BIO: Vivek Raina is a seasoned veteran with over two decades of experience in the broadband industry. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Excitel, he leads the mission to connect BHARAT, propelling the company to the top three ISPs in India—a remarkable feat in just eight years.
STORY: Vivek spent 10 years finding an investor to fund his business idea. He wishes he had spent these years advancing his corporate career.
LEARNING: Working for somebody is fragile. Every failure teaches you something and makes you a better version of yourself. Do something you’re passionate about.
“In entrepreneurship, every failure teaches you something. It makes you stronger and better in doing what you’re doing.”
Vivek Raina
Guest profile
Vivek Raina is a seasoned veteran with over two decades of experience in the broadband industry. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Excitel, he leads the mission to connect BHARAT, propelling the company to the top three ISPs in India—a remarkable feat in just eight years. With a million subscribers spanning 55+ cities, Vivek’s leadership has revolutionized lives through pioneering unlimited internet broadband.
Vivek hails from Kashmir and is now based in Delhi. His journey includes impactful roles at Hathway, Reliance, and Pacenet, highlighting his exceptional leadership skills.
Worst investment ever
Within two years of employment, Vivek had decided he would not stay employed—he would do something independently. Vivek started showing his ideas to people, hoping that someone would be interested in funding him. Some of the ideas were really bad, while others were good. Vivek didn’t manage to get an investor. Most people would offer him a salary or some incentives to work with him. It took Vivek 10 years to convince somebody to invest money in his idea. It took another three years to convince them to start a company, and in 2014, he got his first investment.
Vivek considers the 10 years he spent making this foundation his worst investment ever because if he had concentrated on a corporate job instead, he would be a millionaire by now. It’s also his best investment because if he had not gone through the grind and learned what he learned, he wouldn’t have been the successful entrepreneur he is today.
Lessons learned
- Working for somebody is fragile.
- Every failure teaches you something and makes you a better version of yourself.
- Do something you’re passionate about—nobody can beat you at what you’re good at.
Andrew’s takeaways
- Don’t be too harsh on yourself when you fail. Remember, you did your best with what you knew at the time.
Actionable advice
To succeed, you need to be where the action is. Secondly, decide what to do because this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. If you get it wrong, you lose many years. So choose carefully, and pick the stuff you’re naturally good at.
Vivek’s recommendations
If you’re interested in startups and want to be successful in business, Vivek recommends reading Nicholas Taleb’s Taleb’s books. They will change your perspective.
If you need to be aware of your own biases and how your mind plays with you, read Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow, and The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness. Vivek believes that once you have read these three people, you will be a changed and much better person, not just in business but as a human being.
No.1 goal for the next 12 months
Vivek’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to double the user base.
Parting words
“Focus on your goal. Look at the leverage inherent in the ecosystem and make your mark in the world.”
Vivek Raina
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