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Everyone has a hobby to relieve stress and escape from their busy lives, but these founders came up with the idea for their business while having fun. While you shouldn’t treat your business as a hobby, you can find the secret to your entrepreneurial calling in your hobby.
A good example is the Walt Disney Company, a $209.06 billion entertainment conglomerate built by brothers Walt and Roy Disney. Walt began drawing and creating cartoon characters at a young age. In the 21st century, the urge to make your dreams come true once in a lifetime is a common mindset. Young people now prefer to start their own businesses rather than working in a 9 to 5 job.
Entrepreneur India We spoke to founders who turned their hobbies into business ideas.
Community Gamer
Siddharth Nayar, Co-Founder and CRO, AFK Gaming
“We created a forum for the small community of Indian gamers to discuss and exchange views. At that time, there were small tournaments and events taking place in India but they were scattered and nobody was talking about this growing sector. So we decided to turn the forum into a media business, to shine a spotlight on the industry and talk about the achievements of gamers who were making a name for themselves.”
Innovation Seeker
Anuj Sawhney, Managing Director, Swiss Military
“My cycling journey began in 2010 when my son was four years old and I was captivated by a passing Harley Davidson. Bicycling has had a major impact on both my personal and professional life. Swiss Military specializes in luxury lifestyle and travel goods and my personal experiences have become part of our research and development. One of the key insights that has emerged from my cycling adventures is that reliable gear is paramount. Just as a well-maintained motorcycle is essential, riders need top-notch equipment to conquer their journeys.”
Idea Climber
Pranav Jain, Founder, Crime City
“I’d always wanted to have my own wall and I just needed time and experience to achieve something bigger. The idea took another dimension after spending time with climbers and realising they lacked the proper infrastructure and facilities to perform at a world level.”
Soulful Audiophile
Varun Gupta, co-founder of Bolt
“While working as an Account Manager, Audio division at Snapdeal, I noticed a huge gap in the Indian market. Despite the growing demand for premium audio products, there was a dearth of options that offered both great sound quality and stylish design at affordable prices. This observation ignited a spark in me. From my experience as a musician, I knew what people wanted to hear and what the perfect tuning is that brings a song to life. This deep understanding of music became the foundation for the BOULT philosophy.”
