NI Bureau
New Delhi, April 16 , 2025 –
MERI College students got a chance to hear firsthand about the realities of entrepreneurship during a session hosted by the college’s E-Cell and Innovation Council. The talk, titled “Building a Business – An Entrepreneur’s Journey”, featured Deepankar S. Halder, an entrepreneur with experience across the retail and consulting sectors and an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad.
Addressing over 120 students from MBA and BBA programs, Halder focused on practical challenges faced by founders, especially in the early stages of building a business. He stressed that understanding real customer needs is more important than chasing trends, and that problem-solving isn’t limited to startups—large companies also need entrepreneurial thinking.
Halder shared insights from his early work with Shaw Wallace & Company and later roles in mass retail and consulting, highlighting how these experiences informed his approach to launching ventures like Jalongi.com, a cold-chain seafood delivery platform. He spoke candidly about funding challenges, self-financing, and the long timelines often required to get a business off the ground.
Students asked questions ranging from equity division to startup regulations. Halder emphasized the value of strong teams, long-term financial planning, and the support of mentors and early investors. In closing, he offered a reminder that optimism alone isn’t enough, saying, “Hope is not a strategy.”
The session was part of MERI College’s broader efforts to connect students with real-world industry perspectives.
