​I have to start a business within the next 6 months. Looking for advice from people who have actually built something.

Hi everyone,

I’m a robotics design engineer working in Bangalore, and over the last few months I’ve been thinking seriously about starting a business. I don’t have a specific idea yet, but I know that I want to take my first step within the next 6 months.

A little about my background. Professionally, I work in robotics and product design. My strengths are problem-solving, system design, design thinking, and breaking down complex problems into manageable pieces. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed building things from scratch and figuring out how systems work. However, when it comes to business, I would consider myself a complete beginner.

One reason I feel a sense of urgency is my family situation. My father has been running a business for many years, but unfortunately it has not been profitable and has become tied up in disputes and complications. He is now trying to sell it. Watching that situation unfold has taught me a lot about how difficult business can be, but it has also made me realize that I don’t want to spend years thinking about entrepreneurship without ever taking action.

Financially, I don’t come from a position of strength. I have my salary from my job, but I don’t have significant investment capital, and my family is not in a position to financially support a new venture. Because of that, I am looking for something that can start small, generate revenue relatively early, and scale gradually through consistent execution rather than large amounts of capital.

The industries that attract me the most are food, textiles, and real estate. To be honest, I don’t have any special expertise in those sectors. They simply interest me. At the same time, I’m completely open to opportunities in other industries if they make more sense for someone with my background and resources.

One belief I have is that there is no single correct way to build a business. While experience and best practices are important, I also think every entrepreneur eventually develops their own style, strategy, and way of operating. That’s part of what excites me about the journey.

I’m posting here because I’d love to learn from people who have actually built businesses, whether they succeeded, failed, or are still figuring things out.

If you were in my position today: 1. What type of business would you start? 2. Which industries would you stay away from and why? 3. What opportunities do you think are underrated right now in India? 4. If you had limited capital but were willing to work hard for several years, where would you focus your energy? 5. What would your first 6 months look like?

I’m also interested in connecting with people who are at a similar stage and are trying to build something of their own. Not necessarily looking for a business partner immediately, but I’d love to exchange ideas and learn from others who are taking the entrepreneurial path.

Thank you for reading, and I appreciate any advice, criticism, or reality checks. I’d rather hear uncomfortable truths now than make avoidable mistakes later.