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An Entrepreneur’s Journey | Meghna Saraogi | TEDxYouth@DPSRKPuram


I’m sure Chinese tourism inspired all of

I’m sure Chinese tourism inspired all of us how many of you want to be an

us how many of you want to be an

us how many of you want to be an entrepreneur here oh great I see a few

entrepreneur here oh great I see a few

entrepreneur here oh great I see a few hands so people who think that an

hands so people who think that an

hands so people who think that an entrepreneur’s life is very fascinating

entrepreneur’s life is very fascinating

entrepreneur’s life is very fascinating you know you go and be a speaker you are

you know you go and be a speaker you are

you know you go and be a speaker you are in media all over but honestly it’s much

in media all over but honestly it’s much

in media all over but honestly it’s much more than that

more than that

more than that it’s something that takes your heart and

it’s something that takes your heart and

it’s something that takes your heart and soul where every single day you wake up

soul where every single day you wake up

soul where every single day you wake up and sleep thinking your dream and that’s

and sleep thinking your dream and that’s

and sleep thinking your dream and that’s how I started working on style dot mean

how I started working on style dot mean

how I started working on style dot mean coming from a non tech background and

coming from a non tech background and

coming from a non tech background and being a fashion graphic designer I was

being a fashion graphic designer I was

being a fashion graphic designer I was working I mean I had a job and I came

working I mean I had a job and I came

working I mean I had a job and I came from Indore to Delhi I used to see

from Indore to Delhi I used to see

from Indore to Delhi I used to see people dress up really nicely and I

people dress up really nicely and I

people dress up really nicely and I would feel a little shame of myself

would feel a little shame of myself

would feel a little shame of myself thinking I do not have a great

thinking I do not have a great

thinking I do not have a great style I would take my own pictures send

style I would take my own pictures send

style I would take my own pictures send it to my friends and wait for their

it to my friends and wait for their

it to my friends and wait for their response which I would never get on time

response which I would never get on time

response which I would never get on time so I always had this whole dream of

so I always had this whole dream of

so I always had this whole dream of building a platform where people can get

building a platform where people can get

building a platform where people can get instant fashion advice the biggest

instant fashion advice the biggest

instant fashion advice the biggest challenge when you want to start

challenge when you want to start

challenge when you want to start something is how do I start and where do

something is how do I start and where do

something is how do I start and where do I start

I start

I start when you are in your comfortable zone of

when you are in your comfortable zone of

when you are in your comfortable zone of you know getting a salary every month it

you know getting a salary every month it

you know getting a salary every month it becomes very difficult to take a plunge

becomes very difficult to take a plunge

becomes very difficult to take a plunge and say okay tomorrow I’m going to leave

and say okay tomorrow I’m going to leave

and say okay tomorrow I’m going to leave everything and do it how many of you are

everything and do it how many of you are

everything and do it how many of you are lazy here so was I it took me almost six

