Entrepreneurship Pathways

The Pentagon Just Handed American Drone Startups a $1 Billion Golden Ticket On July 10, SECDEF dropped a memo that changes everything for drone manufacturers. Combined with Trump's June 6 executive order, we're witnessing the most radical shift in defense procurement since World War II. Here's what just happened:  The Pentagon ripped up years of red tape that kept innovative companies out of defense contracts. Now they're treating small drones (under 55 pounds) like ammunition - expendable, mass-produced, and urgently needed. The numbers are staggering: • Every Army squad gets attack drones by FY2026 • Production target: Millions of units annually • Weaponization approvals: Cut from years to 30 days • Battery certifications: Down to one week For companies eyeing this opportunity, here's your roadmap: Step 1: Compliance First (Immediate) Ensure NDAA compliance - zero Chinese components. Review the Blue UAS Framework. This isn't negotiable. One foreign chip kills your entire opportunity. Step 2: Prototype Fast (12-18 months) Build modular systems under 55 pounds. Think swappable payloads for ISR or strike missions. The 18 prototypes showcased on July 17 averaged 18 months of development vs. the traditional 6 years. Step 3: Get Certified (Ongoing) Apply to DIU's Blue UAS program. This is your fastest path to approved vendor status. The memo expands this list with AI-managed updates coming in 2026. Step 4: Find Your Entry Point (30-90 days) • Respond to the Army's July 8 solicitation for low-cost systems • Partner with established primes as a subcontractor • Target frontline units are now empowered to buy directly Step 5: Scale Smart (By 2026) Secure private funding. Explore DoD purchase commitments. Participate in the new drone test zones launching in 90 days. The brutal reality? We're playing catch-up. China produces 90% of commercial drones globally. But that's precisely why this opportunity exists. The Pentagon needs American manufacturers desperately. Watch for these challenges: • Supply chain constraints for non-Chinese components • Fierce competition from AeroVironment and Kratos • Higher production costs vs. Chinese competitors • Maintaining cybersecurity while moving fast Stock prices tell the story - drone companies surged 15-40% after the announcement. Private capital is flooding in. America is building a new arsenal, and drones are the foundation. If you have manufacturing capability, AI expertise, or can build at scale, this is your Manhattan Project moment. The difference? This time, we know exactly what we're building and why. The window is open. But it won't stay that way.

99% of entrepreneurs don't anticipate the challenges that come after initial success. 💫 💫 The fact is that they celebrate victories but often overlook the grind needed to sustain them. Shah Rukh Khan once remarked that maintaining success is harder than achieving it, and his words resonate deeply with entrepreneurs worldwide. As an entrepreneur, I face a lot of fears daily like ➡️ Letting Down the Team: The responsibility of guiding a team through uncertainties weighs heavily. A leader's misstep can shake the foundation of morale built over years. ➡️ Personal Failure: For entrepreneurs, business setbacks aren't just financial—they strike at the core of identity. When I had two failures, I was devastated, which took me to a different level that today I am so cautious I would not bring anything that causes setbacks to the system. Living with that FOMO sometimes even affects you a lot on a personal level For some of us, entrepreneurship doesn’t mean only profit alone, it's about self-worth and resilience. ➡️ Parental Pressure: Balancing business aspirations with familial expectations is a tightrope walk. The responsibility of parents is also an extra layer of responsibility which is so pivotal as you can’t fail your kids. To sustain success, it's not just about working hard; it's about working smart and staying grounded amid uncertainties. I've adopted several strategies to combat FOMO and maintain equilibrium: ▶️ Setting Clear Priorities: Avoiding comparisons and focusing on individual growth metrics. ▶️ Practicing Mindfulness: Engaging in hobbies and activities that rejuvenate and foster creativity. ▶️ Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Taking regular breaks to recharge and sustain productivity. ▶️ Building a Strong Support Network: Surrounding myself with peers who understand the journey and offer support. ▶️ Embracing Patience and Persistence: Viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth and development. Success isn't about reaching milestones; it's about navigating the challenges that come after. Entrepreneurs can build sustainable success that withstands the test of time once he/she acknowledge these fears and proactively address them. What fears do you face as an entrepreneur, and how do you navigate them? Share your strategies in the comments below. Let's inspire each other to thrive in the face of uncertainty. LinkedIn News India LinkedIn Guide to Creating LinkedIn #Entrepreneur #StartUp #FOMO #LIPostingChallengeIndia #LinkedInNewsIndia

