Framed for Success Ten Under Thirty By Arpit Mehta
O
ur list of ten ventures started by entrepreneurs under the age of thirty includes men, women, artists, technologists, analysts, fashionistas, entertainers and environmentalists. A never-say-die attitude threads them together. Their youth fuels their passion. They are unique innovators with original ideas. These young men and women, some just barely out of college, have been bitten by the startup bug. This article provides a glimpse into what drives South Asians to starting companies and why, despite long odds, relentless working hours, and dragged out incubation periods, they persist in walking that cobbled road to success.
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t a time when youth employment is double that of all Americans, these intrepid South Asian entrepreneurs are taking risks and looking beyond the security of a steady job. They are making VC pitches, putting together Powerpoint presentations, 12 • india currents • august 2012
raising seed money and sacrificing bar time for boardroom time. They are not afraid of rejection, and are reinventing the coolness factor of “nerd.” From the popularity of yoga to the mainstream appreciation of Indian cuisine, and,
not to forget, the critically acclaimed and celebrated film, Slumdog Millionaire, Americans are starting to take notice of the growing presence of South Asians in the United States. The cultural implications of this can hardly be ignored. The previous connotations of being