#101 Startup Insights

Ajaii Mahajan
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  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Starting a business is exciting, but let’s be honest—it’s also overwhelming. Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with validating their ideas, building sustainable models, and navigating the chaos of early-stage growth. That’s where #101StartupInsights comes in. This series distils 101 actionable insights from the Parallel Ventures Series, my books on building lasting startups. Whether you’re brainstorming your first idea, scaling operations, or planning an exit, these insights will serve as your guide. Happy listening. Ajaii Mahajan

Episodes

  1. Insight 010: Looking for the Correct Fit in the Market

    23 JUN

    Insight 010: Looking for the Correct Fit in the Market

    There’s a subtle but powerful shift that happens in astartup’s journey. You move from trying to explain your product to watchingcustomers tell you why they love it.From pushing your offering into the world… to responding to the pull.That moment signals something every founder dreams of: product-market fit. It’s the point where your product naturally resonates withthe people you built it for. But here’s the truth most don’t tell you—it’s not a one-time event. It’s a continuousdance between your product and the market. And this insight is about learning the rhythm.

    7 min
  2. Insight 009: Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

    11 JUN

    Insight 009: Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

    Perfection is comforting—but dangerous. It convinces you todelay. It pushes you to build more, polish endlessly, and wait until everything feels ready. But in startup life, perfection isn’t the goal. Learning is. And that’s where the Minimum Viable Product—or MVP—comes in.It’s not a shortcut. It’s a strategy. This insight is about launching lean, listening early, andevolving fast. Because real products are not made in isolation—they’re shaped in the hands of real users.

    5 min
  3. Insight 008: Early Sales and Pre-Orders as a Way to Validate

    9 JUN

    Insight 008: Early Sales and Pre-Orders as a Way to Validate

    Every founder dreams of their first sale—not just as a financial transaction, but as a moment of truth. Until someone pays for your product, you’re still working on a hypothesis. But the moment money changes hands—when someone willingly parts with cash because they believe in what you’re offering—your idea becomes something more. It becomes real. This insight is about that moment—and how early sales and pre-orders aren’t just about revenue, but about validation.

    6 min
  4. Insight 007: Building Initial Traction – Early Marketing Tactics

    7 JUN

    Insight 007: Building Initial Traction – Early Marketing Tactics

    Starting a business often feels like stepping onto a stage—except the lights are off, the chairs are empty, and the mic’s not plugged in. You have something valuable to offer, but no one’s listening. Not yet. That’s where early traction comes in. It’s not about going viral. It’s not about scaling fast.It’s about getting those first few people to care. And then turning that care into momentum. In this insight, we explore what it takes to move from silence to signal—and how smart, scrappy founders create marketing energy when the world is still unaware.

    6 min
  5. Insight 006: Validating Your Business Idea

    20 FEB

    Insight 006: Validating Your Business Idea

    Every founder feels it at some point—that electric certainty: This idea could change everything. It’s an intoxicating moment. But also a dangerous one. Because belief is not the same as validation. And confidence, while crucial, is not a substitute for evidence. In this edition of #101StartupInsights, we shift focus from inspiration to investigation. From loving your idea… to making sure your customers will love it too. Welcome to the practice of validation—a step many skip, and many regret skipping.

    7 min
  6. Insight 005: Getting to Know Your Competitors

    19 FEB

    Insight 005: Getting to Know Your Competitors

    Many founders believe competition is something to fear or avoid, but in reality, understanding your competitors can be a strategic advantage. A well-researched competitive landscape helps startups identify market gaps, refine their unique selling proposition, and make informed decisions about positioning.

    7 min
  7. Insight 004: Customer discovery and validation

    18 FEB

    Insight 004: Customer discovery and validation

    One of the biggest mistakes founders make is building in isolation—creating a product based on assumptions rather than real customer needs. Successful startups don’t just rely on what they think customers want; they actively engage with potential users to discover pain points, validate solutions, and refine their ideas.

    5 min
  8. Insight 003: Conducting Market Research

    17 FEB

    Insight 003: Conducting Market Research

    Many entrepreneurs assume they know what their customers need—only to realise too late that they built a product no one actually wants. Market research helps founders avoid this costly mistake by moving from assumptions to insights and ensuring that their offering truly resonates with potential customers. Many founders realised that they needed a structured approach to gather market insights and validate demand before building anything.

    6 min
  9. Insight 002 : Figuring Out Your Product/Service

    16 FEB

    Insight 002 : Figuring Out Your Product/Service

    Coming up with a business idea is exciting, but turning that idea into a real product or service requires focus, clarity,and an understanding of customer needs. Many founders fall into the trap of building too much too soon, adding unnecessary features, or creating something they assume people want—without actually validating their assumptions.

    5 min
  10. Insight 001: Starting The Entrepreneurial Journey

    15 FEB

    Insight 001: Starting The Entrepreneurial Journey

    Entrepreneurship starts long before a product is built or a business is launched. It begins with curiosity, conviction,and a willingness to explore the unknown. The first step is often the hardest—not because of the work itself but because of the self-doubt and fear of failure. In this first insight, we explore how successful founderstake their first steps and how you can gain clarity before fully committing to your entrepreneurial journey.

    5 min
  11. #101StartupInsights - An Introduction

    14 FEB

    #101StartupInsights - An Introduction

    Starting a business is exciting, but let’s be honest—it’s also overwhelming. Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with validating their ideas, building sustainable models, and navigating the chaos of early-stage growth. That’s where #101StartupInsights comes in. This series of articles distils 101 actionable insights from Parallel Ventures, my book series on building lasting startups. Whether you’re brainstorming your first idea, scaling operations, or planning an exit, these insights will serve as your guide. Who Is This For? If you’re considering a startup but don’t know where to begin, this is for you. If you’ve already started but feel lost in execution, this is for you. If you’re balancing entrepreneurship with a career, this is foryou. What to Expect: Twice a week, I will share a new deep dive into an essential startup lesson, covering topics such as: Validating Your Business Idea Finding the Right Market Fit Revenue Models and Monetization Scaling Smartly and Sustainably Overcoming Setbacks and Building Resilience Leadership, Culture, and Succession Planning Each article will be story-driven, actionable, and practical—using real-world examples and lessons from the entrepreneurial journey of Priya Sharma and Rohan Malhotra. Subscribe and Join the Conversation: Entrepreneurship thrives on community and shared wisdom. Subscribe to this podcast to receive the latest insights. Stay informed, stay inspired, and take action on your startup journey. I invite you to follow this series, share your thoughts, and engage with fellow founders in the comments. Let’s turn insights into action and help you build something that lasts.

    5 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Starting a business is exciting, but let’s be honest—it’s also overwhelming. Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with validating their ideas, building sustainable models, and navigating the chaos of early-stage growth. That’s where #101StartupInsights comes in. This series distils 101 actionable insights from the Parallel Ventures Series, my books on building lasting startups. Whether you’re brainstorming your first idea, scaling operations, or planning an exit, these insights will serve as your guide. Happy listening. Ajaii Mahajan

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