New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- As India's startup ecosystem expands beyond Bengaluru, cities such as Mysuru are beginning to attract founders building businesses closer to their customers, supply chains and local markets. But developing a startup ecosystem outside the country's established technology hubs requires more than infrastructure; it also needs access to capital, mentors, incubators and the wider entrepreneurial network.

In a conversation with CIOL, Shloka Sachdev, Vice-President, Marketing & Partnerships, NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL), the startup incubation centre at IIM Bangalore, spoke about the challenges founders face in the early stages of building a startup, why identifying the right customer can matter...