Dr. Saarthak Bakshi on Building Businesses That Solve Real-World Problems
Successful entrepreneurship goes beyond financial gains by identifying genuine needs, developing practical solutions, and creating sustainable ventures that improve lives, strengthen communities, and deliver lasting social value.
For me, the purpose of a business is not only limited to generating revenue. It should solve real problems, improve people’s problems and create lasting value. Profit is of course necessary for growth, but it should also be the result of delivering meaningful solutions instead of the objective only.
My advice for young entrepreneurs is simple; before asking how much money an idea can make, ask whose problem it can solve. By understanding people’s needs and identifying the loopholes in existing systems, it can help build businesses that remain relevant over time.
Putting People Before Numbers
My journey as Founder & CEO of Risaa IVF taught me that businesses dealing with people’s lives must be built on trust, responsibility and empathy. Our work goes beyond providing fertility treatments at Risaa IVF. We do understand that the journey to parenthood could be emotionally challenging for many couples. Patient centric care, personalised treatment planning, transparency and emotional support are important parts of the experience.
In healthcare, success cannot be measured by number only. The main points that should be reflected as well are that how well patients are supported, how accessible services become and how responsibly their concerns are heard and addressed. And the same principle applies to various fields like education, finance, technology and other industries as well. Understanding the people a business serves should remain central to every decision.
Looking Beyond Profit In Investment
As the Co-founder of Neos Angels, I have had the opportunity to work with and invest in multiple sectors like healthtech, edtech, consumer brand and social impact. So, these experiences have strengthened my belief that strong business ideas begin with genuine needs.
I look beyond market size and financial projections while evaluating an opportunity. My first aim remains whether the problem is clearly understood, whether the solution is practical, whether the founders are willing to learn something new and whether the business can create sustainable value.
Investment is not just about providing capital. Supporting founders with strategic guidance and helping them navigate the challenges can also be helpful for growth. What I believe is that entrepreneurs must have patience because meaningful businesses take time to develop. You can’t avoid setbacks but founders must remain adaptable without losing sight of the problem they set out to solve.
Lesson For The Next Generation
Young entrepreneurs should not feel pressured to chase every trend or measure success through valuations and funding rounds only. What they should focus on is building something useful, earning people’s trust and creating a financially sustainable business.
Profitability and purpose do not have to compete. When a business solves a genuine problem, it could help in building customer loyalty, strengthen its reputation and create long term growth opportunities.
For me, the most meaningful business combines ambition with responsibility. The goal should not be only to build a bigger company, but to build one that actually makes a real difference. Young entrepreneurs do have the capability to create ventures that are commercially sustainable while contributing positively to society.
About Dr. Saarthak Bakshi
Dr. Saarthak Bakshi is a healthcare entrepreneur, investor and Founder & CEO of Risaa IVF. He is also the Co-founder of Neos Angels, an angel investment network supporting startups across multiple sectors. His work spans fertility care, entrepreneurship, startup mentorship, and social impact. He has been recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia and Entrepreneur 35 Under 35, among other valuable honours.
