Bombay Shaving Company CEO Compares Bengaluru Startups To Kota Coaching Culture, Internet Reacts

Bombay Shaving Company CEO, Shantanu Deshpande, ruffled feathers on on LinkedIn with his post comparing Bengaluru's startup culture to the IIT-JEE coaching culture of Kota in Rajasthan.

Deshpande suggested that just as only a small percentage of students in Kota succeed in clearing the IIT-JEE, only a few in Bengaluru's bustling startup scene actually manage to achieve success, despite the city's reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship.

Deshpande drew parallels between Kota, often dubbed the 'Mecca of IIT-JEE', and Bengaluru. He noted that while Kota provides a highly competitive environment, only about 1,000 out of the 40,000 students who arrive each year manage to clear the entrance exams. According to Deshpande, Bengaluru's startup ecosystem is similarly misleading, where many entrepreneurs mistake their surroundings and connections for actual success.

He remarked, "The bulk reminds me of the 'all talk' gangs of Kota. And that never ended well." Deshpande explained that many aspiring founders in Bengaluru are more focused on networking and appearing successful than on building their businesses, similar to how some students in Kota believed that just attending the right classes or owning the same study materials as the top performers would guarantee them success.

Deshpande said some founders believed that simply connecting with venture capitalists on LinkedIn or attending the same events as successful entrepreneurs was enough to secure funding or build a successful startup. "They hang out at the same events as Bhavish or Mukesh or Kunal (JEE toppers of Kota) and feel they're halfway to unicorn by breathing the same air and talking the same language," he noted, emphasising the misplaced confidence he had observed in Bengaluru’s startup scene.

While Deshpande acknowledged the importance of having more startups and founders in India, he also warned against the "false sense of accomplishment" that he believes is fostered by Bengaluru’s current environment. He advised founders to stay focused on their businesses and to seek mentors outside of the city's startup ecosystem. "If you're a founder and starting up in Bangalore, distance yourself from the ecosystem and stay closer to your business. And see if you can find mentors outside the city too," he concluded.

Deshpande's post has received mixed reactions online. Some users agreed with his assessment, highlighting the importance of hard work and focus over simply being part of a well-known ecosystem. Others, however, criticised the comparison, arguing that the challenges and successes in different fields, whether in Bengaluru, Kota, or elsewhere, are universal.

One user commented, "Coming from a founder, this is a lot of judgement packed in one post. 1. what is the need for this; 2. Kota or Bangalore, the journey is also important 3. I am sure Kota rankers or non-rankers didn’t judge people from other cities while the converse seems true, clearly."

Another remarked, "Some people make it, most don't. Your post applies to literally everything: people trying to make it in Hollywood, people in Silicon Valley, athletes in college trying it to the major leagues, etc. Respectfully, your post doesn't say much."

A third user added, "Focus on business >> networking for sure. But doesn’t your circle help? Decluttering is important, but I would love to shift to Bangalore only for that extra external motivation."