Pablo speaks with Gladis Nair and Apoorv Arora about what gets valued, who gets supported, and how success is actually measured.

We discuss how Indian startups are often judged by valuation, pedigree, and investor attention, while the people working inside the ecosystem argue that real success is closer to survival, sustainability, and impact.

Timestamps
00:33 - Why this episode focuses on entrepreneurship in India
01:14 - Introductions: ISBAP and entrepreneurship research in India
02:47 - What entrepreneurship success looks like in India
03:35 - Why valuation and funding often overshadow business sustainability
07:40 - Pedigree, investor bias, and why elite credentials matter
08:57 - Rural founders, brownie points, and co-incubation support
10:46 - How incubators evaluate whether a startup is genuinely viable
12:11 - Training, pitching, and funding decisions inside incubation programs
13:06 - Why many startup ideas die after college or under family pressure
14:31 - What “societal pressure” means for Indian entrepreneurs
16:14 - Why neighbourhood attitudes often dismiss entrepreneurship as a career
17:04 - Family resistance, gender expectations, and women founders
19:17 - Common metrics used to measure startup success
20:21 - Measuring impact through lives changed and jobs created
22:17 - Whether metrics reflect what founders actually care about
23:58 - Emotional investment, satisfaction, and knowing when to quit
25:01 - Founder mental health as a taboo topic
26:01 - Team conflict, trust, and the role of incubation support
27:54 - How teams form and why friendship does not guarantee partnership
29:42 - Supporting hidden entrepreneurs through grants and outreach
31:12 - Rural schools, student projects, and early entrepreneurial exposure
33:27 - School entrepreneurship curriculum and government-funded projects
34:29 - Tinkering labs, student competitions, and rewards for prototypes
35:21 - Why entrepreneurship education matters in the AI era
36:53 - Skill development beyond degrees and qualifications
37:40 - What school-age students actually value in entrepreneurship
39:26 - How Indian entrepreneurship has shifted over the last decade
41:05 - India’s young population, long-term solutions, and the value of jugaad

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*Who is Gladis?

Gladis Nair is Head of Operations for Indian STEPs and Business Incubators Association (ISBA)
She leads operations and strategic execution, working closely with incubators, accelerators, government bodies, corporates and ecosystem partners to strengthen India’s incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
ISBA: https://isba.in/
LinkedIn:  LinkedIn: gladis-nair-a44135119

Who is Apoorv?

Apoorv is a PhD researcher focused on driving lasting change to the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem through education and innovation.

An example of how he has brought research into practical long-term interventions is building self-sustainable maker ecosystems in rural communities, fuelled by the belief that equipping rural kids with the skills and resources they need to become makers and problem-solvers, we can create a brighter future for entire communities.