Mentor Impossible — Inspired by the Mothers of India

I used to think being a startup mentor meant sharing wisdom over coffee. Turns out… it’s more like Mission Impossible, minus the cool gadgets, plus a lot more WhatsApp calls.

One founder calls, “Sir, should we position this wearable as a wellness device, a clinical tool… or an anti-divorce stress patch?” Another asks, “We promised AI-based diagnostics — how do we explain that it’s basically an Excel sheet with colors?” And then there’s the 2 AM panic text — “Our investor backed out… can you help… or should we pivot to crypto?”

That’s when I realized — I’m not a mentor. I’m a crisis manager, spiritual guide, pseudo co-founder… Basically, the Indian mother of the startup ecosystem.

Like every mother I’ve seen — balancing home, job, kids, in-laws, nosy neighbors, client calls, cooking, festivals… while pretending the world isn’t falling apart. And somehow… delivering every single time.

I juggle:

• Founders on meltdown mode
• Investors acting like in-laws at a wedding (“Where are the returns?”)
• Competitors whispering ecosystem gossip
• Burn rates that need divine math
• Clients expecting magic — and settling for a fancy pedometer

Take the wearable startup that claimed “stress monitoring” — but caused more stress explaining it to regulators. Or the heart monitor so sensitive, it picked up the neighbor’s heart rate. Or the anxiety app that sent alerts at 3 AM — “Just checking if you’re sleeping well.”

Every day, it feels like a scene from Mission Impossible — I enter thinking I’ll solve one thing… and leave after defusing seven bombs, patching egos, and saving the day with duct tape and sarcasm.

And just like the mothers of India — I don’t quit. I juggle. I patch. I pivot. I pray. Because if they could hold homes, families, and careers together… I can survive mentoring a few health-tech dreamers.

Maybe that’s the real startup DNA — Not unicorns. Not VCs. But the Mission Impossible spirit… inspired by Indian mothers.

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