. Do you have that requirement. If yes, it’s ok. If not, how you will fulfill that gap. Do you have that much of finance, skills etc.?

Keep linking from one dream to another. Have a revenue model. No one pays or give their valuable asset called money till they see their high returns. People/investors are here to make benefit not to do service for free.

Don’t think too much. Learn fast from failure. Take action, fix a duration to take it. If you are always a procrastinator.

TO win you have to work like every way to make that successful. Every single way that you can do. If it ends to no way. Third way called super power works. I have felt it and find my path several times.

This universe conspires for you, what you want.

So build something amazing that you love and keep improving everything besides you. All human have the chances to create history. Only the condition is you have to work till the last minute.

So, lets do.