Why Great Companies Are Never Built on the First Idea | Dr. Saarthak Bakshi | TEDxCUH

Startup ideas rarely survive first contact with the market, according to this TEDxCUH talk by Dr. Saarthak Bakshi, Founder & CEO of Risaa IVF and an angel investor in more than 40 companies. He examines the lifecycle of a startup idea, from pitch and prototype to pain, pivot and product-market fit. Examples he cites include Oravel becoming OYO and Fashnear evolving into Meesho. The core argument is that great companies come from a "thought in transit" that founders let travel, evolve and adapt to harsh feedback, rather than from a finished plan. The talk contrasts rigid, static concepts with dynamic, adaptable ones.

• Startup lifecycle: pitch, prototype, pain, pivot, product-market fit
• Examples of Oravel becoming OYO and Fashnear evolving into Meesho
• Why adaptable ideas succeed where rigid concepts fail
• Speaker: Dr. Saarthak Bakshi, angel investor in over 40 companies

What if the secret to building a successful startup isn't having a perfect idea, but rather the willingness to completely change it? Drawing on his experience as an angel investor in over 40 companies, this speaker explores the turbulent lifecycle of a startup idea. By analyzing the journey from pitch to prototype, pain, pivot, and finally product-market fit, he highlights how rigid, static concepts fail while dynamic, adaptable ones succeed. He shares real-world examples, such as Oravel transitioning into OYO and Fashnear evolving into Meesho, to demonstrate how initial plans rarely survive their first contact with the market. The central idea is simple: a great company is never born from a finished plan, but from a "thought in transit" that founders must allow to travel, evolve, and adapt to harsh feedback. Dr. Saarthak Bakshi is the Founder & CEO of Risaa IVF, with over 14 years of experience across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, where he has helped thousands of families on their journey to parenthood. He has been recognized on global platforms including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, BW 40 Under 40, Entrepreneur 35 Under 35, and AsiaOne 40 Under 40, along with numerous industry accolades. A Commonwealth Fellow, his work and insights have been featured in leading publications such as TOI, ET, HT, Navbharat Times, Dainik Bhaskar and other prominent national and global platforms. Beyond healthcare, he is an active startup mentor and investor, having invested in over 35 startups through Neos Angels across healthcare, technology, and emerging sectors. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx