How young entrepreneurs are changing their family’s future
In many Indian families, being “the first” carries a different kind of meaning.
The first person to finish school. The first to go to college. The first to dream of something beyond survival. And now, increasingly, the first entrepreneur in the family.
At Udhyam, this is a reality we see every day while working with students across government schools and colleges in India. We work with young people from communities that are often left out of conversations around opportunity and innovation, despite having the same ambition and potential.
Many of the young people we work with are first-generation learners themselves.
93.2% of our students come from precarious livelihood households. More than 80% of their parents studied below Grade 10, and for many families, financial uncertainty has been a constant part of life.
Which is why entrepreneurship, for these young people, is rarely just about building a company. It is about creating stability where there wasn’t any before. It is about becoming the person who changes the direction of a family’s story.
When a child steps in for the family
Nikhil’s journey reflects that powerfully.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, his father lost his job in the export industry. As the sole earning member of the family, the loss deeply affected their household, and for nearly two years, stable income remained uncertain.
That period became a turning point for Nikhil. He started learning 3D printing and eventually built NOVANIK3DD Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturing venture working on 3D printing solutions and prototypes for institutions like ICMR and previously with ISRO. Today, the company generates around ₹4–5 lakh in monthly revenue.
But the most meaningful part of the story is what changed at home.
Nikhil’s father now works alongside him in the business. The family that once worried about getting through the month is now moving into a better neighbourhood, into a new home.
Sometimes, the first entrepreneur in the family is not just building a business. They are rebuilding security, confidence, and hope for everyone around them.
The quiet strength families provide
Preksha’s story carries a quieter, but equally important, kind of support.
As the founder of I’Vegan, a plant-based bakery venture, Preksha began experimenting with vegan desserts and baked goods while still in college. Like many young founders, there were moments of uncertainty and hesitation. But throughout the journey, her father remained a steady source of reassurance. He encouraged her to keep trying, trusted her decisions, and supported her as she explored a path that was unfamiliar for the family.
For many parents, especially those who may not have had the opportunity to pursue their own ambitions freely, there is something deeply emotional about watching their children create opportunities for themselves.
Behind many young entrepreneurs is a family learning alongside them. Learning to believe that stability can come from new paths. Learning that their children can aspire to more. Learning that risk and ambition do not only belong to people with privilege or access.
A new future, one family at a time
This International Day of Families, we celebrate not only young entrepreneurs, but also the families growing with them.
Because when one young person becomes the first entrepreneur in the family, they often become the beginning of a completely new future for everyone around them.
