CRED Founder Kunal Shah: Why Good Judgement Beats Glamour in Business

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Kunal Shah, founder of CRED, has a refreshingly honest take on what it means to be an entrepreneur. He recently spoke about how the real work of building a company isn’t about chasing the spotlight, but about making the right decisions—especially when it matters most.

Here are the main points from his perspective:

Shah says people often think entrepreneurship is glamorous, but in reality, it’s about using good judgement. The best founders aren’t the ones who seek fame, but those who can consistently make smart choices when faced with tough calls.

He believes that a few big decisions can shape a company’s future for years to come. That’s why he puts so much emphasis on judgement, rather than just following trends or copying what works for others.

With CRED, Shah didn’t take the usual route of chasing as many users as possible. Instead, he focused on building something meaningful for a specific group—people with strong credit histories. This approach required patience and confidence in his own vision.

He also points out that there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for entrepreneurship. It’s about solving real problems, learning as you go, and being willing to make hard choices, even if they aren’t popular.

For anyone thinking about starting something new, Shah’s advice is to work on your ability to make good decisions. Forget about instant recognition or trying to please everyone. Focus on what really matters for the long run.

Kunal Shah’s thoughts are a good reminder that behind every “overnight success” is a lot of careful thinking and tough judgement calls.

Source: Peak XV, Orange Owl Marketing, Product Leadership