Lately, I’ve been inspired by businesses like Mr. DIY, DMart, Decathlon, Nadbramha Idli, Zudio, Foxtale, Kannu Ki Chai, Nothing.tech, Minimalist and Zostel. They all seem to share something in common — a strong sense of community, a fun and engaging vibe, and a clear value-driven model. I don’t know what it’s like to run them from the inside, but from the outside, they look like the kind of places where being a founder, CEO, or even just a team member would feel meaningful.
Take Decathlon, for example. For someone who loves the outdoors, it feels like a toy shop. It’s fun, affordable, and thoughtful — with products clearly designed for everyone from total beginners to professionals. It's not just a place to shop; it’s a place to explore. You never really get bored inside a Decathlon.
And that’s the same feeling I get when I look at the other brands I mentioned. Whether it’s tea, tech, clothing, or food — they all seem to care about how it feels to interact with them. They serve their communities with intention, not just transactions.
Because when it is, the founder is willing to weather any storm just to see the other side. The journey becomes less about money and more about solving a real problem — one that matters to them on a deep, personal level.
Of course, business fundamentals like value delivery, differentiation, and execution matter. But when you're optimizing solely for money, the joy gets stripped away. If you instead optimize for genuine value and care, money tends to follow anyway.
Any business that looks “fun” and community-driven from the outside likely began with strong intention and care. That’s the only way it survives the hard parts — the chaos, the pivots, the silent months — and comes out stronger.
I believe any business that feels fun from the outside probably started with deep care on the inside. You can’t fake that. And I’d rather build something small and soulful than big and empty.
Any more examples do have for me? I would love to explore them.