Entrepreneurship is all about Antha Prerna: Aditi Jaiswal, Entrepreneurship Drive

In conversation with Aditi Jaiswal, Founder, Entrepreneurship Drive. Entrepreneurship Drive, a leading Business Consultancy is hosting its first-ever Business Shower on August 27th at Radisson Hotel, Delhi to celebrate milestones achieved by its client - Sanjay Pawah, Owner of A.P. Engineering. In a conversation with Entrepreneurship Drive’s founder Aditi Jaiswal, we find out more about the novel concept of business showers, which she feels will soon become a norm in India.

Q. What is Entrepreneurship Drive’s role in the functioning of a new business?

Entrepreneurship Drive offers end to end enterprise solutions to businesses that are either launching or trying to enter the next growth phase. We provide integrated consulting, business solution services and deal advisory. Our three main services: mentoring, pivoting and consulting are customised to each enterprises’ need and phase. Our idiosyncratic 5-step process of understanding needs and desires, roadmap creation, aligning to market movements, business fit and consultation, paves a path to definite milestones for businesses, which are stuck in a particular phase. Our team specializes in rolling up its sleeves and helping build businesses, brick by brick. With a plan and safety net for every situation, we adopt realistic ideologies such as the ‘Stop Failure Button’, where the entrepreneur is advised on gaps that need to be filled. But when failure is inevitable, Entrepreneurship Drive advises to fail fast but consciously, so that the failing business can be pivoted with minimum learning mistakes. SMEs and MSMEs with 100 cr. to 1000 cr. turnovers, when caught at crossroads, approach us.

Q. How did you know that business accelerators were the future 26 years ago? How did you think of starting a company like Entrepreneurship Drive?

There have always been business accelerators and they will continue to exist. Certain businesses are like commodities and can be monetised easily, while some require more attention. Every accelerator works in a different way. My experience in investments and entrepreneurship helps me with my intuitive understanding of businesses. Today businesses are dynamic, a mere acceleration is not enough for the completion of an entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship Drive’s team consists of old school strategists, disruptive millennials to extraordinarily GenZs, which creates a special mix, bringing in different perspectives to the businesses.

I have loved doing work since the age of 18, I have taught people German, and handled a kids’ clubhouse too. Later on, I did my engineering followed by an MBA from the US. I started working in finance, investments and business building. Since I had experience in both investments and new businesses, I started mentoring and consulting entrepreneurs and building their businesses. I grew fond of what I was doing and it was adding value to the businesses too, so born was Entrepreneurship Drive. In a time when entrepreneurs can approach regular incubators, accelerators or grants, Entrepreneurship Drive adds unique value, we meticulously involve ourselves in every step of business building.

Q. Entrepreneurship Drive believes that every entrepreneur and business has a story to tell. Tell us your story.

Back in the day, my grandfather was a clothing label manufacturer, with a monopoly in the Indian market, I was always exposed to entrepreneurial ventures and learning from my grandfather. I imbibed his discipline, - to always wholly dedicate yourself to something you love and its criticality in life. It is less about pushing yourself to prove something but more about being dedicated to what you are doing presently. This kept me going and focused. I have built a lifetime of experience in all cohorts of finance and businesses. I also had a way of drilling things down, getting them done, however, there came a point where my outlook broadened, and it happened after I lost my mother. A realisation came upon me; happiness comes from gratitude and the small things we forget to cherish. This gratitude brings self-love and reduces the need for validation from society. In a state of self-love, success is easier to achieve. I feel these two life lessons have made me what I am today.

Q. Do the new enterprises survive in the market after their period with ED is over? If yes, how well do the businesses do after they are set free?

The enterprises not only survive but also do well after their program with Entrepreneurial Drive. There is a 6 month and yearly program that businesses can choose from, the program is determined by the business’s area of work and the phase they are in. We create a customised road map, which increases the chances of succeeding, even after their duration with us. Acquiring 100 customers- the chunk of early adopters, is the first goal, post which the business is on its own. However, businesses do come back for expansion plans, when they want to explore new geographies (national or international) or form global strategic alliances. They also reach out when they are looking for their 3rd-4th round of funding. Most Businesses mentored by us get on the track of million-dollar making, 3 years onwards.

Q. What is the core ideology of your company?

Our ideology is that anyone can be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is all about Antha Prerna (inner motivation), doing something that makes one happy and fulfilling is life’s purpose. The money then becomes a byproduct of this value created or problem solved.

Q. How did you come up with the idea of business showers for your project companies?

I have been observing business showers in the US and Australia, where this concept is prevalent. However, it has not gained popularity in India. Business showers create a collaborative system by building communities. Socialising with HNIs, investors, mentors, consultants, seasoned entrepreneurs, promoters gives a better viewpoint to the budding and present entrepreneurs. It is a lot like when a baby is born, the parents need support, similarly, the entrepreneur needs support for his business.

Q. Does Entrepreneurship Drive usually hold such Business Showers? If yes, how was the response for the previous showers?

Entrepreneurship Drive has never held business showers before, but we are planning on making this a regular affair. We are also planning on two other business showers this year to celebrate our other entrepreneurs who have achieved their milestones.

Q. Have you attended or hosted any business showers in other parts of the world? What was it like?

I have attended business showers in the US and Australia. People congratulating and helping entrepreneurs for their new business, or goals achieved, is common. These events, therefore, create a positive vibration for all. Entrepreneurs get adequate funding, investors study entrepreneurs, their personalities and concepts. It creates a healthy environment for the entrepreneur.

When the community thrives - business thrives. Businesses can be simple and sophisticated when founders are able to zoom out and see them from a 360 degree perspective. A business shower is a semi formal way of imbibing this perspective.

Read more about Entrepreneurship Drive at https://entrepreneurshipdrive.com/

Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.