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.
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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.
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