From a Lazy Dreamer to a Startup Founder: My Journey So Far
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Hey everyone!
Let me introduce myself. I'm Dadi Siddhartha, an introvert by nature, a self-proclaimed lazy guy, but definitely not useless. I have talent; I just didn’t know how to channel it for the longest time.
After finishing my intermediate studies, I got an EAMCET rank of around 60,000. Naturally, that didn’t get me into any top colleges, which led to some serious drama at home. My parents were disappointed, and honestly, so was I. Eventually, I joined Malla Reddy University for my B.Tech. I felt like I had made some mistake in my past life to end up there.
The College Years
When I first joined college, my mindset was simple: just survive these four years, make some memories, and fly abroad afterward. On the first day, I hoped to meet someone interesting or attractive. But that too was a disappointment. Slowly, I started to realize that I didn't even know most of my classmates' names. That was how I spent my entire first year.
Then one day, something clicked. I knew deep down that I could never work a regular 9-to-5 job, reporting to a manager every day. I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet, but I was certain I’d create my own path—be it in cinema, chess, or maybe a startup. Fun fact: I’m actually an international chess player, but I stopped playing after the pandemic.
The Turning Point: A Moment of Darkness
I spent most of my college time chilling at cafes, going on trips, and just enjoying the moment. But then... Friday. That one day changed everything. My life fell apart. Family issues, financial struggles, personal stress—it felt like everything was crashing at once. But there was one friend who stuck with me. We were both sinking, but at least we had each other.
And in that moment of darkness, we got an idea. My friend asked, "Why don’t we start delivering clothes within an hour?" We researched and found there were already similar apps. But then, I thought—what if we add virtual try-ons to the concept? That idea sparked something in me. That’s how our startup journey began.
The Startup Struggles
We had no idea what a startup actually was. We were scared to even share our idea, thinking someone might steal it. But thankfully, a senior helped guide me. I also started messaging CEOs and startup founders on Instagram and email, hoping someone would give me a chance. And one day, I got lucky.
Charan sir from Student Tribe responded and gave me an opportunity. He asked me to sell 10 dresses from his brand Beast Dresses in one week. I took up the challenge, sold them, and returned. He gave me a roadmap for my startup idea—and that's when things became clearer.
A Painful Lesson
Then came a painful lesson. I shared my idea with a girl from my year, thinking we could work together. But she said, “My friends and I are already doing the same thing.” I realized they had copied my idea. It hurt. I was angry and frustrated because I had seen my entire future in that startup.
I went back to Student Tribe, and this time, Varun sir (Charan sir’s brother) said something that changed my mindset forever. I asked him, “What if people copy my idea?” He said: “No one can truly copy your idea. They might follow the same concept, but they’ll face their own challenges. Look at premium water bottles that sell for ₹1000. In a week, a cheaper ₹80 version hits the streets. That doesn't mean the premium bottle stops selling.”
That hit me hard. I decided to move forward.
Going All-In
I took a 2-month break from college and went all-in on the startup. A school friend wanted to join me, and slowly, I added two more people from my college. We became a team of four. I created a Google Form to validate our idea with other students. We visited different colleges, pitched our concept, and collected feedback.
One question in the form was: “Do you want to join our startup team?”
Guess what? In our first college, over 100 students said yes. That was a huge confidence boost. But I only picked 2 people—those who didn’t just fill the form but personally messaged me, explained why they were passionate, and shared their strengths and weaknesses.
Lessons from Hackathons
Then came hackathons. My co-founders couldn’t attend due to classes, so I went alone. I pitched our idea to the coordinators and asked for a chance to present to the judges. That’s when I met Tech Deepak sir, who gave me a separate Google Meet to explain our startup in detail.
Without even realizing it, I had changed. I was no longer scared to speak to people. I started loving pitching our idea. With every conversation, I learned something new—some insight, some flaw to fix, some opportunity.
We even waited 3–4 hours outside some companies for meetings. Not everyone helped, but those who did—really did. Many CEOs and co-founders gave me appointments. Every person I met taught me something valuable.
And Now...
And now? I’m almost at the funding stage. By the end of July, we’ll pitch to investors. Our team has grown to 10 passionate members. I’ve built so many connections. And more than anything, I now believe in myself.
If you're curious about our startup, don’t worry—I’ll be coming to every class in college to explain everything.
And hey, if you’re passionate and obsessed about solving real problems, you might be the one I’m looking for.
Let’s build the future together.
Founder of DowCloth
Dadi Siddhartha
2211CS020666, AIML 3rd Year
Contact: 9059460197