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Soichiro Honda – The Founder Of Honda Motors

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Soichiro Honda, a man who came from abject poverty and no financial support, proved to the rest of the world that it truly takes a dream to realise your passion. Without the means and through sheer hard work, Soichiro built his dream company from scratch and with a focus on the future. From building a cycle in a garage, to creating one of the largest automobile stores in the world, Soichiro Honda’s story is one of inspiration, dreams and success stories!

The Beginning

Belonging to a very small village in Japan called Komya, Soichiro had a very difficult childhood. The twentieth century had just started and the first car the world was exposed to was the Ford cars. In fact, even Soichiro’s love for cars first started when he saw a majestic Ford car on the tiny streets of his hometown. A young Soichiro had difficulty understanding how such a powerful car could drive down the road without anything propelling it forward. So fascinated was he by the car’s super powers, he chased it down to the end of the road to take a closer look at what would be his inspiration for the first ever Honda car.

At the age of 15 (in 1922,) Soichiro’s love for automobiles grew so much, he left home to apprentice at Art Shokai, an automobile repair shop in Tokyo. Dedicated and filled with a passion like never before, the 15 year old Soichiro put his heart and soul into learning everything about the world of cars. At Art Shokai, the young man learnt everything he could. From gaining technical experience about the product, to gaining an in depth experience about the inner workings of a car, this apprenticeship gave Soichiro the wings he needed to fly.

It took Soichiro six years to finish his training and by the year 1928, the young Honda had so much knowledge, he could put even the most trained engineers to shame! Opening a new branch of Art Shoika, Soichiro started working on building everything from two wheelers to trucks. Unfortunately, Soichiro’s investors were not as impressed with the young entrepreneur’s growth chart and refused to back him up when the business started booming. The time had now come for Soichiro to think of a new place to let his expertise and experience shine.

Picture credits: bikebandit.com

The birth of the Honda company

Undeterred, Soichiro started a brand new company called Tokai Seiki Heavy Industry in the year 1936. Despite being told by the lenders that they wouldn’t back him, the young Honda still worked at the Art Shoika Company. The initial days of Tokai Seiki were quite hectic. After putting a full day’s work in Art Shokai, Soichiro would work at making piston rings at night. However, like any other major venture, the first order taken by Soichiro was rejected almost immediately, pushing him back to the beginning of it all.

Since the very first days of the Honda company, everything Soichiro did was during the most arduous conditions. During the Second World War, when the Ministry of Munitions took control of Tokai Seiki, Soichiro pushed forward instead of buckling down under the pressure. Developing a technique for mass producing wooden airplanes, Soichiro reinvented the way Japanese aircrafts flew and functioned. This new invention was the first step toward the creation of what Honda is today and after the War, Soichiro opened the Honda Technical Research Institute. Realising the scarcity of gas at the time, the Honda Technical Research Institute built the first ever gas propelled cycle.

By the year 1949, Honda Motor Company Limited was established as the biggest bicycle creator and was starting to break new ground in this area. The first ever mass produced motorised bike, the Dream D (painted in maroon) was an instant hit the moment it hit the streets and this paved the way for the creation of the Honda C 100! So famous was the Honda C 100, it became the most popular motorcycle ever made by Honda in the beginning years! From then, there was absolutely no stopping Honda and with every new motorcycle made, the Company started growing with increasing speed and precision.

Picture credits: alamy.com

Over the years, Honda mastered the art of making motorcycles and by 1963, the Company was all set to expand into the world of cars. The first fleet of cars introduced by Honda were very similar to the bikes made during Second World War, with strong influences drawn from Honda’s initial days. By 1973, Honda’s expertise grew so quickly, it started expanding and was all set to sell cars to the United States. The first ever car it sold in the United States was the Honda Civic and since then, there was absolutely no turning back for this superstar! In fact, the Honda Civic was such a hit, it won awards for being the best car during the year it released.

The following years saw Honda grow to not just be an automobile industry but also a beacon of change for the way people all over the world rode their bikes and cars. It was through sheer hard work, determination and understanding of how the automobile industry worked, Soichiro Honda was a man who realised his dream and made it come true despite all adversities. 

An inspirational success and a story which needed to be told, Honda’s journey is a true guidance of hope and light. If you think you have an equally inspiring story to share about Soichiro Honda, comment and let us know!

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CCI Approves Merger Between Reliance and Disney

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CCI Approves Merger Between Reliance and Disney

Competition Commission of India (CCI) has granted approval for the merger between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and The Walt Disney Company’s Indian media assets, valued at approximately ₹70,000 crore (or $8.5 billion). This significant development was announced on August 28, 2024, and is set to create the largest entertainment
conglomerate in India, encompassing 120 television channels and two streaming services.

The merger involves RIL, Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Digital18 Media Limited, Star India Private Limited, and Star Television Productions Limited. Following the deal, Reliance will hold a 63.16% stake in the new joint venture, while Disney will retain 36.84%. The CCI’s approval comes after previous concerns regarding the merged
entity’s potential dominance in cricket broadcasting rights, which could adversely affect competition and advertisers in the market.

The CCI noted that the approval is contingent upon the compliance with certain “voluntary modifications,” although specific details of these modifications have not yet been disclosed. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 or early 2025, with Nita Ambani appointed as the Chairperson and Uday Shankar as Vice
Chairperson of the joint venture.

This merger positions the new entity to compete vigorously against major players such as Sony, Netflix, and Amazon, leveraging a vast content library and extensive distribution capabilities. The merger agreement also includes provisions for Disney’s films and productions to be distributed in India through the new joint venture, which is anticipated to significantly enhance its market presence and operational efficiency in the competitive entertainment landscape.

