Life Coach Rahul Subramaniam decodes how student-led businesses create a new way for India
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These are some of the most exciting times for Indian commerce. The nation has catapulted its growth rate and disrupted the global business landscape like none other.
After allowing the free flourish of the private sector just three decades ago, in 1991, India today has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China. According to the Economic Survey 2021-22, the number of newly recognised startups has increased to over 14,000 in 2021-22 from only 733 in 2016-17. India today boasts a total of more than 50,000 startups!
How deep does this enterprising spirit go?
Budding entrepreneurs today come from all walks and stages of life. They are experienced capitalists, gumptious employees, driven homemakers, fresh college graduates, and even … high school students.
Aamish Ahmad Beg, a 17-year-old student from Lucknow, UP, is a prime example. He is the founder and developer of Socale, a networking application that matches users with similar interests to help curate communities of like-minded individuals.
In 2021, Socale was inducted into University of California San Diego’s (UCSD) Blackstone Launchpad Incubator where it received support and funding. It has been selected for UCSD’s Graduate incubator StartR, which has secured 100,000 USD of funding along with many other resources and expert mentors. Socale today is live, gaining about 100 users a day. It is currently open to all UCSD students.
Aamish has also launched Tethered, a micro-story writing platform to facilitate collaboration between writers. He has so far connected with 6 international universities to be onboarded to the platform. In all, Aamish is a pragmatic entrepreneur who tailors technology to meet cultural needs and helps others find their communities born from their deep driving interests.
Elsewhere in the state, Kanpur, 17-year-old Adya Agarwal decided to build something of her own in 2020, a desolate time during which everyone was quarantined inside their houses while the economy outside was crumbling day by day.
During this trying time, Adya found solace in découpage, the eighteenth-century French art of gluing layers of paper on any surface and varnishing it to give the effect of an inlay piece of work. Family members and friends were mesmerized by her art.
Soon enough, the word spread, and in came a demand for her pieces. That is when Adya founded Let’s Love Life. To help re-empower her aggrieved community, she contacted locals who lost their jobs during the lockdown.
Today, Let’s Love Life is a collective endeavor by women from disadvantaged backgrounds to uplift themselves financially and take the first steps towards leading a more independent life - all while spreading the joy of art and decoration. Adya shares 50% of her profits with the women who work with her.
While Adya focused on creating a product of artistic value, 17-year-old Delhiite and sneakerhead Vasuman Vij, discovered that value of the product exists beyond utility; it exists in the brand and in the history.
Vasuman led a 15-person team to elevate the solo sneaker reselling venture in India, founding Hypestockexchange. Four months into the project, the business had over 200 sales, an audience of 1650 users, over 90 references and recognition from celebrities.
Vasuman led a 15-person team to elevate the solo sneaker reselling venture in India, founding Hypestockexchange. Four months into the project, the business had over 200 sales, an audience of 1650 users, over 90 references and recognition from celebrities.
Vasuman has recently reinvested the funds he accumulated from Hypestockexchange in a one-time Ethereum, a cryptocurrency used to purchase NFT, and has managed to establish a mining setup worth 15,000 USD (with 25% ownership).
Now college-bound, for elite institutions abroad, Aamish, Adya, and Vasuman are the business leaders of tomorrow. They inspire entrepreneurs across generations and instill even deeper faith in the idea of India’s enduring economic growth.
Rahul Subramaniam is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Athena Education. Athena Education is an Indian leader in transformational life coaching for Ivy-League and equivalent admissions. The organization has helped hundreds of students transform into well-rounded and self-aware leadership talent that are potential assets for Ivy League and other leading colleges globally.
Rahul Subramaniam is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Athena Education. Athena Education is an Indian leader in transformational life coaching for Ivy-League and equivalent admissions. The organization has helped hundreds of students transform into well-rounded and self-aware leadership talent that are potential assets for Ivy League and other leading colleges globally.
Topics : Startups
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First Published: Mar 22 2022 | 11:58 AM IST