No one tells you this..

Jun 08, 2025

Hello Minters 👋

Welcome to this week’s edition!

My goal with this newsletter is simple:

To bring you the most interesting and insightful stories from the world of startups, business, and innovation, all in one place.

Perfect for a weekend read. 📖

Let’s start?

No one tells you this before joining a startup…

Nobody tells you what it’s really like working in a startup, especially in the Founder’s Office.

No fancy title
No clear job description
No formal training
No set roadmap, just high expectations

Chandru joined thinking he'd do “strategy.” Instead, he handled everything from sales ops and pricing to support tickets at 1:32 AM.

The real deal:

You make big decisions without the authority
You clean up messes you didn’t create
You break things, fix them, and repeat
You learn at a speed no MBA can offer

If you enjoy chaos and growth, you’ll thrive.

Your resume may not show it, but your mindset will never be the same.

📌 Credit: Chandru Rajendran on LinkedIn

Retail is Not a Store. It's a Story.

Retail isn’t just about products, it’s about memories. That’s the powerful insight shared by Vidita Kochar from Jewelbox.

While they built their stores with strong fundamentals like quality, transparency, and great locations, they realized the real magic lies in what customers feel after leaving.

So they redesigned the experience:

Eye-level hero pieces to attract natural attention
Scent and music that elevate emotions, not just fill space
Warm lighting in key zones to create a cozy atmosphere
Staff trained to listen, not just sell

The goal? Not just more customers but memorable moments.

Because retail is theatre and every detail plays a role in telling a story customers want to relive.

📌 Credit: Vidita Kochar, founder Jewelbox

What Shraddha Konduru Learned Building Ikoho

1. Don’t Let Passion Die

Keep going, not for likes, outcomes, or praise.
Do it because you love it. That’s enough of a reason.

2. Creativity Is Ikoho’s Moat

Being creative and design-led isn’t just in their DNA, it’s the most cost-effective marketing strategy.
Ideas and originality are their unfair advantage.

3. Be Obsessed with Your Product

They’ve lived in their factory. Debated endlessly with karigars.
Shraddha literally notice people’s shoes before their faces.
If you don’t love your product more than anything else, don’t build it.

4. Competition Doesn’t Matter If You’re Building Your Own Story

Your story is your moat.
No one can clone something that’s built out of delusional love for your own taste.

5. People Value Consistency Over Innovation

Keep showing up.
Post that story. Send that email. Don’t disappear.
Your presence over time builds trust.

6. You Can Build Something Big Without Being Loud

Ikoho may be a quiet brand, but their conviction is loud.
You don’t need noise to make an impact.

7. All Good Things Need a Bit of Madness

If your journey feels irrational, emotional, and personal. You’re probably building something real.

These reflections from the Ikoho journey remind us: Business isn't just strategy, it’s soul.

📌 Credit: Shraddha Konduru

The ₹5 Lakh Lesson Hiding Outside the US Consulate in Mumbai

An auto driver earns ₹5 to 8 lakhs a month without even driving his auto.

Here’s how:

He parks outside the US Consulate in Mumbai, where visitors aren't allowed to carry bags inside. With no lockers nearby, people are stuck.

So he offers a simple solution:
"Give me your bag. I’ll keep it safe for ₹1,000."

He gets 20–30 customers daily. That’s ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 a day.

Since he can’t store all the bags in his auto, he’s partnered with a nearby shop owner who provides safe locker space. So it’s all legal and smooth.

No app. No funding. No tech.

Just a smart guy in the right place solving a real problem and making lakhs every month doing it.

Real entrepreneurship doesn’t always need a pitch deck. Sometimes it just needs a parking spot.

📌 Credit: Rahul Rupani LinkedIn

How Go Zero Hit ₹100 Cr ARR with Just 35 People

Go Zero just hit ₹100 Cr ARR with a team of less than 35 people.

Yes, you read that right.

The founder’s next target? ₹200 Cr ARR by next summer, still under 50 team members.

Their formula is simple but powerful:

Lean team
High ownership
Shared wealth for those who stick and deliver

The message is clear:
💡 You don’t need 100+ people to build something massive, just the right ones.

📌 Credit: Kiran Shah, Founder Go Zero

If you found this newsletter informative and thought-provoking, why not forward it to someone you think would enjoy it? 😊

Thank you for reading. See you in the next one.