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Startup Founder With Successful Exit: Does Working as an Employee Hurt Funding Chances?

Chandu

Chandu Nair  |65 Answers  |Ask -

VC, Angel Investing, Entrepreneurship Expert - Answered on Jul 08, 2024

Chandu Nair advises entrepreneurs and enterprises about creating and building their business.
He has direct experience in angel, venture capital and strategic investor funding. Over the last three decades, he has made a name for himself in industry, consultancy, media and information services.
Nair is on the advisory boards of the Chennai-based private equity firm Fulcrum and the social impact fund, Menterra. He's an independent director on the board of India's first retail building products company, Shankara Building Products Limited.
He was the co-founder of Scope e-Knowledge Center, a pioneering knowledge process outsourcing company, as well as the co-founder of a business-to-business e-commerce venture, both of which he successfully exited.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Oct 28, 2023Hindi
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Dear Mr. Chandu, I am having 13 YoE in my professional journey out of which I spend 10 years in my own startup from which I took exit with 2.5 Cr in cash which I invested for my family's financial cushion. Post that I joined a startup as 1st employee which didn't do good and I left after 2 years. Then I joined another startup as 1st employee which is looking decent to work with but not that rewarding financially. As my daughter is around 2 years at present, I'd like to start again in next 2-3 years. Does my working as employee in early stage startups dilute my image as a entrepreneur with successful exit in terms of getting funding for my next idea?

Ans: An employee with a good track record in start-ups, now having a good idea with the mindset and passion of an entrepreneur and a proven ability to execute, can enthuse others to join him/her on their journey and also attract funding.
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Chandu

Chandu Nair  |65 Answers  |Ask -

VC, Angel Investing, Entrepreneurship Expert - Answered on Feb 12, 2024

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Dear Mr CHandu, I am 53 yrs now and an BE by qualification. I have been working in IT industry (14 yrs) and from 2007 have been working in IT Security profile as GM. In 2015 I left the job over an partnership offer which did not materialized but i lost the job. I started an start-up ecommerce company with a good concept which was liked and appreciated by the franchisees as even today they are running a grocery store which was setup by me, though my business shut down due to non funding and was cheated in the name of funding. After long gap I did join the company but lasted for just 8 months and now again am job less. I have a good start-up idea in healthcare which is workable and have been appreciated by people to whom i have brief though i M yet to launch due to funds issue, Though people are trying to find the funding after hearing the biz idea. My wife is working and have 2 kids in 12th and 10th Std respectively. Pls advice.
Ans: Dear Mr Dinesh,
It looks like you have been through a lot after getting into business on your own. Your children too are at a critical stage in life which requires funds for higher education in the next few years. The first question to ask yourself is - what is the priority in your life? Is it financial stability for the family esp for the kids? Or is it the pursuit of your business? The second question is - what is the current status of your household finances? Is there enough savings to manage the household, upcoming education expenses, other expenses (travel, medical etc)?
If you are shaky, it may be time for you to consider taking an assignment which offers you a fixed remuneration and also flexibility to work on your idea. You say you were in the field of IT security. Can you consider an assignment which might take 2-3 days per week managing and overseeing the IT security for a company which cannot afford a full-time professional?
You may also want to consider getting incubated in a good healthcare incubator in your city and also apply for a start-up funding grant from the government of India and/or local state government programmes.

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Mayank

Mayank Chandel  |2108 Answers  |Ask -

IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Mar 17, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 14, 2025Hindi
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Hi Mayank, My son has specific learning disability and have pwd certificate with more than 40% benchmark, he is very good in maths and logical reasoning but very poor at language portion, he has recently given JEE, there is probability of getting in government funded college, but my concern is wheather he will be able to tackle the pressure of college, I have discussed with my son regarding the various options as he is very keen on computer science, I wanted to know what are the various options available with gim so that he can lead a successful life, he is hard working and open to many ideas, thanks in advance.
Ans: Hello Sir,
It's great that your son is hardworking and open to different ideas! Given his strong aptitude for math and logical reasoning.
Here are some options.

Government-Funded Colleges (IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs): If he qualifies for these, he will get support under the PWD category, including extra time in exams, scribes (if needed), and relaxation in certain academic criteria.
Private Universities (BITS, IIIT-H, Ashoka, Shiv Nadar, Plaksha, etc.): Some private institutions offer excellent CS programs with flexible learning environments.
Specialized Accommodations: Many colleges provide support like extra tutoring, note-taking assistance, language support, and mental health counseling.

Regarding Coping with College Pressure:

Choosing the Right College: Look for institutions that offer strong disability support and a friendly learning environment.

Developing Learning Strategies: Text-to-speech tools, structured note-taking apps, and assistive learning technologies can help.

Seeking Mentors & Support Groups: Connecting with peers or seniors who faced similar challenges.

Internships & Hands-on Learning: Real-world projects can build confidence and skills outside academic pressure.

Alternative CS Education Paths
Online Degrees (IIT Madras BSc in Data Science, Georgia Tech MS Online, etc.): A flexible option if he prefers self-paced learning.
Coding Bootcamps (Scaler, Masai, Pesto, Newton School, etc.): Fast-track career-focused programs.
Open-Source Learning (CS50, MIT OCW, Udemy, Coursera, etc.): Helps in skill-building without the pressure of formal college exams.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4336 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Mar 16, 2025

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My son got 97.56 in general category. Any chances of getting cse at NIT. Regards
Ans: Sitansu Sir, Here is, How to Predict Your Son's Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide

Once the January JEE Main session results are declared, many students and JEE applicants start asking common questions about eligibility for specific institutes (NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, etc.) based on their percentile, category, preferred branch, and home state.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Son's Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your Son's JEE Main percentile
Your Son's category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
His Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
HIs Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch your son is interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Son's Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your son's expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engieering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your Son's admissions!

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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