Making a Home Run with Startup Innovation
Aayush Goyal is a NIT Srinagar Graduate with over 5 years of experience in tech and FinTech. He started his entrepreneurial journey with Deriva in January 2021 and hasn't looked back since then.
Aayush’s startup journey is filled with ups and downs, learning and evolving, much like what many of us go through in our careers and personal missions. He, however, kept going!
Along his journey, he honed his product development skills by learning UX Research, PDLC, and Stakeholder Management on his own. He has also applied his knowledge in Agile, software development, and leadership to launch two Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), including making a significant change in direction when needed.
Having been one of the founding members of many startups, he is currently building the Khelo app- an all-in-one sports community app.
Read more about his journey below!
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and start your own business?
I've always had a passion for putting things together. There's something about completing a DIY project from start to finish that just feels incredibly rewarding. This love for building and creating is actually what drove me to start my own company. My first venture aimed to solve a large-scale problem that wasn't being discussed then.
So, I thought, why not build a minimum viable product (MVP) and get people talking about it? That's how I started my first business.
What was your biggest challenge as a startup founder, and how did you overcome it?
It can be a challenge to stay motivated every day, especially when you have to pivot, face financial shortages, struggle to hire the best talent and deal with intense competition. How do you maintain your motivation and work with the same enthusiasm every day while still getting work done efficiently? This is a challenging problem to solve, and I'm open to discussing this further.
Can you share any exciting news or upcoming projects you are currently working on?
My passion for sports goes beyond my professional work. As both an avid player and fan, I'm currently working on developing Khelo. This platform aims to empower grassroots athletes in a unique and engaging way.
If your startup was a fictional character, what would it be and why?
Speaking solely about Khelo, it would be coach Kabir Khan from Chak De India. He has seen big losses but still wants to give back to the thing he loves the most. He can be cruel at times, but he is the best teacher you can have. In the end, he knows how to empower everyone in the team and get the best results for the country.
How has Razorpay Rize helped you in your journey of being a founder?
I was part of the early batches of the program and have been an active member of the community ever since. The best part has been sharing my journey and learning from others. The platform has provided truly transformative exposure for any entrepreneur starting up. I also love the constant innovation and support from the Rize core team, which empowers and helps all the founders in their journey.
