Career Updates

Have you ever sat in a boring lecture and thought, "I have a million-dollar idea, but I'm just a student"?

Well, think again. Some of India's biggest companies weren't built by corporate veterans in suits—they were built by students just like you, often from their dorm rooms or parents' garages.

Being a student is actually the best time to start. You have high energy, fresh ideas, and the freedom to take risks. If you need a little push to get started, here are the incredible stories of young Indians who went from carrying backpacks to carrying billion-dollar companies.

1. The 19-Year-Old Grocery Kings: Aadit Palicha & Kaivalya Vohra (Zepto)

The Problem: During the COVID-19 lockdowns, getting groceries was a nightmare. Deliveries took days. The Student Idea: Two childhood friends, Aadit and Kaivalya, had enrolled in the prestigious Stanford University. But while stuck at home in Mumbai, they realized that the grocery delivery system was broken. They asked a crazy question: "What if we could deliver groceries in 10 minutes?"

• The Journey: They took a huge risk—they dropped out of Stanford to stay in India and build their startup. They started small with "KiranaKart," pivoted quickly to the 10-minute delivery model, and launched Zepto.
• The Result: Today, Zepto is a "Unicorn" (a company worth over $1 billion), and they achieved this before turning 21!
• 🎓 Lesson for You: Don't be afraid to solve a "boring" problem like grocery shopping. If you can do it faster and better, you win.

2. The Schoolboy Logistics Boss: Tilak Mehta (Papers N Parcels)

The Problem: One day, 13-year-old Tilak forgot his books at his uncle's house. He wanted them back urgently, but courier services were too expensive or too slow for a small package. The Student Idea: He saw the famous Mumbai Dabbawalas (lunchbox delivery men) who were super efficient. He thought, "Why can't I use their network to deliver small parcels?"

• The Journey: Tilak was still in Class 8 when he launched Papers N Parcels. He convinced the Dabbawalas to partner with him to deliver documents and parcels across Mumbai for cheap prices. He managed his business meetings after school hours!
• The Result: His company now handles over 1,000+ deliveries daily.
• 🎓 Lesson for You: You are never "too young." If you have a unique solution, your age is just a number.

3. The College Dropout Who Changed Travel: Ritesh Agarwal (OYO Rooms)

The Problem: As a teenager, Ritesh loved to travel. But he hated that cheap hotels were dirty, and good hotels were too expensive. There was no middle ground. The Student Idea: He wanted to create a brand of budget hotels that were affordable and clean.

• The Journey: Ritesh enrolled in college in Delhi but felt he was wasting his time. He dropped out to start "Oravel Stays" (which became OYO). He used to clean hotel rooms, change bedsheets, and work at the reception himself to understand the business. At 19, he won the Thiel Fellowship (a grant of $100,000) which gave him the boost he needed.
• The Result: OYO Rooms is now one of the world's largest hotel chains.
• 🎓 Lesson for You: You don't need a fancy degree to succeed. You need to be willing to do the "dirty work" to understand your customer.

4. The YouTube Teacher: Alakh Pandey (PhysicsWallah)

The Problem: Coaching classes for exams like JEE and NEET were insanely expensive. Poor students couldn't afford quality education. The Student Idea: Alakh was an engineering student in Kanpur, but he loved teaching more than studying. He realized he could reach more students online than in a classroom.

• The Journey: He dropped out of his engineering college in the 3rd year to teach full-time. He started a YouTube channel with a simple whiteboard and a cheap phone camera. His unique, energetic teaching style became a hit. When big companies offered him crores to join them, he refused so he could keep his courses affordable (as low as ₹4,000!).
• The Result: PhysicsWallah is now India's only profitable EdTech Unicorn, helping millions of students.
• 🎓 Lesson for You: Passion beats resources. You don't need expensive equipment; you just need to be really good at what you do.

💡 Quick Tips for Student Entrepreneurs

If these stories inspired you, here is how you can start today:

1. Observe Problems: Look for things that annoy you in daily life (like Tilak and his books).
2. Start Small: You don't need investors immediately. Start with a YouTube channel, an Instagram page, or a small service.
3. Use Student Discounts: Many software tools (like Canva, GitHub, Notion) offer free versions for students.
4. Network: Talk to your professors and seniors. They can be your first mentors (or customers!).

🏁 Conclusion: Your Turn!

These entrepreneurs didn't have superpowers. They had curiosity and the courage to start.

You are sitting in a classroom today, but tomorrow you could be in a boardroom. What is that one idea you have been thinking about? Write it down. That is your first step.