Digital intelligence is reshaping how organizations work, and success depends on integrating multiple domains, using real-time analytics, and ensuring strong cyber protections as data grows and risks increase This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob talk with Chris Carter, Director - Key Accounts and Australia at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, to explore the fast-moving world of digital intelligence, data, and analytics and dive into the complexities of the work, how rapidly the landscape is evolving, and the major challenges organizations face today. TLDR : 00:41 Introduction of Chris Carter 03:00 Rob is confused by the idea of renting out brain capacity for compute power 07:13 Chris discusses the fusion of data, AI, and human judgment in complex environments 34:30 Are we giving enough attention to human cognitive capacity? 42:34 Rugby tickets with the family Guest Chris Carter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscarter3/ Hosts Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ Production Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/ Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Sound Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/ Louis Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ ' Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini…
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Inhalt bereitgestellt von Akshay Datt. Alle Podcast-Inhalte, einschließlich Episoden, Grafiken und Podcast-Beschreibungen, werden direkt von Akshay Datt oder seinem Podcast-Plattformpartner hochgeladen und bereitgestellt. Wenn Sie glauben, dass jemand Ihr urheberrechtlich geschütztes Werk ohne Ihre Erlaubnis nutzt, können Sie dem hier beschriebenen Verfahren folgen https://de.player.fm/legal.
Dickens said, it was the best of the times, it was the worst of the times. The words have never been truer. Best because there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. Worst because the clutter is mind-numbing. Founder Thesis breaks through the noise to bring you stories of success & failure, grit & struggle, bouquets & brickbats from some of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in India.
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Dickens said, it was the best of the times, it was the worst of the times. The words have never been truer. Best because there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. Worst because the clutter is mind-numbing. Founder Thesis breaks through the noise to bring you stories of success & failure, grit & struggle, bouquets & brickbats from some of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in India.
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1 Anand Prasanna (Iron Pillar) on Why Growth-Stage VC is India's Biggest Opportunity 1:36:29
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIn this episode, we unpack the $4M-$10M funding gap that's stranded hundreds of Indian startups, why Anand raised $45M during COVID when everyone else froze, and the brutal truth about unicorn valuations in India's tech ecosystem. Anand Prasanna is the Managing Partner of Iron Pillar, a $400M+ venture growth fund that's cracked the code on taking Indian companies from $10M to $100M in revenue and shepherding them to IPO. With exits like Bluestone's NSE listing and Vyome's historic Nasdaq debut, Iron Pillar proves that the "India for the World" thesis isn't just talk, it's delivering real returns. From his days at McKinsey and Sequoia to running Morgan Creek's Asia office in Shanghai, Anand brings a rare global lens to Indian venture capital. He shared his contrarian playbook, investment discipline, and why he's passing on the AI hype cycle in this candid, no-holds-barred conversation with host Akshay Datt. Whether you're a founder navigating Series B, an LP evaluating fund managers, or an operator curious about what metrics actually matter at scale, this episode breaks down growth-stage VC like never before. You'll learn the 444 process for picking winners, why CAC payback matters more than growth rate, the dual exit strategy for Indian startups, and Anand's brutally honest takes on Zepto, Cred, Physics Wallah, and why 30% of India's unicorns are overvalued. #VentureCapital #GrowthStageVC #IndiaStartups #SeriesBFunding #StartupFunding #IndianUnicorns #VCInvesting #StartupIPO #BluestoneIPO #FounderThesisPod #StartupMetrics #CACPayback #UnitEconomics #InvestmentStrategy #PrivateEquity #IndiaVC #StartupEcosystem #FundingGap #ScalingStartups #IndiaForTheWorld #GlobalExpansion #VCReturns #LPCapital #StartupValuation Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Rajeev Raja on Turning Sound into a Growth Moat 1:04:34
