venkata subramanian podcast brings forward one of the most honest and powerful founder stories featured on The Founder’s Dream. In this episode, Venkata Subramanian, IIT Madras alumnus and founder of Badass Bottlez, opens up about mental health, failure, and how personal pain can be transformed into meaningful work.
This is not a typical startup success story. It is about choosing purpose over pressure and building a business that solves real problems while empowering people often ignored by society.
Is IIT a Depression Machine? The Mental Health Reality
Venkata openly shares that he was diagnosed as bipolar during his time at IIT Madras. In the venkata subramanian podcast, he describes the institute as a “depression machine,” where extreme pressure, competition, and expectations silently affect students’ mental health.
He explains how success in such environments is often measured only by grades, placements, and titles, leaving no room for emotional well-being. This phase changed how he looked at life and pushed him to question what real success actually means.
Waste to Wealth: Building a Bottle Recycling Startup
After walking away from corporate job offers, Venkata started Badass Bottlez, a waste management and recycling venture focused on turning discarded bottles into premium, upcycled products.
The venkata subramanian podcast explains that this is not just about recycling waste. It is about creativity, sustainability, and building products that people value. By combining design with recycling, Badass Bottlez proves that waste to wealth is not just an idea—it is a scalable business model.
How to Start a Business That Creates Social Impact
In this segment, Venkata shares how he built his business without external funding. He talks about his early failures, learning product-market fit, and the importance of patience.
The venkata subramanian podcast highlights a key lesson for aspiring founders: purpose and profitability can coexist. When a business solves a real problem, growth becomes more meaningful and sustainable.
Creating Jobs for Disabled Persons Through Recycling
One of the most inspiring aspects of Badass Bottlez is its inclusive workforce. Most of the team consists of differently-abled employees.
Venkata explains why dignity of labour matters and how inclusive hiring is not charity, but smart business. In the venkata subramanian podcast, he shows how waste management businesses can also create real employment opportunities for marginalized communities.
Startup Funding Truths: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets
The episode also dives into the realities of startup funding. Venkata explains where venture capital money comes from, why funds are released in stages, and how hiring and firing cycles can be brutal.
Through the venkata subramanian podcast, he reminds founders that funding should be a tool, not a goal. He shares lessons from bootstrapped companies like Zoho that grew without chasing investors.
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Life Beyond Entrepreneurship: Balance, Family, and Hobbies
Venkata also talks about life outside business. He shares why playing the banjo helps him stay grounded, the importance of family, and why he brought his mother to the podcast recording.
The venkata subramanian podcast reinforces the idea that healing, balance, and personal growth are essential for long-term success. Entrepreneurship should support life, not consume it.
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Conclusion
The venkata subramanian podcast is a powerful reminder that success is not defined by institutions, funding, or titles. From confronting mental health struggles at IIT to building a waste management and recycling business with heart, Venkata’s journey shows how purpose can grow from pain.
This episode is a must-watch for anyone exploring how to start a business, interested in recycling and waste management, or struggling in high-pressure careers. It proves that when purpose leads, impact and success naturally follow.
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Yes, recycling can be profitable and useful for society. This blog explains why it works as a business. Start by identifying waste problems around you and begin small. This blog explains how Venkata Subramanian did it step by step. The best ideas solve real problems like waste management. This blog shares one such real example.
