Welcome to The Founder’s Dream, India’s fastest-growing business podcast where we don’t just talk about business wins but the raw, real stories behind entrepreneurship. In this powerful episode, Venkata Subramanian, IIT Madras alumnus and founder of Badass Bottlez, shares how he transformed personal pain into a meaningful waste management and recycling business that empowers society’s most overlooked communities.
Diagnosed as bipolar during his time at IIT Madras, Venkata openly calls India’s most prestigious engineering college a "depression machine." In this business podcast, he shares shocking insights on the pressure-cooker environment of IIT, where mental health struggles are common but rarely spoken about.
Venkata reveals how this phase shaped his perspective on life, success, and what it means to build a fulfilling career beyond titles and designations.
After leaving behind corporate job offers, Venkata founded Badass Bottlez, a waste management and recycling venture that turns discarded bottles and materials into premium upcycled products.
This isn’t just bottle recycling; it’s about creating artistic, personalized, and sustainable products while addressing India’s growing waste crisis. From waste to wealth, Venkata shows how creative recycling can also be a scalable business idea.
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In this how to start a business segment, Venkata breaks down his journey of building a startup from scratch with no funding. From his first failed venture to learning valuable lessons on product-market fit, he shares actionable steps for aspiring entrepreneurs to launch impact-driven businesses.
His experience shows how aligning purpose with profitability creates sustainable success.
One of the most inspiring parts of Badass Bottlez is its team—made up almost entirely of differently-abled employees. Venkata talks about the importance of inclusive hiring, dignity of labour, and why India needs more ventures that create jobs for disabled persons.
He shows how a waste management and recycling business can also empower marginalized communities and give them new opportunities.
This business podcast episode also unpacks the lesser-known side of startup funding:
Venkata explains how funding should be a tool—not a goal—and why founders need to rethink how they approach investors.
Besides building a waste management business, Venkata talks about life beyond work:
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This conversation with Venkata Subramanian and Abhishek Vyas is a must-watch for anyone questioning the traditional path to success. From confronting the dark side of IIT’s mental health crisis to building a meaningful waste management and recycling business, this is a masterclass in turning rejection into purpose.
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