Pavan Guntupalli, an IIT alumnus, faced around 75 rejections from investors before finding the right backing for his mobility startup, Rapido. He saw a common problem in India — short, congested city travel — and envisioned a quick, bike‑taxi solution. Many said it wouldn’t work, or that regulation and safety concerns would sink him. But Guntupalli pressed on, focusing on a tech platform and safety features that won both customers and investors eventually. His perseverance became Rapido’s backbone and a lesson that rejection doesn’t mean failure — it can be fuel for refinement and resilience.
