MUMBAI: Forget the pitch decks and unicorn parades this weekend, Mumbai will hear the stories behind the startup smiles. In a refreshing break from the usual glitz of venture talk, Adgcraft Communications and HIVE8 are launching the first edition of ‘Startups Uncensored’ on Saturday, May 17, at India’s tallest co-working space in Mumbai. This bold new forum invites founders, investors, and startup insiders to talk not about valuations but vulnerabilities.
At the heart of the session is a stellar panel: Ajinkya Bhasme (Zealopia), Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), and Rahul Adap (Brovibe), with moderation by Yash Gadhade from Break Into VC and Volt VC. The conversation will delve into the psychological grind of entrepreneurship burnout, team conflict, decision fatigue, and the unsaid pressure to always ‘look successful’.
It’s a necessary pivot. Recent data reveals that 68 per cent of Indian entrepreneurs report high stress, and over 30 per cent of startup failures are attributed not to market fit or funding drought but to co-founder fallouts and founder burnout.
“In the global startup narrative, storytelling and effective communication are paramount. At Adgcraft, we’ve seen that startups with compelling stories not only attract investors but also build meaningful relationships with their audience. This session is about underlining that narrative,” said Adgcraft Communications founder & MD Abhinay Kumar Singh.
“Beyond capital, startups need resilience, clarity, and a cohesive team. This session brings those unspoken truths to the surface, helping founders learn from each other’s lived experiences,” added Brovibe founder, Rahul Adap.
“After working with countless founders, one truth stands out startups don’t fail because of bad ideas alone. They fail in the silence between co-founders, in unspoken stress, and in the pressure to appear successful. ‘Startups Uncensored’ is a space for honesty, vulnerability, and growth,” said Break Into VC founder, Himanshu Jain.
Through unfiltered dialogue and real-life reflection, ‘Startups Uncensored’ aims to become a rare space one that acknowledges the struggle behind the spotlight, and helps entrepreneurs build not just businesses, but balance.
No decks. No jargon. Just raw stories from the real startup trenches.
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