Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, recently sparked a widespread debate with his remarks comparing Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem to Kota’s coaching culture for engineering entrance exams. Deshpande, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), drew a parallel between the two, suggesting that just as a small percentage of students in Kota succeed in clearing the IIT-JEE, only a few in Bengaluru's startup scene truly achieve success, despite the city's reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship.
Deshpande noted that Kota, often referred to as the "Mecca of IIT-JEE," boasts an environment designed for academic success with top-tier teachers and resources. However, he pointed out that of the 40,000 students who flock to Kota each year, only about 1,000 manage to clear the exams. He argued that a similar dynamic is at play in Bengaluru, where many aspiring entrepreneurs become part of what he described as an "ecosystem delusion." According to Deshpande, while the city offers a robust network of resources and opportunities, many participants mistakenly equate proximity to success with actual achievement.
"The bulk reminds me of the 'all talk' gangs of Kota. And that never ended well," Deshpande wrote. He elaborated that aspiring founders in Bengaluru often focus more on networking than on building their businesses, much like students in Kota who believed that merely attending classes or owning the same study materials as top performers would guarantee their success.
He further highlighted how some founders assume that being connected on LinkedIn with venture capitalists or frequenting the same events as successful entrepreneurs is sufficient to secure funding or build a successful startup. "They hang out at the same events as Bhavish or Mukesh or Kunal (JEE toppers of Kota) and feel they're half-way to unicorn by breathing the same air and talking the same language," Deshpande remarked, drawing a direct comparison to the culture of Kota.
In his post, Deshpande acknowledged the importance of having more founders and startups in India but cautioned against the false sense of accomplishment and entitlement that he believes the current environment in Bengaluru fosters. He advised founders to focus on their businesses rather than getting lost in the hype surrounding the city's startup ecosystem. "If you're a founder and starting up in Bangalore, distance yourself from the ecosystem and stay closer to your business. And see if you can find mentors outside the city too," he concluded.
Deshpande's comments sparked significant discussion online. Opinions were divided, with some agreeing with his perspective, noting that the power of an ecosystem is significant but should not replace hard work and focus. Others criticised his comparison, arguing that the struggles and successes of various fields are universal and not unique to Bengaluru or Kota.
"Respectfully disagree as it’s missing 2 key ingredients. There’s a BIG flaw if we feel that cracking an IIT seat or making a unicorn is the only way to 'succeed' if you’ve decided to come to these places. 1 is being in the same wavelength pulls up a lot of people who otherwise would’ve done much worse. Yes, just being in Kota doesn’t mean you’ll get a JEE rank, or being in Bangalore mean you’ll make a unicorn, but for a LOT of them, just being around the same wavelength of conversation gets them to a better place rather than being elsewhere," a user wrote.
Another user commented, "I have been in Bangalore for more than 6 years now and one thing I have noticed in a lot of people who want to build business not actually understanding what business is."
A third user stated, "I am from Kota. Living in Kota. Have lived in Mumbai & Bangalore extensively. I agree to what you said. Except that, in my experience - those single digit ranks, those unicorns, and concentration of these high performing entities is due to the power of ecosystem. India needs more such ecosystems spread. Jaipur seems to b be becoming one, specially for DTC fashion."
"While I fully understand & appreciate the 'outcome >> path/experience/learning' angle called out here, I respectfully disagree. While the world only accepts 2-3 JEE toppers from Kota or 2-3 startup founders from Bangalore, it DOES NOT mean the others have failed or have no direction!! They might have their own individual journey of success and failure that they wouldn't have been able to embark on, if they did not do Kota or Bangalore! May not be LinkedIn-worthy enough for people, but they are still very real & collectively contribute significantly to the Indian economy," a fourth user added.
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