lazy here so was I it took me almost six

lazy here so was I it took me almost six months to take this plunge and it

months to take this plunge and it

months to take this plunge and it happened because a friend of mine told

happened because a friend of mine told

happened because a friend of mine told me you were so lazy that you’re never

me you were so lazy that you’re never

me you were so lazy that you’re never going to do it and he said that’s a new

going to do it and he said that’s a new

going to do it and he said that’s a new vigor and that is it I said I am going

vigor and that is it I said I am going

vigor and that is it I said I am going to make sure that I do it so what I’m

to make sure that I do it so what I’m

to make sure that I do it so what I’m realized and it’s a pattern that when

realized and it’s a pattern that when

realized and it’s a pattern that when someone says you cannot do it I’ll make

someone says you cannot do it I’ll make

someone says you cannot do it I’ll make sure I prove them wrong when someone

sure I prove them wrong when someone

sure I prove them wrong when someone make hurdles for me I’ll make sure I am

make hurdles for me I’ll make sure I am

make hurdles for me I’ll make sure I am so strong that I’ll overcome all of that

so strong that I’ll overcome all of that

so strong that I’ll overcome all of that and that was the day when I decided I’m

and that was the day when I decided I’m

and that was the day when I decided I’m not looking back I am NOT going back to

not looking back I am NOT going back to

not looking back I am NOT going back to my job I packed my bags and moved back

my job I packed my bags and moved back

my job I packed my bags and moved back to Indore

to Indore

to Indore I come from a Marwari family where my

I come from a Marwari family where my

I come from a Marwari family where my parents were like okay you wanna do a

parents were like okay you wanna do a

parents were like okay you wanna do a starter very good but very shoddy Carlo

starter very good but very shoddy Carlo

starter very good but very shoddy Carlo and then do it it took me a little while

and then do it it took me a little while

and then do it it took me a little while to make them understand that what I

to make them understand that what I

to make them understand that what I wanted to do was very important to do at

wanted to do was very important to do at

wanted to do was very important to do at that time I said I’ll get married you

that time I said I’ll get married you

that time I said I’ll get married you know they did I find some well I don’t

know they did I find some well I don’t

know they did I find some well I don’t have to get married for the sake of it

have to get married for the sake of it

have to get married for the sake of it thankfully they understood but

thankfully they understood but

thankfully they understood but considering I left my job behind and

considering I left my job behind and

considering I left my job behind and went back to endure all my friends

went back to endure all my friends

went back to endure all my friends toward what a fool she is like she

toward what a fool she is like she

toward what a fool she is like she doesn’t even know what she’s doing

doesn’t even know what she’s doing

doesn’t even know what she’s doing she’s left the high paying job and she’s

she’s left the high paying job and she’s

she’s left the high paying job and she’s back here and you know it’s very

back here and you know it’s very

back here and you know it’s very important to get that motivation not

important to get that motivation not

important to get that motivation not just from your family with friends as

just from your family with friends as

just from your family with friends as well which I did not get but again I did

well which I did not get but again I did

well which I did not get but again I did not give up being a non tech

not give up being a non tech

not give up being a non tech entrepreneur the first step was how do

entrepreneur the first step was how do

entrepreneur the first step was how do you start and every single person who

you start and every single person who

you start and every single person who wants to start

wants to start

wants to start startup something here will ask

startup something here will ask

startup something here will ask themselves the same thing I went to

themselves the same thing I went to

themselves the same thing I went to colleges I found people and you know

colleges I found people and you know

colleges I found people and you know every single person I used to reach out

every single person I used to reach out

every single person I used to reach out to for help would tell me look until you

to for help would tell me look until you

to for help would tell me look until you find a tech co-founder it’s not

find a tech co-founder it’s not

find a tech co-founder it’s not happening and all a co-founder is

happening and all a co-founder is

happening and all a co-founder is something that comes with time you know

something that comes with time you know

something that comes with time you know you just can’t suddenly walk in

you just can’t suddenly walk in

you just can’t suddenly walk in somewhere and make someone a co-founder

somewhere and make someone a co-founder

somewhere and make someone a co-founder I hired people out sourced my vision was

I hired people out sourced my vision was

I hired people out sourced my vision was clear I got the first version of the

clear I got the first version of the

clear I got the first version of the platform made sorted went out in the

platform made sorted went out in the

platform made sorted went out in the market tried it tested it realized it

market tried it tested it realized it

market tried it tested it realized it will not work because it was done on

will not work because it was done on

will not work because it was done on Android and not on iOS whereas being a

Android and not on iOS whereas being a

Android and not on iOS whereas being a fashion startup every single blob where

fashion startup every single blob where

fashion startup every single blob where every single influential was on iOS I

every single influential was on iOS I

every single influential was on iOS I was back to square one

was back to square one

was back to square one again I found people got it done so

again I found people got it done so

again I found people got it done so without having the team without having

without having the team without having

without having the team without having any tech knowledge I had already built

any tech knowledge I had already built

any tech knowledge I had already built my first version of the product now we

my first version of the product now we

my first version of the product now we have a couple of people who like the

have a couple of people who like the

have a couple of people who like the idea and my energy

idea and my energy

idea and my energy but the question would be we see the

but the question would be we see the

but the question would be we see the passion in your eyes but you’re gonna

passion in your eyes but you’re gonna

passion in your eyes but you’re gonna get married in few years or a few months

get married in few years or a few months

get married in few years or a few months and have kids then you’ll have to shut

and have kids then you’ll have to shut

and have kids then you’ll have to shut this down and I used to be amused like

