Entrepreneurship Pathways

I started my first venture at 21 and sold it in a multi-million-dollar transaction when I was 26. Today, I’m building my second venture, GreyLabs AI, where we’ve raised millions in capital and are scaling fast. Across this journey, here are 10 learnings that have stayed with me: 1. Startups fail on Day 1, not when they run out of money - if the founding team isn’t right. You need shared vision + complementary skills. 2. Sell first, build later. Don’t waste years building what no one wants. Get customer buy-in before writing code. 3. Focus on a small market. At GreyLabs AI, we’re laser-focused on the India BFSI. Shiny distractions exist everywhere, but focus wins. 4. High-impact individual contributors matter. In the AI era, such people can drive more value than larger teams. 5. Hire a strong law firm. Bad contracts (customers, vendors, shareholders, even cofounders) can destroy your business. 6. Customers > Investors. Be frugal, get paying clients, and build proof. Investors follow traction - otherwise, you’ll only get "advice". 7. Control your spending. Many founders start spending mindlessly after raising money. Waste money today, and money will waste you tomorrow. 8. Culture beats perks. My first startup was bootstrapped, with limited benefits. But no toxic managers, genuine care, and empathy earned us a 4.6 rating on Glassdoor (75+ reviews, all organic). 9. Undercommit, overdeliver. Never oversell. Promise only what you can deliver - and then exceed expectations. 10. Stay grateful. To your team, customers, investors, and family. None of this happens alone. Startups are tough, but with the right principles, they’re also the most rewarding journeys one can take. #startups #business #entrepreneurship

3 years of running SackBerry as a solo founder. Here are 10 things I’ve learned.  (I’m still shocked about #6 😅) 1. You don’t need a co-founder. But you do need sounding boards. People who listen without bias, push you when you’re stuck, and remind you you’re not crazy. 2. Building systems > hiring fast The answer isn’t always “add more people.” Sometimes it’s “fix your process first.” 3. Your first few hires shape everything. Building culture & positive team energy is everything. I still feel lucky about the people I bet on early. 4. Clients don’t just buy services. They buy your energy, your clarity, and your belief in what you do. That’s what keeps them coming back. 5. Boundaries are a survival skill. You teach clients how to treat you. Late replies, weekend edits, unlimited calls? That’s on you. 6. You can build a dream team and still feel lonely. No one prepares you for the emotional isolation that comes with leading. 7. Clients don’t care how late you worked. They just care if the work is done well. Being a martyr isn’t a flex. It’s a burnout recipe. 8. Most people don’t care about your work as much as you think. LinkedIn can clap all it wants. But if your partner, family & people don’t stand by you, it’s never as fulfilling. 9. You’ll outgrow your own identity, more often. There have been phases where I no longer felt aligned with the version of me I created 6 months ago. That’s part of growth. Lean into it. 10. Taking breaks actually helps you grow faster. The month I took 30 days off? We still hit our targets. Sometimes the best business decision is to log out. Which of the above pointers hit home the most? #PersonalBranding #SocialMedia #Marketing #AI #MarketingAgency

I’ve never shown anyone this photo. 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with a nerve disorder👇 The pain stung and half my face froze.  I couldn’t turn my head without being dizzy. I couldn’t walk without needing to lie down. During this time, I learnt a LOT. My views on work fundamentally changed. Before then - I was in a holding pattern with heightened stress. I was building a startup AND working full-time in edtech. I was so buzzed I couldn't sleep at night. I felt so stressed I got really sick. Looking back, it was nuts. Now - I run an agency that closes $50-100K+ deals and I’ve learnt to (mostly!) manage stress and marathon it. I wanted to share 7 key lessons so you can learn from my mistakes and grow your business smarter. Here’s what I learnt 👇 🎯 Prioritise energy > time Make a detailed list of all your roles and tasks. Identify what's draining and energising. As a founder, there will naturally be de-energising tasks you’ll need to do. Delegate, batch or tie these with something higher energy. 🎯 Master delegation I know it’s hard but delegation took me from $15K / month to my first $75K month. Free up your time to work on high leverage tasks. If you’re too busy IN the business, you’re not working ON the business. 🎯 Default to no Cut everything that doesn’t serve your mission. This means saying no to things that you WANT to do too. Write some nice pre-written "nos" aligned with your goals. Focus. 🎯 Remove negative energy Put yourself in rooms where people support your craziest dreams. Remove yourself from rooms where people drag you down. If family or friends aren't supportive, have the hard conversation. 🎯 Refund rude people If a client treats you badly, refund and fire. It’s not worth your energy — remember your self-worth. This took me two bad apples to learn. The second apple was far worse. 🎯 Ask yourself a hard question If everything went to smoke, would 100 year old me be proud of me? Less tangible but still important: 🎯 Believe in your wildest dreams You're the architect of your ambition. The master of your mind. If you can dream it, you can do it. Trust in the timing of your life and take every interaction as an opportunity to learn. BONUS: Be grateful for all you have Losing my smile was shattering but now if I'm having a bad day (which still happens!), I remember how damn lucky I am to smile again. Not everyone is so lucky. In summary: 1. Prioritise your energy > time. 2. Master delegation. For reals tho. 3. Default to no. Say no to say yes. 4. Remove negative energy. 5. Refund the rude people. 6. Ask yourself a hard q. 7. Dream big baby. 8. Be grateful. -- 🍌 Hi! I'm Joumana (rhymes with banana). I built a design agency from 0 to $75K / month in 12 months. My goal is share what's worked for me and to help startups stand out from the competition. I keep it real. Enjoy!

