SlydS - The Presentation Experts

I was recently invited to speak at BITS Pilani on a panel discussing VCs vs Founders.

What stood out wasn’t the panel—it was the audience.

A large part of the room consisted of students from grades 9 and 10. Yet, most questions revolved around when to raise funding, how to pitch to VCs, and how to “start early” as entrepreneurs.

Some advice shared on the panel encouraged students to start selling early, focus on making money, and “build a hustle mindset” from school itself.

I disagreed.

Not because entrepreneurship is bad—but because we’re pushing it at the wrong stage, and often for the wrong reasons.

At 14 or 15, the goal shouldn’t be to optimize for revenue. It should be to build curiosity, problem-solving ability, and depth of thinking.

A sales-first mindset too early can create individuals who chase outcomes without understanding problems.

And that’s a bigger issue we’re already seeing—graduates who struggle with real-world problem solving, who hesitate to explore different paths, and who often feel locked into one definition of success.

In many parts of the world, students are encouraged to experiment—across disciplines, careers, and ideas. The focus is on understanding problems deeply before trying to monetize solutions.

My message to the students was simple:

Don’t chase entrepreneurship because it’s “cool.”
Don’t chase money because it’s visible.

Instead:
Build hobbies.
Explore interests.
Ask better questions.
Get comfortable with solving problems that don’t have obvious answers.

Because in the long run, great problem solvers don’t chase opportunities—opportunities chase them.

**The "F*** it" “Face It” Philosophy:** Christ College

And that brings me to my second point: **Face what you don’t know.**

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be the best at everything. But when you face something you don’t know, you have two options: run away or *lean in.*

Take my story—after college, I started my own business making presentations for companies. The first client I worked with was a small startup. Honestly, I didn’t even know what their business was about. But guess what? I *faced it*. I showed up, learned everything I could, and made it work.

And you know what? One client led to another, and before I knew it, I was working with some of the top companies in the country. It wasn’t a fluke; it was about facing everything I didn’t know and figuring it out as I went along.

Today marks my 10 years of building SlydS with friends!

Here are a few moments of mine that show why friendship & business work - even against the odds.

1) Built to Last:

Our single-digit attrition rate over 10 years shows the loyalty that comes from building with friends.

2) Friendship is the Ultimate Biohack:

My friends have always had my back in both work & life, especially when it mattered most.

3) The Best Boat is a “Friends Boat”:

When trust runs deep, you build one strong boat together… and our clients can feel that, too!

(Even in a low-trust environment like India)

4) Friends Say Yes Faster!

With friends, we experiment more, move faster, and build without second-guessing.

5)  Our Workspace is Our Everything:

SlydS is our shared heartbeat - where work, friendship, and purpose come together!

Building a company with friends has been my greatest gift.

We’ve grown, learned, and built something truly special together.

Whether it’s team-building cricket, golf, or the daily grind, our bond makes every challenge easier and every success sweeter.

Here’s to 10 incredible years of SlydS and many more to come! 🥂

Steve jobs better not f**k with me.