1. What inspired you to take the entrepreneurial route?
I would describe myself as an accidental entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur was never something I initially planned. It was an evolution that happened through my corporate journey and the experiences that followed.
Over the years, entrepreneurship has become an integral part of my life. Today, I am involved in different dimensions of the startup ecosystem. I have built startups, mentored founders, invested in ventures, and actively promoted entrepreneurship.
Being part of this 360-degree startup ecosystem has allowed me to explore several roles. While people may identify me as an investor, mentor, or influencer, my core identity remains that of an entrepreneur.
I don’t want to be defined only by the additional roles I take up. They are extensions of my entrepreneurial journey. At the end of the day, entrepreneurship is who I am.
2. What are some of the major challenges women entrepreneurs face, particularly when entering and sustaining a business?
Although entrepreneurship itself does not have a gender, the reality is that the journey is not always equally easy for women and men.
For women, entering entrepreneurship can be challenging, but sustaining a business is often even more difficult. Women frequently have multiple responsibilities, including their roles as mothers, professionals, and business owners. Managing these responsibilities while building a business requires considerable effort.
Women also tend to be highly organised and perfection-oriented. While these qualities are valuable, they can sometimes make it difficult to shift attention between different priorities or move quickly from one task to another.
Through my own experiences and interactions with peers, I have understood the importance of developing a balance between emotional and logical thinking. I have learned to appreciate the value of keeping things simple, approaching situations logically, and making decisions without unnecessarily complicating them.
I believe there are three important dimensions to this balance: logical, emotional, and spiritual thinking. When these three work together, they can create a stronger foundation for personal and professional growth.
Women have tremendous potential in entrepreneurship. Their intuitive and spiritual strengths can be powerful assets, provided they also develop strong logical thinking and decision-making abilities.
3. What is one idea or trend from this year’s Huddle Global that excited you the most?
One of the most interesting things I noticed this year was the growing presence of young entrepreneurs, particularly from the Malabar region and Malappuram.
I was particularly impressed by their daring attitudes, innovative ideas, and entrepreneurial mindset. Many of them are not simply looking for employment opportunities. They are thinking about creating something of their own and generating opportunities for others.
What stood out to me was their desire to give life to an idea. Raising funds or building an impressive business structure did not appear to be their immediate priority. Their primary focus was to develop a concept they believed in and make it a reality.
I also noticed a growing number of aspiring young entrepreneurs attending Huddle Global this year. This increasing participation from the younger generation could bring a significant difference to Kerala’s startup ecosystem.
4. Could you tell us about your current entrepreneurial focus and what you hope to achieve through it?
Currently, I am working on a new startup called B – Business Ecosystem Engine.
I have stepped away from CXO-level operational roles in my previous startups, although I continue to remain associated with some of them as a stakeholder.
Through Business Ecosystem Engine, my objective is to bring startups and founders together and build a stronger, more connected business ecosystem.
One of the ideas is to create a platform called the *Founders Guild*, where we can identify promising founders, understand their ideas, help develop their brands, and connect them with the right experts.
The larger vision is to integrate different elements of the startup ecosystem, including industry experts, angel investors, and venture capitalists, to help build successful brands from Kerala.
That is also one of the reasons I was particularly interested in attending Huddle Global this year. I saw it as an opportunity to connect with founders, discover promising ideas, and identify potential collaborations.
I have already come across several interesting opportunities that I believe could lead to meaningful developments.
