The idea was put forward that realizing a big idea does not necessarily require being in a large city. This message was conveyed from Patna, where The Bharat Project, an initiative by YourStory, launched ShuruKar in the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Scientific City in Rajinder Nagar.
ShuruKar, developed in collaboration with DPIIT and Startup India, is positioned as the first nationwide, district-level movement of its kind. Its goal is to help young Indians identify a problem in their area that needs solving, build a business around it, and further develop that venture.
The event attracted Shri Nitish Mishra, the Minister for Urban Development and Housing Department of the Bihar government, as well as founders, students, and young entrepreneurs from across the state.
For Shraddha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, ShuruKar marks a shift from documenting entrepreneurs to creating them. She noted: 'For 17 years, I told entrepreneurs' stories. But at some point, I realized that telling their stories was not enough. We must help create the next generation of such people.'
She added that talent and ambition exist everywhere in India, but access to opportunities is lacking, and ShuruKar is an attempt to change this situation.
Sharma addressed those who wanted to build something but hesitated at the start: 'To every young person who has ever thought, 'I want to do something of my own, but I don't know where to start,' I want to say that you don't need to have all the answers. You just need to start.'
She emphasized that the next generation of Indian founders will emerge not only in megacities but also in cities like Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur. According to her, ShuruKar will accompany participants from finding a suitable problem to attracting the first client.
Minister Nitish Mishra spoke about the hidden side of every successful story. He noted that people only see the final success but rarely notice the struggle that led to it. He advised: 'Every entrepreneur faces this struggle, but let it not stop you.'
He also stated that the perception of the state lags behind the reality. 'Bihar is often misunderstood, but the reality on the ground is changing. The government is doing a lot to promote entrepreneurship and new ventures in the state, and the youth must step forward and take full advantage of this.'
ShuruKar represents a district-level platform that transforms local problems into local enterprises. Each participant goes through four stages. It is important to note that ShuruKar is designed to function within existing government structures, without requiring the creation of a new scheme or obtaining government funding.
During the launch, the 'ShuruKar Challenge' was also announced, which invites proposals for solutions to the country's most pressing problems. The day began with speeches by officials and the official launch of ShuruKar. This was followed by keynote addresses from Amar Dixit, CEO of WOI India, and Johnson Tellis, co-founder and CEO of InUnity. The founders then took the stage to share their experiences and answer questions from the youth in the audience.
The event concluded with a slogan that defined this movement: 'Hokar Nidar, ShuruKar'. The call was: 'Don't just look for a job, learn to create one. Don't wait for an opportunity, start.'