Neha Bahl - Co-founder of Commence Mint.
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Start Small, Think Big:
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We interviewed Neha Bahl, co-founder of Commence Mint. She explained to us the difficulties entrepreneurs face and described to us the qualities of those who are successful and are ultimately able to reach the goals they aspire to.
One of the things all entrepreneurs probably share, is the occasional feeling of wanting to give up. Being an entrepreneur is not easy, especially in a world where phones are buzzing, people are moving, ideas are flying. Competition is real and, now, it’s more tangible than ever. Like all tortuous paths, though, entrepreneurship comes with a destination, which is filled with immense satisfaction and fulfilment. What is it that enables an entrepreneur to reach that destination and become successful? Some say it’s money, some say it’s timing, some say it’s simply pure luck. Neha founded her first startup in 2012 and was familiar with the ups and downs that constantly fill an entrepreneur's life. She realized in first person that funding is important when it comes to creating a startup, but it is definitely not enough. This is when Commence Mint came into being, to address the problem of “not enough”. Commence Mint is a venture development firm, which assists early-stage tech startups in the process of entering a global market. It provides them with a huge variety of different tools, including one-to-one mentoring programs, direct customer feedback, working spaces, and a huge network of professionals. All within an extremely fast-paced environment: “The whole idea is to fail fast and so learn fast”, Neha explained. We asked her what it is that all successful startups have in common. Her reply: “We do not bet on ideas, we bet on people- we bet on the entrepreneurs that stick around and do something valuable”. She told us that the most valuable asset a successful startup has is its team. The founders of a startup are its roots, its beating heart. She adds that what makes a team strong is not its size, rather its drive, its commitment, its passion. “Execution is the key, and that is not achieved necessarily with a big team”. “Don’t be married to your solution,
be married to the problem that you are solving: this is what makes you fail fast, learn fast and succeed as soon as possible”. Living an entrepreneur's life can get lonely. As Neha points out, It’s a constant battle in which you need to prove to everyone else that what you are doing is truly valuable. You need to rapidly test what works, adapt to your findings, and quickly change your strategy. What is it that kept her motivated throughout the years and made her into the “fighter” that she is today? “The newness you experience every day as an entrepreneur”. Uncertainty is tough, it’s scary. Successful entrepreneurs, however, learn to live with it, and actually use it as a source of motivation, excitement. Being successful as an entrepreneur is not simply about money, timing, or luck. As Neha states: “It’s all about the Hustle: The hustle of getting things done, The hustle of reaching specific milestones, The hustle of standing back up after major defeats.” |