
IIT Madras Student's Startup Raises $1.1 Million After JEE Setback
What Happened?
Kuldeep Rathore, an IIT Madras student, raised $1.1 million for his startup SamanNow after not clearing JEE Advanced. His journey highlights the value of practical experience.
Key points
- Kuldeep Rathore could not clear JEE Advanced after a drop year.
- He enrolled in the IIT Madras BS Degree Programme in Data Science.
- Kuldeep's startup SamanNow raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding.
- He previously co-founded Zodok, a fashion-focused quick-commerce startup.
- Zodok scaled to around 100 orders a day before being acquired by KNOT.
- Kuldeep joined KNOT as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, gaining valuable experience.
Key insights
- Kuldeep's experience emphasizes the importance of practical learning alongside academic pursuits.
- SamanNow aims to make shopping more accessible in smaller cities, potentially transforming local markets.
- The funding from notable investors indicates growing interest in quick-commerce startups in India.
Why it matters
Kuldeep's journey shows that success can come from unexpected paths, encouraging students to pursue practical experiences.
Entities
Source
India Today

