Bombay Shaving Company CEO Compares Bengaluru’s Startup Culture to Kota’s IIT-JEE Frenzy

Bombay Shaving Company CEO Compares Bengaluru’s Startup culture to Kota’s IIT-JEE Frenzy

Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of bombay Shaving Company, recently drew an intriguing parallel between Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem and the intense IIT-JEE coaching culture of Kota. In a LinkedIn post, Deshpande suggested that both environments, while brimming with ambition and resources, often suffer from an “ecosystem delusion” where merely being part of the environment does not guarantee success.

Deshpande’s post likened Bengaluru’s startup scene to Kota’s IIT-JEE coaching hub, famously known for its intense preparation environment. He observed that just as Kota’s coaching institutes attract thousands of students hoping to crack the IIT-JEE, Bengaluru sees a flood of entrepreneurs drawn by the city’s reputation as India’s Silicon Valley. Yet, as in Kota, where only a small fraction of students achieve top ranks, only a few startups succeed despite the seemingly ideal conditions.

“Bangalore today reminds me of Kota in 2005,” Deshpande wrote. He highlighted that while Kota offers the best teachers, resources, and an ecosystem designed for success, the reality is that only a fraction of students excel. The same, he argued, is true for Bengaluru’s startup scene. Many aspiring founders believe that simply being in the right place with the right resources will lead to success, but fail to realize that hard work and genuine innovation are key.

Deshpande criticized the prevalent notion that networking and having access to resources equate to imminent success. He compared coffee shops in Bengaluru, often hubs for startup discussions, to Kota’s messes where students gather to discuss their aspirations. He argued that this culture can create an illusion of progress without tangible results.

He also urged founders to focus more on their businesses rather than being swept up by the startup ecosystem’s hype. “These city debates (or any generalised debates) are never helpful,” he said. “If you’re a founder and starting up in Bangalore, distance yourself from the ecosystem and stay closer to your business.”

The post quickly went viral, sparking a range of reactions. Some readers agreed with Deshpande’s critique, emphasizing that while ecosystems are valuable, they can also foster complacency. Others pointed out the limitless potential of startups compared to the finite number of IIT-JEE seats, arguing that a broad range of aspiring entrepreneurs is necessary for innovation.

One commenter from Kota agreed with the comparison but suggested that successful ecosystems like Kota’s do foster high achievers and that similar ecosystems in other cities, like jaipur for fashion, could yield positive results.

Another respondent expressed a different view, arguing that while networking is important, the right ecosystem can provide essential motivation and support.

Overall, Deshpande’s post highlights a critical discussion about the nature of startup ecosystems and the importance of balancing ambition with practical effort and innovation.

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