When Kunal Chhabra walks into one of his high-energy bars in Delhi or checks updates from his restaurant in Dubai, he often thinks about the long journey it took to reach here—not just the decisions, but the mindset. He believes that what most young entrepreneurs need today isn’t more funding, fancy offices, or viral attention. What they really need is much simpler, yet far more powerful.
In a world where startup success is often measured by social media likes or investor decks, Kunal offers a refreshing, grounded perspective. “If someone had told me the truth in my early days,” he says with a smile, “maybe I could’ve avoided a few mistakes—or at least understood them better.”
This is his open letter to every aspiring entrepreneur who dreams big but isn’t sure where to start.
The Unseen Side of Entrepreneurship
Kunal’s journey began in the heart of Delhi, where he grew up watching his father build a successful bakery and catering business. From a young age, he was exposed to the behind-the-scenes hustle—long hours, people management, profit pressures, and the joy of customer satisfaction.
It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. But it was real.
“Today, entrepreneurship is sometimes sold like a shortcut to fame or wealth. But the truth is, it’s about learning to stay committed when nothing looks certain,” Kunal explains.
While his ventures now span restaurants, media, events, crypto trading, and more, Kunal insists that none of it would’ve happened without learning a few hard truths early on.
Lesson 1: Clarity is More Important Than Confidence
In his early 20s, Kunal launched his first solo venture, a food store named Breadways. “At that time, I thought confidence alone could take me far,” he admits. “But very quickly, I realized what I lacked was clarity—on finances, operations, and especially people.”
He says many young founders confuse confidence with preparation. “Confidence can get you started. But clarity keeps you going.”
For anyone starting up, he suggests writing down answers to three basic questions:
Why this business?
Who are you serving?
What problem are you solving?
“If you can answer these without using jargon, you’re on the right track,” he adds.
Lesson 2: Start Small. Stay Consistent.
In a time when "scaling fast" is often glorified, Kunal encourages doing the opposite.
“You don’t need a big launch. You need a strong habit,” he says.
When he started his co-working space in 2014, there was no PR, no fancy opening ceremony. “Just a few chairs, Wi-Fi, and a promise to be reliable,” he laughs. Over time, that quiet consistency built trust, and trust built the brand.
Young entrepreneurs often feel pressure to “look successful” before they actually are. “But if you deliver value quietly for a year, your work will speak louder than any ad,” he shares.
Lesson 3: Build a Tribe, Not Just a Team
Kunal doesn’t call his employees a ‘workforce.’ He calls them his tribe.
“When I started out, I treated hiring like checking boxes. Skills? Check. Experience? Check. But I soon learned that loyalty, honesty, and shared values matter even more.”
Some of his closest team members have been with him since the early days, growing with each new venture—from restaurants like Aquila and Bergamo in Delhi to Yara in Dubai.
For young entrepreneurs, he suggests this approach:
Hire slow.
Train well.
Talk often.
“When your team feels like they own part of the dream, they work like it too,” Kunal says.
Lesson 4: Learn the Difference Between Movement and Progress
One of the most common mistakes young founders make, Kunal says, is staying “busy” without being productive.
“In my early days, I confused 16-hour days with success. I was running between suppliers, staff, investors—but I wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t planning. I was reacting.”
Now, his focus is on making decisions, not just solving problems. “Progress happens when you take one meaningful step in the right direction every day. Not when you take 100 steps without knowing where you’re going.”
Lesson 5: Your Mental Health is Your Startup’s Foundation
This, he says, is the part no one talks about.
Entrepreneurship is lonely. Stressful. Often thankless in the beginning. Many lose themselves while chasing their startup dream.
“There was a time when I couldn’t sleep because I had five rent payments due, staff salaries to pay, and no clear plan,” he recalls.
His advice? “Talk. Delegate. Rest.”
Today, Kunal ensures he disconnects for at least two hours a day—no calls, no emails, just reflection. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” he says.
Lesson 6: Your ‘Why’ Will Save You
Through losses and wins, lockdowns and expansions, Kunal always goes back to his core reason for starting—freedom, creativity, and creating opportunity for others.
“It’s not about money,” he says. “If it was, I would’ve stopped long ago. It’s about impact.”
From a college dropout to a serial entrepreneur managing multiple ventures across two countries, Kunal’s journey is filled with pivots. But his foundation has stayed the same: honesty, hustle, humility.
Parting Words: A Note to the Young Dreamer
To every 20-something sitting with a notebook full of ideas or dreaming during a dull job, Kunal says:
“You don’t need the perfect plan. You need courage. You need patience. You need honesty with yourself. And you need to remember: It’s okay to build slowly. It’s okay to fail. But don’t quit before the magic happens.”
He pauses and adds, “And don’t believe anyone who says you’re too young. The world is always ready for people who are ready for the world.”
Kunal Chhabra continues to inspire not just through his growing empire of food, media, and tech ventures—but through his willingness to speak the truth. Because sometimes, the best mentorship is not telling people what they want to hear—but what they need to hear.
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