Founder Talks: Balancing Strategy & Authenticity with Eleaus

Some founders build startups. Some build networks. The best ones? They do both.

After speaking with Eleaus Hrangkhawl, I realized how underrated yet essential it is for entrepreneurs to balance strategy and authenticity—building genuine connections while strategically scaling a startup. Mastering this balance leads to high-impact results and lifelong meaningful relationships, two invaluable assets for any professional.

Here are the key moments from our conversation:

What inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey?

I’ve always been an inquisitive person—curious about the world, driven by a strong sense of ownership, and eager to create change. The world today is filled with opportunities to make an impact while also building a sustainable business. That desire to create something meaningful is what sparked my entrepreneurial journey.

What was the biggest challenge in building your startup from scratch?

Finding the right Product-Market Fit (PMF).

No matter how much research you do, PMF remains one of the biggest challenges for any founder. We conducted thorough market research and crafted a GTM strategy, but external factors like regulations made it difficult to achieve the right fit.

How do you persuade and negotiate with new connections?

Value first.

You can’t expect to receive value without providing it first. When negotiating, you need clarity on deliverables from both sides—and most importantly, you must deliver on the value you promise.

During my MBA, I learned about BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement), a powerful negotiation framework. But beyond strategy, I also believe in this principle:

Trust is the most valuable currency. It’s always in demand, yet scarce in supply. The more you give, the more you receive over time.

What’s the most unexpected lesson from your startup experience?

I always knew storytelling was powerful but experiencing it firsthand was incredible.

Most podcasts feature famous people—but what about those who aren’t famous yet? That’s what led us to launch the IIM Journey Podcast, where we featured recent MBA graduates from IIMs to share their experiences.

We produced 14 episodes, cracked the YouTube algorithm, and saw a breakthrough:

Episode 5, released on New Year’s Eve 2024, crossed 10K views in just 3 weeks!

This experience reinforced how storytelling, when done right, drives engagement and impact.

We also saved every comment—positive and negative. The critical ones were our biggest opportunities for improvement.

What’s the most memorable or unexpected connection you’ve made?

At InterestSave, we hired Shreya as a Content Creator Intern. She managed our social media, but beyond that, she consistently went the extra mile—delivering more value than we even asked for.

We developed a great bond, and even after parting ways, we stayed in touch. She dreams of becoming an actor someday, and we’re confident she’ll make it BIG in whatever she does.

This experience made me realize that trust and genuine connections are more valuable than we often acknowledge.

Advice for “Wanterpreneurs” still waiting to start their journey?

Start with a problem that matters to you.

The rest—PMF, team-building, scaling—can all be figured out along the way. But if you work on something you truly care about, you’ll be on the right path to success.

Turning passion into a business – That’s the golden key.

Key Takeaways:

✔ PMF is harder than it looks—market realities can override research.

✔ Negotiation starts with giving value first—trust is the highest currency.

✔ Storytelling is a superpower—it turned a podcast into a viral success.

✔ The best hires don’t just work for you—they grow with you.

✔ Passion-led businesses have the strongest foundation.

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