this down and I used to be amused like

this down and I used to be amused like why won’t I find someone who who

why won’t I find someone who who

why won’t I find someone who who understand what I am doing

understand what I am doing

understand what I am doing won’t I find someone who will help me

won’t I find someone who will help me

won’t I find someone who will help me reach my dreams and these were the kind

reach my dreams and these were the kind

reach my dreams and these were the kind of questions I would be asked and I

of questions I would be asked and I

of questions I would be asked and I realized it’s not acceptable being a

realized it’s not acceptable being a

realized it’s not acceptable being a woman I do I am NOT I don’t over this

woman I do I am NOT I don’t over this

woman I do I am NOT I don’t over this answers to anyone like why you should

answers to anyone like why you should

answers to anyone like why you should ask me questions on how I’m going to

ask me questions on how I’m going to

ask me questions on how I’m going to grow you should ask me questions on I’m

grow you should ask me questions on I’m

grow you should ask me questions on I’m going to expand you should ask me

going to expand you should ask me

going to expand you should ask me questions on how did I read so far so

questions on how did I read so far so

questions on how did I read so far so the energy that I used to get from

the energy that I used to get from

the energy that I used to get from people was great nice maybe you did it

people was great nice maybe you did it

people was great nice maybe you did it as a hobby very good but you won’t ever

as a hobby very good but you won’t ever

as a hobby very good but you won’t ever get investment through on this because

get investment through on this because

get investment through on this because you don’t have a team you still don’t

you don’t have a team you still don’t

you don’t have a team you still don’t have a co-founder you know what just get

have a co-founder you know what just get

have a co-founder you know what just get someone from IIT and I am and you’re

someone from IIT and I am and you’re

someone from IIT and I am and you’re sorted it’s like Oakland again I realize

sorted it’s like Oakland again I realize

sorted it’s like Oakland again I realize not I mean I decided not to give up it

not I mean I decided not to give up it

not I mean I decided not to give up it was my first pitch ever in Calcutta and

was my first pitch ever in Calcutta and

was my first pitch ever in Calcutta and I walked out of the pitch and I got to

I walked out of the pitch and I got to

I walked out of the pitch and I got to know I’m selected the Leafs realized

know I’m selected the Leafs realized

know I’m selected the Leafs realized that I need to go and pitch to Delhi

that I need to go and pitch to Delhi

that I need to go and pitch to Delhi again in the same organization I went

again in the same organization I went

again in the same organization I went there and I realized suddenly 50

there and I realized suddenly 50

there and I realized suddenly 50 investors in front of me not a single

investors in front of me not a single

investors in front of me not a single female I did not hesitate because when I

female I did not hesitate because when I

female I did not hesitate because when I walked in I did not walk in as a woman

walked in I did not walk in as a woman

walked in I did not walk in as a woman entrepreneur who needed few more women

entrepreneur who needed few more women

entrepreneur who needed few more women to support I went just ended as an

to support I went just ended as an

to support I went just ended as an entrepreneur and to my surprise after my

entrepreneur and to my surprise after my

entrepreneur and to my surprise after my presentations 50% of the new investors

presentations 50% of the new investors

presentations 50% of the new investors actually got up their seats seats in

actually got up their seats seats in

actually got up their seats seats in clubs and I got my first investment

clubs and I got my first investment

clubs and I got my first investment without a team without a co-founder

without a team without a co-founder

without a team without a co-founder without anything that is how I moved

without anything that is how I moved

without anything that is how I moved back to Delhi build my own own team my

back to Delhi build my own own team my

back to Delhi build my own own team my CTO is right now he turned 20 yesterday

CTO is right now he turned 20 yesterday

CTO is right now he turned 20 yesterday he is he sold his first company in

he is he sold his first company in

he is he sold his first company in hundred thousand dollars and he was he’s

hundred thousand dollars and he was he’s

hundred thousand dollars and he was he’s been coding since he’s 12

been coding since he’s 12

been coding since he’s 12 so ages

so ages

so ages not a number it’s like it doesn’t matter

not a number it’s like it doesn’t matter

not a number it’s like it doesn’t matter how old you were what time do you start

how old you were what time do you start

how old you were what time do you start what really matters is how passionate

what really matters is how passionate

what really matters is how passionate you are how much are you willing to

you are how much are you willing to

you are how much are you willing to leave everything aside and make sure you

leave everything aside and make sure you

leave everything aside and make sure you reach your dreams after we will the team

reach your dreams after we will the team

reach your dreams after we will the team we did not have much money and it was

we did not have much money and it was

we did not have much money and it was very important to create a buzz around

very important to create a buzz around

very important to create a buzz around we did something which no one ever has

we did something which no one ever has

we did something which no one ever has done and that is we build a trial room

done and that is we build a trial room

done and that is we build a trial room in the middle of a street shopping area

in the middle of a street shopping area

in the middle of a street shopping area called John pearl it was a huge vision

called John pearl it was a huge vision

called John pearl it was a huge vision like you know how Indian government

like you know how Indian government

like you know how Indian government works the police the NDMC etc etc when I

works the police the NDMC etc etc when I

works the police the NDMC etc etc when I went for my research there were at least

went for my research there were at least

went for my research there were at least 10 policemen who said madam applying

10 policemen who said madam applying

10 policemen who said madam applying this math guru led qjo uni only when I

this math guru led qjo uni only when I

this math guru led qjo uni only when I happen in the last 20 years they did not

happen in the last 20 years they did not

happen in the last 20 years they did not get I mean no one ever got a permission

get I mean no one ever got a permission

get I mean no one ever got a permission to put a canopy engine put again I said

to put a canopy engine put again I said

to put a canopy engine put again I said okay people when peoples are saying that

okay people when peoples are saying that

okay people when peoples are saying that I can’t do it let me give my best shot I

