Lessons - The Truth About Finding Product-Market Fit After 3 Exits | Shirish Nadkarni - Author of From Startup to Exit
Lessons - The Truth About Finding Product-Market Fit After 3 Exits | Shirish Nadkarni - Author of From Startup to Exit
This episode features serial entrepreneur Shirish Nadkarni, who shares his extensive experience in building and exiting multiple consumer businesses, including Livemocha and TeamOn Systems. He discusses crucial lessons on finding product-market fit, strategies for fundraising, the importance of company culture, and the art of planning a successful company exit. Nadkarni also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and insights from his book, 'From Startup to Exit'.
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Shirish Nadkarni, Author of From Startup to Exit | An Insider's Guide to Launching and Scaling Your Tech Business
Show Notes
In this “Lessons” episode, Shirish Nadkarni, author of From Startup to Exit, breaks down what it really takes to find product-market fit — and why timing, validation, and adaptability can make or break a startup. Drawing from his own journey through three successful exits, he shares how he raised $15 million pre-revenue during the dot-com boom, learned the hard way that great ideas fail without market readiness, and turned a struggling concept into a company eventually acquired by BlackBerry. Learn how founders can identify the right problems to solve, test demand before building, and recognize when it’s time to pivot, raise, or exit strategically.