I started my first venture at 21 and sold it in a multi-million-dollar transaction when I was 26. Today, I’m building my second venture, GreyLabs AI, where we’ve raised millions in capital and are scaling fast. Across this journey, here are 10 learnings that have stayed with me: 1. Startups fail on Day 1, not when they run out of money - if the founding team isn’t right. You need shared vision + complementary skills. 2. Sell first, build later. Don’t waste years building what no one wants. Get customer buy-in before writing code. 3. Focus on a small market. At GreyLabs AI, we’re laser-focused on the India BFSI. Shiny distractions exist everywhere, but focus wins. 4. High-impact individual contributors matter. In the AI era, such people can drive more value than larger teams. 5. Hire a strong law firm. Bad contracts (customers, vendors, shareholders, even cofounders) can destroy your business. 6. Customers > Investors. Be frugal, get paying clients, and build proof. Investors follow traction - otherwise, you’ll only get "advice". 7. Control your spending. Many founders start spending mindlessly after raising money. Waste money today, and money will waste you tomorrow. 8. Culture beats perks. My first startup was bootstrapped, with limited benefits. But no toxic managers, genuine care, and empathy earned us a 4.6 rating on Glassdoor (75+ reviews, all organic). 9. Undercommit, overdeliver. Never oversell. Promise only what you can deliver - and then exceed expectations. 10. Stay grateful. To your team, customers, investors, and family. None of this happens alone. Startups are tough, but with the right principles, they’re also the most rewarding journeys one can take. #startups #business #entrepreneurship

3 years of running SackBerry as a solo founder. Here are 10 things I’ve learned.  (I’m still shocked about #6 😅) 1. You don’t need a co-founder. But you do need sounding boards. People who listen without bias, push you when you’re stuck, and remind you you’re not crazy. 2. Building systems > hiring fast The answer isn’t always “add more people.” Sometimes it’s “fix your process first.” 3. Your first few hires shape everything. Building culture & positive team energy is everything. I still feel lucky about the people I bet on early. 4. Clients don’t just buy services. They buy your energy, your clarity, and your belief in what you do. That’s what keeps them coming back. 5. Boundaries are a survival skill. You teach clients how to treat you. Late replies, weekend edits, unlimited calls? That’s on you. 6. You can build a dream team and still feel lonely. No one prepares you for the emotional isolation that comes with leading. 7. Clients don’t care how late you worked. They just care if the work is done well. Being a martyr isn’t a flex. It’s a burnout recipe. 8. Most people don’t care about your work as much as you think. LinkedIn can clap all it wants. But if your partner, family & people don’t stand by you, it’s never as fulfilling. 9. You’ll outgrow your own identity, more often. There have been phases where I no longer felt aligned with the version of me I created 6 months ago. That’s part of growth. Lean into it. 10. Taking breaks actually helps you grow faster. The month I took 30 days off? We still hit our targets. Sometimes the best business decision is to log out. Which of the above pointers hit home the most? #PersonalBranding #SocialMedia #Marketing #AI #MarketingAgency

Thinking of entering defence? Good. But read this first, or get crushed. You’re not building a startup. You’re entering a war zone with Excel sheets instead of bullets. And here’s the first landmine: Defence doesn’t care about you. Not until you matter. And by the time you matter, it might be too late. So here’s your brutal, field-tested playbook 👇 🔻 1. Run a Dual-Use Strategy or Die Trying Don’t “pivot into defence.” Don’t “add military as a target customer.” Build something with teeth in both markets — or you’ll starve while waiting 24 months for a MoD reply. Dual-use = survival. Omni-use = dominance. 🔻 2. Your Actual Competitor? Paper. You're not fighting primes. You're fighting outdated workflows, 94-page requirement PDFs, and evaluation committees who’ve never used the tech. You’re not selling innovation. You’re selling the idea that innovation should exist. 🔻 3. Never Ask for Feedback — Ask for Budget Lines Everyone will “love” what you’re doing. They’ll invite you to panels, workshops, incubators. None of that pays your team. Ask: “Which budget pays for this in Q4?” If they can’t answer, walk. 🔻 4. Find a Uniformed Insider, or You’re Screwed No matter how good your pitch is, you need a believer inside the system. Someone who speaks procurement and can say, “This solves my mission.” Without that: enjoy limbo. 🔻 5. If You’re Not Testable, You’re Not Real Defence doesn’t buy PowerPoints. You need a testable MVP fast. No test = no traction. No traction = no procurement route. No route = you're just theatre. 🔻 6. The First Deal Will Break You It’s slow. It’s painful. It’ll take months, maybe years. But once you break the wall once, you become “pre-approved.” Then the real business begins. 🔻 7. Ignore All of This If You're Building Slideware This advice is only for builders. For founders ready to live in uncertainty, raise from niche VCs, and get 50 no’s before one test flight. If you're not all-in: stay in SaaS. This is the most misunderstood opportunity of our time. Europe is waking up. The U.S. is doubling down. And the next industrial revolution will wear camouflage. Startups who learn the terrain will dominate. Speed. Testability. Dual-use. Insider access. That’s your survival kit. Use it. #DefenceStartups #DualUse #InnovationInDefence #OmniUse #MilitaryTech #InsiderIntel #BoldMovesOnly #WakeUpEurope