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Inside T-Hub: India’s Launchpad for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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Aerial view of T Hub Hyderabad

Imagine a building that’s not just a structure but a buzzing ecosystem. A space where startups, corporations, universities, and investors come together to create the future. This isn’t science fiction; it’s T-Hub, India’s largest innovation hub, and it’s rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.

T-Hub isn’t just about workspaces. It’s a launchpad for ambitious dreams. They’ve empowered over 2,000 startups, turning ideas into thriving businesses. Think funding woes? T-Hub’s got your back, connecting entrepreneurs with angel investors and government grants. Need a mentor to guide you through the rough patches? T-Hub boasts a network of 2,000 mentors ready to share their wisdom.

T-Hub’s vision extends beyond startups. Here’s a glimpse into what makes T-Hub special:

  • From Seed to Scale: Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a bright idea or a scaling startup ready to take on the world, T-Hub has programs to support you. From the “seed-accelerator stage” Lab32 program to the “early-stage technology startups” RubriX program, T-Hub provides the tools and guidance needed to thrive.
  • Corporate Muscle: Innovation isn’t just for startups. T-Hub bridges the gap between startups and established corporations like Facebook, Uber, and Boeing. This collaboration allows startups to tap into corporate expertise and resources, while corporations benefit from the agility and fresh perspectives that startups bring.
  • Funding Powerhouse: T-Hub is more than just an idea incubator; it is also a reality maker. Through initiatives like T-Angel and the Digital India Scaleup Program, T-Hub connects startups with high-net-worth individuals, angel investors, and government funding sources.
  • Global Ambitions: Thinking Beyond Borders? T-Hub has you covered. With partnerships across the globe, from the UK government to La Trobe University, T-Hub helps Indian startups access international markets and provides foreign startups with a foothold in India.

And it doesn’t stop there. T-Hub 2.0, their new colossal campus, is a testament to their ambition. This behemoth is not just the world’s largest technology incubator; it’s a microcosm of innovation itself. Universities find a home here, churning out future tech leaders. Foreign partnerships open doors to international markets for Indian startups. It’s a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and expertise, all focused on creating a brighter tomorrow.

T-Hub’s story is far from over. They’re aiming to empower a staggering 20,000 startups in the next five years. With their focus on internationalization and capacity building, they’re poised to become a global hub for innovation. So, if you’re an entrepreneur with a dream, T-Hub might just be the launchpad that takes you to the stars.

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5 Successful Indian Startups Founded By Women

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The workplace has undergone massive changes in the last century.  At the turn of the Industrial Revolution, any workplace was dominated by men while the women were delegated to run the homes.  However, with the advent of the internet and new and exciting technologies, workplaces have undergone a tectonic shift.  Women are no longer comfortable staying at home and are instead opting to lead teams and organisations.  As every year passes, we get closer to true gender equality, women have proven time and again that they are equally capable to get the job done if not better in some instances.  Names like Wolfe Herd (Bumble founder,) Kylie Jenner     (Kylie Cosmetics founder,)  Masaba Gupta (Masaba clothing label founder) are just some of the names who are known for leading world famous brands with their unique style of leadership. 

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, we bring to you five women founders who run world famous and successful startups.

1) Upasana Taku-MobiKwik

If you are an Indian and are used to doing online shopping, more often than not at the time of payment, you would be directed to a payment gateway.  One of these gateways would normally be MobiKwik.  The startup is a well known name in the digital payments and digital wallet space.  MobiKwik was founded by Upasana Taku in 2009, who prior to founding MobiKwik used to work with PayPal.  Today Upasana Taku is also in charge of bank partnerships, business operations, and talent acquisition at MobiKwik.

2) Richa Kar-Zivame

An enthusiastic MBA student, Richa Kar, developed an online lingerie shopping platform in the year 2011.  Currently, Zivame is India’s leading online lingerie store with a valuation of more than $ 100 million.  The brilliant idea for her own lingerie business came to light when Richa tracked Victoria’s Secret’s sales, who was one of her clients when she was working at SAP.  She observed the lingerie sales figures reached peaks overseas but, Indian women were not provided with the similar innerwear.  While Richa was studying the Indian lingerie market, she realized the social embarrassment in India surrounding lingerie shopping.  Today Richa Kar could be credited with destigmatising the uneasiness surrounding lingerie shopping in India.

3) Falguna Nayar-Nykaa

After a long stint as an investment banker, Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa.com in the year 2013. An online one stop shop for beauty products from Indian and international brands, Nykaa changed the world of online shopping.  Who would have ever thought buying makeup online would be so easy? Falguni Nayar proved many critics wrong and created a brand new place for people who love experimenting with styles, designs and colors.

ALSO READ: Zivame: Founding Story

4) Sabina Chopra-Yatra.com

Yatra.com is a popular Indian website for making flight and hotel bookings.  Sabina Chopra was instrumental in identifying the potential for travel commerce in India and people moving towards cheaper or easier travel.  By the time, people started looking to make bookings, Sabina made sure Yatra.com was already in place.  Sabina was the former Head of India Operations of eBookers, which is also an online travel company based in Europe.  Along with this, she was also working with Japan Airlines which further adds to her experience in the travel industry.

5) Rashmi Sinha-SlideShare

SlideShare allows people to upload and access their presentations online.  While this feature is presently available everywhere, SlideShare was one of the first players in making this happen.  Rashmi Sinha was one of the founders of the presentation sharing platform SlideShare.  The company became so successful that in 2012, LinkedIn acquired the company for an amount of $100 million.

Let us know in the comments if you know any other wonderful women who have become leaders of their right or have started up and are doing extraordinary things.  We at Startup Stories wish a wonderful Women’s Day to all the women in the world who are changemakers.

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