Podcast - Startups & Evolution | Episode 1: Cultivating a Culture of Originality in Indian Startups

“Originality starts within—it's about fostering an environment where every idea, no matter the source, is valued and nurtured." - Sameer Guglani

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In our latest podcast episode, Sameer Guglani, our Curator, delves into a topic that frequently surfaces in discussions about Indian startups: originality (or the lack of it rather).

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Sameer chats in depth with Shalin Tejpal Jain, Founder of Springzo, about why being different isn't just nice-to-have – it's essential for success. They explore how fostering innovation can give startups a real edge.  We would recommend watching the entire episode. 

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Here, we share Sameer's insights on originality, why it matters, and how it can guide entrepreneurs and CXOs towards success. 

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What Happens When You Lack Originality?

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As Sameer highlights in the conversation–the spark of a unique business idea often gives birth to a startup, but keeping that innovative spirit alive as the company grows can be tricky. 

Founders tend to pour their creative energy into developing a minimum viable product (MVP) but often overlook applying that same originality to other crucial aspects of the business, such as marketing, sales, and hiring. 

Compounding this issue, as the company grows and faces increasing pressure to meet metrics, the culture of originality often takes a backseat. The initial spark that drove innovation gets overshadowed, potentially stifling the very creativity that fueled the company's early success.

This leads to many problems, including symptoms like:

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Lack of Self-Reflection

Founders may not take the time to critically evaluate their own approaches, leading to stagnant or derivative practices.

Trap of Second-Hand Ideas

Often times, be it for strategy, planning or even new ideas, startups end up relying on established methods and popular trends. 

As Sameer puts it, “Don't consume too much information and content about how it is to be done…because that fills you with second-hand ideas.”

And thanks to these second-hand ideas, startups often begin to stagnate.

Not Understanding the Difference Between Inspiration vs. Imitation

As Sameer explains, it is great to be inspired and work to build or improve your product or service. But one has to be mindful that the inspiration should not be mere imitation of some existing product or a service you admire.

“If you want to do something new, which you haven't done before, of course, you need to learn about it. But a good way to do it is to first try to do it yourself, like a hands-on way.” – Sameer Guglani

Conforming to ‘Popular’ Narratives

"Following popular playbooks in marketing, sales, and product development can hinder originality, leading to missed opportunities."  – Sameer Guglani

When a startup starts to sound and look like everyone else, it risks losing its unique voice and competitive advantage.

To avoid these, there’s a need to foster a culture of originality at every level, encouraging an environment where innovation and critical thinking are always appreciated.

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So, Can Founders Promote a Culture of Originality?

By the very nature of it, there cannot be a playbook to be original, as it then defeats the purpose of ‘originality’.

However, Sameer walks us through a few steps entrepreneurs and founders can take to start thinking in the direction to try and establish a process that can foster originality:

1. Cultivate Self-Awareness

"We see originality also depends upon self-awareness—that “who am I? Where do I stand? Am I very clear about that? How do I move forward with that?

... Facebook didn't copy anybody's playbook, neither did LinkedIn, nor did Instagram, nor did WhatsApp. They had some product itself, had some original value, which was being delivered, that nobody has delivered." – Sameer Guglani

So, founders need to be honest about their own biases and assumptions. With this kind of self-reflection, you can identify the unique strengths and areas for improvement in your startup, including your team and ensure the approach stays fresh and original.

2. Avoid the Mainstream Mindset

To stand out, startups need to actively resist the urge to simply follow the crowd or adopt widely accepted practices, as this will only generate mediocre stuff. 

Sameer also cautions against adopting popular strategies without scrutiny. He notes about the whole marketing ecosystem of people, who are sort of feeding content to the startup founder – they profit from selling a one-size-fits-all approach by driving popular narratives, riding on select success examples.

Therefore, questioning the status quo and looking for solutions that challenge conventional wisdom can be an effective way to bypass mainstream narratives. 

3. Embrace the Unknown

As Sameer rightly states that Originality is, by definition, unknown. And if it was known, it won't be original.

Originality thrives in environments where uncertainty is seen as an opportunity, not a threat. There should be a conscious effort to step outside of your comfort zone and explore new ideas, even when the outcome is unclear. Founders should take calculated risks and embrace the unknown. 

Sameer thinks they should also be more in consonance with their intuition, as intuitions give you ideas which came from a certain deeper origin within yourself.

4. Encourage Original Thinking in Your Team

Founders and senior folks should also foster a collaborative environment where team members feel safe to share their ideas, take creative risks, and know their unique perspectives are valued.

Great ideas can come from everywhere, not just the top. Everyone, from on-ground staff to CEOs, has the potential to spark innovation. When companies create environments where all voices are heard, irrespective of their designations, they tap into a wellspring of diverse thinking.

5. Set Targets for Originality

It may sound ironical, as the spark of original ideas can occur at any time. However, just as startups set business objectives, they should also set goals for innovation. They may not be time-bound, but the process can be incentivised.

Founders must dedicate reasonable time to brainstorming sessions, reward creative problem-solving, and set examples by actually implementing unique ideas within the business. 

6. Prioritize Hands-on Experience

There's no substitute for practical experience when it comes to cultivating originality. Getting your hands dirty and learning by doing, rather than relying solely on theory or second-hand information should be the norm. 

Founders must actively seek out challenges and find innovative solutions through a continuous loop of trial and error.

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Final Note

To wrap it up, Sameer’s insights shed light on the role originality plays in the success of Indian startups. By cultivating self-awareness, trusting intuition, focusing on direct experience, and merging expertise with originality, founders can push new levels of innovation and overcome their challenges.

We hope you enjoy this conversation and find it helpful — we'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this topic.

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