Startup Table with AJ S02 EP 02 | Early-Stage Founders from Punjab Share Their Startup Journeys

Exploring the Journeys of Young Founders in Jalandhar: Episode 2 from Season 2 of Startup Table with AJ 

The eagerness of the founders to seek Archana’s insights reflects their willingness to learn about pathways to successfully navigate the complexities of the startup landscape. 

We are excited to announce the latest episode of Startup Table with AJ, a captivating series led by Archana Jahagirdar, the founder and managing partner of Rukam Capital. This initiative serves as a dynamic platform where startup founders from various industries come together to share insights and experiences over a meal. In this second season, we continue to illuminate the often-overlooked challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs, bringing their narratives to the forefront amidst the prevailing excitement surrounding unicorns and prominent investors. 

Spotlight on Young Founders from Lovely Professional University 

In this episode, we feature a group of young founders incubated at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar. These founders represent a diverse array of sectors and openly discuss their journeys as startup founders and the hurdles they have encountered so far. The featured founders include: 

Ramanjit Singh from Pink Parcel 

Kshitij Saxena from Café 18o’5 

Vicky Mehta from Trading Seekho 

Rohit Krishna from Aersense Labs 

Tanishq Upmanyu from Kaizel Industries 

Sangita Dey from Washing Basket 

Riddhima Dwivedi from RCMH Card 

Insights into Their Startup Journeys 

The episode begins with Archana introducing each founder and their respective startups, before delving deeper into the intricacies of their businesses. She probes each entrepreneur about their motivations for launching their startups in Jalandhar and discusses whether starting in a tier-1 or metro city would have made a significant difference. 

Ramanjit Singh explains how his university, with its vast student strength, has provided an ideal environment for research and surveys for his startup focused on menstrual care subscription services. The pilot program for Pink Parcel was well-received at his university, encouraging him to expand further. 

Riddhima Dwivedi of RCMH Card acknowledges the challenges of establishing a startup in a smaller city, particularly regarding consumer trust. Vicky Mehta from Trading Seekho concurs, noting that sourcing the right talent can be particularly difficult in such locations. However, he also points out that the lack of competition in Jalandhar can facilitate easier scaling during the initial phases. 

Kshitij Saxena shares that his café specializing in coffee and tea offers competitively priced products, making colleges and universities an ideal starting point for his venture. Sangita Dey from Washing Basket highlights the learning opportunities available in tier-2 cities, emphasizing that making mistakes early on allows her to grow without the pressure of scaling prematurely. 

Tanishq Upmanyu reflects on the mixed advantages and disadvantages of starting in a smaller city, asserting that ultimately, a startup’s success hinges on its leadership. Rohit Krishna from Aersense Labs adds that product offerings and target audience significantly influence these dynamics. 

Overcoming Challenges Together 

As the conversation progresses, Archana invites each founder to recount their initial challenges when starting up. They share unique obstacles and how they navigated through them. In closing, Archana encourages the founders to ask her questions, leading them to eagerly seek her insights as both a venture capitalist and a founder herself.  

Archana’s invitation for questions creates a platform for open dialogue, where founders can express their concerns and seek guidance on specific challenges they face. This interaction turned out to be crucial for the founders who admit that they must navigate complex issues related to funding, market entry, and scaling their businesses. 

The eagerness of the founders to seek Archana’s insights reflects their recognition of her expertise and willingness to learn from someone who has successfully navigated the startup landscape. This interaction not only enriches their experience on Startup Table with AJ but also empowers them to take actionable steps toward achieving their goals. 

This episode not only highlights the unique challenges faced by these young entrepreneurs but also showcases their resilience and innovative approaches to overcoming obstacles in their paths. 

Join Us! 

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 About Rukam Capital: 

Rukam Capital is a SEBI registered Category-II venture capital fund based in New Delhi that invests in early-stage consumer startups in India. Founded by Archana Jahagirdar, Rukam Capital is committed to nurturing the next wave of Indian early-stage founders through initiatives like Startup Table with AJ, providing them with a platform to share their authentic stories and inspire others in the ecosystem. 

Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore the entrepreneurial landscape across India!