A 20-year-old college student from Rajasthan has captured attention on social media after sharing his unconventional journey into entrepreneurship, challenging the widely held belief that startup success requires elite credentials and strong industry connections.
Gaurav Singh, who recently posted his story on LinkedIn, described how he taught himself technology and entrepreneurship without formal training, internships or mentorship.
“I’m 20. No CS degree. From a small city in Rajasthan,” Singh wrote. He explained that everything he knows today was learned independently through online resources and countless late-night hours spent working on his laptop.
A different startup journey
In his viral post, Singh highlighted the challenges faced by aspiring founders from smaller towns who often do not have access to prestigious institutions, startup networks or venture capital ecosystems.
According to him, social media platforms frequently showcase stories of founders from top engineering colleges, major technology hubs and globally recognised accelerator programmes. He said his experience represents another side of India’s growing startup landscape.
The entrepreneur noted that he had never worked at a company, completed an internship or received guidance from a dedicated mentor. Despite these limitations, he decided to build his own path and share his experiences publicly to encourage others in similar situations.
Post resonates with young entrepreneurs
The post included an image listing what Singh described as missing credentials often considered essential in the technology industry, including a computer science degree, internship experience, mentorship and shortcuts to success.
Rather than viewing these as disadvantages, he presented them as symbols of perseverance and self-learning.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Singh is a student at Maharaja Surajmal Brij University and the founder of CT-Studio, a venture established in January 2026.
His story has resonated with many young entrepreneurs who believe talent, determination and access to online learning resources can help overcome traditional barriers to entry in the startup ecosystem.