I’ve never shown anyone this photo. 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with a nerve disorder👇 The pain stung and half my face froze.  I couldn’t turn my head without being dizzy. I couldn’t walk without needing to lie down. During this time, I learnt a LOT. My views on work fundamentally changed. Before then - I was in a holding pattern with heightened stress. I was building a startup AND working full-time in edtech. I was so buzzed I couldn't sleep at night. I felt so stressed I got really sick. Looking back, it was nuts. Now - I run an agency that closes $50-100K+ deals and I’ve learnt to (mostly!) manage stress and marathon it. I wanted to share 7 key lessons so you can learn from my mistakes and grow your business smarter. Here’s what I learnt 👇 🎯 Prioritise energy > time Make a detailed list of all your roles and tasks. Identify what's draining and energising. As a founder, there will naturally be de-energising tasks you’ll need to do. Delegate, batch or tie these with something higher energy. 🎯 Master delegation I know it’s hard but delegation took me from $15K / month to my first $75K month. Free up your time to work on high leverage tasks. If you’re too busy IN the business, you’re not working ON the business. 🎯 Default to no Cut everything that doesn’t serve your mission. This means saying no to things that you WANT to do too. Write some nice pre-written "nos" aligned with your goals. Focus. 🎯 Remove negative energy Put yourself in rooms where people support your craziest dreams. Remove yourself from rooms where people drag you down. If family or friends aren't supportive, have the hard conversation. 🎯 Refund rude people If a client treats you badly, refund and fire. It’s not worth your energy — remember your self-worth. This took me two bad apples to learn. The second apple was far worse. 🎯 Ask yourself a hard question If everything went to smoke, would 100 year old me be proud of me? Less tangible but still important: 🎯 Believe in your wildest dreams You're the architect of your ambition. The master of your mind. If you can dream it, you can do it. Trust in the timing of your life and take every interaction as an opportunity to learn. BONUS: Be grateful for all you have Losing my smile was shattering but now if I'm having a bad day (which still happens!), I remember how damn lucky I am to smile again. Not everyone is so lucky. In summary: 1. Prioritise your energy > time. 2. Master delegation. For reals tho. 3. Default to no. Say no to say yes. 4. Remove negative energy. 5. Refund the rude people. 6. Ask yourself a hard q. 7. Dream big baby. 8. Be grateful. -- 🍌 Hi! I'm Joumana (rhymes with banana). I built a design agency from 0 to $75K / month in 12 months. My goal is share what's worked for me and to help startups stand out from the competition. I keep it real. Enjoy!

Every founder should go solo at least once—it’s where you learn what you’re really made of. And if you’re an investor, bet on these people: they’ve proven they can carry the weight when no one else is around. A year ago, I was that solo founder. I was building, selling, raising, looking for co-founders and making every decision alone - for 9 long months. I’ve heard 'We don’t invest in solo founders' more times than I can count and still managed to get amazing investors. Today, I’m no longer building alone—I have incredible co-founders who inspire and challenge me every day. But I really don't want to miss those solo-months - because they taught me valuable lessons 1️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 With no one to delegate to, or share responsibility with, you’re forced to focus only on what truly drives impact. Saying no to 100 things becomes second nature. 2️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Every decision, every mistake—it’s all on you, there is no one else to blame. This sharpens your ability to own outcomes and adapt quickly. 3️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐭 From pitching investors to building the proof of concept bugs to talking to potential clients, automating processes, and dealing with German bureaucracy, you gain hands-on experience in every part of the business. 4️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 There’s no safety net when things go wrong. You learn to stay calm (interrupted with an occasional tantrum), troubleshoot, and keep moving forward. 5️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 Without a co-founder to reassure or challenge you, you just need to trust in your own instincts and decisions. 6️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 You don’t have the bandwidth to waste time, so you learn to focus on leverage and efficiency. 7️⃣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 As a solo founder, it’s you against the skepticism. Convincing others to believe in your vision sharpens your storytelling and persuasion skills. To solo founders: keep going—you’re learning more than you realize. And to investors: maybe it’s time to rethink. #SoloFounder #Startups #Resilience #Leadership #startuplife

