The Survival Guide

THE TEEN
FOUNDER'S
PLAYBOOK

How to build an empire in India before you can legally vote, drive, or sign a contract.

Practical guide: how to convince parents to support your startup — scripts, safety rules, and negotiation templates.

01

The Balancing Act

Strategy A

School is your "Angel Investor"

Your parents invest food, shelter, and internet. Their ROI is your marks. If grades drop, funding stops.

The Deal:"I will maintain above 85% as 'rent' for my startup time."
Strategy B

The 50/10 Rule

Deep work requires focus. Show your parents you have discipline, not just obsession.

50M SCHOOL
10M BIZ
02

The Cuban Protocol

Recommended Reading

Kid
Start-Up

by Mark Cuban, Shaan Patel, & Ian McCue

"How YOU Can Be An Entrepreneur"

1. Sales Cure All

Cuban's #1 rule. Don't worry about logos. Worry about getting one person to pay you ₹100. Sales prove your idea works.

2. The "Kid" Advantage

Adults want to help kids. When you cold email, say "I'm a 14-year-old student from India". Your open rates will be 3x higher.

3. Sweat Equity > Cash

You have no money? Good. That forces you to be creative. Learn to code, learn to write. Your sweat is your capital.

03

The Digital Brand

Don't be an influencer. Be a founder. A professional online presence builds credibility, not just followers.

Profile Essentials

  • Professional Info: Vision & Skills > Age.
  • Pinned Posts: Your biggest win or product launch.
  • Contact: Business email (not DM me).

Content Pillars

  • Behind the Scenes (BTS): Show the late-night coding + studying. Parents respect the hustle.
  • Build in Public: Share prototypes. Ask for feedback.
  • The "Why": Why are you solving this? Share your story.

Safety Protocol

NEVER POST THESE

  • Live Location (Wait until you leave)
  • Home Address or School Name
  • Bank Details / Phone Number
04

The Legal Glitch

Real Case Study

How I Incorporated Trooth Allied Pvt. Ltd. at 13

In India, a minor cannot sign a contract or hold a DIN (Director ID). But I didn't let that stop me from building Safe Sakhi.

  • 99% Shares: Held by my mother (Gunjan Kumari) for legal compliance.
  • 1% Shares: Held by my father (Amit Kumar).
  • Role: I drive 100% of the tech & product. They handle the signatures.
Ownership Structure
LEGAL
PARENTS
PAPER
WORK
YOU
EXECUTION
05

Situation Solver

The Response Script

"Let's sign a conditional contract. I will maintain an [85% Average]. If my marks drop below that, I pause the startup immediately. Think of this as my 'Practical' subject for Commerce and Computer Science."

PSYCHOLOGY: The 'Kill Switch' — Gives them control back.

Ready to prove them wrong?

Action is the only argument that matters.

Launch Prototype