India, 6th July 2026: Marwadi University hosted Mr. Aman Gupta—renowned entrepreneur, investor, and Co-founder of boAt, and Founder & CEO, OFF/BEAT for an inspiring, engaging and bold fireside chat as part of the Orientation Programme for its incoming batch of first-year students. The session saw enthusiastic participation from over 650 students, who engaged in an open conversation with one of India’s most influential startup leaders, gaining firsthand insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and the realities of building brands in today’s India.
The conversation was candid, real, and tailored to resonate with today’s students, speaking about real world dynamics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership from the outset of their academic journey. The session offered practical insights into building and scaling businesses in today’s fast evolving economy, drawing from lived experience.
Drawing from his personal and entrepreneurial journey, Mr. Aman Gupta spoke with candour about the challenges, failures, and defining moments of his life that shaped his career and established him as one of India’s most culturally influential entrepreneurs.
Speaking to the students, Mr. Aman Gupta echoed the auditorium’s young mindset when he said “You should not worry about the world. Don’t think what people are thinking. Do what you think.” Speaking of Gen Z he said, “You guys are the smartest generation in this country. You guys are the future of this country. My biggest lessons did not come from business school, they came from my startups that failed. So, go out there: build something.”
Speaking further about personal lessons—both hard-earned and intuitive—he said, “If you don’t know your worth, others will give you your worth. I believe more in instinct than in insights from reading data.” Keeping it as real as the man he is, he ended with a smile saying, “While some grow older, I grow bolder.”
On the subject of boAt, he said, “After going public, you’re taking public money which makes you answerable to the public and shareholders. I don’t think I was ready to run a public company at today’s rate. Maybe in the future.”
Mr. Dhruv Marwadi, Trustee, Marwadi University, who hosted the brilliant fireside chat shared his own experiences and thoughts on the entrepreneurial minds honed, encouraged and emboldened at the University. Speaking to the Shark who has invested in many ventures across the country, Dhruv shared that with Marwadi University’s Centre for Innovation, Incubation & Research, every student startup idea is funded ₹2.5 lakhs by the University, encouraging students to grow, build, innovate.
Speaking more on this, Dhruv said, “We believe that education extends beyond textbooks and classrooms. The best thing about an interdisciplinary university is that there is a student of engineering, nursing, management, computer application, law. If this founding team is formed, they can do wonders. So, why not?”
He added, “Since our inception, our aim has always been to create learning experiences that go beyond theory, where students engage directly with leaders who have reshaped industries through innovation, perseverance, and vision. Aman Gupta’s journey stands as a compelling example of how entrepreneurial thinking and customer-first innovation can redefine markets and influence the cultural moment. We are pleased our students had the opportunity to learn firsthand from one of India’s most respected entrepreneurs.”
A key highlight of the event was an interactive question-and-answer session that spanned topics from entrepreneurship, brand building, startup funding, and innovation to leadership, career choices, and navigating today’s competitive business landscape and understanding how Gen Z is reshaping the country’s work culture.
Giving a broad and very bold range of candid advice, Aman Gupta, admired and reflected on the students’ curiosity and ambition, while offering practical insights on scaling a global Indian consumer brand.
