Former Google executive who raised $92 million for a startup backed by Sundar Pichai shares one simple strategy every entrepreneur should know
Caesar Sengupta
, co-founder and CEO of the digital wealth platform Arta Finance said entrepreneurs need something surprisingly simple yet profoundly powerful: stillness. Sengupta believes daily meditation, not constant motion, is his ultimate superpower. And as neuroscience begins to validate this approach, the message is clear: in the noisy, demanding world of startups, mental clarity might be the most underutilized competitive edge.
Former Google executive Caesar Sengupta finds startup life more chaotic than expected
Before launching Arta Finance in 2021,a fintech company now backed by over $92 million in funding, including support from Sequoia Capital India and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Sengupta spent 15 years at Google. He helped build ChromeOS and co-founded Google Pay, which now serves more than 150 million users across 30+ countries.
Despite his impressive resume, Sengupta admits the transition from corporate stability to startup chaos was mentally jarring. 'There are days where you feel 100%, and there are days where you're like, 'Oh my God, what did I just do?'' he confessed. Startups, he explained, can consume founders entirely—damaging health, relationships, and emotional well-being.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
How this one simple habit became Sengupta's superpower
His solution wasn't found in a productivity hack or another to-do list app. It was far simpler: five to ten minutes of meditation a day. 'I wish three years back, somebody had sat me down and said: 'Dude… just meditate,'' as reported by CNBC. That small window of silence became his daily anchor, offering mental space amidst a storm of decisions, investor meetings, and constant uncertainty.
While Sengupta calls mindfulness his "superpower," neuroscience is catching up to the claim. A recent study by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, reported by Neuroscience News, found that just 30 days of guided
mindfulness meditation
significantly enhanced focus and reduced distractibility across all age groups.
Using eye-tracking technology, researchers observed improved reaction times and sustained attention—especially linked to changes in the locus coeruleus–noradrenaline system, a brain center critical to focus, memory, and cognitive resilience. As postdoctoral researcher Andy Jeesu Kim put it, 'Mindfulness isn't just about feeling more relaxed — it can literally change the way your brain handles attention.'
Why founders need mental clarity now more than ever
Founders today are under immense pressure navigating product launches, investor meetings, sleepless nights, and the ever-looming threat of failure. In such an environment, the ability to filter signals from noise isn't just helpful, it's essential for survival.
Sengupta also turns to cycling as a form of meditative movement. 'It's one of the only times where no one can reach me,' he says. This physical form of stillness helps him mentally recharge and stay grounded amid the chaos of building a high-stakes startup.
Inner stillness as the new startup strategy
As mindfulness gains ground in scientific and executive circles alike, Sengupta's approach is emerging as more than just a personal quirk—it's a strategic advantage. While others burn out chasing every opportunity, he's choosing calm over chaos. And it's working.
'Ultimately,' he says, 'it's about how you confront the ups and downs of life.' For today's entrepreneurs, Sengupta's journey offers a profound lesson: in a world obsessed with speed, stillness may be your sharpest edge.
Also Read |
Mark Zuckerberg doubles down after Rs 800 crore salary to Trapit Bansal with Rs 1,600 crore package to ex-Apple techie
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a few seconds ago
- Time of India
Google's antitrust suit: SC admits cross appeals
The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a batch of cross-appeals by Google Inc., its related companies, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and the Alliance Digital India Foundation against a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) March order that partially upheld the antitrust regulator's findings that Google abused its dominant position in its Play Store policy.A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Atul S Chandurkar said it will hear the case in Inc and its related companies—Alphabet Inc, Google Ireland, Google India, Google India Digital Services—and others have challenged the March 28 judgment by the NCLAT, which largely affirmed the CCI's core findings that Google abused its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem through its Play Store policies and engaged in unfair promotion of Google Pay, thereby violating Section 4(2)(e) of the Competition tech companies have also challenged the NCLAT's May 1 order that corrected its "inadvertent error" in its original judgment, reinstating CCI's two key data-related directives, which require the tech giant to disclose its data policies and refrain from leveraging billing data for competitive CCI's October 2020 order had penalised Google for allegedly exploiting its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store. The competition watchdog had imposed a penalty of Rs 936 crore against the tech giant and its companies for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour by mandating the use of its Google Play Billing System for app purchases, while exempting its own applications like YouTube from similar commission structures. The antitrust body had also directed Google to cease these practices, including allowing third-party billing and ensuring data the appellate tribunal affirmed the CCI's s order that Google imposed unfair and discriminatory conditions on app developers through mandatory use of Google Play billing system for paid apps and in-app purchases, it set aside the competition watchdog's findings regarding denial of market access and restriction of innovation on the grounds that Google's billing services constituted less than 1% of total UPI transactions and that there was insufficient evidence of market foreclosure or hindrance to technical original penalty of Rs 936.44 crore was also reduced by the NCLAT to Rs 216.69 crore by limiting it to Play Store-specific revenues rather than Google's global turnover. The appellate tribunal also rejected some findings of the antitrust body's order, which the CCI has challenged now in the startups, including People Interactive India (operator of Shaadi. com), Mebigo Labs (owner of Kuku FM), the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation, and the Indian Digital Media Industry Foundation, had moved the CCI seeking a probe into Google's functioning.
