Founder DNA & Personal Competencies

Step 1 of 4

Attribute 1: Communication

How you speak, listen, and get your point across — in meetings, with investors, with farmers, or even with your co-founder when they want to quit at midnight.

Q1: When you have to explain your idea to someone new — say an investor, a skeptical uncle, or even a farmer in the mandi — how do you usually go about it?👉 Think of that moment when your audience looks half curious, half confused. Do you jump straight to the jargon, or do you paint a picture? Your communication is not just about words; it’s about whether people walk away nodding or scratching their heads.

The Straight Shooter; “I usually get straight to the point — no drama, no storytelling. I tell people what the product is, what it does, and why it matters. If they get it, good. If not, well, I tried.”

The Story Weaver; “I like to narrate it as a small story — a problem, a character, and then how my idea solves it. If I’m pitching agri-tech, I’ll talk about Ramesh the farmer in Bihar, not just sensors and data.”

The Jargon Juggler; “I usually dive into big words and frameworks — precision farming, AI, IoT, blockchain traceability. People look impressed, even if they don’t fully understand.”

Communication is not about who talks the most, but about who gets understood the fastest. Your pitch should be like a good cup of chai — strong, clear, and leaving a warm aftertaste. ☕

Attribute 2: Perseverance

The ability to keep going when things fall apart — which, in startups, happens every alternate Tuesday.

Q2. When your startup plan hits a wall — like your prototype fails, your key hire leaves, or your investor ghosts you after promising a term sheet — how do you usually respond? 👉 Perseverance is not just about “never giving up” — it’s about how you adapt, adjust, and keep your energy alive when everyone else says, “Bas, ab band kar de yaar.”

The Bulldozer; “I keep pushing harder, doubling my efforts, even if it means sleepless nights. Failure just makes me grind more. Giving up is never an option.”

The Flexible Fighter; “I take a step back, reflect on what went wrong, and try a new angle. If plan A fails, I move to plan B or C without losing sight of the goal.”

The Emotional Sprinter; “I get very frustrated and demotivated at first. Sometimes I even think of quitting. But after some days, I come back with renewed energy and try again.”

Perseverance in startups is less like running a 100m dash and more like playing kabaddi in slow motion — you need stamina, flexibility, and the courage to get up every time you’re pulled down. 🏋️‍♂️

Attribute 3: Patience – Pause and Speed

The art of knowing when to sprint and when to wait, like a farmer who sows seeds and doesn’t dig them up daily to check growth 🌱.

Q3. When it comes to making progress in your startup — how do you balance speed and patience? 👉 In startups, moving too fast can make you trip, while waiting too long can make you miss the bus. Where do you usually land on this see-saw?

The Over-Eager Sprinter; “I believe in fast moves, quick results, and rapid scaling. Why wait when the world is running? I’ll launch, fail, pivot, and repeat till something sticks.”

The Thoughtful Pacer; “I try to find a rhythm — move fast where urgency matters, pause where reflection is needed. For example, I’ll launch pilots quickly but take my time to finalize long-term contracts.”

The Careful Observer; “I like to wait until everything is clear and well-tested before moving. Speed feels risky — I’d rather move late but sure.”

Startup life is like crossing an Indian traffic circle 🚦 — sometimes you must floor the accelerator, sometimes you must wait till that random cow moves. The art is knowing when to do which. 🐄

Attribute 4: Problem-Solving Skills

Every startup is basically a giant puzzle — except the pieces keep changing shape, the box is missing, and investors are peeking over your shoulder asking, “Is it done yet?” 😅

Q4. When unexpected problems hit your startup — how do you usually tackle them?👉 Because trust me, they will hit. From a sudden supplier disappearing to your co-founder announcing marriage plans in the middle of harvest season, chaos is part of the package. How do you deal with it?

The Quick-Fix Firefighter; “I jump straight in and patch things up — find a quick fix, keep things moving, and worry about the bigger picture later.”

The Curious Detective; “I pause to understand the root cause, talk to people, gather data, and then solve the problem with both short-term fixes and long-term solutions.”

The Collective Brain Hacker; “I bring the team together, brainstorm, and crowdsource solutions. Sometimes the best fix comes from someone who’s not even in the problem directly.”

A startup without problems is like a samosa without aloo 🥔 — impossible. The real question isn’t “Do you face problems?” but “Do you solve them in a way that makes tomorrow easier, not harder?”

