Start-up founder
Also called: Entrepreneur
Builds a new company around a product or service that solves a real problem.
What the work is
Start-up founders turn an idea into a business. They find a problem worth solving, build a product, win the first customers, hire a team and raise money from investors or grow from revenue. Founders do a bit of everything in the early days: product, sales, hiring and finance.
There is no degree for it, but most successful founders bring deep knowledge of a field, a strong network and resilience. Incubators, accelerators and Startup India support first-time founders.
A typical week
- Talk to customers and test ideas
- Build and improve the product
- Sell, hire and raise money
- Manage cash and plan growth
It suits people who
- Take initiative and risk
- Learn fast from failure
- Can persuade customers and investors
Your path to get there
School (Class 8-10)
- Start small projects: a stall, a club, a small online shop
Class 11-12
- Any degree; join college entrepreneurship cells
College or fresher
- Build a small product or service and get real customers
- Join incubators, hackathons and start-up competitions
Working or switching
- Most founders start in the field they know after a few years of work
- Keep savings for 12 to 18 months before you quit a job
- Freelancing, home-based businesses and franchises are flexible ways back to work.
- Government schemes like MUDRA loans and Stand-Up India support new small businesses.
Exams and certifications
| Name | What it is for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Startup India registration ↗ | Government recognition and benefits | Any time |
| Incubator and accelerator applications | Mentoring and funding | Yearly cycles |
Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.
Job market
Job titles to search
Who hires
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