Guidance Rooted in the Framework. Built for Real Decisions.

This is not coaching by the hour. It is not ad-hoc mentoring. And it is not a collection of templates dressed up as guidance. 1-on-1 Guidance is a long-term engagement designed to help founders work through real decisions with structure, continuity, and depth.

Most founder challenges are not knowledge gaps. They are judgement problems. Priorities collide. Trade-offs feel heavy. Context keeps changing. This is where shallow advice fails — and where continuity begins to matter.

Every engagement is anchored in StartupBox and the Parallel Ventures Startup Framework as a shared thinking system. The framework keeps the work grounded and stage-aware, while your context determines the focus and pace.

This guidance is currently led by Ajaii Mahajan, the creator of StartupBox. The approach is simple: hold the structure steady while you work through your reality — calmly, deliberately, over time.

Not Sessions. Continuity.

1-on-1 Guidance is offered only as a long-term engagement: 3, 6, or 12 months.

If you are looking for a quick call, a one-time review, or generic advice, this will not be a fit.

This is for founders who value depth over noise.

The Framework Behind the Guidance

Parallel Ventures Startup Framework – 7 Tracks

The Parallel Ventures Startup Framework is a 7-track structure that reflects the real work founders move through — clarity, building, selling, scaling, navigating setbacks, founder wellbeing, and long-term amplification. It ensures our conversations stay stage-aware, practical, and connected to what matters most right now.

Explore The Startup Framework

What This Guidance Is (and Is Not)

1-on-1 Guidance exists for founders who want depth and continuity — not scattered advice. It is designed to support real decisions in real conditions, using StartupBox as the shared thinking system.

What this is

  • A long-term engagement grounded in the framework
  • Structured thinking through real decisions and trade-offs
  • Continuity across months, not isolated conversations
  • Stage-aware focus that adapts as your startup evolves

What this is not

  • One-off calls or “pick my brain” sessions
  • Generic mentoring or motivational coaching
  • A rigid programme with fixed steps
  • Advice without context or responsibility

If you are looking for quick answers, this will feel slow. If you are looking for better judgement over time, this will feel right.

How the Engagement Works

Not every founder needs the same support at the same time. That’s why 1-on-1 Guidance is not a fixed programme. It is a long-term engagement designed around your context, anchored to StartupBox and the Parallel Ventures Startup Framework.

Here is how it typically unfolds:

  1. You Apply

    You share where you are, what you are building, and what feels unclear or heavy right now. This helps us understand your context and assess fit.

  2. We Identify the Starting Track

    Based on your current situation, we choose the most relevant starting point across the 7 tracks. The goal is not to label you — it is to ensure the work stays stage-aware and practical.

  3. We Define the Engagement Rhythm

    We agree on a steady cadence (weekly or fortnightly), along with the tools, reflections, and checkpoints we will use. This is where the engagement becomes structured — not rushed.

  4. We Work Through Real Decisions

    Each conversation focuses on your current decisions and trade-offs — prioritisation, monetisation, positioning, growth planning, pivots, team alignment, and founder sustainability. The framework keeps the thinking grounded. Your reality sets the agenda.

  5. We Review, Adapt, and Deepen

    As your startup evolves, the engagement evolves with it. You may move across tracks as new questions emerge. The continuity remains. The focus adapts.

Details on cadence, structure, and fees are shared after reviewing your application. Minimum engagement is 3 months. This is designed for depth and continuity, not one-off guidance.

Who This Is For

This engagement is built for founders who are actively building — and want to think clearly while they do it. It is especially useful when the work feels messy, layered, or heavy, and you want a steady structure to return to.

Best suited for

  • First-time founders building seriously
  • Solo founders or small teams navigating complexity
  • Operators transitioning into entrepreneurship
  • Founders at inflection points: monetisation, growth, pivots, team decisions

Not designed for

  • Casual exploration without intent to build
  • One-time reviews or short advisory calls
  • Validation-seeking or shortcut hunting
  • Founders unwilling to do the work between conversations

This is a fit when you want clarity that holds — not clarity that fades after a single conversation.

Commitment and Structure

1-on-1 Guidance is intentionally designed as a long-term engagement. Founders do not need more intensity. They need more continuity.

  • Engagement formats: 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months
  • Minimum commitment: 3 months (no single sessions)
  • Cadence: weekly or fortnightly, decided together
  • Working method: guided conversations + tools + checkpoints mapped to your stage

Pricing and scheduling are shared after reviewing your application, once we confirm fit and identify the right starting track.

What Founders Have Experienced. These words are not about praise. They reflect what happens when founders slow down, work with structure, and return to their decisions with more clarity and judgement over time.

Working with Ajaii helped me step back and evaluate my idea more honestly. The structure of the conversations helped me validate what I was building, refine my direction, and move forward with greater confidence.

Rahul Sharma

Founder at Logistics Hub

The sessions helped me slow down and think more clearly about decisions I was previously rushing through. The focus was never on advice, but on asking better questions and acting with intent.

Megha Iyer, Co-founder

Apparel Retail

The guidance helped me break down complex challenges into decisions I could actually work through. The process encouraged reflection first, and action after, which made my pivot more deliberate.

Kunal Bansal

CEO at CarsDecor

I entered the engagement with uncertainty and hesitation. Over time, I gained clarity on my direction, my first customer segment, and the questions I needed to focus on next.

Shruti K.

Aspiring Founder (Sustainable Skincare)

The structure helped me validate my assumptions, understand my market better, and refine what I was offering before moving ahead. It brought order to what earlier felt scattered.

Pooja Sethi

Founder at The Artisan Hub

The engagement helped me shape my idea into something tangible — from clarifying the offering to preparing my early pitch. The consistency of the conversations made the difference.

Ritesh Mehrotra.

Founder at Habitloop

We had traction but lacked clarity on pricing and growth decisions. The frameworks helped us revisit assumptions without forcing conclusions, which led to better-informed choices.

Anjali Rao

Co-founder - UpLink Logistics

Beyond business decisions, the guidance helped me reconnect with why I started. The structured approach gave me space to reflect, reset my direction, and regain momentum.

Sameer Dhir

Founder - EduBridge Studio

Apply for 1-on-1 Guidance

1-on-1 Guidance is the DEEPEN extension of StartupBox — designed for founders who want continuity, structure, and depth while working through real decisions.

This is not a one-off call. It is a long-term engagement offered in 3, 6, or 12-month formats. The intent is simple: clarity compounds when continuity exists.

This application helps us understand your context — what you are building, what feels unclear right now, and what kind of decisions you are carrying. Once reviewed, we will confirm fit and share the engagement structure, cadence options, and fees.

This guidance is currently led by Ajaii Mahajan, the creator of StartupBox. The work stays grounded in the framework, while your reality sets the focus.

If you value depth over noise, take your time with the form. Clarity begins with honesty.

Once you confirm, the application form will appear below.