There’s a visible wave of entrepreneurship sweeping through India. Every week, someone in your network is quitting their job to build something of their own. It’s inspiring, no doubt — but also worrying.
Because while this movement has brought incredible energy to the ecosystem, it’s also revealed a deeper, systemic issue: we’re trying to build global businesses with a “jugaad-first” mindset.
The Jugaad Trap
Too many founders begin with the belief that cutting corners is smart hustle. That you can “figure things out later.”
Except — later never comes.
This approach works when you’re hacking your way through a prototype or MVP. But when it becomes your company’s philosophy, it starts showing up everywhere — in the product quality, the partnerships you choose, the people you hire.
I’ve seen this first-hand across tech-first startups. Founders want to “do it cheap,” and in the process, they end up building sub-standard systems that can neither scale nor sustain.
Soon, they find themselves stuck — neither small enough to pivot nor strong enough to compete.
The Harsh Reality
India now ranks among the top three countries in the world for startup creation. Yet, over 80% of Indian startups shut down within the first three years.
Of the ones that survive, only a handful truly reach global standards — not because of funding constraints, but because of mindset limitations.
Where Founders Go Wrong
Having worked closely with several founders across FinTech and SaaS, I’ve noticed a few repeating patterns — especially among those transitioning from long corporate careers.
They forget that a business doesn’t run on accumulated capital; it runs on rotating capital.
In a job, saving money matters. In business, speed and reinvestment do.
Trying to “save” on crucial decisions — by hiring the cheapest agencies, skipping marketing budgets, or delaying branding — often turns out to be the most expensive mistake.
I sometimes ask such founders a simple question:
“If you’re highly skilled, would you work for cheap?”
The answer, of course, is no. So why expect others to?
From My Experience: Real Stories from the Field
1. The ₹10 Lakh ‘Groww’ Dream
I’ve seen multiple FinTech founders waste years trying to build their app through low-cost vendors who promise to “deliver another Groww for ₹10 lakh.”
Some of these projects drag on for 2–3 years without ever going live. Meanwhile, other startups — like Bachatt, Toddl or GRIP Invest — go from design to launch in a matter of weeks, using the same underlying infrastructure.
The difference? They invested in capable teams and trusted processes, not jugaad shortcuts.
2. The Cost of Bad Data
In mutual fund tech, data quality is pivotal. As it builds reliability and trust for the platform.
Yet I’ve seen dozens of startups choose unreliable, single-person-operated vendors just to save a few lakhs. What follows? Months of wasted effort cleaning and modelling data — not to mention lost investor trust due to inconsistent fund performance.
They save ₹2–3 lakh a year and lose over 5-7x in opportunity.
3. Marketing as an Afterthought
Out of around 40 FinTech startups I spoke to recently in an informal survey, only 2 had a defined marketing budget.
The rest believed “good products market themselves.”
But without a brand strategy, content system, or growth engine, even the best product goes unnoticed. And without distribution, innovation dies quietly.
Everyone Need Not Start a Business
Here’s something not enough people say out loud:
“If your 9-to-5 isn’t working, that doesn’t automatically mean you should start a business.”
Sometimes, switching jobs is wiser than starting up.
Entrepreneurship isn’t a cure for career dissatisfaction. It’s a full-contact sport that demands capital, clarity, and conviction. Starting for the wrong reasons only drains your money, energy, and peace of mind.
If you don’t have capital, understandable. Figure out how you can raise. That’s one of the primary jobs of a Founder. Ensure cash-flow. Cutting corners isn’t a substitute for cash-flow problems, at least in long term.
But If You’re Committed…
If you truly want to build something meaningful, start by seeking mentorship.
I’ve been fortunate to have three mentors, each with on-ground business execution experience in different functions. Their perspectives saved me years of trial and error.
The right mindset and mentorship are often the missing ingredients separating startups that scale from those that stall.
So, before you jump in, ask yourself:
- Am I solving a real problem, or just escaping a job?
- Am I willing to invest in quality over convenience?
- Do I have the patience to build something the right way, not the fastest way?
Because business isn’t about being your own boss. It’s about being responsible for everything — even the parts you don’t like.
And trust me, it’s more draining than a 9-to-5.
Final Thoughts
Building a business in India today is easier than ever — but building a world-class one is harder than ever.
If we want to compete globally, we must outgrow our jugaad-first instincts and start thinking in terms of value, process, and excellence.
The good news? It’s possible. It starts with awareness. And it starts with founders like you deciding to do it right.
Need help?
If you’re struggling to build a worthwhile business, reach out to me. I’ll try my best to connect you with the right people in my network — experts who’ve solved these challenges for years across marketing, sales, technology, and product.
Let’s build better…
DM – LinkedIn