Yes! It’s been 5 years since I started 17Seven. That’s not too long. It feels like yesterday when I made up my mind to kick-start this agency from ground-up, while lying in my bed suffering from a skin disease in late 2013.

I pondered over this thought for over a year, unable to find the right time to jump in. But you know what?... there’s never a right time. You just have to believe in yourself and go for it. I was on bed rest for over a month which gave me enough time to evaluate the possibilities of getting out of my existing business and starting a new one.

Yes, I was already running a business then. It was a web design & development company. I ran it for almost 9 years working alongside amazing co-founders I met during my college days. However in the last phase, it was neither fun nor fulfilling. I wanted to do more, run the ground, reach out to stars but I felt something was holding me back. Anyway, that story is for another day!

However, that month’s break gave me time to think. My mom, dad and my wife supported my decision. I made up my mind and decided to take my first step towards finding what I was looking for.
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Well, 17Seven was born!

And for all who don’t know me, I’m Vimal Kutmutia, a designer at heart and founder of 17Seven.

Designing for me is not just painting the digital screens or making them look pretty. Designing for me is like expressing emotions. Design is something that has the capacity to change the way people think, decide or take action. Well, I’m sure as hell not a soldier in the field, but I do use design as my weapon where the need be.

17Seven is a small digital design studio with huge aspirations that was founded on a tiny desk in my house 5 years ago. We have come a long way, from a 5 foot desk to a 1000 sqft fancy little office in Mumbai and from one pair of hands to an amazing team by our side today.

When I first started this company, I made a promise to myself, that 17Seven is always going to deliver value to our clients. Crafting design isn’t always about making the app look cool on your phone or the website look stunning on your desk at 17Seven. It’s about making it work for the people who are using that app or website to accomplish a purpose. It should help people build connection with the brand, create trust and help them take action.

I get asked this question very often- How is it running your own company? Who says running a company is easy? It’s like sailing on a boat in a thunderstorm tripping the shit out of you, but you still have to find the balance, your way-out, smile and sail ahead while enjoying the journey, conquering new milestones and helping your team-mates grow as individuals.
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My Learnings

During my career as the sole owner at 17Seven, while counting the achievements, I’ve also made numerous mistakes, I still do and have learnt a lot from them. I would like to share the 6 most important things that I’ve learned while running this company-
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• Never stop learning - It’s essential
• Be yourself, raw and honest - Being fake doesn’t cut it anymore
• Be humble - There’s always someone better than you
• Relationships are everything - Brings out the best in you
• Embrace uncertainty - You never know what might hit you, just get over it
• Value your team - They make your life better
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So as I finish this article, I urge you to take that first step towards finding your own joy and begin your journey with confidence.

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday 17Seven. May you always be around ;)