Every founder should go solo at least once—it’s where you learn what you’re really made of. And if you’re an investor, bet on these people: they’ve proven they can carry the weight when no one else is around. A year ago, I was that solo founder. I was building, selling, raising, looking for co-founders and making every decision alone - for 9 long months. I’ve heard 'We don’t invest in solo founders' more times than I can count and still managed to get amazing investors. Today, I’m no longer building alone—I have incredible co-founders who inspire and challenge me every day. But I really don't want to miss those solo-months - because they taught me valuable lessons 1️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 With no one to delegate to, or share responsibility with, you’re forced to focus only on what truly drives impact. Saying no to 100 things becomes second nature. 2️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Every decision, every mistake—it’s all on you, there is no one else to blame. This sharpens your ability to own outcomes and adapt quickly. 3️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐭 From pitching investors to building the proof of concept bugs to talking to potential clients, automating processes, and dealing with German bureaucracy, you gain hands-on experience in every part of the business. 4️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 There’s no safety net when things go wrong. You learn to stay calm (interrupted with an occasional tantrum), troubleshoot, and keep moving forward. 5️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 Without a co-founder to reassure or challenge you, you just need to trust in your own instincts and decisions. 6️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 You don’t have the bandwidth to waste time, so you learn to focus on leverage and efficiency. 7️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 As a solo founder, it’s you against the skepticism. Convincing others to believe in your vision sharpens your storytelling and persuasion skills. To solo founders: keep going—you’re learning more than you realize. And to investors: maybe it’s time to rethink. #SoloFounder #Startups #Resilience #Leadership #startuplife

From moving out at 17 with no money to Paris Fashion Week. This is the journey of Vaishali Shadangule, who became the first Indian female to represent her collections at Paris Fashion Week alongside top brands like Dior, Balenciaga, etc. Born and raised in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vaishali moved out at 17 to Bhopal, intending to explore the world. She did several jobs to sustain herself, but fashion was nowhere in the scenario. However, she loved giving fashion tips. That's when someone suggested her to try fashion design. The term was new for her. With the help of a friend, she visited a fashion institute and got acquainted with the world of fashion. Her fashion journey started here. Let’s look at the timeline of her success story: -She worked as a designer in a Mumbai-based export house alongside her other job as a nutritional coach at a gym. She used her free time to create her portfolio as an amateur fashion designer. -In 2001, with a bank loan and her saving, she started a small boutique in Malad. In the next 10 years, she started two more boutiques in Mumbai. - In 2011, Vaishali was able to represent her designs at the Lakme Fashion Week.   - After that, she showcased her collection at New York fashion week. Her designs are available in fashion boutiques in London and Milan. -In 2021, Vaishali got the chance to present her designs at the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. The show was returning to the physical runway post-pandemic. Key Learning from Vaishali’s Journey: 📍 Vaishali never took her intervening years as a time of struggle. She believed that every day is a struggle, but with the right approach, it becomes a journey. 📍Never quit your dreams/patience is the key. She always wanted to represent Indian craftsmanship internationally, and Paris was her dream. It took her almost two decades to reach her goal. 📍Adapting to the tough times. Paris fashion week was scheduled when India was under the second wave of Covid. Sourcing materials, taking care of the supply chain and logistics, and ensuring weavers' health and safety during the lockdown was a challenge. She adapted to the situation and managed everything very well. 📍Effective management. Getting the collection, jewellery, and footwear delivered timely in Paris showed her effective management and communication skills with the logistics team. Vaishali represented team “ Shwas,” meaning Breath in Paris Fashion Week, 2021. Her journey continued from there, and in 2023, once again, she displayed Indian Craftsmanship globally at the Paris Fashion Week. PS: Vaishali truly made the country proud, and her story clearly states that your birthplace and humble beginnings do not determine the success you can achieve in your life. 

