TL;DR: Most Indian startups die in the first 90 days—not because of ideas, but because of execution chaos. Here’s how to survive and build traction fast.
This week, if you’re an early-stage founder in India feeling like your startup is running in 10 directions, you’re not alone. The “zero to one” phase feels like drowning in decisions—product, users, team, pitch decks. But what matters most in your first 90 days? Clarity. Momentum. Proof.
Day-by-Day: Tactical Moves That Matter
Here’s how winning Indian founders like Meesho and Zepto got early traction. The first 90 days are about validation, not perfection. Your job is to reduce uncertainty and increase customer insight. Follow this breakdown:
- Days 1–10: Define the problem brutally. Not what you *think* people want. But what they’re already duct-taping together. Use sharp user interviews (no surveys yet).
- Days 11–30: Build a lean MVP. Think Google Form + Notion backend. Razorpay’s early “payment button” didn’t look sexy—but it worked.
- Days 31–60: Launch in private. Get 10–15 real users. Watch them use it. Fix friction fast. Your job is speed-testing for love or indifference.
- Days 61–90: Create tiny loops. Make it shareable, recommendable, or bring value on Day 2. Incentivise actions, not installs.
The Framework: Clarity → Momentum → Proof
Most Indian founders stall because they chase VC signals too early. Instead, this framework focuses inward:
- Clarity: Solve a problem for a specific user.
- Momentum: Build weekly with user feedback.
- Proof: Show signs of retention or referrals—even if small.
This is what separates ballers from burners.
How to Apply This in Your Startup
Start this week by:
- Talking to 5 real users solving the same problem manually.
- Building your first flow using no-code (Tally + Zapier + Airtable is enough).
- Tracking 1 metric: usage after Day 1. If users bounce, rebuild that flow.
- Scheduling a weekly teardown with your 1st customer champion.
Key Takeaways
- Validate with speed, not scale, in your first 90 days.
- User interviews beat assumptions. Always.
- Minimal traction > beautiful pitch decks for early wins.
Trend Signal: Based on 2024 founder behavior analysis and GTM benchmarks from India’s top early-stage startups. Urgency: 9/10