I can’t do it let me give my best shot I

I can’t do it let me give my best shot I used to go to NDMC office every day I

used to go to NDMC office every day I

used to go to NDMC office every day I went and met the police officers myself

went and met the police officers myself

went and met the police officers myself I went and met the police commissioners

I went and met the police commissioners

I went and met the police commissioners and I explained them why this is

and I explained them why this is

and I explained them why this is important I explained them how you know

important I explained them how you know

important I explained them how you know Roadshow Street shows in US and UK UK

Roadshow Street shows in US and UK UK

Roadshow Street shows in US and UK UK are so great and why can’t we have

are so great and why can’t we have

are so great and why can’t we have something like this in India and I

something like this in India and I

something like this in India and I showed them the vision and to my

showed them the vision and to my

showed them the vision and to my surprise they agreed we we were very

surprise they agreed we we were very

surprise they agreed we we were very thrilled and you know we thought

thrilled and you know we thought

thrilled and you know we thought probably this would be all over the

probably this would be all over the

probably this would be all over the place I reached out to all the media

place I reached out to all the media

place I reached out to all the media houses all the reviews and they would

houses all the reviews and they would

houses all the reviews and they would give me some weird figures to you know

give me some weird figures to you know

give me some weird figures to you know have us even for few minutes I said

have us even for few minutes I said

have us even for few minutes I said sorry we don’t have the money you

sorry we don’t have the money you

sorry we don’t have the money you wouldn’t believe but once we had our

wouldn’t believe but once we had our

wouldn’t believe but once we had our demo there once we had a live trial room

demo there once we had a live trial room

demo there once we had a live trial room in Indian put where all the shoppers

in Indian put where all the shoppers

in Indian put where all the shoppers were actually trying and it was so

were actually trying and it was so

were actually trying and it was so amazing

amazing

amazing we became viral we were on internet

we became viral we were on internet

we became viral we were on internet viral for two weeks and I was on the

viral for two weeks and I was on the

viral for two weeks and I was on the prime time of radio every single day

prime time of radio every single day

prime time of radio every single day giving interviews I think that was

giving interviews I think that was

giving interviews I think that was persistence like I did not give up and I

persistence like I did not give up and I

persistence like I did not give up and I feel that entrepreneurship is all about

feel that entrepreneurship is all about

feel that entrepreneurship is all about that we’ve been so focused

that we’ve been so focused

that we’ve been so focused and but in spite of that had so many ups

and but in spite of that had so many ups

and but in spite of that had so many ups and downs that most of the time people

and downs that most of the time people

and downs that most of the time people think it’s not working

think it’s not working

think it’s not working I don’t have the money I don’t

I don’t have the money I don’t

I don’t have the money I don’t have funds I’m not getting no investors

have funds I’m not getting no investors

have funds I’m not getting no investors we were selected to be a part of India’s

we were selected to be a part of India’s

we were selected to be a part of India’s first reality show and we got the

first reality show and we got the

first reality show and we got the highest offer on the show which I had to

highest offer on the show which I had to

highest offer on the show which I had to turn down for whatever reasons lot of

turn down for whatever reasons lot of

turn down for whatever reasons lot of people told me your startup is over now

people told me your startup is over now

people told me your startup is over now because when you turn down such things

because when you turn down such things

because when you turn down such things you can never you know get another round

you can never you know get another round

you can never you know get another round of funding honestly I’ll tell you for

of funding honestly I’ll tell you for

of funding honestly I’ll tell you for five months I was not able to raise

five months I was not able to raise

five months I was not able to raise funds it’s it’s heartbreaking it’s it’s

funds it’s it’s heartbreaking it’s it’s

funds it’s it’s heartbreaking it’s it’s depressing when every single day you

depressing when every single day you

depressing when every single day you have to sleep with the fact that you

have to sleep with the fact that you

have to sleep with the fact that you cannot pay salaries you cannot pay rent

cannot pay salaries you cannot pay rent

cannot pay salaries you cannot pay rent and those are the time when you feel

and those are the time when you feel

and those are the time when you feel like giving up but honestly giving up

like giving up but honestly giving up

like giving up but honestly giving up was never an option for me it just did

was never an option for me it just did

was never an option for me it just did not occur to me that there is an option

not occur to me that there is an option

not occur to me that there is an option of even shutting down the company no

of even shutting down the company no

of even shutting down the company no never

never

never the only thing I was working on every

the only thing I was working on every

