Most teenagers my age are worried about board exams and weekend plans. Don't get me wrong—I stress about physics tests too. But somewhere between algebra homework and cricket matches, I've also built businesses, made money online, and learned lessons that most people don't encounter until their twenties.
I'm Ishan Kumar Gond, 16 years old, currently in 10th grade, and I've been figuring out this whole entrepreneurship thing since I was 12. This isn't one of those "I made millions as a teenager" stories. This is real—the messy, confusing, exciting journey of a kid who decided to stop waiting for the "right time" and just started.
Why I Started So Young
Everyone asks me this. "Why not just focus on studies? Why start a business at 15?"
Honestly? I got tired of watching YouTube videos about successful entrepreneurs and doing nothing about it. I kept thinking, "What if I actually tried?" That question wouldn't leave me alone.
So I did what any curious teenager with internet access would do—I jumped in without knowing what I was doing.
My First Win: Building and Selling a Blog at 14
My first real venture was starting a blog. I didn't have some genius idea or a trust fund to back me up. I just picked a topic I was interested in, learned WordPress basics from YouTube, and started writing.
What I learned about blogging:
- Consistency matters more than perfection
- SEO isn't as scary as it sounds once you actually learn it
- Google AdSense approval feels like winning the lottery when you're 14
I worked on that blog for months. Late nights after finishing homework, weekends when my friends were out playing. Eventually, I got it approved for Google AdSense—a huge milestone for any new blogger.
Then something unexpected happened. Someone offered to buy it for ₹12,000.
Twelve thousand rupees. For a 14-year-old, that wasn't just money. It was validation. Proof that I could create something people valued.
I sold it. No regrets.
The Dropshipping Experiment: My First Real Failure
After the blog sale, I felt unstoppable. I'd heard about dropshipping—the business model where you sell products online without holding inventory. It sounded perfect.
I dove into Shopify, learned Meta ads (Facebook and Instagram advertising), designed a store, and launched my first dropshipping business.
The beginning was incredible:
- Completed 70+ orders in the first few weeks
- Learned how to run profitable ad campaigns
- Understood Indian customer behavior and buying patterns
But then reality hit. Hard.
RTOs (Return to Origin) started happening. For those who don't know, RTO means customers refuse delivery or don't pick up their orders. In Indian e-commerce, this is a massive problem. Every RTO meant I lost money—the product cost, shipping fees, and ad spend.
The losses piled up. I had to shut down the dropshipping store.
What dropshipping taught me:
- Not every business model works in every market
- Cash flow is everything in e-commerce
- Sometimes the best lessons come from failures, not wins
Most people see failure as the end. I saw it as expensive education. I learned Meta ads, Shopify, customer psychology, and business operations—skills that would've cost thousands in courses.
Finding My Skill: Becoming a Thumbnail Designer
After dropshipping didn't work out, I took a step back. Instead of chasing the next business idea, I asked myself: "What am I actually good at?"
I'd always been interested in design. So I decided to master one specific skill—YouTube thumbnail design.
Why thumbnails?
Because they're the first thing people see. A great thumbnail can make a video go viral. A bad one means nobody clicks. It's high-impact work, and YouTube creators are always looking for good designers.
I spent over 300 hours learning:
- Color theory and visual psychology
- Typography and composition
- What makes people click on thumbnails
- Tools like Photoshop and Figma
I studied viral thumbnails, recreated them, analyzed what worked, and developed my own style.
Then I applied to work with Physics Wallah—one of India's biggest EdTech platforms.
At 15 years old, I got the job.
Let that sink in. While most kids my age were preparing for coaching classes, I was designing thumbnails for millions of students across India.
That's when I realized something important: age is just a number when you have real skills.
Starting IKG Web Creations: Building Something Bigger
On October 19th, 2025, I founded IKG Web Creations.
This isn't just another freelance gig or side hustle. This is my serious attempt at building something scalable, something that helps other businesses grow online.
Why I Started This Blog (And What You Can Expect)
Here's the truth: I'm not starting this blog to make money or sell you a course.
I'm documenting my journey because I wish someone had done this for me when I started. I spent months searching for honest content from young entrepreneurs in India—real stories, not just highlight reels.
What I'll share here:
- Business lessons I'm learning in real-time
- Design tips and marketing strategies that actually work
- Honest stories about failures and setbacks
- How I balance school, work, and entrepreneurship
- Resources and tools I use daily
This blog is my journal. Years from now, I want to look back and see how far I've come. And if my story helps even one person take that first step, it's worth it.
What I've Learned So Far
I'm only 16, but here's what two years of building businesses has taught me:
1. You don't need permission to start
Nobody gave me permission to start a blog, launch a dropshipping store, or apply to Physics Wallah. I just did it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the right credentials.
2. Failure is just expensive education
My dropshipping losses hurt, but they taught me more than any course ever could. Every failure is just feedback if you're willing to learn from it.
3. Skills beat age every time
When I'm designing thumbnails, nobody asks how old I am. They care about results. Build real skills, and age becomes irrelevant.
4. Start before you're ready
I wasn't "ready" for any of the things I've done. I learned by doing. Perfectionism is just procrastination in disguise.
5. Document everything
Your journey is valuable. Share it. You never know who needs to hear your story.
What's Next for Me
Right now, I'm focused on three things:
Growing IKG Web Creations – Building a sustainable business that helps other entrepreneurs succeed online.
Improving my design skills – I'm good, but I want to be exceptional. There's always room to grow.
Sharing my journey – Through this blog, YouTube (maybe?), Instagram and LinkedIn. I want to build a community of young people who are actually doing things, not just talking about them.
Final Thoughts: My Message to You
If you're reading this and thinking, "I wish I could start something, but I'm too young/inexperienced/broke"—stop.
I started with zero money, zero connections, and zero idea what I was doing. What I had was curiosity and the willingness to fail.
You don't need a perfect plan. You don't need expensive tools or courses. You just need to start.
Pick something. Anything. Learn it. Build something with it. Share it. Learn from the feedback. Repeat.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is right now.
So what are you waiting for?
About the Author: Ishan Kumar Gond is a 16-year-old entrepreneur, designer, and founder of IKG Web Creations. He currently works as a thumbnail designer at Physics Wallah and documents his journey building businesses while still in school.
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