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow do brands grow using the power of sound? In this episode, Rajeev Raja reveals how BrandMusiq created the sonic identities for Mastercard, 7Up, and dozens of global brands. Rajeev Raja is the founder of BrandMusiq, Asia's first sonic branding agency that's redefining how brands connect emotionally with consumers through strategic sound design. In this conversation with host Akshay Datt, Rajeev shares his unconventional journey from being National Creative Director at DDB Mudra and a professional jazz flautist to pioneering an entirely new category in India's advertising landscape. Rajeev breaks down the science and art of sonic branding, from understanding Indian classical Navarasas to leveraging AI for scalable sound production, while revealing the capital-efficient playbook that helped him build a bootstrapped agency serving Fortune 500 clients. In this episode, you'll learn: 👉How Rajeev Raja built BrandMusiq into Asia's leading sonic branding agency without venture capital funding 👉The difference between jingles and strategic sonic identity systems, and why brands need MOGOs in the audio-first economy 👉Inside BrandMusiq's proprietary MUSE framework that turns brand personality into emotionally resonant sound 👉Why sonic branding delivers 8.5x more effectiveness than visual-only advertising and drives measurable brand trust 👉How AI is transforming music creation for brands while human creativity remains irreplaceable for emotional connection 👉Real-world pricing and business models, from several hundred thousand dollar global deals to startup-friendly licensing options #AudioMarketing #BrandIdentity #SonicIdentitySystem #AdvertisingIndustry #CreativeEntrepreneurship #AudioFirstBranding #MumbaiStartups #SoundBrandingAgency #FounderStory #PodcastSonicIdentity #AIMusic #MusicBranding #indianadvertising Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Breaking into Bollywood with Shashank Khaitan (Director, Badrinath ki Dulhania) 1:42:59
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow does a Bollywood director think about making blockbusters? From script to screen to box office success, discover the hidden economics of India's most glamorous industry. Ever wondered how a Bollywood film actually gets made and who makes money from it? In this revealing episode, acclaimed director Shashank Khaitan pulls back the curtain on the complex business machinery of Hindi cinema. From his journey as a small-town dreamer in Nashik who played tennis at the junior international level to becoming the creative force behind romantic comedies like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Shashank breaks down the entire filmmaking value chain. He shares candid insights on how producers, directors, actors, and studios split revenues, the evolving role of OTT platforms in film financing, and why building a rom-com requires balancing romance with comedy down to precise percentages. Beyond Bollywood, Shashank reveals his ambitious second act as co-founder of Global Sports Pickleball, where he's applying his storytelling expertise to build India's next major sporting ecosystem. He shared this fascinating journey in a candid conversation with host Akshay Datt, exploring how capital flows through India's entertainment industry, the rise of franchise leagues, and why karma matters more than luck in building sustainable success. Key Highlights: 👉How Shashank transitioned from junior international tennis to becoming a successful Bollywood director with multiple hit films 👉The complete economics of Bollywood filmmaking, from script acquisition and actor fees to OTT deals worth 25-130 crores and theatrical revenue splits 👉Why producers are the dealmakers and chief marketing officers who manage everything from casting to distribution strategy 👉The secret to rom-com success: balancing romance and comedy while creating characters audiences genuinely care about 👉How Shashank is building Global Sports Pickleball into a 1000-crore business by 2027, leveraging his storytelling skills to create India's next sporting phenomenon 👉Why self-awareness and process-driven thinking trump outcome obsession for long-term entrepreneurial success Chapters: 00:00 - Shashank Khaitan's Journey from Tennis to Bollywood 08:07 - How Bollywood Films Actually Get Made 21:56 - Breaking Down Bollywood's Revenue Models 42:20 - Producer's Role in Film Business 01:01:03 - Marketing Strategy for Bollywood Releases 01:23:36 - Building Global Sports Pickleball Empire 01:40:56 - Future of Sports Infrastructure in India #BollywoodBusiness #FilmIndustryIndia #BollywoodDirector #MovieProduction #OTTPlatforms #NetflixIndia #DharmaProductions #YashRajFilms #FilmFinancing #BollywoodEconomics #IndianCinema #RomComMovies #HumptySharmaKiDulhania #BadrinathKiDulhania #PickleballIndia #GlobalSportsPickleball #SportsStartups #SportsInfrastructure #IndianSportsIndustry #StartupPodcast #EntrepreneurJourney #BollywoodInsights #FilmDistribution #MovieMarketing #CelebrityEntrepreneurs #SportsLeagues #IPLModel Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 The Two-in-One Startup: Why Anil Goteti Built Scapia as Card + OTA 1:25:00
