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Im just about to start BTech first yr in a few days and looking to maybe join or start a startup as an end goal of the next 4 yrs and not even sit in a placemnt drive. In the tech space i want to do something, maybe ai saas or similar. what all i should focus on and how and also how to find that perfect idea
Im just about to start BTech first yr in a few days and looking to maybe join or start a startup as an end goal of the next 4 yrs and not even sit in a placemnt drive. In the tech space i want to do something, maybe ai saas or similar. what all i should focus on and how and also how to find that perfect idea
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6 answers
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Ken’s Answer
Gaining experience and skills is essential for success. As a student, focus on building these skills. If you want to start as an entrepreneur, consider internships to gain valuable experience. You'll also need a team, so connect with like-minded classmates who share your goals.
Great ideas often come from experience and time, but you can also find them through observation and analysis. Seek opportunities that match your budget and capabilities. Identify areas for improvement and that is where you will find your 'idea'. Remember, anything is possible, but it may not always be easy. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity and keep trying. Success comes from perseverance.
Great ideas often come from experience and time, but you can also find them through observation and analysis. Seek opportunities that match your budget and capabilities. Identify areas for improvement and that is where you will find your 'idea'. Remember, anything is possible, but it may not always be easy. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity and keep trying. Success comes from perseverance.
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
Juste Abraham
Updated
Vijay Dani’s Answer
Congratulations on beginning your BTech journey! If you dream of starting your own company, working at an early-stage startup can be a great way to learn quickly. You'll get to see how different parts of a business work together, which is different from working in a big company where you focus on one role.
In a startup, you might work on many things like product development, talking to customers, and solving problems. This experience can be really helpful if you want to start your own business someday. It’s important to be comfortable with uncertainty and ready to learn new things.
I would focus on building skills like creating products, solving important problems, talking to users, and understanding how businesses work. These skills will be useful whether you join a startup, work for a big company, or start your own business.
Good luck on your future and your entrepreneurial journey!
In a startup, you might work on many things like product development, talking to customers, and solving problems. This experience can be really helpful if you want to start your own business someday. It’s important to be comfortable with uncertainty and ready to learn new things.
I would focus on building skills like creating products, solving important problems, talking to users, and understanding how businesses work. These skills will be useful whether you join a startup, work for a big company, or start your own business.
Good luck on your future and your entrepreneurial journey!
Updated
Feroz’s Answer
Starting your BTech with a founder mindset gives you a great head start. However, diving into finding a "million-dollar AI SaaS idea" right away is a common mistake. Good ideas often come from gaining skills and noticing real-world problems.
How to Find the Right Idea:
- Don't force an "AI SaaS" idea. The best startups come from identifying what's missing in the future.
- Solve your own problems. Create tools for things that annoy you, like tedious college tasks or inefficient software.
- Understand a field deeply. You can't see what's missing until you know an industry well, such as healthcare logistics or local business management.
- Avoid imaginary problems. If an idea sounds cool but no one urgently needs it, let it go. Focus on solving real issues for a small group of people.
Year-by-Year Action Plan:
- Year 1: Build a strong foundation. Master full-stack development and basic AI/ML. Work on small projects to learn.
- Year 2: Create and test ideas. Launch small tools and get real users. Aim for one product with paying users.
- Year 3: Find a partner and grow. Team up with someone who complements your skills and attempt a serious launch. Consider joining accelerators or generating revenue.
- Year 4: Go all in or adjust your path. Focus fully on your business or use your experience to secure funding.
Key Skills and Mindset:
- Become a full-stack developer. Learn to create a complete application from scratch.
- Find a co-founder early. College offers access to talented people, so find someone whose skills complement yours.
- Engage with users. Don't just code in isolation; talk to potential users from the start.
- Share your journey. Post updates on social media and platforms like GitHub to attract feedback, early adopters, and potential partners.
How to Find the Right Idea:
- Don't force an "AI SaaS" idea. The best startups come from identifying what's missing in the future.
- Solve your own problems. Create tools for things that annoy you, like tedious college tasks or inefficient software.
- Understand a field deeply. You can't see what's missing until you know an industry well, such as healthcare logistics or local business management.
- Avoid imaginary problems. If an idea sounds cool but no one urgently needs it, let it go. Focus on solving real issues for a small group of people.
Year-by-Year Action Plan:
- Year 1: Build a strong foundation. Master full-stack development and basic AI/ML. Work on small projects to learn.
- Year 2: Create and test ideas. Launch small tools and get real users. Aim for one product with paying users.
- Year 3: Find a partner and grow. Team up with someone who complements your skills and attempt a serious launch. Consider joining accelerators or generating revenue.
- Year 4: Go all in or adjust your path. Focus fully on your business or use your experience to secure funding.
Key Skills and Mindset:
- Become a full-stack developer. Learn to create a complete application from scratch.
- Find a co-founder early. College offers access to talented people, so find someone whose skills complement yours.
- Engage with users. Don't just code in isolation; talk to potential users from the start.
- Share your journey. Post updates on social media and platforms like GitHub to attract feedback, early adopters, and potential partners.
