Risk, Returns and everything in between | TEDxSVNIT 2026 | Ashu Bishnoi | TEDxSVNIT

Introduction and Setting the Stage

• The discussion begins with an introduction, where the speaker, Ashu Bishnoi, expresses his pride in being part of an engineering college and having the opportunity to speak in front of brilliant minds, which is a full circle moment for him, and he is from Rajasthan with Gujarat being his workplace 10s.
• Many people in the audience have experience with the stock market, having invested in small cap, large cap, call, put, derivatives, and when students complete their college degree, they create a CV that outlines their schooling, college education, projects, experience, and achievements in a straightforward and linear manner 1m30s.

Life as a Stock Market Chart

• However, life is not like a CV, but rather like a stock market chart, with ups and downs, and sometimes it feels like everything is over, and both life and the market follow the same rule, where planning is always linear, but growth is never linear or straight 2m40s.
• The speaker's life story begins in 1996, in a village where his parents had dreams of him becoming a doctor after he completed his 10th standard, and he shares his journey, which was not predictable 4m10s.
• The concept of risk and returns is introduced, where people who have invested in the stock market are aware of the risks involved, and the speaker draws a parallel between life and the stock market, where both have their own set of risks and uncertainties 3m20s.

Early Life and Initial Setbacks

• The individual had initially planned to become a doctor, and to achieve this goal, they took physics, chemistry, and biology as subjects in 11th grade, which led to good marks and increased confidence 10s.
• However, the situation took a turn, and the individual failed in 12th grade, not once but twice, marking the first stop loss in their life, making them realize that life does not always follow one's plans 42s.

Pivoting to Computer Education

• After failing to become a doctor, the individual decided to change subjects and opted for computer education, as it was the emerging field at that time, similar to how AI is prominent now, and they joined a computer course in Jodhpur 1m30s.
• The individual worked hard for two years, gained confidence, and then decided to start their own business, inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Marwadi community, and opened a computer center in their hometown 2m6s.
• However, the computer center did not run successfully, and it was closed within a year, dealing a blow to the individual's confidence and marking the second business stop loss in their life 2m50s.

Dealing with Failure and Moving Forward

• The experience of failure, especially at an initial level, can be challenging, and it often comes with criticism from family members, which the individual had to face 3m20s.
• The individual had to endure societal criticism, but instead of letting it bring them down, they used it as fuel to motivate themselves to become capable and prove others wrong, and they left their hometown with a bike, a computer, and determination 10s.

Finding Employment and Gaining Confidence

• They moved to Jodhpur, where they searched for a job, and after three months, they found an advertisement in a newspaper that read "We want tigers," which they felt was a suitable job for them, and they got selected for the position of computer counselor, which eventually led to promotions as manager and center head over the course of 13 months 42s.
• After 13 months, they returned to their village for the first time and saw a sense of trust in their parents' eyes when they gave them money, as earning and providing financial support is often a significant factor in gaining respect and approval from family members 2m6s.

Transition to the Finance Sector

• The individual's life became comfortable, but they realized that growth often stops when one becomes too comfortable, and they decided to make a change by exploring the field of finance, despite having no prior knowledge of it, after being advised by a wise person to do so 2m6s.
• The individual entered Gujarat for the first time in 2006 and received training in finance, eventually becoming a branch manager at India Infoline, with Anand being the first location in Gujarat 10s.

Business Ventures and Setbacks in Finance

• After working comfortably for two years, the person decided to start a broking and insurance business with a partner, but despite their efforts, they felt they had failed, marking the third stop loss in their career, with most people, around 90%, not making a profit in the stock market 1m15s.
• The business failure led to the realization that experience and research are necessary for success, and subsequently, in 2009, the individual moved to Mumbai and became a Vice President at a broking company, enjoying a comfortable life with a good salary and luxuries 2m45s.
• However, the comfort and success in the job led to questions about whether to start a business again, with the person acknowledging a pattern of failing in business ventures but succeeding in jobs, and understanding the importance of research before starting a business 4m30s.

Patterns of Success and Failure

• The individual's career pattern showed that they tend to start businesses without proper research, leading to failure, and that they succeed when working in jobs, but fail when venturing into business 5m20s.
• Many people invest in the stock market without conducting proper research, leading to potential losses, and it is essential to research before investing to minimize risks and maximize profits 10s.
• The stock market can be unpredictable, and even with research, there are no guarantees of success, but having a well-thought-out plan and strategy can help investors make informed decisions 42s.
• Taking calculated risks and being prepared are crucial in both business and the stock market, as lack of preparation can lead to poor decision-making and undesirable outcomes 1m6s.

Career Evolution and Business Decisions

• After working as a regional manager for a broking company and delivering top performance, the decision to leave the job was made when life became comfortable, and the desire to start a business resurfaced 2m6s.
• With experience and proper market research, a new company called Aasan Capital was established in October 2022, with the goal of making the stock market more accessible and easier to navigate 2m42s.

Innovation in the Stock Market Space

• The idea of making the stock market easier to understand and invest in led to the development of a software in 2012, aimed at simplifying the process of investing and making it more accessible to a wider range of people 3m6s.
• A software was created to generate buy and sell signals, allowing users to invest without needing to think critically, and the business was initially successful, but it was later discovered that the users were not making money due to a lack of discipline and inability to properly execute the strategy 10s.
• The business model was changed to become a mutual fund distributor, which had slower income but promised long-term wealth creation for clients, and the focus was on educating people to make long-term investments in equity mutual funds 42s.

Impact of the Pandemic on the Market and Business

• By 2019, the business had gained a strong position, and clients were increasing, with their wealth also growing, but the comfort and success were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which caused market crashes and frantic phone calls from clients 2m6s.
• Despite the pandemic and market turmoil, the stock market remained open, and it was seen as an opportunity, with confidence remaining intact and no stop-loss being hit, allowing for a potential advantage to be taken 2m6s.
• On April 28, 2020, a message was broadcasted to all clients advising them not to stop their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) or sell their stocks, but to continue with their investments, and if they were unable to fund their SIPs, an account number was provided to transfer the necessary funds, with the goal of maintaining their investment momentum 10s.

Supporting Clients During Crisis

• At that time, there were ₹25 lakhs in SIPs, and ₹3 lakhs were transferred to clients' accounts without any questions about repayment, which helped to boost the confidence of other clients and allowed them to continue their SIPs 42s.
• Within 6-7 months, the market experienced a significant surge, and a bull market began, allowing clients who had received funds to recover their investments, and this experience taught that in business, trust compounds faster than capital 2m6s.

Lessons from the Pandemic and Market Recovery

• It is generally observed that when things are going well, people tend to indulge in luxuries, but when faced with difficulties, they often lose confidence and make poor decisions, and it is suggested that one should maintain a strong and confident mindset even in tough times 2m6s.
• The approach to life's challenges is to stay strong, make informed decisions, and invest in oneself, including knowledge and personality development, which can help to overcome difficulties and lead to a more fulfilling life 2m6s.