In the rush to pitch, build, and raise funds, many Indian startup founders skip over the most critical step: learning from those who’ve already done it. With the country producing thousands of startups each year—many of which fail within 24 months—a growing number of seasoned entrepreneurs are stepping forward to share what they wish they had known.
Across platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn, India’s most prominent founders, investors, and content creators are publishing in-depth insights—lessons that go beyond startup myths and motivational clichés. The following eight video resources, each with a distinct lens, offer real-world wisdom on strategy, funding, execution, and failure.
1. Raj Shamani: “7 Ways to Make Your Startup No. 1”
Entrepreneur and creator Raj Shamani offers a tactical guide for early-stage founders. Known for his clarity and storytelling, Shamani outlines practical methods for moving from “just an idea” to becoming a dominant brand in a crowded market.
Key Themes:
- Don’t build for attention, build for trust
- Execution > pitch decks
- Focus on user problems, not startup vanity metrics
2. Kunal Shah: “The Secret of Creating Wealth”
Cred founder Kunal Shah explains the systems behind building long-term wealth in the startup world. He focuses on the difference between making money and building wealth, and why most startups fail to cross the chasm.
Key Themes:
- Wealth = leverage + trust
- Startups should think in decades, not quarters
- Deep work is more important than speed
ALSO READ: Five Brutal Startup Lessons Founders Learn Too Late
3. Ankur Warikoo: “Why Indian Startups Fail”
With the characteristic honesty his followers respect, Ankur Warikoo dissects why so many Indian startups collapse. Drawing on his own failures, Warikoo explains how over-optimism, poor co-founder alignment, and cash burn kill promising ideas.
Key Themes:
- Fundraising is not validation
- Culture is the first product
- Saying “no” is a founder skill
4. Dr. Vivek Bindra: “10 Steps to Raise Startup Funding”
Business coach Vivek Bindra presents a step-by-step guide on how to raise capital from seed to Series A. He demystifies investor thinking and offers a clear structure for founders seeking to navigate India’s fragmented funding landscape.
Key Themes:
- Validation through customer traction
- Financial modeling before pitching
- Clarity in “ask” and ROI for investors
5. Nithin Kamath: “How Zerodha Became a Unicorn Without Funding”
Zerodha’s founder Nithin Kamath provides a rare view into bootstrapping success in an age dominated by venture capital. His story centers on product depth, customer trust, and the power of automation.
Key Themes:
- Build quietly, scale steadily
- Profitability is still a viable goal
- Don’t over-hire; build lean and technical
6. Byju Raveendran: “Building India’s Fastest Unicorn”
Byju’s story, told through various media interactions, reveals how education, technology, and ambition combined to form India’s most valuable edtech startup. Raveendran emphasizes scale, speed, and brand trust.
Key Themes:
- Education is a long game
- Hire leadership early
- Invest in regional and global scalability
7. LinkedIn & YouTube Branding: “Building a Personal Brand as a Founder”
In a media-driven world, personal branding is no longer optional. This content series explores how founders can use LinkedIn and YouTube to grow networks, attract investors, and build influence—even before building revenue.
Key Themes:
- Show the journey, not just the success
- Thought leadership builds inbound trust
- Video > blog in modern outreach
ALSO READ: From Fast Fashion to Data Personalization: Global Brand Strategies Indian Founders Must Adopt
8. Varun Mayya: “Top 100 Startup Ideas from India’s Brightest Minds”
Curated by entrepreneur Varun Mayya, this video compiles startup ideas sourced from founders, venture capitalists, and hackers. It offers not just concepts but frameworks to assess what’s worth building next.
Key Themes:
- Trends > originality
- Solve for scale, not just novelty
- Study adjacent markets to find whitespace
The Learning Curve Is Free. Failure Isn’t.
These video lessons—available publicly—may not guarantee success, but they offer the kind of clarity, caution, and conviction rarely found in startup circles. As India’s digital economy expands and first-time founders increase, these knowledge capsules are becoming not just helpful, but essential.