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedEver wondered how credit card companies actually make money and why your rewards never seem to add up? Anil Goteti, Founder of Scapia, reveals the hidden business of cards: from interchange fees and breakage profits to why banks spend ₹3,500 acquiring each customer and still wait three years to break even. The business of cards in India is a multi-billion dollar industry built on economics most consumers never see. Anil Goteti spent eight years at Flipkart mastering consumer behavior before diving into this opaque world with Scapia, a travel-focused credit card that's raised $72 million to challenge how the card business operates. In this masterclass conversation with host Akshay Datt, Anil deconstructs the entire value chain: how merchant discount rates get split between issuing banks, acquiring banks, and payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, why co-branded card partnerships exist, and how rewards programs are designed so 50% of points expire unused, a profit center called breakage. He exposes why traditional banks charge forex markups of 3-5% on international spending, how customer acquisition costs in the card business have ballooned to ₹3,000-3,500 per customer, and why it takes six to nine years of card usage before banks see real profit. Anil also shares Scapia's contrarian approach: zero fees, zero forex markup, instant transaction visibility, and making reward redemption so easy it threatens the breakage model competitors rely on. Beyond card economics, this episode explores how Scapia survived when RBI banned their banking partner from issuing new cards, why the business of cards in India is still massively underpenetrated compared to Western markets, and how the convergence of fintech and travel creates dual revenue streams that make their aggressive customer economics sustainable at scale. What You'll Learn: 👉The complete business model of credit cards: how interchange fees, MDR splits, rewards programs, and interest income create the revenue stack 👉Why banks spend ₹3,000-3,500 acquiring each card customer and still need three years to reach breakeven on that investment 👉How Scapia built a $72M card business with zero fees by monetizing through travel commerce and challenging the breakage profit model 👉The hidden economics of co-branded cards: how fintech companies and banks share risk, revenue, and customer acquisition costs 👉Why India's card business is poised for explosive growth with only 6-7 cards per 100 people versus 300+ in developed markets 👉Real-time product innovation that's reshaping the card business: instant forex conversion, transparent rewards ledgers, and seamless bill payments #CreditCardBusiness #CreditCardEconomics #InterchangeFees #MDRExplained #CardBusinessModel #CreditCardIndustry #CobrandedCards #RewardsPrograms #BreakageProfits #ForexMarkup #CustomerAcquisitionCost #CardUnitEconomics #PaymentNetworks #IndiaFintech #CreditCardStartups #FintechBusinessModel #TravelFintech #CardIssuingBusiness #BankingPartnership #CreditCardRevenue #StartupIndia #FintechIndia #CardPayments #digitalpayments Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
In this episode, Raution Jaiswal reveals how he built InsuredMine from $40,000 in funding to $5 million ARR, competing against giants like Salesforce in the US insurance agency software market. Starting as an immigrant founder with no insurance background, Raution bootstrapped his way through the brutal early days, moonlighting while building his first product, pivoting from a consumer app to B2B CRM, and eventually capturing 17 of the top 50 insurance agencies in America. He shared the journey in this candid conversation with host Akshay Datt. Raution breaks down his "Trojan Horse" go-to-market strategy, positioning InsuredMine as a friendly add-on to legacy systems before becoming the central hub of agency operations. He discusses why modern product architecture is his secret weapon, how he's embracing AI to move from automation to prescriptive intelligence, and why he chose to return to India after 18 years in the US to run his American business and give back through his foundation. This is a masterclass in vertical SaaS, capital efficiency, and contrarian company building in a massive but overlooked market. Key Highlights: 👉How Raution built InsuredMine to $5M ARR with only $40K in funding, competing against Salesforce and legacy insurance software giants 👉The "add-on" Trojan Horse strategy that helps InsuredMine infiltrate agencies and become their central operating system 👉Why modern product architecture is InsuredMine's