Developing a startup from the ground up can feel intimidating, especially while navigating the uncertainty and pressure of entrepreneurship.
After receiving his Master of Science in Information Management, Nishit Bhasin, â24, launched , a comprehensive AI-powered accessibility platform designed to help enterprises enhance digital accessibility, automate compliance and build inclusive experiences for employees and customers with disabilities.
Bhasin and MSIM â25 graduate Lakshya Garg were recognized as Forbes â30 Under 30â for Social Impact for their product. This year, Bhasin is also the recipient of this yearâs Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award, celebrating his contributions to the information field.
Q: What is IncSkill currently up to?
A: We're constantly evolving, especially with how fast AI is moving. Right now, weâre exploring voice agents and expanding IncSkillâs capabilities to further enhance accessibility through automation.
Q: As a startup founder, what is the most unexpected challenge that you have faced?
A: There's been a lot of challenges. Turning a student project into a real company was a big shift. The hardest part was getting early validation and formalizing the business. We had to learn quickly about incorporation, fundraising and building a product that goes beyond the classroom. The conviction and the validation around your idea is really important. We started talking to a lot of mentors and people in the same fields.
Q: How did you market yourself to receive grants?
A: Instead of building a full product first, we created a pitch deck and MVP version and started pilot programs with smaller companies. The problem is a lot of people have that student mentality or the technical software engineer mentality. Once you come up with an idea, you directly start building the product, which is not always the correct way to approach it. Investors want two things: proof of urgency and proof of capability. We pitched IncSkill as a profit for investors, proving that accessibility has been neglected for a long time and that it's a trillion-dollar market being missed when people with disabilities are still not able to search the web.
Q: How has your understanding of leadership evolved?
A: I thought a leader would be someone who would have an answer every time there was a problem in the startup, but that's not how it works. Uncertainty is constant. Iâve learned that leadership is more about making fast decisions amid chaos, protecting the team, and adapting as things evolve.
Q: What would you do differently in the early stages of IncSkill?
A: Looking back, we shouldâve talked to more users before writing code. We initially spent a lot of time building the product end to end and we wasted a lot of time. I think what we could have done was talk to more people and validate the idea rather than going after the idea and thinking this is the only solution. Also, in hiring, we focused too much on resumes and not enough on the startup mindset â people who can wear multiple hats and think like builders.
Q: How do you balance empathy with execution?
A: Empathy is built into our structure. Many of our team members, including my co-founder, live with disabilities. That proximity keeps us grounded. We also involve the community in development and ensure the whole team understands the âwhyâ behind our mission.
Q: How do you convince investors about the importance of inclusive design?
A: We stopped framing accessibility as a âfeel-goodâ mission and started showing it as an untapped trillion-dollar market. With new legal mandates, accessibility isnât optional anymore. Our pitch focused on solving a real pain point with our product automating a slow, expensive process.
Q: Advice for future startup founders?
A: Donât keep your idea to yourself. Talk to people, get feedback and enter competitions. The first version of your product wonât be the final one, so stay flexible. School is the best time to experiment and build, especially with mentors and resources around you.
Q: What makes a startup founder well-equipped to build something impactful?
A: Founders building for impact need to stay close to the mission. The best ideas come from personal experience. It's not just about features, itâs about solving a real problem in a way thatâs sustainable and meaningful.
Q: How do you take care of your mental health?
A: It's difficult. Startup life can be overwhelming, especially as an immigrant founder. Hitting the gym daily helps me reset. I've also learned to set boundaries, take breaks, and accept that not everything needs to be solved today.