Radhika Gupta warns entrepreneurs against ‘startup romance’; highlights practical challenges

Edelweiss Mutual Funds CEO Radhika Gupta has cautioned aspiring entrepreneurs about falling for the allure of the so-called "startup romance." Gupta highlighted that the glorified portrayal of startups often overshadows the gritty realities founders face. Speaking on the trend, she remarked that startup life is frequently depicted as glamorous, with images of creative co-working spaces, casual work culture, and social media success stories. However, Gupta warned that these narratives exclude the harsher aspects, such as limited budgets, operational hurdles, and prolonged periods of uncertainty, as reported by Money Control. 

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She emphasized that the real challenges of entrepreneurship often include dealing with constant rejection, navigating hiring struggles, and managing pressure to deliver results under constrained resources.

The challenges were further highlighted by Dhruv Suyamprakasam, co-founder and CEO of telemedicine startup iCliniq. Speaking to Business Insider India, Suyamprakasam revealed that he had to relocate from Coimbatore to Bengaluru to access better opportunities. Despite the move, he encountered bias from investors for not being an IIT graduate and for not speaking Hindi. This experience sheds light on the cultural and educational biases that exist in India’s startup ecosystem.

Both Gupta and Suyamprakasam's insights underline that while startups may appear glamorous, the road to success is fraught with hurdles that demand resilience and grit. Aspiring founders are urged to embrace the challenges alongside the rewards.