Attribute 5: Openness to New Ideas

Startups thrive on fresh ideas — but too many can make you look like a juggler in a circus 🎪, dropping half while trying to keep them all up in the air.)

Q5. When new ideas come your way — from team, mentors, or even random chai-wallah wisdom — how do you usually respond? 👉 Because in startups, ideas pop up faster than popcorn, and not all deserve to land in your business plan.

The Idea Collector; “I get excited by every new suggestion — I want to try them all! From TikTok marketing to blockchain in potato farming, why not experiment?”

The Selective Filter; “I listen to new ideas carefully, explore them a bit, but only act when they fit my vision and resources. I believe not every good idea is a good fit.”

The Skeptical Gatekeeper; “I’m cautious about new ideas — most of them sound like distractions or half-baked trends. I prefer sticking to what’s already working.”

New ideas are like guests at an Indian wedding 🎉 — welcome them warmly, feed them chai, but don’t let all of them move into your house permanently.

Attribute 6: Reflections

In startups, doing is celebrated — but thinking about what you’ve done is often ignored. Reflection is like the rear-view mirror in a highway drive: small in size, but without it you’ll crash sooner or later 🚗💥.

Q6. How often do you step back to reflect on your decisions, mistakes, and learnings as a founder? 👉 Because running fast without looking back may feel thrilling, but it’s also how you miss warning signs (or repeat the same blunder twice).

The Rare Reflector; “I hardly pause — every day feels like firefighting or chasing the next big thing. Reflection sounds nice, but who has the time?”

The Regular Journaller; “I set aside time to reflect — maybe weekly reviews, a quick journal, or honest chats with mentors. It helps me connect dots and improve.”

The Over-Thinker; “I reflect so much that sometimes I get stuck — analyzing every past move, replaying scenarios, and delaying new actions.”

Reflection is like adding tadka to dal 🥘 — a small step that makes the whole dish richer. Without it, effort feels bland and repetitive.

Attribute 7: Networking

Some founders treat networking like speed dating 💃🕺, collecting cards and selfies. Others avoid it like a bad wedding buffet. But done right, networking is the art of building bridges that don’t collapse when you actually need to cross them.

Q7. How do you usually approach networking as a founder? 👉 Because in the food-agri-environment space, your next customer, partner, or even investor might be sitting next to you at a mandi chai stall or a boring policy seminar.

The Card Collector; “I attend every event, add everyone on LinkedIn, and hoard contacts. My phonebook is fat, but honestly, I don’t know who half these people are.”

The Relationship Cultivator; “I invest in fewer but deeper connections — I follow up, stay in touch, and build trust over time. Quality over quantity.”

The Lone Wolf; “I avoid networking unless forced. I prefer focusing on work — if my product is good, people will eventually find me.”

Networking is like irrigation canals 🚰 — they don’t guarantee the harvest, but without them, even the best seeds struggle to grow.

Attribute 8: Talent Acquisition

Hiring in a startup is like cooking biryani 🍲 — one wrong ingredient and the whole dish smells funny. Get it right, and everyone remembers it forever.

Q8. When it comes to hiring people for your startup, what’s your usual style? 👉 Because talent can make or break your dream. And let’s be honest — most founders either overpay for the wrong person or underpay and then complain when talent leaves.

The “Big Name Hunter”; "I prefer bringing in high-profile hires — ex-MNC managers, IIT-IIM grads, or people with glittering CVs. It signals credibility and attracts investors.”

The “Hands-On Farmer”; “I look for people with hunger, adaptability, and willingness to learn. Even if their CVs aren’t perfect, I value doers who’ll grow with the startup.”

The “Budget Worrier”; “I hesitate to hire at all — interns, freelancers, and founders doing everything. Payroll scares me more than competition.”

Talent is not about filling chairs — it’s about planting trees 🌳. Some grow into shade, some bear fruit, and some just fall over in the first storm. Choose wisely.

Founder DNA & Personal Competencies

Attribute 1: Communication

Attribute 2: Perseverance

Attribute 3: Patience – Pause and Speed

Attribute 4: Problem-Solving Skills

Attribute 5: Openness to New Ideas

Attribute 6: Reflections

Attribute 7: Networking

Attribute 8: Talent Acquisition

Review

Attribute 1: Communication

Attribute 2: Perseverance

Attribute 3: Patience – Pause and Speed

Attribute 4: Problem-Solving Skills

Attribute 5: Openness to New Ideas

Attribute 6: Reflections

Attribute 7: Networking

Attribute 8: Talent Acquisition