At 26, I thought I needed all the answers before starting. At 32, I realize I only needed to start—and I’m exactly where I need to be. Key lessons from my entrepreneurial journey (that you might need to hear): 1. Building a business isn't just about profits - it's about building people. Some of my best hires were freshers who grew into pillars of my company. 2. Your timeline is your own. Being 32, single, and running a successful business isn't a paradox - it's a choice to live life on your own terms. 3. The best investments aren't always from VCs - they're your clients who believe in you and your team members who invest their time and talent. 4. When family and business mix, keep them in separate bowls. Do business with strangers, and keep family for love. 5. Your employees aren't just resources - they're your partners in success. When they ask for a raise, remember: retention is cheaper than replacement. 6. A gap in your resume isn't failure - it's often the bridge to something better. I left a job in 6 months and built a successful agency. 7. Time tracking doesn't equal productivity. Trust your team, focus on results, and watch creativity flourish. 8. True leadership means supporting your team's dreams, even when it means letting them go pursue higher education. 9. The customer isn't just always right - they're the real CEO. Every business decision should start and end with them. 10. Authenticity in business partnerships matters. Choose collaborators who truly align with your values, not just your profit margins. 11. You can be a woman who manages both family and business. Breaking stereotypes isn't about choosing one over the other - it's about defining success on your own terms. My challenge to aspiring entrepreneurs in 2025: - Trust your instincts - Invest in your people - Build with authenticity - Break stereotypes Remember: Success isn't about fitting into someone else's mould - it's about having the courage to create your own. What lesson resonated most with you? #lesson #entrepreneurship

In 2023, the business I started with a £50,000 investment was sold for £4.1bn. Now, I want to pass on what I’ve learned to other entrepreneurs. I’ve boiled down my experience into eight secrets – the eight things I wish I’d known when I started out. Armed with this advice, I’m certain I could have avoided mistakes, made better decisions and built HomeServe much faster. If I can achieve this success, then I’m certain you can too. Here they are: 0. Your character. The starting point is you. Resilience, persistence, curiosity, courage, and integrity are essential. These traits give you the grit to overcome challenges and the humility to keep learning. 1. Copy and pivot. You don’t always have to be first to win. Watch the first movers, learn from their successes and failures, and adapt. By improving what’s already out there, you can scale more quickly. 2. Find an investor. An injection of capital funds growth and provides you with inspiration and discipline. The key is to find a partner who shares your vision and can support you with advice and perspective. 3. Get some CoachMent. However successful you are, there’s always scope to learn from others. A mentor brings experience; a coach challenges your thinking. Together, they help you see your business differently. 4. Bricks, Clicks, and Paper. A robust omnichannel strategy is critical for success. Combine digital presence with physical channels and traditional methods like door-to-door leafleting. It’s often easier to make an impact when others have gone exclusively online. 5. Hire your replacement. Great leaders know when to step back. Scaling often means handing the reins to someone better suited to lead the next stage of growth. Talent-spotting is a critical skill. 6. Go global with locals. A great business model can go global, but local knowledge makes it work. Find the right talent on the ground to turn international ambition into success. 7. Evolution, not revolution. Adaptation is key, but don’t stray too far from your core proposition. Incremental improvements keep you competitive without risking what makes your business successful. 8. Follow a NOT to do list. Discipline and focus are everything. Saying “no” is just as important as saying “yes.” Stay focused on what you’re great at and revisit new ideas when the timing is right. I hope these insights inspire you just as they continue to inspire me every day, and that they’ll become your secrets to building a billion-pound business. I'd love to know which secret resonates with you the most.

Looking back, it’s funny to see how naïve I was as a first time founder. I blindly believed the numbers we plugged into our excel sheet. Hundreds of employees and millions in revenue within no time. A combination of naïveté and arrogance to build a startup faster and in areas where others had failed. I booked intro meetings with all the top tier VCs. My ego loved it and I was convinced this would be part of the job when I needed their millions to scale. The more I told the story, the more I began to believe it. But then the setbacks started. Pivoting away from the first idea, wasting a year, and making almost no money. That excel model was looming over my head and I haven’t opened it since. Now, having founded three ventures, I've learned a few lessons: 1. Good Things Take Time: Patience and perseverance are crucial. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and rushing can often lead to mistakes. 2. If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is: Early on, I was enamored by overly optimistic projections and promises. Now, I’m more skeptical and prefer to base decisions on solid evidence and realistic expectations. 3. Setbacks Are Inevitable: Challenges and pivots are part of the journey. Each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow, shaping a stronger and more resilient business. 4. Build a Community: A lot of our success comes from talking to customers on LinkedIn every day. Engaging with your community helps you understand their needs and fosters loyalty, driving continuous improvement and innovation. 5. Focused Networking: Instead of chasing every top-tier VC, I now focus on building meaningful relationships with partners who understand and are genuinely interested in the vision and journey of the company. 6. Team Over Ego: Building a culture where failing is okay and learning is key is crucial. Open communication and clear incentives create a strong, dedicated team. Success is a collective effort driven by the team's combined skills and passion. To all the first-time founders out there, embrace the journey, learn from each misstep, and stay resilient. The path to success is rarely a straight line, but with each twist and turn, you'll gain the wisdom needed to navigate it. The Picture is from Michael and I in 2018, him joining helped set us on the right path. #startup #entrepreneurship #lessonslearned #secondtimefounder #resilience

