In the Same Race, Why Do Only a Few Startups Win? | Ashwin Mocherla

Startup Challenges & Success Factors - 90% of startups fail within the first 5 years, highlighting the significance of survival as a measure of success [1] - Consistency in efforts and delivering value to the market is crucial for startup success [6][17] - Honesty with oneself and resilience in the face of losses are essential qualities for founders [11][37] - Building a strong unit economics model is more important than solely focusing on fundraising [14] - Timing is critical for business success; an idea may be great but the market might not be ready [17] Business Strategy & Growth - The company initially started with limited capital of 18 lakhs (1.8 million) with a significant portion allocated to deposit [8] - Vertically integrating early, despite conventional advice, proved beneficial due to the importance of product quality [4][5] - The company aimed to build a franchiseable model, focusing on ease of operation for franchisees to reduce their risk [18][19][20] - Post-pandemic, the company adapted to the shift towards cloud kitchens and online aggregation [32] - Expansion to three countries (USA, Dubai, India) with over 100 outlets demonstrates brand resilience and adaptability [16] Market Understanding & Customer Engagement - The company recognized a gap in the market for premium milkshakes, leading to its establishment in the QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) industry [2] - Testing the product in multiple cities was necessary to understand regional differences in customer preferences [27] - The company acknowledged that social media engagement doesn't always translate to buying power, requiring a nuanced understanding of the target audience [29]