lessons from my startup failures by muki regunathan

lessons from my startup failuresmuki - founder and CEO

9th April 2011 – Microsoft Campus, Bangalore

www.peppersquare.com

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this presentation is about GYAN

GYAN - Go on Yapping About Nothing

a brief personal history

first gen entrepreneur

neither an MBA nor studied in a ivy league school

from a small town and intimidated easily

language barrier - studied math in tamil

no financial support

self doubt

no chance of girlfriends

template for failures - failed 5 times in math (12th grade)

and 7 failed with ventures before pepper square

my learnings

die a virgin OR experience - If you

want to experience you got to lose

your virginity

fail fast - can't wait for the right

time

addicted to this new high

of challenging the known for

the unknown

idea you die for - last night idea is

not your long term idea

being a perfectionist you never

finish the job - graduate to detail

orientation

the day you become more than your

job, you start falling

internal navigation - problems attack

you from all the side and you got to

align

people are most afraid of financial

crisis - show your face to the banker

even when you don't have the

money

you don't go to people when you

need - you are always with them

look for opportunities to learn with

minimal resources

show leadership with family, friends

and society

define your own style - brand,

network and smile

metric > measure > monitor

it has taken me JUST 17 years…

today…

started in 2002 with Rs.550 in my pocket

never taken loan or VC money

12 entrepreneurs were born out of pepper square

over 50 companies have been incubated

today we are 70 people

“first they ignore you, then they

laugh at you, then they fight you,

then you win” - Gandhi

www.peppersquare.com

thank you for your time

bangalore . delhi . dallas . portland

Kudos to Anna Hazare