Updated
Krishnam’s Answer
If your goal is to build or join a startup by the end of your BTech, start treating college as a place to experiment rather than waiting until your final year.
Focus on three things: technical skills, understanding users, and actually building things. Learn programming well, then explore AI/ML, APIs, databases, cloud, and basic product development. At the same time, learn how startups work—talk to users, understand their problems, and learn basic sales and marketing.
For finding an idea, don't try to find a “perfect” idea. Look for a real problem that people already have and would actually pay to solve. Talk to students, businesses, professionals, or communities and ask what repetitive, expensive, or frustrating tasks they deal with. Then build a very small solution and see if anyone actually uses it.
You could set yourself a simple goal: build several small projects during your first year rather than spending months trying to find one big idea. Your projects will teach you what you're good at and may eventually reveal a problem worth turning into a startup.
Also, I wouldn't completely ignore placements. Even if you don't plan to take a job after graduation, having a backup option can reduce financial pressure and give you freedom to take bigger risks.
Most importantly, don't wait until you feel “ready.” Build, launch, talk to users, learn from failures, and repeat. Four years is plenty of time to experiment if you start now.
Focus on three things: technical skills, understanding users, and actually building things. Learn programming well, then explore AI/ML, APIs, databases, cloud, and basic product development. At the same time, learn how startups work—talk to users, understand their problems, and learn basic sales and marketing.
For finding an idea, don't try to find a “perfect” idea. Look for a real problem that people already have and would actually pay to solve. Talk to students, businesses, professionals, or communities and ask what repetitive, expensive, or frustrating tasks they deal with. Then build a very small solution and see if anyone actually uses it.
You could set yourself a simple goal: build several small projects during your first year rather than spending months trying to find one big idea. Your projects will teach you what you're good at and may eventually reveal a problem worth turning into a startup.
Also, I wouldn't completely ignore placements. Even if you don't plan to take a job after graduation, having a backup option can reduce financial pressure and give you freedom to take bigger risks.
Most importantly, don't wait until you feel “ready.” Build, launch, talk to users, learn from failures, and repeat. Four years is plenty of time to experiment if you start now.
Updated
Mark’s Answer
Best wishes on pursuing BTech! You sound like you have a lot of passion and thirst for ideas; that's wonderful!
Focus on learning the craft well, asking good questions and learning all that you can. You'll use that to shape your perfect idea. Keep in mind that the perfect idea solves a real problem, but perhaps in a unique or novel way. Henry Ford once said that if he were to ask consumers what they want they'd say they want faster horses. He insightfully saw the need behind that ask and built automobiles to address the underlying need.
Startups require a lot more than just the perfect idea. They require funding and business savvy, timing and luck. Consider gaining some experience first working at an established company (it could be a small one) or at a startup.
Good luck!
Focus on learning the craft well, asking good questions and learning all that you can. You'll use that to shape your perfect idea. Keep in mind that the perfect idea solves a real problem, but perhaps in a unique or novel way. Henry Ford once said that if he were to ask consumers what they want they'd say they want faster horses. He insightfully saw the need behind that ask and built automobiles to address the underlying need.
Startups require a lot more than just the perfect idea. They require funding and business savvy, timing and luck. Consider gaining some experience first working at an established company (it could be a small one) or at a startup.
Good luck!
Updated
Rajalakshmi’s Answer
Congratulations on getting into engineering college!
Your journey is just beginning, so, enjoy college, but study smart. Do not rely on artificial intelligence to help you with schoolwork unless your subject of study is artificial intelligence itself. Generative AI is software like anything else -- you should focus on how things work more than how to use things. If gen AI was trained in Hindi content, and it found "Do aur do Paanch" (old movie, I know) enough number of times, it can easily think that 2 plus 2 is 5 (the title translated). To be an effective user of gen AI, you should already know the correct answer first.
Keep an open mind about startups -- there are hundreds of startups in India that you can look into when you want to experience that environment. Look into their online presence and see if they have internships. You can then contact them and ask if you can intern when you have summer holidays. Your technology degree is just one part of startup work -- startups need to know how business works as well.
Most importantly, remember that all careers, regardless of the field of study, are about enjoying what you do.
All the best!
Study first.
Remain curious -- great startup ideas come from your daily life.
Embrace failure as an opportunity to try something different.
Don't be afraid of obstacles -- you can step to the side to move ahead in a different lane.
Your journey is just beginning, so, enjoy college, but study smart. Do not rely on artificial intelligence to help you with schoolwork unless your subject of study is artificial intelligence itself. Generative AI is software like anything else -- you should focus on how things work more than how to use things. If gen AI was trained in Hindi content, and it found "Do aur do Paanch" (old movie, I know) enough number of times, it can easily think that 2 plus 2 is 5 (the title translated). To be an effective user of gen AI, you should already know the correct answer first.
Keep an open mind about startups -- there are hundreds of startups in India that you can look into when you want to experience that environment. Look into their online presence and see if they have internships. You can then contact them and ask if you can intern when you have summer holidays. Your technology degree is just one part of startup work -- startups need to know how business works as well.
Most importantly, remember that all careers, regardless of the field of study, are about enjoying what you do.
All the best!
Rajalakshmi recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Juste Abraham