r/NagpurStartups

So this happened today and I'm still processing it.

I'm sitting at a C7 in Nagpur, working on my laptop like any other day. I look up for a second and realize the guy sitting at the table behind me is Ritesh Agarwal. Yes, THAT Ritesh Agarwal. The OYO guy.

For a moment, I just stared. Then I realized he was about to leave.

I've been building an AI learning platform for kids. We have early users, traction is slow but steady, and I'm trying to figure out how to scale globally from a tier 2 city in India.

I had two options:

1. Let him walk out and regret it forever
2. Shoot my shot

so I chose option 2.

and this is what happened

As he was getting up to leave, I approached him. No rehearsed pitch, no formalities. Just straight up:

"Hi Ritesh, I'm building a Personalized AI learning platform for kids. We're based here in Nagpur and have early users. Would love to connect with you for mentorship on scaling this globally."

He stopped. Smiled. And said something I didn't expect:

"You're building this from Nagpur? That's really good."

We spoke for just a few minutes, but I could see it in his reaction,he was genuinely happy to see someone from a city like Nagpur working on a global startup.

We took a photo together (still feels surreal), exchanged a few more words, and that was it.

What I Learned:

1. If I'd hesitated for 10 more seconds, he'd have been gone.
2. His reaction to "building from Nagpur" showed me that founders from smaller cities building global products is still rare enough to stand out.
3. Shoot your shot. The worst that happens? They say no or ignore you. The best that happens? You get 3 minutes with someone who's built a $10B company.
4. I didn't have a perfect pitch deck or a rehearsed elevator pitch. I just told him what I'm building and why I need help.

For Anyone Wondering:

Yes, I've approached founders before,Jay Kotak, Nikhil Kamath, Nithin Kamath, Ashish Hemrajani,at events and random places. That confidence comes from just doing it once and realizing they're human too.

But this one felt different. Random coffee shop. No event. No crowd. Just two people talking about startups in a city that most people think is "too small" for this stuff.

My Advice if You Ever Get a Chance Like This:

• Check if they're in a rush (body language, phone checking, etc.)
• Be respectful of their time,keep it short
• Be clear about what you want (advice, connection, feedback,not investment on the spot)
• Don't fanboy/fangirl. Treat them like a person, not a celebrity.
• Take the damn photo. You'll regret it if you don't.