Kunal Bahl reveals how not getting into IIT helped him, says he played 3 hours of cricket after rejection

Entrepreneur Kunal Bahl shared his journey to success at the NDTV World Summit 2024, highlighting how setbacks led him to greater opportunities. Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital, revealed that not getting into IIT, a prestigious Indian institute, and having his H-1B visa application rejected, were key turning points in his life.

Entrepreneur Kunal Bahl shared his journey of overcoming setbacks at the NDTV World Summit 2024. Despite not getting into IIT, a school his parents hoped for, he found success through different paths. Bahl emphasized that failures can lead to opportunities. He also discussed how a rejected H-1B visa application set the stage for his entrepreneurial career.

Not getting into IIT really helped me blossom

Kunal Bahl faced early setbacks when he did not get into IIT. Reflecting on this experience, he stated, “Many things that I wanted didn’t go as per plan at that point in time but it set me on a path that was better for me. I didn’t get into IIT but I got into a good US college that opened my mind and really helped me blossom.” Bahl recounted how the news affected his family, but he managed to cope by playing cricket for three hours, allowing him to move forward.

H1B Rejection Was Turning Point: Kunal Bahl

Bahl's career took another turn when his H-1B visa application was rejected while he was working at Microsoft in the US. He explained, “I thought I would live in the US for a few years. But one day I was sitting in my office and I got a one-line email that my H-1B visa had been rejected and that’s how I came back and started my journey as an entrepreneur.” He highlighted that perseverance and hard work eventually lead to success.

Entrepreneurship in India

After returning to India, Kunal Bahl co-founded Snapdeal, a significant e-commerce platform, and Titan Capital, a venture capital firm for early-stage startups. At the summit, he called for celebrating 'Indicorns'—a term he believes is more fitting for India's unique business landscape. He remarked, “The term unicorn has emerged from the US, suited more to the American context, and India needs to celebrate ‘Indicorns’ with its own benchmarks of success and business goals tailored to the Indian context.”

Kunal Bahl's story reflects the importance of resilience in the face of adversity and underscores the potential for success through determination and innovation in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.