Starting a New Business – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 11

In the Starting a New Business Series, we feature the insights of 10 women founders who share lessons on starting before everything is perfect, trusting your ideas, and developing confidence through action and experience. Their advice also highlights resilience, careful planning, strong foundations, supportive relationships, continuous learning, and building businesses with purpose, structure, and long-term sustainability.

Featured Women Founders

• Michelle Cave  As an aspiring or existing young woman entrepreneur, the entrepreneurship journey is as much about the inner resilience and tenacity you harness as it is about the strategies and decisions you make for your business.

• Varsha Rao  Starting any business is like a skincare or haircare journey.

• Khyati Bhatt  My advice to aspiring women founders is to begin with clarity of purpose.

• Aishwarya S  My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with what you have and not wait for the perfect time or perfect resources.

• Amruta Kulkarni  My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with purpose and authenticity.

• Namrata Vithalani  Don't think much, just take the first step.

• Saelyra Salazar  Do not wait to feel ready — readiness is a feeling your old identity will never give you.

• Paula Celestino  Just start.

• Jennifer Cail  Starting a business takes courage, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning.

• Dr. Sruthi Bhupathiraju  Believe in your ability to build, even when you do not have all the answers at the beginning.

• Prachi Sharma  My advice is the same lesson I am currently learning myself: you do not have to know what the entire journey looks like before taking the first step.

  
  

Michelle Cave – As an aspiring or existing young woman entrepreneur, the entrepreneurship journey is as much about the inner resilience and tenacity you harness as it is about the strategies and decisions you make for your business.

Company– Brandfundi (Pty) Ltd.

Website: https://brandfundi.co.za/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandfundi/?viewAsMember=true

Advice

As an aspiring or existing young woman entrepreneur, the entrepreneurship journey is as much about the inner resilience and tenacity you harness as it is about the strategies and decisions you make for your business. Your entrepreneurial path will undoubtedly mirror the essence of Brandfundi's journey: a testament to the unyielding spirit, adaptability, and strategic foresight required to navigate the often-turbulent waters of starting and sustaining a business.

At the core, entrepreneurship is about a deep commitment to your vision. It's about being ready to face challenges head-on, willing to make sacrifices, and staying true to your goals even when the path gets tough. The story of Brandfundi, though unique in its details, echoes a universal truth in the business world: success requires more than just passion and ideas; it demands hard work, dedication, and the courage to persist through adversity.

Adaptability and strategic thinking are your allies. Like the changing tides faced by any business, you'll encounter situations that require you to pivot, rethink, and strategize anew.

Remember, the relationships you build, both personal and professional, will shape your entrepreneurial journey. Clear communication, mutual respect, and understanding become crucial in navigating these dynamics. Whether it's dealing with family in a business context or building a network of supportive peers and mentors, these relationships can be your greatest assets.

In summary, your entrepreneurial journey is uniquely yours, but the qualities that will carry you through - resilience, hard work, strategic thinking, and strong relationships - are universal. Embrace these qualities, and you'll be well-equipped to steer your business towards success and fulfilment.

Varsha Rao – Starting any business is like a skincare or haircare journey.

Company– Project 1.6 Design Studios LLP

Website: www.projectonepointsix.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svarsharao/

Advice

Starting any business is like a skincare or haircare journey. You can consume endless advice, try every promising formula, and follow strategies that have worked beautifully for others. But eventually, you discover that no regimen works universally.

What matters is finding your own fit.

That fit does not appear overnight. It is built over time on both mistakes and success stories. Yes, you need a strong product, thoughtful processes, and a team that believes in the work as deeply as you do. And once those foundations are in place, the real work begins: experimenting fearlessly.

Khyati Bhatt – My advice to aspiring women founders is to begin with clarity of purpose.

Company– Simply Body Talk & Cuekids

Website: https://simplybodytalk.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khyati-bhatt?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android

Advice

My advice to aspiring women founders is to begin with clarity of purpose. When you are building something meaningful, your vision will help you stay steady even when the journey becomes difficult.

Do not wait to feel fully ready before you start. Progress often comes from taking the first step, learning along the way, and allowing your idea to evolve through action. Surround yourself with people who support your growth, and do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Most importantly, trust your own voice. As women founders, we often carry many responsibilities, but that should never make us doubt our ability to lead. Build with conviction, stay consistent, and remember that what you create can have a powerful impact on others.

Aishwarya S – My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with what you have and not wait for the perfect time or perfect resources.

Company– Kalaratans Gifts

Website: https://instagram.com/kalaratans.gifts and www.kalaratansgifts.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalaratans-gifts/

Advice

My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with what you have and not wait for the perfect time or perfect resources. Even a small idea can grow into something meaningful with consistency and effort. Believe in your work and stay confident, even if you are starting small.

There will be challenges, especially when balancing personal and professional responsibilities, but staying disciplined and organized helps a lot. Focus on quality and customer satisfaction from the beginning. Happy customers will always support your growth through repeat orders and word of mouth. Also, don’t be afraid to take responsibility and learn everything yourself in the early stages—it builds strong confidence and understanding of your business.

