My Story from Startup India Standup India
Stand-Up India was launched by the Government of India on 5 April 2016 to support entrepreneurship across the nation. It was a highly celebrated event at that time, marked by the honor of receiving an invite from Prime Minister Modi ji himself. What a proud and prestigious moment for any founder!
The event took place in Delhi, attended by a who’s who of the startup ecosystem, including prominent founders and venture capitalists. The venue was packed with a huge crowd—founders, officers, politicians, and more. So much so that many founders had to stand! At one point, an IAS officer overseeing the program announced that all politicians who were not founders should leave the hall, as this event was meant exclusively for startup founders.
The dais was graced by the CEO of Uber, SoftBank CEO Masa-san, his nominated successor, the founder of Oyo, the founder of ShopClues, and many others. Each founder shared their story, and every one of them was deeply inspiring!
When Prime Minister Modi ji entered the auditorium, founders were temporarily asked to wait outside as the venue underwent multiple security checks. Finally, the hero of the event, our Prime Minister, arrived. He shared his famous “Tea” story and, in a light-hearted moment, jokingly suggested to Oyo’s founder that he could have started a tech startup instead of making tea.
Since I hadn’t yet mastered Hindi, a couple of sessions went over my head like the second no-ball in an ODI. Among the ~1,000 founders in the auditorium, I found myself contemplating my own startup, ActOnMagic—our funding needs, how these big billionaires amass wealth, and the empires they’ve built. During a tea break, as I returned from the men’s room, I was struck by the sight of the Software CEO-Nominee (a billionaire) using the same facilities.
It was a humbling moment, reminding me to stay grounded and focus on fundamentals.
Isn’t that true, my friends?
Being surrounded by the vibrant energy of fellow founders—some hugely successful and others passionately building towards their vision—was an incredible experience.
I truly felt blessed to have chosen the path of entrepreneurship.
How many get such an opportunity?
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