This Bangalore Man Left Corporate Job to Help Indian Startups Innovate

In February 2024, Jitesh Bajaj made a bold decision that many would hesitate to even consider. After an impressive career at some of the world's largest corporations—Bank of America, Accenture, and Tesco—Jitesh gave it all up.

He walked away from a high-paying job to pursue a vision. His goal? To transform India's startup ecosystem, foster innovation, and help Indian startups solve global challenges from India.

A Bold Leap Forward:

Born and raised in Delhi, Jitesh’s father owned a successful home appliance manufacturing business. After graduating from Delhi University and briefly working for his family business, he ventured into the corporate world, where he thrived for nearly two decades.

But something was missing. Despite the financial and professional success, Jitesh felt unfulfilled. He saw the rapid growth of India's startup landscape and recognised a glaring gap.

“Indian startups have been mostly inspired by Western ideas. I knew it was time for India to lead with original, groundbreaking innovation,” Jitesh Bajaj shares during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia. 

For someone with Jitesh’s credentials, the leap from the safety of corporate life to the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship is a bold one. Yet, the timing couldn't have been better.

 
The Indian startup ecosystem is thriving, thanks to government initiatives like Startup India, which has created a fertile environment for innovative ideas. Since its launch in 2016, the Startup India initiative has spurred the growth of India's startup ecosystem through various schemes and incentives.

According to a recent PIB news report, there are over 140,000 DPIIT-recognized startups in the country, generating over 15.53 lakh direct jobs.

India has witnessed a significant surge in startups, attracting substantial funding and investment from firms that have expressed confidence in the potential of Indian startups. An article by Mint indicates that total funding for Indian startups reached $8.4 billion in 2023.

“Yes, there are challenges - funding, scaling, talent acquisition, etc - but these are all solvable issues. I see a tremendous opportunity in India's growing startup landscape. My mission is to support Indian founders, help them innovate, and turn their ideas into globally impactful ventures,” Jitesh explains to Startup Pedia.

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His solution is twofold - Tetris Innovations, a startup incubator aimed at supporting founders with groundbreaking ideas, and EdVANS, a digital platform designed to bring artificial intelligence-powered and entrepreneurship-focused education and skills to students worldwide.

Co-Founding Startups with Tetris Innovations:

Headquartered in Bangalore, Tetris Innovations goes beyond the traditional role of a startup incubator. Jitesh describes Tetris as a "co-founder" for aspiring entrepreneurs.

“We don’t just provide space and mentorship; we are with the founders at every step, from idea validation to securing funding and reaching market fit, while also offering essential services such as legal, finance, talent acquisition, real estate, and technology support,” Jitesh shares with Startup Pedia.

“We help them fine-tune their business models for scalable growth. We even manage investor relations post-funding and IPO consulting ” Jitesh adds further on supporting potential startups.

Jitesh’s vision for Tetris Innovations is clear - he wants it to serve as a launchpad for thousands of innovation-led Indian startups. “I envision an India where innovation is not just inspired by the West but where the world looks to India for inspiration,” Jitesh explains.

Empowering Students with EdVANS: 

While Tetris Innovations tackles the startup ecosystem, Jitesh’s second venture, EdVANS, is focused on education.

With ₹5 crore in pre-seed funding, Jitesh Bajaj, through EdVANS, is building a global ecosystem that equips students with essential skills in AI, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking from an early age.

The platform's flagship initiatives include "Think AI," aiming to educate 1 billion students worldwide about AI, and "The Young Indian Founder," which offers funding for student-led startup ideas.

“My vision is to democratise education and position India as a global leader in AI-focused learning, ensuring our students are ready for the future,” Jitesh shares with Startup Pedia.

Jitesh’s Playbook for the Future of Indian Startups:

What drives Jitesh is more than just monetary successes, it's a deep belief in India's potential to become the world's next innovation hub.

He has also written a widely-discussed book titled India’s Innovation Imperative, where he outlines a strategic roadmap for India's role in shaping the global startup ecosystem.

“We have all the right ingredients. We have a young, dynamic workforce, an increasingly supportive government, and a growing base of investors willing to bet on Indian startups,” Jitesh insists.

In his book, Jitesh highlights eight key stakeholders he believes will drive India’s innovation story, including government agencies, universities, private companies, and grassroots organisations. “Every stakeholder has a major role to play,” he says.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: 

As someone who successfully transitioned from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, Jitesh has plenty of advice for aspiring founders.

“Don’t quit your day job right away. First, you can come to us at Tetris Innovations. We’ll do all the heavy lifting in the background, validate your idea, and let you know if it has real potential,” he explains.

Jitesh acknowledges that starting a business can be daunting, but he believes that perseverance is key. “You have to trust your instincts. It’s not going to be easy, but if you’re committed to innovation, you can do something truly meaningful,” he shares with a firm voice.

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A New Era for Indian Startups:

Jitesh’s journey is just beginning, but he’s already making waves in both the education and startup sectors.

His mission to help Indian startups innovate and scale globally is well underway, and with the success of EdVANS and Tetris Innovations just on the horizon, the future looks promising. He is also preparing to launch a third venture that aims to provide technology consulting services to corporate clients.

“The next century is India’s century. We have the talent, the ambition, and now, with platforms like Tetris and EdVANS, the support to make it happen,” Jitesh declares with confidence.

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As Jitesh and his ventures continue to grow, one thing is clear - this Bangalore-based visionary is on a mission to ensure that Indian startups aren't just playing catch-up with the West, but leading the way for the future of global innovation.