biggest competitive moat against billion-dollar competitors with legacy tech debt 👉Raution's pivot from B2C insurance wallet app to B2B agency CRM, and how he validated the business with 50 paying customers before quitting his job 👉How InsuredMine is leveraging AI to move from generative features to predictive analytics to prescriptive recommendations for insurance agents 👉Why Raution moved back to India after 18 years in the US to run his American business and launch his foundation for underprivileged students Chapters: 00:00 - Raution Jaiswal's InsuredMine Origin Story 01:20 - US vs India Insurance Industry Landscape 05:25 - How Insurance Distribution Works in America 10:26 - The Problem InsuredMine Solves for Agencies 14:24 - Building CRM for Insurance Agency Market 17:25 - InsuredMine vs Legacy Agency Management Systems 20:54 - Why VCs Chase InsuredMine Despite Bootstrapping 24:33 - The $40K to $5M ARR Journey 27:24 - Scaling InsuredMine Without Venture Capital 29:03 - Bootstrapping Secrets and Capital Efficiency Playbook 32:09 - Managing US Business from India Strategy 35:41 - Product Evolution from Automation to AI 37:06 - Building World-Class Support at Scale 40:38 - Running Global SaaS Company from Bangalore 42:10 - From Kolkata Streets to US Entrepreneur 47:59 - Paying It Forward Through Education Foundation 50:59 - Building Trust-Based Sales Without VC Money 52:38 - Product Roadmap and AI CRM Vision 56:03 - AI Agents vs Human Insurance Agents #InsurtechStartup #BootstrappedStartup #VerticalSaaS #InsuranceAgencySoftware #InsuranceCRM #SaaS #StartupIndia #FounderStory #USInsuranceMarket #InsuranceTechnology #AIinInsurance #StartupBootstrapping #IndependentInsuranceAgents #PropertyCasualtyInsurance #SalesforceAlternative #AgencyManagementSystem #InsuranceDistribution #CapitalEfficiency #StartupJourney #B2BSaaS #InsuranceInnovation #StartupPodcast Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 How SquadStack is Winning the AI Services Race with Apurv Agrawal 2:04:02
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow did Apurv Agrawal transform SquadStack from a data collection startup into India's leading AI-powered BPO generating ₹200+ crore ARR? This episode reveals the 10-year journey to finding true product-market fit and disrupting India's massive outsourcing industry. Apurv Agrawal, Co-Founder and CEO of SquadStack, shares the remarkable evolution from Squadrun's gig economy roots to becoming India's most advanced AI-native contact center platform. Starting as a horizontal marketplace for data collection tasks, SquadStack pivoted multiple times before discovering their breakthrough in distributed calling services during COVID-19. What began as weekend experiments became enterprise solutions for major brands like Kotak, Axis Bank, and Bajaj. Apurv reveals how they built a billion-interaction dataset, achieved 95% AI implementation success rates while competitors fail, and created a unique hybrid workforce combining stay-at-home professionals with local agencies across tier-2 and tier-3 cities. He candidly discusses the emotional definition of PMF, why founders can't fight market forces, and his contrarian leadership philosophy of "leading with love" that attracted 19% ex-founders to his team. With voice cloning technology and hyper-personalized customer journeys, SquadStack is reshaping how enterprises handle sales, support, and collections through AI-human collaboration. He shared this transformative journey in this insightful conversation with host Akshay Datt, offering invaluable lessons on market timing, vertical focus, and building sustainable competitive moats in the AI era. Key insights you'll discover: 👉How Apurv built SquadStack into a ₹200+ crore ARR leader through strategic pivots and market timing 👉Lessons from transitioning from horizontal gig marketplace to vertical AI-BPO specialist serving enterprise customers 👉SquadStack's breakthrough approach to distributed workforce management combining individual professionals with agency partnerships across India 👉Revolutionary AI implementation strategies achieving 95% success rates while industry reports 95% failure rates 👉Deep dive into voice cloning technology and hyper-personalized customer journey automation transforming contact center operations 👉Founder philosophy on high-agency hiring 👉Ubuntu leadership principles, and why love-based culture attracts exceptional entrepreneurial talent #BPOstartups #AIautomation #IndianstartupsPMF #productmarketfit #distributedworkforce #contactcenterAI #voicecloning #enterpriseAI #gigeconomyIndia #BPOdisruption #remoteworkIndia #startupfunding #founderstory #entrepreneurshipIndia #AIimplementation #customerserviceAI #startuppivot Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Madhav Bhagat on Leaving Google to Build SpotDraft and Redefine LegalTech 1:45:54