Economic Times
a few seconds ago
- Economic Times
Google's antitrust suit: SC admits cross appeals
The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a batch of cross-appeals by Google Inc., its related companies, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and the Alliance Digital India Foundation against a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) March order that partially upheld the antitrust regulator's findings that Google abused its dominant position in its Play Store policy.A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Atul S Chandurkar said it will hear the case in November. Google Inc and its related companies—Alphabet Inc, Google Ireland, Google India, Google India Digital Services—and others have challenged the March 28 judgment by the NCLAT, which largely affirmed the CCI's core findings that Google abused its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem through its Play Store policies and engaged in unfair promotion of Google Pay, thereby violating Section 4(2)(e) of the Competition Act. The tech companies have also challenged the NCLAT's May 1 order that corrected its "inadvertent error" in its original judgment, reinstating CCI's two key data-related directives, which require the tech giant to disclose its data policies and refrain from leveraging billing data for competitive advantage. The CCI's October 2020 order had penalised Google for allegedly exploiting its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store. The competition watchdog had imposed a penalty of Rs 936 crore against the tech giant and its companies for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour by mandating the use of its Google Play Billing System for app purchases, while exempting its own applications like YouTube from similar commission structures. The antitrust body had also directed Google to cease these practices, including allowing third-party billing and ensuring data transparency. While the appellate tribunal affirmed the CCI's s order that Google imposed unfair and discriminatory conditions on app developers through mandatory use of Google Play billing system for paid apps and in-app purchases, it set aside the competition watchdog's findings regarding denial of market access and restriction of innovation on the grounds that Google's billing services constituted less than 1% of total UPI transactions and that there was insufficient evidence of market foreclosure or hindrance to technical original penalty of Rs 936.44 crore was also reduced by the NCLAT to Rs 216.69 crore by limiting it to Play Store-specific revenues rather than Google's global turnover. The appellate tribunal also rejected some findings of the antitrust body's order, which the CCI has challenged now in the startups, including People Interactive India (operator of Shaadi. com), Mebigo Labs (owner of Kuku FM), the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation, and the Indian Digital Media Industry Foundation, had moved the CCI seeking a probe into Google's functioning.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a few seconds ago
- First Post
Trump's tariff war hits US F-35 hard: Spain cancels deal, India declines and Switzerland wavers
Trump's trade war impacts US defence exports, with Spain and Switzerland reconsidering F-35 purchases. Spain opts for European alternatives, while Swiss political resistance grows due to tariffs. Read here read more A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS The escalating trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump is beginning to reverberate through Washington's own defence exports, with America's flagship fighter jet programme, the Lockheed Martin F-35 taking a direct hit. In Europe, Spain has formally shelved plans to buy the US-made stealth fighters, confirming it will now focus on European alternatives, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). A defence ministry spokesperson in Madrid said the government had ruled out the F-35 in favour of platforms backed by Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Dassault Aviation and Indra Sistemas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move follows Trump's sharp criticism of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for refusing to raise long-term defence spending to 5% of GDP, despite plans to meet NATO's 2% target by 2025. Washington had also threatened Madrid with additional tariffs on Spanish goods. With €6.25 billion initially budgeted for new jets and €10.5 billion in extra defence spending earmarked for European industries, the US aircraft had no political or fiscal space left. Switzerland, meanwhile, is experiencing growing political resistance to its planned purchase of 36 F-35s after Trump imposed punitive 39% tariffs on Swiss exports — the steepest rate among developed nations. The surcharge, which affects luxury watches and Nespresso capsules, has sparked calls in parliament to cancel the order or hold a fresh referendum. Green lawmaker Balthasar Glättli said, 'A country which throws rocks at us in trade shouldn't get a present,' while Social Democrat co-president Cédric Wermuth urged voters to stop the procurement. Even Liberal allies of Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter have questioned the deal, citing higher-than-expected costs and the 'American tariff shock.' The setback in Bern comes at a time when Lockheed Martin is already under pressure, with the Pentagon cutting its own F-35 purchases for 2026 and shifting funds to rival programmes. The 36 jets earmarked for Switzerland would have represented nearly a third of the company's total deliveries in 2024. India, too, has kept its distance from the F-35 programme. New Delhi has not pursued the American fighter, focusing instead on its indigenous Tejas programme and other procurement options amid friction over Trump's steep tariffs on Indian exports and policy disagreements. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With key US allies turning to European-made aircraft or reconsidering existing deals, Trump's tariff strategy intended to pressure trading partners is increasingly undermining one of America's most lucrative defence exports. For Lockheed Martin, the turbulence in Washington's trade relationships is now a direct threat to its order books. Wit inputs from agencies
