The journey of starting and building a company is like planting a seed. At first, there's little to see beyond your vision, hopes, and belief in what the seed could grow into. But with time, care, and relentless effort, that tiny seed can transform into something extraordinary-a business that solves real problems, creates an impact, and changes lives.

This book is a culmination of insights, strategies, and lessons that aim to guide you through the dynamic and often unpredictable world of startups. It doesn't promise you foolproof formulas or shortcuts, because entrepreneurship doesn't come with guarantees.

Instead, what it offers is a framework-an understanding of milestones to aim for, challenges to tackle, and resources to leverage during your early days as a founder. I've broken down the complexities of the startup journey into actionable steps and digestible phases, focusing particularly on the first 1000 days of your entrepreneurial adventure.

These early days are crucial-they will demand courage, grit, and conviction from you. They will stretch you beyond your comfort zone but, in return, offer immense learning and transformation. Whether you are someone just entertaining the idea of entrepreneurship, a first-time founder, or someone in the trenches scaling your young startup, this book is here to be your companion. It strives to help you anticipate challenges and seize opportunities as they arise.

As you read, remember that every founder has their own unique path. You don't have to follow every, or any, for that matter, recommendation in this book, but use it as a compass, as a source of clarity and motivation to guide your steps. Whether you're building a bootstrapped business, a socially driven venture, or the next unicorn, know that entrepreneurship is about progress, not perfection. lere's to your journey, your lessons, and the legacy you'll leave behind as a founder. Let the first 1000 days be a roundation tor something truly groundbreaking.

Dr Saurabh Bhatia