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The instinct is to equate capital with investors. But some of the most resourceful businesses grow on capital they found, not raised — supplier terms, customer advances, leased equipment, revenue reinvested with discipline.

Creative financing isn't what you do when you can't raise money. It's a core entrepreneurial skill in its own right — and it keeps founders in control of what they build.

The Wadhwani Centre for Government Digital Transformation (WGDT) assists government officers in adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to enhance public service delivery and policy effectiveness.Established in April 2021 through an MoU with the Principal Scientific Adviser and the Capacity Building Commission, WGDT collaborates with ministries and officials to co-create scalable digital solutions, ensuring governance becomes more responsive, data-driven, and citizen-focused.

Most founders look for mentorship in the obvious places — investors, industry veterans, fellow entrepreneurs. The advice is good. But it's also second-hand.

Dr. Wadhwani's framing flips the source. The most useful mentor is often the customer — the person who has actually used what you've built, paid for it, and lives with the consequences. Their feedback is direct, specific, and grounded in reality, not hypothesis.

The first breakthrough rarely comes from a strategy session. It comes from listening closely to what customers are quietly trying to tell you — and treating those conversations like mentorship rather than research.

Innovation is often misunderstood as disruption — building something the world has never seen.

But as Dr. Romesh Wadhwani suggests, the real skill lies in reading the market closely enough to stay one step ahead of it, while maintaining a clear distance from the competition.

That gap — between proximity to the customer and distance from the competitor — is where sustainable advantage is built. Not by guessing the future, but by understanding the present better than anyone else.

This is the kind of thinking at the heart of Entrepreneurship by Wadhwani Foundation.

Learn more about Wadhwani Foundation at: https://lnkd.in/gjNG6qwv

Wadhwani AI is an initiative by the Wadhwani Foundation focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to drive large-scale social impact. By partnering with governments, public institutions, and nonprofits, the program develops AI-powered solutions that address critical challenges in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and infrastructure. Its mission is to enable data-driven decision-making and create sustainable, scalable impact across communities.

The Wadhwani Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating job creation and economic growth in emerging economies. Founded by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, the foundation focuses on empowering individuals through initiatives in entrepreneurship, skilling, innovation, and government digital transformation. Leveraging technology, strategic partnerships, and scalable programs, it aims to enable millions to earn sustainable livelihoods and lead dignified lives.

Resilience and tenacity aren’t just traits—they’re the essence of entrepreneurship. As Dr. Romesh Wadhwani rightly puts it, these qualities define the journey of every great entrepreneur. It’s about staying strong when the odds are stacked against you and persevering when challenges arise. Success doesn’t come easy, but with determination, it’s always within reach.

Entrepreneurship isn’t defined only by ventures built or milestones reached. It shapes how one thinks, decides, and responds to uncertainty—long after any single journey ends.

Entrepreneurs are like magicians’—what a powerful analogy by our Founder and Chairman, Dr. Romesh Wadhwani. Their magic lies in creating something extraordinary from nothing but an idea, ambition, and relentless hard work. These changemakers courageously transform challenges into opportunities, inspiring all of us at Wadhwani Foundation.

We’re honored to support these innovators, providing the tools, resources, and mentorship they need to create impact and bring their dreams to life!

Wadhwani Foundation collaborates with leading industry, academic, and ecosystem partners to accelerate entrepreneurship, workforce skill development, and sustainable job creation across India and globally, driving measurable social and economic impact.

Dr. Romesh Wadhwani’s statement reflects a deep sense of responsibility to make a positive impact on society. For him, success isn’t just about personal achievement but about uplifting others and creating opportunities for those who need it most. It’s a reminder that when we give back, we help build stronger, more resilient communities.

Wadhwani Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating economic development by creating high-value job opportunities and empowering individuals to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Through its key initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, skill development, innovation, and government digital transformation, the Foundation supports students, job-seekers, startups, SMBs, and public institutions. Led by President & CEO Ajay Kela, it operates across 20+ countries, leveraging technology and strategic partnerships to build a future-ready workforce and drive long-term impact.

AI isn’t just transforming industries—it’s redefining humanity’s timeline for hope and healing.