Most importantly, support and uplift other women whenever possible. Creating opportunities, even in small ways, can make a big difference and build a stronger community.

Amruta Kulkarni – My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with purpose and authenticity.

Company– Stree Swasthya Nutricare Pvt Ltd

Website: Www.streeswasthya.com

LinkedIn: Stree swasthya

Advice

My advice to aspiring women founders is to start with purpose and authenticity. Many successful ideas are born from real-life experiences and problems we genuinely understand. Trust your knowledge, your journey, and the value you can create for others.

Do not wait for everything to be perfect before starting.

Begin with what you know, keep learning continuously, and improve step by step. Challenges, self-doubt, and balancing responsibilities will always be part of the journey, but consistency and clarity of purpose make a big difference.

Namrata Vithalani – Don't think much, just take the first step.

Company– N.V.Acoustic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namrata-vithalani-76979b37/

Advice

Don't think much, just take the first step. You will figure it out on the way. Most of us wait for the right moment, but trust me we will never be ready. The journey and the challenges will make us ready.

Saelyra Salazar – Do not wait to feel ready — readiness is a feeling your old identity will never give you.

Company– Psynergia

Website: https://thepsynergia.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrassalazar

Advice

Do not wait to feel ready — readiness is a feeling your old identity will never give you. Start before the confidence arrives; the confidence is built by the starting. Second: your business will never outgrow the self-image running it, so invest in your inner work as seriously as you invest in strategy. Most women I meet do not have a discipline problem; they have a belief, learned young, that they are not allowed to have what they want — and it quietly pulls the plug right before the finish line.

Name that belief and everything downstream changes. Third: it is never too late to begin again. I rebuilt from zero in my thirties, went back to university while running companies, and found work that finally matched my soul. And build something that would still matter to you if nobody clapped. That is the difference between a business and a mission — and the mission is what carries you through the years when no one is watching.

Paula Celestino – Just start.

Company– SPRK Media Group Inc.

Website: www.wesprk.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulacelestino/

Advice

Just start. Take the first step, then the second, and keep moving forward. You do not need to have every detail figured out before you begin.

A business is built through consistent action, learning, and adjustment. Each small step creates momentum, and before you know it, you have created something real. Trust yourself, stay open to growth, and do not let the need for perfection stop you from getting started.

Jennifer Cail – Starting a business takes courage, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning.

Company– Medrano & Cail Business Solutions, LLC

Website: https://medranoandcail.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medrano-cail-business-solutions/

Advice

Starting a business takes courage, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to believe in your abilities and not be afraid to take the first step, even if you don't have everything figured out.

Surround yourself with people who support your vision, seek guidance from mentors, and continue investing in your personal and professional growth. Don't hesitate to ask for help or build a network of trusted advisors who can provide valuable insight and encouragement.

Most importantly, don't underestimate the value of understanding your finances.

Strong financial management is one of the most important foundations of a successful business. Stay focused, remain adaptable, and remember that growth takes time. Celebrate your progress, learn from challenges, and keep moving forward.

Dr. Sruthi Bhupathiraju – Believe in your ability to build, even when you do not have all the answers at the beginning.

Company– Chasilery Private Limited

Website: www.teavine.store

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sruthibhupathiraju

Advice

Believe in your ability to build, even when you do not have all the answers at the beginning. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path, and there will be moments of uncertainty, rejection and self-doubt. What matters is the willingness to learn, adapt and keep moving forward.

Do not wait for everything to be perfect before taking the first step. Start with what you have, listen closely to your customers, learn from the market and continuously improve. Build your business on a strong foundation of integrity, quality and a clear purpose rather than chasing short-term success.

For women entrepreneurs especially, it is important to have the confidence to take ownership of decisions, ask for opportunities and make your voice heard. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, but ultimately trust your own judgement.

Most importantly, do not measure your journey only by how quickly you grow. Building something meaningful takes time. Stay resilient, keep learning and remain committed to your vision. Every challenge can become an opportunity to become a stronger entrepreneur and create something that makes a lasting difference.

Prachi Sharma – My advice is the same lesson I am currently learning myself: you do not have to know what the entire journey looks like before taking the first step.

Company– TheSaplingPress (https://www.thesaplingpress.com/)

Website: https://www.thesaplingpress.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prachi-sharma-603aa81/

Advice

My advice is the same lesson I am currently learning myself: you do not have to know what the entire journey looks like before taking the first step.

After 20 years in engineering, I knew how to succeed inside a large technology company. I did not know how to build a publishing business. I had to become comfortable being a beginner again.

Start with what you know, test what you do not know, and pay attention to evidence. Someone saying “I love your idea” is encouraging; someone willing to pay for it tells you something different.

I would also tell women not to believe that starting over erases everything that came before. The skills I developed in technology—problem-solving, persistence, testing, attention to detail and learning complex systems—did not disappear when my job did. I am simply applying them somewhere new.

And perhaps most importantly: do not wait until you feel completely qualified to call yourself a founder. Build something, put it into the world, listen to what happens, and let the evidence teach you what comes next.