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow did a Google engineer turn a 90% revenue loss into a $XXM ARR LegalTech success story? Madhav Bhagat's SpotDraft journey reveals the secrets of AI timing, opinionated product strategy, and global SaaS scaling. From losing $900K in collections with his NYC nightlife startup DrinkLink to building SpotDraft into a leading contract lifecycle management platform, Madhav Bhagat's entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in resilience, pivot strategy, and AI-first thinking. After leaving Google where he helped scale Google Classroom to millions of users, Madhav co-founded SpotDraft with the vision of democratizing legal technology. What started as a tool for freelancers evolved into an enterprise-grade CLM platform that now serves major companies like PhonePe, Airbnb, and Panasonic. The company has achieved double-digit millions in ARR with 60% revenue coming from the US market. In this candid conversation with host Akshay Datt, Madhav shares how SpotDraft reduced contract implementation times from 2 years to 60 days, leveraged AI cost reductions from $40 to 4 cents per contract, and built an opinionated product that outcompetes giants like icertis and Docusign. He reveals why being early to AI wasn't always an advantage, how non-technical teams now ship code using AI agents, and why focusing on mid-market customers over enterprise deals became their winning strategy. This episode offers invaluable insights for SaaS founders navigating AI adoption, international expansion, and building sustainable competitive advantages in crowded markets. What you'll learn from this episode: 👉How Madhav built SpotDraft from Google exit to $XXM ARR in LegalTech 👉Why AI timing matters more than being first, and lessons from pre-GPT to post-GPT era 👉SpotDraft's opinionated product strategy that reduced implementation from 2 years to 60 days 👉Secrets of scaling SaaS globally with 60% US revenue from India base 👉How AI agents are transforming organizations and enabling non-technical teams to ship code 👉Why mid-market focus beats enterprise deals in competitive SaaS markets #legaltech #startups #AIstartups #saas #startupfounder #AI #B2BSaaS #startupjourney #entrepreneurship #indianstartups #founderstory #artificialintelligence Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 From building Cars24 to creating an AI Native Hiring-Tech Platform: Avinav Nigam (TERN Group) 1:44:06
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow did a founder who sold millions of cars and managed billions in real estate become the CEO competing with Palantir for government healthcare contracts? In this episode, we explore Avinav Nigam's journey from Cars24 to building TERN Group, an AI-powered healthcare recruitment platform solving the global nursing shortage. Avinav Nigam has built companies worth over $10 billion in enterprise value across three different industries - and his latest venture might be his most ambitious yet. After co-founding Cars24 (India's used car unicorn) and IMMO Capital (a European real estate investment platform), Avinav is now tackling the global healthcare crisis with TERN Group, an AI-native recruitment platform that's already generating ₹250 crores ARR in just 24 months. What makes this story remarkable isn't just the impressive metrics - 40% month-on-month growth, 88% conversion rates, and competing with enterprise giants like Palantir for government contracts - but the deeply personal mission driving it. After witnessing his colleague's death due to healthcare system failures and seeing talented Indian nurses exploited by unethical recruitment agents, Avinav built a zero-cost platform that charges employers instead of workers. In this candid conversation with host Akshay Datt, he reveals how AI is revolutionizing healthcare recruitment, why he believes "AI replaces humans who don't use AI," and his vision for becoming the future of human mobility across borders. Key Highlights 👉How Avinav built three successful companies across cars, real estate, and healthcare - reaching $10B+ enterprise value 👉TERN Group's explosive growth: ₹250 crores ARR, 40% MoM growth, and 88% conversion rates in 24 months 👉Why charging employers instead of healthcare workers created a more profitable and ethical business model 👉 How AI-powered interviews assess 80 nursing specializations across 28 different attributes with human-level accuracy 👉 The global healthcare worker shortage crisis: 15 million workers needed by 2030 and how TERN is solving it 👉 Competing with Palantir and other enterprise giants for billion-dollar government healthcare contracts #CrossBorderBusiness #AIFirstCompany #HealthcareWorkforce #TalentMobility #EthicalRecruitment #MarketplaceModel #RealEstateInvesting #StartupJourney #FutureOfWork #GlobalTalentShortage #B2GContracts #CompoundedCompanies #DigitalTransformation #InternationalExpansion Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 100 AI Unicorns From India: Rahul Agarwalla's Bold Prediction | SenseAI Ventures 1:40:03