the only thing I was working on every single day was how to come up come out

single day was how to come up come out

single day was how to come up come out of this problem and trust me the most

of this problem and trust me the most

of this problem and trust me the most important thing at this point for anyone

important thing at this point for anyone

important thing at this point for anyone is the team not a single team member

is the team not a single team member

is the team not a single team member said okay we are leaving or we are

said okay we are leaving or we are

said okay we are leaving or we are finding an alternative each one of us

finding an alternative each one of us

finding an alternative each one of us only focused on how can we grow how can

only focused on how can we grow how can

only focused on how can we grow how can we do something different that is when

we do something different that is when

we do something different that is when we started working on augmented reality

we started working on augmented reality

we started working on augmented reality and today we are world’s first AI tech

and today we are world’s first AI tech

and today we are world’s first AI tech platform that helps users see things

platform that helps users see things

platform that helps users see things without wearing it and we’ve started

without wearing it and we’ve started

without wearing it and we’ve started with jewelry and we are in real live in

with jewelry and we are in real live in

with jewelry and we are in real live in five PCG 100 stores and we are looking

five PCG 100 stores and we are looking

five PCG 100 stores and we are looking to expanding all their stores

to expanding all their stores

to expanding all their stores I was also selected in survive and

I was also selected in survive and

I was also selected in survive and thrive which which happened in US and I

thrive which which happened in US and I

thrive which which happened in US and I met Kevin Harrington who is the real

met Kevin Harrington who is the real

met Kevin Harrington who is the real shark of shark tank and since I was the

shark of shark tank and since I was the

shark of shark tank and since I was the part of Indian version of Shark Tank he

part of Indian version of Shark Tank he

part of Indian version of Shark Tank he was so thrilled to meet me that I was

was so thrilled to meet me that I was

was so thrilled to meet me that I was all over his social media so being in

all over his social media so being in

all over his social media so being in entrepreneurs one thing that I always

entrepreneurs one thing that I always

entrepreneurs one thing that I always say

say

say I believe is and that’s worked for me is

I believe is and that’s worked for me is

I believe is and that’s worked for me is that if you start something just go all

that if you start something just go all

that if you start something just go all your way it’s not going to be bed of

your way it’s not going to be bed of

your way it’s not going to be bed of roses it’s not going to be easy no one

roses it’s not going to be easy no one

roses it’s not going to be easy no one is going to come and help you there are

is going to come and help you there are

is going to come and help you there are people who will try and pull you down at

people who will try and pull you down at

people who will try and pull you down at every point but at the same time there

every point but at the same time there

every point but at the same time there will be people who will try and help you

will be people who will try and help you

will be people who will try and help you at everyt everything you know stitch

at everyt everything you know stitch

at everyt everything you know stitch it’s up to you what you take and what do

it’s up to you what you take and what do

it’s up to you what you take and what do you leave there are a lot of people who

you leave there are a lot of people who

you leave there are a lot of people who think that what they’re doing is the

think that what they’re doing is the

think that what they’re doing is the right way right part etc but there is no

right way right part etc but there is no

right way right part etc but there is no right way trust me it’s just about your

right way trust me it’s just about your

right way trust me it’s just about your guts it’s just about how you move

guts it’s just about how you move

guts it’s just about how you move forward it’s just about what you want at

forward it’s just about what you want at

forward it’s just about what you want at the end if you want something with all

the end if you want something with all

the end if you want something with all your heart you know the entire universe

your heart you know the entire universe

your heart you know the entire universe conspires in having you I truly believe

conspires in having you I truly believe

conspires in having you I truly believe in it and that’s what has happened to me

in it and that’s what has happened to me

in it and that’s what has happened to me so I think we still have a long long

so I think we still have a long long

so I think we still have a long long long journey and the vision of style dot

long journey and the vision of style dot

long journey and the vision of style dot me is to make it worse largest fashion

me is to make it worse largest fashion

me is to make it worse largest fashion platform which I’m sure you’re going to

platform which I’m sure you’re going to

platform which I’m sure you’re going to do very soon but giving up was never an

do very soon but giving up was never an

do very soon but giving up was never an option and will never be optional thank

option and will never be optional thank

option and will never be optional thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

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