Shakeef KhanFounder of Yute.in Published On: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 Views 3362

"Harder the battle, sweeter the victory, easy is not just an option"

Khan has a lot of startups to his credit. He started his career at a very young age, and is seen as a diligent professional who is dedicated, quick learner and problem solver. People who work with Shakeef describe him as an innovator passionate about branding. This is the core reason behind his new startup called Yute.

It is basically a design-led brand offering rich but affordable experience with its limited edition lifestyle merchandise designed around one’s interest. His analytical capabilities for inferences has been monumental in delivering innovative marketing strategies for Yute. Shakeef believes in teamwork and the need for putting forth customer requirements. His meticulous planning and go-getter attitude is something that helps him achieve business objectives.

Please provide a brief overview of your product/ service.

Yute-Design led footwear focused brand offering rich but affordable unique experience to young feet.

What inspired you to build the above product/ service?

It all started with a compelling Facebook thread where i got mesmerized with the creativity on shoes done by a beautiful female artist, after making an enquiry for the same realised i couldn’t afford one.

Since my college days just as every youth aspired to be the one among crowd, i always craved to look cool & swanky so as to be noticed among all.

Reason being started searching for such artist designed shoes online with preferable online store but could hardly find any and than there was no looking back he along with his college mate decided to make footwear a cool quotient in everyday life and launched Yute.

What is your life mantra?

Learn quickly, implement and grow rest thing will roll in at the right time.

What was the most challenging part of your journey till now?

Supply Chain and Cash Flow

How did you overcome those challenges?

Control and keeping track over small things.

Share some details about the investments that you have been able to fetch for the business till now.

We have Bootstrapped and can go strong for few more months but to atain a scale, we will be raising our seed round soon and are in talks with potential investors for the same.

How do you protect yourself from the problem of Brain Drain?

By maintaining a high bonding and descent relationship with everyone around you.

According to you, what are the three qualities an individual must have to achieve success?

Passion, Understanding Customers Need, Team Work

Which online tools/ services/ apps do you use the most and would like to recommend as well?

To do list & reminder.

Share any one habit which you think makes you more productive.

Gyming & Healthy Eating.

Share any one habit which you wish to change in yourself.

Seeking for perfection in a first try.

Answer in less than 50 words

One tip to success:

Work Hard, Believe in yourself & innovate.

Market Changes, Trend changes, every other thing is meant to change but if you are rock solid with a strong vision & passionate about your company it will reflect and it’s at most important to put a dent in a universe.

One mistake you believe every individual must avoid:

Making fewer experiments and innovating less. Setting up a limit for your self is a curse.

One most important lesson that you have learnt till now:

Value people around you who believe in you and work with you, those people are your biggest asset. Be bold enough to “Ask” it would create two possible probabilities Yes/No but if you don’t ask labelling it with your own thoughts & assumptions. Answer is always no.

What are your plans for next 3 years?

To build India’s first youth iconic mid segment ranged footwear brand and dominate the footwear category as a whole.

If you get a chance to start your career again what would you do differently this time?

You have to believe everything and anything happens for a good cause. I have been through bitter experiences in my journey from stutter to speaker, but those experiences made you stronger and helped me to believe in myself.

What are your top three getaway destinations?

Not many but wish to explore kashmir and kangra someday soon.

Share a quote that inspires you the most.

“Harder the battle, sweeter the victory, easy is not just an option”.

Tags: Shakeef Khan yute Interview