‘Don’t fall for it…’: Edelweiss Radhika Gupta debunks India’s ‘budding romance’ hype

Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds, urges founders to look beyond the glossy allure of startup life that has been romanticized by coworking spaces, viral social media posts, and rounds of celebratory funding announcements.

“There is now a growing air of ‘startup romance’ that paints startup life as working in cool clothes outside a swanky co-working space, talking about ideas all day, raising funding rounds, giving a gian on social media, and hosting Friday night drinks from “Colleagues, don’t fall for it,” Gupta said.

Its message is a stark examination of reality. True startup journeys are paved with painful execution, tight budgets, limited resources, and the constant struggle to recruit and retain talent.

Founders face relentless rejection, relentless pressure to generate revenue at all costs, and long periods of uncertainty.

For many entrepreneurs, these challenges are exacerbated by biases. Dhruv Swayamprakasam, CEO of telemedicine startup iCliniq, shared how his journey took unexpected turns after he faced discrimination from investors because he was not an IIT alumni or fluent in Hindi.

Dhruv’s move from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to Bengaluru in 2010 seemed strategic, a leap into the heart of India’s startup ecosystem. “It wasn’t the best place for us,” he later admitted, citing the unrealistic pressures of growth.

“In healthcare, you can’t afford to fail quickly. Investors expected us to reach 100 paid consultations a day, which is impractical in a trust-based industry.

Dhruv described the prejudices he faced: “I felt excluded because I don’t speak Hindi, I don’t study at IIT, and I come from a small town that not many people have heard of.”

Gupta and Dhruv’s experiences highlight the gap between the illusion of a vibrant, inclusive startup culture and its daring aspects. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the message is clear: Don’t confuse the sheen of the startup ecosystem with the grind it requires.