Last Friday, Kent Business School welcomed alumni, students, staff, and industry leaders for a dynamic MBA Guest Lecture exploring how to build a start-up that solves real-world problems. Hosted by MBA students Ashish Thakre and Vandit Sharma, the online event brought together four innovative entrepreneurs, each offering their unique journey and insights into launching successful ventures.
The discussion was structured around four critical phases of early-stage start-up development: identifying real problems, validating assumptions, building a minimum viable product (MVP), and measuring traction to scale. Here’s what we learned from our expert panel.
Economics as applied philosophy
Damian Merciar, economist and founder of Merciar Business Consulting, opened the event with a powerful talk on economics as a tool for understanding real-world complexity. Emphasising economics as ‘applied philosophy’, he encouraged future entrepreneurs to consider not just market data, but the broader social and moral implications of their ventures.
From analysing global geopolitical tensions to navigating water industry regulation, Damian stressed the value of regulatory awareness: ‘Entrepreneurs can’t always break into capital-intensive markets – but they can identify regulatory failure and shortfalls in service delivery to create new opportunities.’ His advice? Be alert to gaps and inefficiencies in large systems, and use data and technology to develop lean, adaptive solutions.
Listening and adapting: A lesson in market fit
Dhiraj Saheta, a Kent MBA alumnus and FMCG entrepreneur, shared stories from launching skincare and consumer products in emerging markets. His key message: ‘Assumptions are not facts.’
During a past launch, his team assumed anti-ageing would be their market’s biggest concern – until on-the-ground feedback revealed a strong demand for skin-lightening solutions. That pivot led to one of the fastest-growing brands in its category. ‘Validate with humility. Be bold enough to change course,’ he advised.
He also spoke passionately about cultivating a mindset of ownership. ‘Work for your own growth and value. When you stop learning or making an impact – it’s time to move,’ he shared.
Building lean with purpose
Lalit Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Decimal Technologies and Saarathi.ai, provided a real-world breakdown of building a start-up with limited resources. Launching his first product using borrowed office space and benched IT staff, he underscored the importance of frugality and focus.
‘Your first MVP isn’t about being perfect – it’s about finding one paying customer,’ he explained. ‘Don’t build for Step 5 before you’ve even validated Step 1.’ Lalit encouraged students to design MVPs that are rooted in real user feedback, and to focus on value delivery over unnecessary features.
He also emphasised the power of leveraging your own expertise. ‘Start with what you know, and where you can play the biggest role.’
Solving real problems with StayLyte
The final speaker, Odera Akachukwu, Founder and CEO of StayLyte, delivered an inspiring story of personal transformation and entrepreneurial grit. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia while studying for his master’s at Kent, Odera turned obstacles into opportunities – launching several ventures, including his latest: a clean, functional hydration beverage aimed at replacing sugary energy drinks in social settings.
‘StayLyte was born from a personal need and validated by hundreds of conversations,’ he said. He highlighted the importance of customer feedback, storytelling, and human connection: ‘If you’re not growing from real insight, you’re not really building a business.’
He also discussed cost-effective go-to-market strategies, using activations and user-generated content to create buzz while minimising customer acquisition costs. ‘When a customer brings nine more people to your stall? That’s traction.’
Final takeaways
The panel closed with a powerful message: MVPs aren’t just technical artefacts – they’re empathy-driven tools to test assumptions, challenge norms, and meet human needs. From global economic theory to grassroots beverage sampling, the speakers demonstrated how innovation thrives at the intersection of vision, validation and adaptability.
As Damian Merciar reminded attendees, ‘Entrepreneurship is about joining the dots. Your job is to see what others overlook.’
Interested in attending future MBA Guest Lectures at Kent Business School? Visit our event page to stay in the loop.
What strategies can start-ups employ to validate assumptions about market demand, as illustrated by Dhiraj Saheta’s pivot to skin-lightening products, while keeping customer acquisition costs low, as demonstrated by Odera Akachukwu’s use of user-generated content?
Una charla inspiradora que muestra cómo la empatía, la adaptabilidad y una validación honesta son claves para construir startups con impacto real. Grandes aprendizajes desde distintos frentes.