Key Lessons on Innovation, Branding, and Startup Success

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From IIT to Entrepreneurship: Lessons from Amarnath Sarangula’s Startup Workshop



Date: 26th May
Event: Startup Workshop
Guest Speaker: Mr. Amarnath Sarangula – IITian turned Entrepreneur

On May 26th, we had the privilege of attending an inspiring startup workshop led by Mr. Amarnath Sarangula, an IIT alumnus who has successfully navigated a path from engineering to entrepreneurship. The session was a blend of real-world wisdom, actionable insights, and compelling stories from the world of startups. Here's a recap of the key takeaways from the session.

🔍 What is an Entrepreneur?

Mr. Sarangula began the session by asking a simple yet powerful question: “What is an entrepreneur?” He explained that an entrepreneur is someone who undertakes business activities by leveraging innovation, marketing, branding, and scaling, while embracing risk to create meaningful impact. An entrepreneur isn’t just a businessperson—they’re a changemaker working to make the world better through purposeful action.

💡 Key Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs

The speaker walked us through the essential traits that define an entrepreneur’s mindset:

  • Yes, We Can Attitude: Confidence and belief in one’s vision are the starting points.

  • Problem-First Approach: Entrepreneurs see problems differently—they look, re-look, and reframe problems until solutions emerge. For instance, Kodak’s downfall was due to its inability to re-evaluate the digital shift, a gap that competitors like Canon successfully filled.

  • Innovation: He discussed two types:

    • Incremental Innovation: Small, continuous improvements.

    • Radical Innovation: Game-changing ideas.

      • Example: Steve Jobs, who merged multiple devices into one with the iPhone.

      • Example: Netflix, which redefined entertainment by introducing digital streaming and disrupting DVD rental businesses.

  • Persistence: The path to success is rarely linear. Companies like Flipkart succeeded by improving persistently over time.

  • Adaptability: Entrepreneurs must evolve with changing business models and consumer behavior.

  • Focused Vision: Sometimes, thinking narrowly is key. Brands like Nike, born from an athlete’s perspective, continue to cater specifically to runners. Similarly, ITC evolved from tobacco to a diversified portfolio while staying laser-focused on business growth.

  • Decisiveness: Quick and informed decision-making is non-negotiable.

  • Self-Awareness & Self-Discipline: Knowing your strengths and maintaining consistency in actions are vital for building a successful venture.

🚀 The Entrepreneurial Journey

Mr. Sarangula emphasized that entrepreneurship is not a one-step process—it’s a journey. It typically flows through stages:

  1. Ideation

  2. Business Model Development

  3. Team Building

  4. Fundraising

  5. Marketing

  6. Scaling

Each stage brings its own challenges and learning curves, requiring grit, flexibility, and strategy.

🏷️ Understanding Branding and Market Fit

The session featured insightful examples of companies that grew by deeply understanding customer needs:

  • Meesho empowered rural women by turning them into digital entrepreneurs through social commerce.

  • Fevicol replaced animal-based glue with synthetic adhesives after recognizing cultural preferences.

  • Zomato became a go-to platform by offering convenience and unbiased restaurant reviews.

  • Awfis made flexible co-working spaces accessible and affordable for startups and small businesses.

These case studies underscored the importance of consumer insight, innovation, and strategic branding.

📖 Learn From the Stories of Others

Mr. Sarangula urged attendees to dive into the stories of successful entrepreneurs—to understand their beginnings, challenges, failures, and comebacks. He stressed the importance of studying:

  • Business and financial models

  • Revenue streams

  • Operational backends

  • Marketing and customer acquisition strategies

Learning from others not only sparks inspiration but also helps avoid common pitfalls.

🗣️ Share Your Ideas – Don’t Keep Them Secret

A common myth is that business ideas should be kept under wraps. Mr. Sarangula debunked this by encouraging us to share ideas, seek feedback, and refine them through collaboration. It’s the execution that matters—not just the idea.

📚 Book Recommendation: Good to Great

A standout recommendation from the session was the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. Mr. Sarangula noted that what separates good companies from great ones is simple—the people. Great teams, visionary leaders, and a strong organizational culture are the foundation of scalable success.

🌟 The Meesho Case Study: Rural Empowerment at Scale

He concluded with the inspiring story of Meesho, co-founded by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, who built a network of 1.5 crore rural women across India. The platform became a launchpad for micro-entrepreneurs, transforming lives and unlocking new markets.

📊 When Should You Start a Business?

Mr. Sarangula outlined three critical financial metrics every entrepreneur should evaluate before launching:

  1. Profit Margin

  2. Cash Flow – Not just on paper, but real money in the bank.

  3. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)

These indicators help determine the financial health and sustainability of a business.

🎯 Know Your Customer & Learn to Scale

Finally, he spoke about the importance of knowing your customer and planning for scale. He gave examples like:

  • Taj Hotels, where customers become brand ambassadors due to exceptional service.

  • FirstCry, where the buyer (parent) is not the end-user (child)—a clever understanding of the actual customer persona.

Scaling a business isn’t just about expanding—it’s about replicating success sustainably and strategically.

✨ Final Thoughts

Mr. Amarnath Sarangula’s workshop wasn’t just a lecture—it was a masterclass in what it truly means to be an entrepreneur. Whether you're in the early stages of ideation or already scaling your startup, the key message was clear: think deeply, innovate fearlessly, adapt quickly, and always put people first.


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