You Are Not Your Startup! And Other Hard-Won Lessons from Shruti Kapoor

What happens when an investment banker turns tech entrepreneur, builds a sales enablement platform, gets into Y Combinator, and then sells her company to an industry giant? You get a masterclass in navigating the founder journey.

In this episode of Off to the Valley, Shruti Kapoor, founder of Wingman (acquired by Clari), shares her journey from finance to tech, the insights that shaped her approach to building a startup, and why founders need to separate their identity from their company.

We dive into:

✅ How Shruti identified a massive gap in sales enablement and built Wingman

✅ Her experience in Y Combinator and how it shaped her startup journey

✅ The rollercoaster ride of raising capital, scaling a SaaS business, and navigating an acquisition

✅ Why understanding market signals can be the difference between a thriving exit and a missed opportunity

✅ The importance of mental resilience and how she now coaches founders to make better decisions

If you’re a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or just someone interested in the behind-the-scenes realities of startup life, this episode is a must-listen.