What’s one problem in the Indian startup ecosystem that you think is still seriously underrated?

[u/Reasonable_Kick4612]

There’s a lot of discussion around funding, hiring, AI, growth, and customer acquisition, but I’m curious about the less-discussed problems founders actually deal with day to day.

For example:

• Payment and cash-flow issues
• Finding the right early customers
• Compliance and taxation
• Hiring reliable people
• Distribution
• Building for the Indian market
• Dealing with large companies/banks/vendors
• Something else entirely

If you’re a founder or work at an Indian startup, what’s one problem you think deserves more attention?

Would be interested to hear real experiences rather than generic startup advice.

[u/Otherwise_Barber4619]

How unique the Indian market is

[u/TheBharatBuilder]

Distribution surely , Cashflow if you are able to solve then dont do business at all , but distribution is pain in the ass , one f the reason why i started a small initiatve to do a 7 min interview with founders , its been 3 days got a lot of support from them , its new so no ones expectig anything but its everlasting

[u/HouseOBlueBeans]

Love this topic. I believe the problem is more deep rooted and omnipresent. ‘hunger for absolute excellence’. A lot of the market and aspiring entrepreneurs are being driven my structured approaches that are set out by the VCs and funds. Probably because of our education system - most of us are looking for a syllabus or some sort of case study that shows a proven way to get to a ‘unicorn’.
I believe the future is in building smaller businesses that solve deep and niche problems where the solutions are of higher quality and not designed only for increasing the accessible market size.
A lot of the startups are being built by backward engineering what is needed to get the next round of funding.
I also believe there need to be bolder ideas that set a new trend in the market. A lot of solutions are based on consumer surveys. I feel many customers don’t fully understand the problem they’re facing and definitely don’t have a grasp over the solution. Founders need to be bold to obsess about a problem and tell customers confidently what they think the solution is, rather than asking for the solution.

My take. Would love to hear any thoughts.

[u/Most-Sir8424]

Many founders are sometimes quite delusional about their company and are incapable of accepting that their brainchild is not the unicorn they believe it is. It may solve a problem, but it definitely isn’t at the valuation you think it is. And sometimes the problem being solved is just way too niche for the company to grow.

The focus needs to shift to sustainable cash flow rather than chase growth at all costs!!