The silence before dawn had always been Aarav's favorite time. No horns, no notifications—just the low hum of streetlights and the distant bark of stray dogs. On this particular morning, though, the quiet was thick with anticipation.
Rootlink had crossed 200 verified users in just 10 days.
Vendors were talking. Small businesses were tagging Rootlink in their posts. Even a mid-tier influencer from Delhi had uploaded a video review titled "This New Indian Startup Is a Game-Changer for Homegrown Brands!"
But with growth came pressure. And new problems.
"Two vendors just delivered late," Aarav said, pacing their small workspace, which was really just the family's converted storeroom. "That's three this week."
Aanya, seated cross-legged on the floor with her laptop, replied, "Maybe it's not their fault. Logistics on their side could be the issue. Maybe we need a tracking layer?"
The System chimed in.
Mission Update: Build Logistics Integration LayerOptions:– Partner with 3rd-party logistics API (Shiprocket, Delhivery, etc.)– Internal tracking via vendor inputSuccess Prediction:– With Partner API: 100%– With Manual Layer: 78%Recommendation: Automate via API
Aarav nodded slowly. "Let's integrate Shiprocket. It'll cost, but it'll give us an edge."
They stayed up that night stitching together API keys, testing dummy orders, and tweaking the UX to reflect live delivery status.
The next morning, Rootlink had real-time order tracking. Another tick in the reliability column.
But there were other fires to put out.
A supplier from Gujarat started selling outside Rootlink to clients he found through the platform. Another competitor app launched—more polished, with investor money, billboards in Bangalore, and a snappy PR team.
This time, Aarav didn't panic.
Instead, he created what the system called a "Vendor Loyalty Protocol."
Vendor Loyalty ProtocolComponents:– Referral bonus for new suppliers– Discounted commission tiers for consistent partners– Verified Badge & Spotlight Rankings for top vendorsExpected Result: Vendor Stickiness + 65%
Meanwhile, Ramesh connected Aarav to an angel syndicate. A video pitch was scheduled.
Aanya helped him build the deck: simple, clean, confident.
Slide 1: "The Bharat Supply Chain Needs Roots."Slide 2: "We're Rootlink – Connecting Brands to Verified, Ethical, Local Suppliers."Slide 3: Growth charts, testimonials, Neelam Joshi's video endorsement.Slide 4: Ask: ₹25 lakh for 8% equity.
Aarav practiced the pitch in front of the mirror so many times, he could say it in his sleep.
The meeting came. There were five faces on the Zoom call, all silent, all calculating. After fifteen minutes of grilling, one of them leaned forward and said:
"You've got something here. Not just the model, but the grit. We'll lead."
The System lit up like fireworks.
Seed Funding Secured – ₹25,00,000Equity Dilution: 8%Company Valuation: ₹3.1 crore (post-money)New Resource Unlocked:– Dedicated Developer Hiring– Brand Awareness Campaign Tools– Office Space Setup AssistanceNext Goal: Build Full-Time Team (Min. 3 People)
That night, Aarav stood on the balcony, eyes closed, wind in his face.
He could still hear the voices of self-doubt echoing from a year ago. You're 24. Unemployed. Living off your dad. Useless.
And now? He had investors backing him, customers depending on him, and a product changing lives.
At dinner, his mother—still recovering, still gentle—reached out to hold his hand.
"You're feeding more mouths than just ours now," she said, smiling faintly. "Do it with care."
He nodded.
"Always."
The next day, Aarav opened a job portal account and posted:
We're hiring:– 1 Frontend Developer– 1 Sales & Vendor Onboarding Executive– 1 Customer Support LeadJoin Rootlink. We're not just building tech—we're building India's small business backbone.
Rootlink wasn't just a project anymore.
It was becoming a movement.
And Aarav Mehta was no longer the unemployed youth sitting quietly in a two-room house.
He was the founder of one of India's fastest-growing grassroots tech startups.
And the summit?
Still far away.
But now—finally—he had the shoes to climb.