🚀 Build in Public: When Trust Breaks and Crisis Hits - My Last 3 Weeks as a Founder

Being a founder is exhilarating. I know because I am one.

But the last 3 weeks? They’ve been epic, crazy, and downright brutal.

I faced challenges that made me question if I was truly cut out for this life.

Running a pan-India chain throws surprises no MBA or podcast can prepare you for. Building in a niche with no blueprint? It’s like assembling a plane mid-air.

I was excited to scale Jreka, my next big dream. But sometimes, the ground beneath you shakes — and you’re forced to fix cracks before building higher.

When Trust Breaks: Discovering Fraud in My Own Team

I discovered massive financial fraud at our Delhi outlet.

It wasn’t some faceless crime. It was done by people I trusted — people who built this company with me.

To make matters worse:

• I struggle with Hindi.
• Delhi isn’t my turf.
• The people I had to confront were locals.
• And then... I found abusive NSFW content in the workplace that hinted at something darker.

I felt violated. Angry. Betrayed.

My first instinct? Drama. Revenge. To expose everything and make them pay.

But my heart? It didn’t allow me to take the legal route immediately. I cared for these people like family — despite their betrayal, they had contributed to the company’s growth. I wanted peace, not war.

Breaking Point: When I Almost Gave Up

I fell terribly sick — stress, heat, pollution — everything hit at once. I could barely speak. I had interviews lined up to hire replacements, but I was exhausted beyond words. I was coughing non-stop. My nose was blocked. My mind was foggy.

At my lowest, I called my best friend in tears:

"I can’t do this. I’ll come back later and handle it."

That’s when I got the reality check I needed:

“Ananya, anyone can enjoy the profits. But can they show up when they’re scared and worn out? That’s what will make you different and set you up for success. If you quit now, your house will burn. You need to walk into that fire, be okay with burning and get shit done.”

And then:

“Remember when you were alone, taking bookings without even having a center? Now you have a whole team on this journey with you.”

Those words hit hard. That was my wake-up call.

Choosing Grace Over Rage

I took action even when it was hard.

• I set the stage before exposing the fraud.
• I confronted them with proof.
• I kept my anger locked inside.
• I handled the situation with grace — even when lies and denials during the confrontation made my blood boil.

Despite the betrayal, I honoured their contribution to the company. I ensured they left feeling whole — because leadership isn’t about ego. It’s about resolution.

In the end, I recovered the money through a repayment plan. No police. No courts. Just tough conversations and calm strength.

Looking back, the fear and rage I felt were just fleeting emotions. The real win was mastering them.

Meditation, Middle-Class Roots & The Real Kings of Juggaad

If you ask me how I stayed sane — It’s meditation.

One year of daily practice taught me how to act without reacting. It turned emotional chaos into clarity.

And when it came to fixing structural repairs in Delhi on a tight budget — I realized something powerful.

Yes, I come from a middle-class Indian family where juggaad is second nature. But my illiterate cleaning staff? They are the true masters.

When you grow up with less, survival demands creativity. For them, figuring out how to fix a broken lock or seal a leak without spending a rupee isn’t innovation — it’s daily life. I’ve watched them solve operational problems I’d overthink — with solutions I’d never imagine.

Lesson: When resources are scarce, creativity isn’t optional — it’s instinct.

It made me deeply respect how poverty sharpens problem-solving far beyond what privilege can teach.

Wins Amidst the Storm

Despite everything, we launched Neon Paint Delhi — and I couldn’t be prouder of how it turned out.

Also, PVR’s PR team reached out.

They loved our concept and wanted a barter collaboration to promote the upcoming movie Ballerina (from the John Wick universe). While it’s exciting, here’s the thing — barter deals offer visibility, but visibility doesn’t pay bills.

We’re at a stage where Rage Room is already known. We celebrate raw emotions and give people safe spaces to be real. Now, we need financial growth to take this to more cities, to more people.

That’s why I’m looking for direct connects to the movie’s team. With the right partnership, we can turn this into a campaign that creates massive visibility — not just social media mentions, but something impactful for both sides.

If you know someone who can bridge that gap, I’d be incredibly grateful.

Click here to view the Ballerina X Rage Room collaboration proposal.

Signing Off: A Note to Fellow Builders

There were moments I wanted to run. Moments I doubted if I had it in me.

But founders aren’t made in easy times. We’re shaped when everything feels like it’s falling apart — and we stand anyway.

To anyone out there building something meaningful: Your emotions will test you. Your circumstances will corner you.

But every time you choose calm over chaos, action over reaction — You evolve.

Keep showing up. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

Adieu!