I am not from IIT and I still can dream

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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) are the most reputed technical institution of the country (India). Even some students starts preparing right from 9th class for the entrance exams and it has given birth of Coaching industry which is now multi-million dollar business. Out of lakhs of students, only few hundred get admission in IIT and after 4 years of tough process they become an IITian.

My purpose is not to analyse education system, but to understand a basic material of an IITian. Probably they have spent maximum time in study to gather knowledge. And when they come out, all the big companies aspires for them. Few of the IITians dare to start their own start-up and get some easy funding as well. Investor invests majorly on skills, determination and background of the individual than only focusing on unique idea. May be process would not be that easy what I am saying but for sure they get big advantage of their past records.

Now we will talk about a person who spent hardly 2 hours in study (daily on average) which is very low comparing to a student who prepares for IIT ( I assume study hours of 10-14 Hours a day). But this kinda person is having enough time to experiment with their knowledge. They use to get admission in normal engineering college and ranks probably above average. Their experiments with their knowledge and surroundings go on. After completion of education most of them follow tradition of joining a job. Unlike IITian they struggle to get a job which increases their experience quotient. And when after few years of front line and mid management level jobs when they think that they have got proper exposure, and want to start something of their own, which is now-a-days being called START-UP, then the biggest challenge is funding. And before funding it is the rejection from their own family and friends ( may be because of fear of no job) is biggest point to be demotivated. They try hard ... real hard. Only very few get an investor. Comparatively very very few.

So what was wrong? Why an IITian gets easy funding ( comparatively) and non-IITian need to struggle a lot. Don't they deserve to dream big?

Answer is probably the product, yeah the product. An IITian himself is a product and backed with IIT brand , of course they have earned it from hard labour in past. And in the other case there is no product but just a thought. They aren't a product or brand, actually they never earned that. They learnt a lot and may be much more practical with any other competition, but an investor can not experiment with each individuals, who claim themselves to be worthy.

So, If you are trying to go for an start-up then don't start your thinking from getting funding but start working on product. Make a product and prove it's worth, which will create your brand value and for sure it will appeal investors. And to make all this first trust yourself. Don't get trapped by other's thinking but trust your own skill.

I remember that one of my friend who had made an unique concept of making available electrician , architects, carpenter etc on app/web. It was year 2011. Much before of urban clap or any similar app. Indeed a great idea (for that time). He started working on it and made it too but his whole planning of execution was dependent on Funding, where he failed as he had made an unrecognised product with no branding. He carried it till 2014 end and then broke-up. And when Urban Clap was hit ( in terms of popularity), he was just regretting. It was big learning from mistake. Now that friend is working on myresumo.com and colazzi.com in two different domain. myResumo is regular HR business in a certain domain and if we believe him then execution with a differentiation. And "colazzi" is futuristic. The change he made is that " i will create brand on my own."

He told me " I am not from IIT and I still can Dream."