Want to be part of The Kent Business Show?🎟️ Get your ticket to The Kent Business Show, Kent’s largest business networking event, and connect with businesses from across the county:👉 https://www.kentbusinessshow.co.uk/events/kent-business-show🎙️ Want to be on the show? Apply to feature on the podcast and share your business story with Kent’s business community:👉 https://www.kentbusinessshow.co.uk/live-podcastsWhat really causes startups to stall, struggle, or give up before growth begins?In this episode of The Kent Business Show Show, serial entrepreneur and investor Raj Dhonata shares hard-earned lessons from over 20 years in startup life.Kent is powered by business, and every business has a story. Hosted by Rachael Bryant, The Kent Business Show Show brings honest conversations with founders who’ve lived the highs and lows of building something from scratch.What this video coversWhy fear is one of the biggest blockers for early-stage foundersThe difference between setbacks and failure in startup lifeLessons from Raj’s early business struggles and recoveryWhy passion matters more than money when starting a businessHow to know when to pivot — and when to keep goingThe importance of mentors, soundboards, and outside perspectiveCommon patterns that trip founders up before growthNetworking, resilience, and building businesses for the long termWho this video is forStartup founders and early-stage business ownersSolo business owners feeling stuck or overwhelmedEntrepreneurs navigating setbacks or uncertaintyAnyone considering starting a business and wanting the reality, not the hypeWatch Raj live at The Kent Business ShowRaj Dhonata will be speaking live at The Kent Business Show on 19th March at the Ashford International Hotel.🔗 Book your free place: https://kentbusinessshow.co.ukChapters00:00 – Welcome to The Kent Business Show Show01:53 – Introducing Raj Dhonata02:09 – Why Raj is speaking at The Kent Business Show02:26 – Life on the first series of The Apprentice03:38 – Starting businesses before television05:34 – Why business was always inevitable06:09 – Early influences and entrepreneurial mindset07:29 – Raj’s first business setback at 2208:31 – Why early failure builds long-term resilience09:42 – Why Raj avoids the word “failure”10:52 – Passion vs money when starting a business12:12 – Handling pressure, family, and financial strain13:08 – Fear, responsibility, and personal motivation14:25 – Why founders struggle in traditional employment16:26 – What Raj wants people to take from his talk18:29 – The biggest mistakes new startups make19:58 – Why growth is never a straight line20:22 – One lesson every founder needs to hear21:30 – Knowing when to stop or change direction22:43 – The value of mentors and soundboards24:23 – Where founders should be networking26:11 – What Raj is building next: digital safety27:12 – Why education is key to online protection29:36 – Final thoughts and how to get involvedBe a guest on the showIf you’re a Kent-based business owner with a story to share, you can find out how to be a guest on The Kent Business Show Show using the link below.Be seen. Be heard. Be unforgettable.