Starting a business can feel lonely. Your friends are worrying about exams or placements, and you’re sitting with an idea and nobody to ask whether it’s any good, how to find a first customer, or what to do when something goes wrong.
An online community won’t solve all that, but it helps. You get to meet people who are figuring things out too. Sometimes one conversation can save you hours of going around in circles. If you’re exploring entrepreneurship for students in India, these ten are worth a look, whether you’re in school, in college or somewhere in between.
10 online communities worth checking out
If you’re in high school, start here. Skillzo is a youth-led community with free programs, workshops and mentorship for school students, so you’re surrounded by people at your own stage, not experienced founders.
The government’s platform has free learning material and a network for founders. Its BHASKAR platform connects founders, mentors, investors and students across India’s startup ecosystem, and has features for students like free resources and access to mentorship. Check the platform for its current sign-up rules.
YC backed Airbnb and Stripe, and this is its free online course for people building their own startup. It’s self-paced and takes about seven weeks at one or two hours a week. It makes the most sense once you’ve started something, even something small.
A community for people building businesses without investors. Members share what they’re working on and how it makes money, which shows you what the journey looks like beyond the launch announcement.
Read for a few days before you post, and follow the rules. Opinions vary a lot and not every answer fits your situation, so use it to think a problem through, not to collect instructions.
This one leans towards startups that want to grow: product, hiring, fundraising. I’d save it for when you have an idea you’re actively working on.
One of the most popular websites in the world to showcase what you have built. People comment, upvote and give feedback on your app. Definitely a place to launch to get users.
This is mostly technology discussion and gets technical fast. You can do this at a later stage.
A professional networking platform where you can connect with people, share your work and build your reputation.
Startup Grind runs founder events through local chapters in many countries, including India, in partnership with Google for Startups. Events lean towards adults building tech companies, but hearing founders talk about their first customers and early mistakes.
Which one should you join first?
If you’re in school, start with Skillzo. If you’re in college and already working on something, try Indie Hackers, Reddit or Startup India, depending on what you’re stuck on.
Before you sign up: don’t introduce yourself and immediately ask people to back your business. Read for a week, answer what you can, and share what you’re learning. Also check each platform’s minimum age, ask a parent before making an account if you’re under 18, and never post your phone number or address.
What a community can’t do
Communities are good for advice and company. They won’t make you test your idea, and nobody there will check on your progress. That’s where a structured entrepreneurship program for high school students, or a good entrepreneurship course for students in India, can help. Either way, entrepreneurship projects for students only count once you’ve spoken to real customers.
StarterSky is an entrepreneurship accelerator for teens, based in Mumbai. In our 3-month program, students aged 13 to 18 start a real project or business with mentors, and do the actual work instead of just listening. We also run a junior program for ages 11 to 13 and internships for ages 15 to 22. If you’d like structure alongside your own exploration, find out more at startersky.com.