From Founder to Investor: Real Talk on What Drives Startup Success

Welcome to Maven Club! If you're an early-stage founder navigating the challenges of building your product, acquiring customers, or securing investmet, this newsletter is for you. Today, we bring you insights from Avik, Principal at Artha Venture Fund, a leading India-focused venture fund. Avik has an extensive career, having worked in both the startup and investment ecosystems. He co-invested in numerous startups across Southeast Asia and India, worked with Zilingo during its early days, and founded his own company, Jamm. 

Currently, Avik focuses on seed-stage investments, helping early-stage founders scale by leveraging his vast experience in both the operational and investment sides of startups. Let’s dive into these unique perspectives that can help you build a more resilient and successful startup.

1. Experience Over Youth—Why Your Career Journey Matters More Than You Think

“Experience is the sum total of your f**k-ups.”

Many early-stage founders believe that a unique, disruptive idea is all that matters, but Avik highlights that experience plays a crucial role in a founder's ability to succeed. He argues that the most successful entrepreneurs often come from structured corporate backgrounds—having worked at companies with rigorous training programs like Google or Unilever. This experience teaches them not only how to solve problems but also how to scale, manage teams, and understand complex business dynamics.

Founder Takeaways:

• Domain expertise and experience in your industry are crucial, especially in complex fields like manufacturing or energy.
  

• Don't dismiss the value of working in larger, structured organizations before diving into entrepreneurship.
  

• Practical experience gives you a solid foundation for handling the challenges of building a business.

2. Don’t Just Solve Others’ Problems—Solve Yours First

“If you can solve it for yourself, you can solve it for others.”

Avik believes that the best products often come from founders who start by solving their own pain points. When you tackle an issue that you personally struggle with, it’s easier to understand the problem deeply and design a solution that actually works.

Founder Takeaways:

• If you're passionate about a problem, there’s likely a large market of people who share that frustration.
  

• Hands-on problem-solving gives you the insights needed to build a product that truly addresses users’ needs.
  

• Starting with a personal pain point will give you the drive and focus needed to create a lasting solution.

3. AI Is a Tool, Not a Silver Bullet

“AI is not a company—it’s a tool. If you come to me saying you’re an AI company, I’ll show you the door.”

In the hype around AI, many founders pitch themselves as “AI companies,” assuming the technology itself is enough to attract investors. However, Avik makes it clear that AI should be viewed as a tool, not a business model. For AI to be valuable, it must solve real-world problems in a specific, targeted way.

Founder Takeaways:

• AI must be applied to a specific problem, whether it’s automating workflows, improving efficiency, or enhancing user experience.
  

• Don’t market your company as an AI company—focus on how AI enhances your offering to solve a specific challenge.
  

• Ensure that your AI solution is deeply tailored to your business rather than a generic tool that doesn’t add value.

4. Deep Pain Points Lead to Long-Lasting Customers

“Solve a deep pain for a small group of people, rather than a minor inconvenience for a big group.” 

Rather than targeting the broadest possible audience, Avik advises founders to focus on solving a deep pain for a niche market. When you solve a real problem, customers are more likely to stick around.

Founder Takeaways:

• Narrow your focus and serve a specific group with a serious pain point. Solving this problem well will help you build long-lasting customer relationships.
  

• It’s better to deeply satisfy a small audience than to solve a mild inconvenience for a larger group.
  

• Build a strong, loyal customer base by focusing on solving a real, pressing issue for them.

5. Early-Stage Marketing—Go Crazy, or Go Home

“When you’re a baby company, you have no downside—do something insane, and make sure it sticks.” 

Avik encourages startups, especially in their infancy, to take bold risks. With minimal downside at the beginning, now is the time to experiment with unconventional strategies that will get people talking.

Founder Takeaways:

• Be bold in your early marketing efforts. Whether it's a viral campaign or an unconventional stunt, take risks when your company is small.
  

• Don’t be afraid to experiment with attention-grabbing ideas—this is often what sets successful startups apart from others.
  

• Use the freedom of early-stage entrepreneurship to make a memorable impact, even if it’s risky.

6. The Road to Entrepreneurship Isn’t Glamorous—It’s Painful

“Entrepreneurship is probably the hardest part and journey in the world.” 

Entrepreneurship is often glamorized, but Avik offers a sobering truth: it’s a difficult, painful journey. The reality of being a founder includes sleepless nights, financial struggles, and moments of doubt.

Founder Takeaways:

• Be prepared for the hardships that come with starting a business. The journey is lonely and demanding, and you’ll need to be ready to make tough decisions.
  

• Passion is what will carry you through difficult times. If you're not passionate about the problem you're solving, you're likely to burn out.
  

• Expect failure and understand that it’s part of the journey—learn from your setbacks and keep going.

7. Preparation Is Key When Pitching to Investors

“If you don’t know what you’re going to do with the money, don’t raise it.”

Avik underscores the importance of preparation when fundraising. Many founders come unprepared, lacking a clear plan for how they will use the capital they raise or not understanding the valuation range for their business. Investors want to see that you have a well-thought-out plan for how the funds will be allocated and why.

Founder Takeaways:

• Be prepared with a clear business plan and financial projections when pitching investors.
  

• Understand your valuation range and tailor your ask to align with market standards.
  

• Research and be ready to explain exactly how the funds will help scale your business.

Final Thoughts: Focus on What Truly Matters

Avik’s insights emphasize that successful entrepreneurship isn’t about chasing the next shiny idea or following trends—it’s about solving real problems, staying resilient, and being prepared for the tough journey ahead. For founders, the key is to remain focused on the core mission, solve deep problems, and be willing to take risks and learn from your failures.

The best startups build on a solid foundation of deep domain knowledge, customer empathy, and an unwavering commitment to solving meaningful problems.

Until next time,
Maven Club