In today's rapidly evolving digital era, young minds are at the forefront of innovation, challenging the status quo and bringing fresh perspectives to traditional industries. One such young entrepreneur, Yuvan Arvind, who was a former participant in Futurize’s Fintech Fuel program in 2021, shares his journey from participating in hackathons to launching his startup, revealing the challenges, learnings, and triumphs along the way.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey?

My name is Yuvan Arvind; I'm 21 years old and recently completed my engineering degree. I've been exploring the startup space for a couple of years, trying to build something new. My journey began during the lockdown when I had ample time to explore my interests, from UI/UX, sales, business development, marketing, to coding. During the process, I realized I enjoyed handling tasks end-to-end. In my second year of college, a friend and I started a small business called "One Drop," selling custom merchandise to startups and college clubs. We operated on a dropshipping model, which meant we had low investments. We learned about e-commerce, SEO, and other aspects of the business. Drawing from these experiences, I eventually co-founded TickEth in my third year of college, a venture that further ignited my entrepreneurial spirit.

“There are a lot of good problems to be solved, or even existing problems that companies are solving for, which can be done 10 times, 20 times better……even if the idea is not unique enough, figure out your small advantages, small industries that you can take advantage of, and then go behind it. It doesn't matter if there is somebody else doing the same thing.”

**Yuvan Arvind**, Product & Growth at Requestly (YC W22) and Former Co-founder of TickEth

What Futurize program were you a part of, and why did you join it?

I joined the Fintech Fuel 2021 program by Futurize, a hackathon centered around the UN's SDG goals to innovate in the Fintech space. I joined the program because I saw it as an opportunity to mingle with an intellectually stimulating crowd. My primary motivation was to socialize, network, and meet individuals who, in general, were sharper and more knowledgeable than me.

Can you tell us more about how you started TickEth and what motivated you to launch it?

My entrepreneurial journey began with a strong drive to start something of my own. This passion grew stronger when I encountered two remarkable individuals during Futurize’s Fintech Fuel, building something of their own in the tech space. Their talent and insights were a source of inspiration for me and drove me to retake the leap into entrepreneurship.

Eventually, by my third year of college, I started building TickEth, a tech startup, along with my co-founders. Our primary goal with TickEth was to create a platform akin to ticketing platforms like BookMyShow or Eventbrite but one that was run on the blockchain. The essence of our solution was to eradicate the middlemen in the secondary resale of tickets, addressing the challenges faced by individuals looking to buy and sell tickets.

To kickstart our startup we applied to numerous accelerator programs, fellowships, and grants, and were fortunate to have received positive results. Coincidentally, the crypto space began its meteoric rise around the same period. The timing couldn’t have been better for us. Over a span of one to one and a half years, we witnessed exponential growth, both in our knowledge base and the innovations we brought to life.

What incubator program did you eventually join, and how did it benefit your team?

As students with zero experience of how a tech startup works, we had too many ifs and buts and unanswered questions that only joining an incubator could solve. We were fortunate to join Antler, where, over 4 months, we received mentorship and guidance in areas of product development, assigning team roles, hiring, communication, and marketing strategies. Joining Antler also opened doors for us to network with influential figures in the startup ecosystem, fostering invaluable connections for our future endeavors.

What was eventually the future of TickEth? And why did you decide to pivot your career?

We saw challenges coming with TickEth. We realized if this was not going to take off, we needed to either do something insanely crazy or spend five to 10 years in this industry with zero guarantees of results. We were at a crossroads with two kinds of choices to make.

We concluded that the ticketing industry was monopolized, and breaking into it would require significant time and resources. We decided to pivot because we were more passionate about the technology we were building than the ticketing industry. I've since joined a YC startup, Requestly, to learn from more experienced founders and build technology that helps people. Eventually, I hope to get back into the startup space and build things that I’m passionate about.

Reflecting on your entrepreneurial journey, what key learnings did you gain?

In my first business, I learned the importance of developing exceptional communication skills to stall or say no during a crisis when you need time to solve it without losing clients or partners.

With TickEth, I realized the importance of identifying the right problem statement. I would rather spend more time finding and solving a problem than just going behind the technology. If the problem statement is valid, it doesn’t matter if the technology you envisioned is being used.

What would you recommend to students worldwide looking to be entrepreneurs?

It's essential to make yourself visible in the digital world. Whether you're interning or creating a startup, people should know about your endeavors. Create a robust LinkedIn or Twitter profile that showcases your achievements, interests, and aspirations. People are too busy with their lives to judge your posts critically. What matters is your effort to put yourself out there.

Meet as many people as you can. Dedicate a few hours every week to meet new people, either online or offline. If you reach out to 50 individuals, chances are at least one will respond. These interactions can open doors to opportunities, collaborations, and insights you hadn't considered before.

Just start something small. It doesn't have to be the next billion-dollar idea. Initiating a small business with a modest investment of $100 is a commendable start. The experience you gain from this will be invaluable.

Join hackathons to meet diverse individuals, brainstorm ideas, and prototype potential products.

You could be next to launch your own business!

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Discover how Futurize programs can empower you to launch your own business by allowing you to test ideas, receive design thinking training, and build prototypes through experimental, cohort-based learning. If you’d like to learn more about Futurize’s innovation programs and incubators and how you can get involved, signup for our newsletter here.

A 21-year-old Tech Enthusiast’s Journey into Entrepreneurship