Preheal: Forming a Start-up Team Post-COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The Indian government had been making efforts to foster an innovative business culture by incorporating design thinking and innovation in b-school curricula. Substantial investments had also helped aspiring entrepreneurs pursue their ambitions. One such beneficiary of these initiatives was Preheal Innovations Private Limited, which aimed to build an online platform catering to the healthcare, beauty, and wellness needs of customers throughout India. Mr. Vikrant, founder and CEO of Preheal, had built a robust network of contacts in the healthcare sector after 20 years of experience and this, combined with the company's unique business model catering to customers in both urban (tier-2 and tier-3 cities) and rural areas in India, played a key role in attracting the initial start-up team. However, efforts were interrupted due to COVID-19, which lead to the departure of team members. Post lockdown, Mr. Vikrant had to decide how to relaunch the new venture with either full or partial staffing, in a changed business environment. © 2022 NeilsonJournals Publishing.