By – Nikhil Barshikar, Founder and CEO, Imarticus Learning
The World Entrepreneurs Day celebrates the visionaries who dare to walk the difficult path, innovate, and create. It’s a day to pay tribute to the unwavering passion of entrepreneurs who bring ideas to life, sometimes in the face of daunting obstacles. Entrepreneurship is more often than not romanticized as a path of bold vision and overnight success. But seasoned founders emphasize that it is really important to prioritize the immense discipline and the commitment entrepreneurship demands.
Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO, Imarticus Learning said, “World Entrepreneurs Day isn’t about celebrating the idea of entrepreneurship — it’s about celebrating the discipline it demands. In my 12+ years of building Imarticus Learning, I’ve seen that great ideas are abundant, but great execution is rare. The data backs it, over 90% of Indian startups shut down within five years, and globally, only 1 in 12 ever scale. The reason? Too many founders chase growth at all costs while ignoring fundamentals like unit economics, gross margins, and cash flow discipline.
Success in entrepreneurship isn’t about chasing flashy headlines or vanity metrics like user counts or social media buzz. It’s about building a business that can stand the test of time. “My advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs: build a business that can survive without external funding. When you do seek capital, treat it as a partnership, not a lifeline. Be crystal clear about the problem you’re solving, and test if your pitch makes sense from an investor’s point of view before you walk into the room. The future belongs to founders who master their craft, delegate effectively, and measure success in outcomes, not vanity metrics. Scale is meaningless if the business beneath it isn’t built to last,” he added.