This weekend I was making a splash in sunny Suffolk - learning to water ski on a single ski. There was plenty of failure before I managed to find my feet but each tumble taught me something invaluable. It struck me how much this experience mirrors the journey of being a startup founder: 1. Embrace the Splash: Falling face-first into the water is part of the deal. Each wipeout was like a cold wake-up call, reminding me that failure is just feedback. In the startup world, every stumble is an opportunity to learn and adjust course. 2. Get Back on the Rope: Every time I crashed, I had to haul myself back up and try again. It’s the same in business—resilience is key. The ability to get back up after setbacks is what keeps you moving forward. 3. Small Adjustments Make Big Waves: I quickly learned that even the slightest shift in my stance or grip could mean the difference between staying upright and taking a dive. In startups, those small pivots and tweaks in strategy can lead to big breakthroughs. 4. Stay Focused, Stay Upright: The moment I lost focus, I lost my correct stance and balance. In entrepreneurship, distractions can be just as dangerous. Being about to quickly sift through the incoming data to identify helpful opportunities that will help you achieve your goals vs distractions is vital. 5. Find the Right Mentors and Listen Carefully: I was very lucky to have the guidance and support from my sister Joanna Leah and Clive Pack providing tips and advice after each attempt. In business, having mentors who’ve navigated similar waters is invaluable. Listening carefully to their feedback, even when it’s tough, can make all the difference in your journey. 6. Celebrate the Wins: The first time I managed to drop the second ski, rebalance, find my foothold and stay up for nearly 2 mins, I felt an incredible rush. Sure, I’ve got a long way to go before I master it, but that initial success was worth celebrating. In the startup world, it’s important to acknowledge and enjoy the small victories—they keep you motivated for the journey ahead. 7. Know When to Stop, Rest, and Recover: Reaching a point of exhaustion, I was no longer going to make any meaningful progress and it was more important to call it a day and recover. In entrepreneurship, knowing when to step back and recover is crucial. It allows you to return with renewed energy and a fresh perspective, ready to make those incremental improvements. Taking on something new, whether it’s on the water or in the startup world, isn’t easy, but the satisfaction of making progress—even after some spectacular wipeouts—is beyond rewarding. #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #LearningJourney #GrowthMindset

“How do I transition from corporate world to being an entrepreneur ?” Sharing from my experience. 1. Fear - The biggest challenge is fear , we are used to working in a terrain, I call it the comfort zone , we may hate the place , but we are stuck because fear holds us back. I had many a sleepless nights worrying about what when the paycheque stops , I was used to that drip for over 30 years. The only way to deal with fear from my experience is to look it in the eye and walk through it. There is no other way. Some Practical Tips that will help you: ✔️Build a cushion for minimum one year for any unexpected events besides it may take time till your business gets going. When COVID hit business vanishes , I could survive. ✔️The next is clear out all your loans . I did this before I stepped out. ✔️Have a good medical cover for your family , this is critical. ✔️ Learn to live frugal , all the perks will stop and you pay for everything. I started working from Starbucks and co-working spaces. ✔️Be ready to multitask. I was the accountant and the website developer and the sales head all at once. ✔️ Be ready to be rejected time and again . This is the most stressful yet most important skill you will need on your journey. 2. Have Your Why : Don’t just step out because you hate the place , the grass looks greener on the other side always. Have a clear ‘Why’ , what is it that drives you , that gets you excited and will keep you going in tough times. For me it was always about “being the CEO of My Life” , I wanted to live life on my own terms, do what I love , contribute my best gifts , have time for what matters most - self , family , things I love. 3. Build Your Brand - You already are a brand , ask 5 of your connections / friends what do they think of you , what are the qualities they appreciate in you and you will have your answer. The point is can you be a brand that stands out , that adds value to someone, will be missed when does not show up. You will find such people around you , they will always be in demand. Their jobs cannot be defined because they go beyond, so their jobs cannot be taken away easily with something cheaper . They are artists at work and artists cannot be replaced . They are passionate about what they do and they have a strong point of view and are not afraid to stand up , stand out speak up and rock the boat. Be that brand not a commodity, do this while you are in a job . 4. Become a Storyteller - every thing that is sold in the world begins with an idea and the one who is able to spread that idea gains the most. Storytellers are dreamers , they spread ideas with stories and they build their tribes. Learn to stand up and speak and be heard and remembered. Humans are wired for stories, B2B , B2C or D2C finally you connect with a human being. Build these skills anyway . You never know when you will need it. #entreprenuership