How Ideaforge's IPO Doubled Investors' Wealth | Ankit Mehta on Innovation, Drone Tech & IIT Bombay

About Guest:
Ankit Mehta is the Co-Founder and CEO of IdeaForge Technology, a trailblazer in the Indian drone industry. Starting as a college project with three friends at IIT Bombay, through multiple failures and experiments, IdeaForge grew into a major player in the drone industry. The company’s IPO debut nearly doubled its investors' wealth, listing at an impressive 94% premium over the issue price.

In this insightful conversation, Ankit shares how the support of professors and the IIT ecosystem played a crucial role in their success and why he believes “Debt is Death,”. He also shares valuable insights on sustaining new technology, working with the government, and the challenges of going public.

If you want to understand the journey of building a tech company from scratch, and leading innovation in an evolving industry, entrepreneurship, and the drone revolution, this episode is a must-watch!


Timestamps:
00:00 - Teaser
01:59 - VTOL Technology | Startups that began in college
03:10 - Craziest memory of IIT Bombay | How the journey to making drones began
06:32 - How IIT Bombay supported and played a crucial role in building IdeaForge
09:15 - How did IdeaForge get its first customer?
10:55 - How to sustain while building new technology
12:18 - New technology is often perceived as fun, not a utility | Lack of awareness
15:15 - How working with the government differs from the private sector
18:15 - Evolution of drone technology | Innovation and revolution in the industry
26:51 - Practical approach to entering the drone industry | How to start the journey
28:55 - How IdeaForge pioneered VTOL technology in India
32:25 - Most challenging decision: Debt is equal to death
34:05 - When was the right time to go public and have an IPO?
35:35 - What can you do to stay relevant in the future?
36:21 - Future predictions by Ankit Mehta
37:55 - What changes when you go public?
40:01 - Rapid Fire: Quick insights from Ankit Mehta
40:40 - Five people who shaped Ankit Mehta's life
41:20 - Meaningful friendships in Ankit Mehta's journey
42:18 - How did Ankit meet his co-founders?
43:40 - How to pursue ideas? The story behind IdeaForge
44:40 - What brings real happiness to Ankit Mehta?
45:29 - How does Ankit Mehta think differently?
46:21 - What’s one thing on Ankit Mehta's wishlist?


Credits:
Host: Shivank Joshi -   / shivankjoshi-2001  
Thumbnail: YaaS
Video Editing: YaaS
Support: Zerodha ( https://zero1byzerodha.com/network )

Disclaimer:
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the speaker and host are their own and do not represent those of the Exploring Minds platform. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. All product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply any endorsement or opposition.


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