How to Start a Business That Works
Azgari Lipshi on Lessons from Failure, Passion Projects, and Market Demand
Starting a business is often framed as an act of courage or passion.
But in my conversation with Azgari Lipshi, we talked about something far less romantic — and far more important:
What actually makes a business work.
Azgari is a serial entrepreneur who started her first business at 15, built and exited multiple companies, lost significant money on a passion project that had no market demand, and later rebuilt by focusing on businesses that solve real, existing problems.
This episode is for anyone who wants to start a business — especially later in life — and doesn’t want to gamble their savings, energy, or health on a beautiful idea that won’t sustain them.
Starting young — and learning by falling forward
Azgari officially started her first business at around age 15, growing up in Bangladesh in an entrepreneurial family. She didn’t begin with a master plan. She began by trying to solve a personal problem — difficulty focusing — and noticing a gap in the market.
What made that first business work was not just initiative, but how early he involved the market.
Instead of guessing what customers wanted, she worked directly with wholesalers, asked them what packaging, ingredients, and formats would sell, and created products based on what buyers told him they would move.
As Azgari put it, she kept “falling forward” — learning by doing, failing while still moving ahead.
The danger of passion without demand
One of the most important moments in this episode is Azgari’s candid description of a failed passion project.
After earlier success, she launched a company in the mental health space, focused on Gen Z men. The need was real. The problem was real. The conversations were loud. But the market response was not. People talked about it. They supported it in theory, but they did not pay for it.
That mismatch cost him close to half a million dollars, especially when combined with another “safe” investment that also didn’t work out.
Her takeaway is simple — and sobering:
Passion without market demand is a lot of pain.
This doesn’t mean passion is wrong. It means passion needs validation, not just belief.
Market demand as protection, not compromise
After that experience, Azgari deliberately shifted her approach.
When she started LIV180 Construction and Remodeling in Austin, Texas, the decision was based on clear demand: a fast-growing city, older homes, and a constant need for remodeling.
Clarity before commitment
Today, Azgari works with people who want to understand:
Her focus is not hype — it’s alignment, numbers, and realism.
To hear full Episode 35, click the link or the image below.
