Startup Dharma

Networking doesn’t have to feel fake. We break down 10 authentic, culturally-aligned strategies for Indian entrepreneurs—from the art of ‘Chai pe Charcha’ to giving before you get—to build relationships that …

In Indian startups, data is often used to justify decisions already made by gut feeling. We explore this “data delusion,” the cultural roots of trusting intuition over spreadsheets, and how …

Remember how our parents handled cash? We compare their disciplined habits to our frictionless UPI world, revealing the financial wisdom—from budgeting to delayed gratification—that we’ve accidentally lost in the digital …

Jugaad is the Indian startup’s superpower, but it breaks at scale. We analyze the identity crisis founders face when their scrappy startup needs to grow up and embrace process, without …

Welcome to the ‘Metrics Theater,’ where startups boast of millions of downloads but hide their dismal retention. We explore why Indian founders chase vanity numbers and how a focus on …

In Indian startups, the person who leaves last is the hero. This ‘hustle worship’ punishes efficiency and fuels burnout. We dive into the cultural roots of this toxic mindset and …

Swap your tense boardroom agendas for a round of Pachisi. This ancient Indian game is a powerful, low-cost tool for surfacing conflicts, fostering collaboration, and saving the modern family business …

Brilliant strategies die in Indian startups due to poor execution. We analyze the cultural gap between planning and doing, and profile the companies that built a culture of relentless implementation …

Managing India’s diverse festival calendar is a startup’s biggest operational test. From Diwali to Onam, we dive into how companies are turning this logistical nightmare into a unique cultural strength, …

The Silicon Valley narrative worships VC funding and rapid growth. But in India, a quiet revolution of profitable, bootstrapped startups is proving that real freedom comes from customers, not investors. …