Entrepreneur Stories
Larry Ellison Life Lessons
Larry Ellison: flamboyant, eccentric, one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs and named as one of the most successful people in the field of tech, has taught people around him a lot. From almost failing at his dream to more than being a force to be reckoned with, Ellison has done it all. At almost 72 years of age, with a company worth close to $ 200 billion, there is a lot this great man has taught the business and tech world. If you find yourself in a rut and with no way to get out, here are some lessons you need to learn from the tech guru of the world!
1. A degree is just an accessory, not a requirement
For some unfathomable reason, college dropouts are the ones who end up becoming successful in whatever they want to do. Ellison is a special case. He dropped out of college not once, but twice! The second time over, Ellison realised college was not his cup of tea and decided to move to California at 22 years of age. Thankfully for him, he had stayed in school long enough to understand the basics of computer design. A couple of years later, he created a database from scratch just by reading a paper on the subject! Not bad for a two time college dropout, right?
2. Retiring is for the weak
Larry Ellison was perhaps the longest serving CEO in the history of CEOs so far. A 70 year old CEO at the time was completely unheard of and Ellison practically broke the record at the time. Looking at how Ellison broke the age misconception, other CEOs also started following his trend and now, CEOs everywhere are following this surprising trend!
3. Be greedy and needy
Worth over $ 49 billion, Ellison is now the fifth richest man in the world. Despite being so well to do, the man did not and could not stop. In fact, in the year 2002, Ellison was one of the highest paid CEOs and earned close to 18% of the total revenue made by Oracle! The lesson here? It is okay to be greedy and needy. You have worked hard for what you have, so why not reap the rewards?
4. Cut off the people who do not help you grow
Silicon Valley, famous for being home to several successful entrepreneurs, is also infamous for being home to the casual dresser. Ellison decided to nip this habit by letting people know that he was in the market only for people who were very serious about their work. Also, Ellison is also known as the original geek of the tech world, making geeks look good world over!
5. If you have got it, then you should also spend it
The atrociously wealthy Ellison has one basic flaw to his character: he is a spendthrift. From being a true philanthropist and helping in improving the medical field, Ellison has also spent a hoard on monetary acquisitions. He owns two airlines (yes, more than one,) part of an island in Hawaii and at least a couple of mansions in strategic locations around the world. If that is not living in luxury, I do not know what else is.
This brilliant man, with his dreams of achieving something truly extraordinary in life, has managed to leave an awestruck and inspired audience in his wake. If you have been truly inspired by Larry Ellison in ways we have not covered here, comment and let us know!
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
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