In the bustling heart of Bengaluru, often heralded as India’s very own Silicon Valley, Dhruv Suyamprakasam found himself on a turbulent entrepreneurial odyssey. As the visionary behind the telemedicine startup iCliniq, his tale is one woven with a tapestry of challenges, misalignments, and the quest for a haven where innovation and healthcare could seamlessly intertwine.
The Draw to Bengaluru: A Double-Edged Sword
It was 2010 when Dhruv made the pivotal move to this tech-laden metropolis, seduced by its allure and the promise of limitless entrepreneurial potential. “Relocating to Bengaluru felt like stepping onto the right path for any founder,” he reflected during a candid conversation with Business Insider. Yet, his expectations soon met with the harsh reality of competition and bias.
Hailing from Coimbatore, a quaint city in Tamil Nadu, Dhruv quickly felt the chill of exclusion. The unfathomable chasm of language barriers and elite credentials—parameters often idolized within India’s thriving tech circles—cast shadows upon his aspirations. “Not being fluent in Hindi and lacking an IIT pedigree drew unwarranted judgments my way. My roots in a lesser-known town only exacerbated my feelings of isolation,” he revealed, the weight of his words echoing the sentiments of many who tread similar paths.
Healthcare’s Unique Demands: A Cultural Clash
Bengaluru’s frenetic pace, driven by a mantra of “grow fast, fail fast,” clashed spectacularly with the meticulous nature of the healthcare realm. Dhruv poignantly noted, “The city cultivates an environment where speed trumps all, yet healthcare—where lives are at stake—knows no such luxury for folly.” The relentless pressure to achieve voluminous targets, such as “100 paid consultations per day,” not only heightened his stress but also sowed seeds of doubt about his venture’s viability in such a relentless climate.
After a harrowing 16-month stint, filled with aspirations and frustrations alike, Dhruv retreated to the comforting embrace of Coimbatore. Although the transition came with its trials—think unreliable internet and a fledgling startup ecosystem—he embraced this slower cadence, cherishing the freedom to nurture his vision without the oppressive weight of city expectations.
A Resilient Return: Hopes and Realities
Fast forward to 2016, armed with lessons from his initial endeavor, Dhruv attempted to rekindle his dream in Bengaluru yet again, yearning for a more welcoming landscape. Unfortunately, even after an 18-month foray, he found himself grappling with the same entrenched challenges. The fast-paced enterprise ethos remained at odds with the thoughtful, trust-centered needs of healthcare. This realization triggered yet another migration back to Coimbatore—this time for good.
Dhruv’s narrative is a stark reminder of the necessity to cultivate the right milieu for startups, especially those rooted in sectors where precision reigns supreme over speed. His journey serves as a clarion call highlighting the biases that persist against non-Hindi speakers and those lacking prestigious educational backgrounds within India’s startup ecosystems, urging a broader discourse on inclusivity and cultural diversity.
Now, iCliniq thrives within the nurturing backdrop of Coimbatore, silencing skeptics and illustrating that innovation isn’t confined to conventional epicenters; it flourishes where perseverance and purpose converge.
