Guest
Guest
Jul 24, 2025
1:35 PM
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India’s startup ecosystem has seen a meteoric rise over the past two decades, with entrepreneurs from every corner of the country chasing their dreams. But behind many of these success stories are mentors—seasoned professionals, investors, business mentorship stories in India, and industry veterans—who’ve played pivotal roles in shaping the journeys of budding entrepreneurs. Business mentorship in India has evolved from informal guidance to structured accelerator and incubator programs. Here are some inspiring mentorship stories that reflect its transformative power.
1. Ratan Tata and the Ola Founders
One of the most iconic business mentorship stories in India is that of Ratan Tata’s involvement with Ola, India’s ride-hailing giant. In 2015, Tata personally invested in the company and offered guidance to co-founders Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati. Known for his business acumen and humility, Tata’s mentorship wasn't just financial—it brought credibility, global vision, and an emphasis on customer trust.
Bhavish Aggarwal has often credited Tata's support during difficult times, especially when the company was facing regulatory pressure. Tata’s belief in the founders encouraged them to take bold decisions, such as investing in electric vehicles and building their own battery technologies.
2. Kunal Bahl and Snapdeal’s Pivot
Kunal Bahl, the co-founder of Snapdeal, often speaks about the role of mentorship from Rohit Bansal, his co-founder, and also external mentors like Ratan Tata and Kalaari Capital's Vani Kola. After facing near-collapse due to intense competition from Amazon and Flipkart, Snapdeal pivoted its business model in 2017.
Under the guidance of mentors who emphasized focus and lean operations, Bahl and his team restructured the company, avoided a forced sale, and brought it back to profitability. Mentorship helped them resist short-term pressure and look at long-term sustainability.
3. The Power of Peer Mentorship at iSPIRT
India’s tech think tank iSPIRT has cultivated a strong culture of peer mentorship, especially among SaaS (Software as a Service) entrepreneurs. Leaders like Girish Mathrubootham (Freshworks) and Sridhar Vembu (Zoho) have mentored dozens of young founders like Varun Shoor (Kayako) and Rahul Vohra (Superhuman), particularly in product thinking, global scaling, and bootstrapped growth.
This community-driven mentoring model has made India a hub for profitable, product-led SaaS startups, often with little external funding.
4. Women Mentors Changing the Narrative
Women entrepreneurs in India have increasingly benefitted from mentorship networks. Platforms like Sheroes, Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE), and WE-Hub (Telangana) offer structured mentorship programs led by women.
One success story is Suchita Salwan, founder of LBB (Little Black Book). She found early support and mentorship from Ankita Vashistha, a leading venture capitalist and founder of Saha Fund. Vashistha guided her on building community-driven commerce and helped connect her with the right investors and advisors.
5. Grassroots Mentorship in Rural India
Not all mentorship stories come from the urban elite. Programs like NSRCEL (IIM Bangalore) and Deshpande Foundation have created mentorship networks for rural and small-town entrepreneurs.
Take the story of Bharat Jangid, a small textile entrepreneur from Rajasthan. With mentorship from NSRCEL's program, Bharat was able to digitize his business, tap into e-commerce, and eventually supply to national fashion brands. His mentor, an ex-Amazon supply chain manager, helped him streamline logistics and scale sustainably.
Why Mentorship Matters
Mentorship in Indian business isn’t just about connections or capital—it’s about vision, resilience, and support. Here’s what makes mentorship crucial:
Clarity in Strategy: Mentors bring perspective that helps avoid common pitfalls.
Emotional Support: Especially during failures and pivots.
Network Access: A well-connected mentor can open doors to investors, partners, and media.
Skills Transfer: From financial discipline to team building, mentors share experiential knowledge.
Conclusion
India’s entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of business. Behind their courage and innovation are mentors who inspire, guide, and support them through thick and thin. As mentorship ecosystems continue to mature through formal programs, online platforms, and grassroots initiatives, they are set to be the backbone of India’s next wave of business growth.
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