Nearly 15 years ago, I took a leap of faith and embarked on my entrepreneurial journey. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! On World Entrepreneurs’ Day, here are 3 core takeaways from my entrepreneurial journey that still guide me today. 𝟭. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: The foundation of any successful venture is addressing a genuine need. Don’t start with a solution and look for a problem. Instead, get out there and immerse yourself in the circumstances of your potential customers, understand their pain points, and let that guide your innovation. 𝟮. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮: Entrepreneurship demands a firm belief in your vision. There will be naysayers and moments of doubt along the way, but your conviction must keep you moving forward. Be open to constructive criticism, but stay true to your core idea. A good entrepreneur is one who learns when to stand firm and when to adapt. 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: Entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Surround yourself with mentors and peers who share your vision or can offer support and guidance. Look for mission-aligned employees, investors and partners who will be with you in the long haul, and can provide you with the necessary support. Stay true to your vision and work towards building something you can be truly proud of. Good Luck to all those with entrepreneurial aspirations! 🍀 #worldentrepreneursday #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurlife #commit #change #takeaways #evolution #revolution #innovation #KinaraCapital

Looking back, it’s funny to see how naïve I was as a first time founder. I blindly believed the numbers we plugged into our excel sheet. Hundreds of employees and millions in revenue within no time. A combination of naïveté and arrogance to build a startup faster and in areas where others had failed. I booked intro meetings with all the top tier VCs. My ego loved it and I was convinced this would be part of the job when I needed their millions to scale. The more I told the story, the more I began to believe it. But then the setbacks started. Pivoting away from the first idea, wasting a year, and making almost no money. That excel model was looming over my head and I haven’t opened it since. Now, having founded three ventures, I've learned a few lessons: 1. Good Things Take Time: Patience and perseverance are crucial. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and rushing can often lead to mistakes. 2. If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is: Early on, I was enamored by overly optimistic projections and promises. Now, I’m more skeptical and prefer to base decisions on solid evidence and realistic expectations. 3. Setbacks Are Inevitable: Challenges and pivots are part of the journey. Each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow, shaping a stronger and more resilient business. 4. Build a Community: A lot of our success comes from talking to customers on LinkedIn every day. Engaging with your community helps you understand their needs and fosters loyalty, driving continuous improvement and innovation. 5. Focused Networking: Instead of chasing every top-tier VC, I now focus on building meaningful relationships with partners who understand and are genuinely interested in the vision and journey of the company. 6. Team Over Ego: Building a culture where failing is okay and learning is key is crucial. Open communication and clear incentives create a strong, dedicated team. Success is a collective effort driven by the team's combined skills and passion. To all the first-time founders out there, embrace the journey, learn from each misstep, and stay resilient. The path to success is rarely a straight line, but with each twist and turn, you'll gain the wisdom needed to navigate it. The Picture is from Michael and I in 2018, him joining helped set us on the right path. #startup #entrepreneurship #lessonslearned #secondtimefounder #resilience

The Gulf crisis just created the biggest startup opportunity in a decade. Five things Silicon Valley leaders need to understand right now: 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀. Iranian drones hit three AWS facilities. The Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea both data chokepoints are closed. The security frameworks behind the Gulf’s AI partnerships were built for chip export control, not for protecting buildings during a war. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲-𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. The Pentagon set a $13.4B AI budget for FY2026 which is the largest in U.S. defense history. $130B+ in VC has flowed into defense-tech startups since 2021. → Palantir’s Maven system ran intelligence across five combatant commands → Anduril ($30.5B valuation) — Lattice OS selected as the Army’s fire control platform, Arsenal-1 factory producing autonomous systems at scale, OpenAI partnership for counter-drone AI → Shield AI ($5.3B) — Hivemind autonomous piloting completed AI vs. manned F-16 combat maneuvers → Epirus ($1.5B) — directed-energy counter-drone systems integrated with Anduril’s Lattice, directly relevant to Gulf drone defense → Saronic ($1.5B) — autonomous naval vessels applicable to Strait of Hormuz patrol → Hermeus ($1B+) — hypersonic aircraft for ISR and rapid strike → Ares Industries — Y Combinator’s first weapons company, building low-cost anti-ship missiles → Ursa Major ($2.5B) — rocket propulsion for supply chain independence Early-stage investors in this space are looking at generational returns. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Every hyperscaler is now rethinking geographic risk. That creates massive demand for: → Sovereign cloud infrastructure (hardened, government-grade, physically defensible) → Multi-region failover and edge computing platforms → Satellite backup connectivity (Aetherflux, Astranis) → Underground and modular data center designs → Cybersecurity for critical infrastructure against nation-state actors → Alternative compute capacity for displaced AI workloads (CoreWeave, Vultr) Startups solving resilience at the infrastructure layer will command premium pricing from both governments and hyperscalers. This is the next $100B+ category. 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. Sovereign wealth funds holding $2T+ in U.S. assets are reviewing commitments. The Stargate UAE mega-campus, Amazon’s $5.3B Saudi cloud all in limbo. But post-conflict, these governments will double down on tech diversification away from oil. Startups that maintain Gulf relationships now while diversifying their own risk will be first in line when capital flows resume. The Gulf’s structural advantages with sovereign capital, energy, ambition haven’t disappeared. But the risk has permanently shifted. Rapid de-risking without full retreat.