Delhi CEO compares Bengaluru's startup scene to Kota's JEE craze in 2005. Check four reasons behind it
Bangalore's current startup ecosystem and Kota, the coaching hub for IIT JEE aspirants in 2005. He refers to this as the "ecosystem delusion," where an environment rich in resources and networking opportunities can sometimes create a false sense of achievement among its participants.
He listed four reasons why a «Bengaluru today reminds him of Kota of 2005». In Kota, thousands of students flocked to the city, assuming that merely being in the same place as the top achievers, attending the same coaching classes, and having access to the best resources would guarantee their success. However, only a small fraction of them actually cleared the IIT JEE, while the majority fell into the trap of complacency—believing that proximity to success was the same as putting in the hard work required to achieve it.
In his post, Deshpande referred to Kota as the «Mecca of IIT-JEE,» highlighting that it fosters a well-crafted environment for success. «Each year, one coaching institute alone produces around 4-5 top rankers with single digits. Students have access to exceptional teachers, the finest books, and an infrastructure designed to promote success—everything from mess facilities to photocopy shops and rental PGs,» he explained.
Yet, Deshpande also pointed out that only a fraction of the 40,000 aspirants who arrive in Kota actually pass the exam. «Approximately 30,000-35,000 students assumed merely being in Kota would guarantee success in the JEE. They thought attending the same classes, eating at the same mess halls, and