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow did a serial entrepreneur who built AI solutions for Toyota and Honda before ChatGPT existed become India's pioneering AI-first venture capitalist? In this episode, we explore Rahul Agarwalla's bold prediction of 100 AI unicorns emerging from India and his contrarian investment framework that's reshaping the startup ecosystem. Rahul Agarwalla, Managing Partner at SenseAI Ventures, brings a unique perspective to AI investing - having built and sold three AI/ML companies since 1996, including enterprise solutions used by Fortune 500 giants like Toyota, Honda, and Canon. As India's first AI-focused VC fund, SenseAI has deployed over ₹200 crores across 31 investments, achieving four successful exits while pioneering the shift from AI infrastructure to applications. In this candid conversation with host Akshay Datt, Rahul reveals his VDAT framework for evaluating AI startups, explains why most "AI wrappers" will fail, and shares controversial takes on outcome-based pricing, founder requirements, and market timing. With AI startups capturing 57.9% of global venture capital in 2025, Rahul's insights on building sustainable AI businesses, navigating the India-US corridor, and identifying the next wave of AI unicorns provide essential guidance for founders and investors riding the AI revolution. Key Highlights: 👉How Rahul built AI solutions for Toyota and Honda before the ChatGPT era and transitioned to become India's first AI-focused VC 👉The VDAT framework: Why variety, data, architecture, and team are the only metrics that matter when evaluating AI startups 👉Why "AI wrappers" will fail and how to build defensible AI-native applications that OpenAI can't replicate overnight 👉SenseAI's contrarian bet on applications over infrastructure and why outcome-based pricing will replace traditional SaaS models 👉The roadmap to 100 AI unicorns from India and why technical founders are non-negotiable for AI success 👉Market insights on AI tooling opportunities and the shift from foundational models to specialized vertical solutions Subscribe to the Founder Thesis Podcast for more deep-dive conversations with India's most innovative entrepreneurs and investors. Follow us on LinkedIn for exclusive content, founder insights, and startup ecosystem updates. Visit founderthesis.com to discover more inspiring founder stories and actionable insights from India's leading entrepreneurs. #AI #venturecapital #AI startups #IndianStartups #StartupEcosystem #AIinIndia #TechEntrepreneur #DeepTech #StartupFunding #AIInvesting #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #AIVentureCapital #AIApplications #AIInfrastructure #OutcomeBasedPricing #AIWrappers #VDATFramework #DefensibleAI #AIUnicorns Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 IdeaForge: The Homegrown Drone Company Protecting India's National Interests 1:33:01
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow did Ankit Mehta build IdeaForge into India’s leading drone technology company? In this episode, host Akshay Datt explores his journey of creating mission-critical drones for defense, public safety, and industrial applications. Ankit shares how IdeaForge scaled through India’s funding winter, developed cutting-edge autonomous systems, and positioned itself as a leader in the rapidly growing drone market. Key Highlights: 👉How Ankit Mehta built IdeaForge into India’s top drone startup 👉Surviving India’s funding winter and focusing on sustainable growth 👉The role of autonomous drones in defense and public safety 👉Overcoming government procurement challenges for defense contracts 👉The future of drone technology in India and the global market #DroneIndustry #DefenseTech #DeepTech #IndianStartups #HardwareStartups #PatientCapital #BootstrapStory #IPOJourney #DefenseProcurement #MadeInIndia #DroneManufacturing #TechEntrepreneurship #IITFounders #MissionCriticalTech #IndigenousTechnology #StartupInsights #TechPolicy #DroneRegulations #HardwareVsSoftware #TechFounders #IndianDefense #StartupStrategy #EntrepreneurshipIndia #DeepTechStartups #DefenseContracts #TechInnovation #startupjourney Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Inside India's AI Cloud Gold Rush | Sharad Sanghi(Neysa) on GPUs, LLMs & Startups 1:34:25
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Infrastructure always beats applications." This is the core philosophy that made Sharad Sanghi one of India's most successful tech entrepreneurs. While others built consumer apps, he built the data centers that powered them. Now at 56, he's doing it again with AI infrastructure, showing why betting on the plumbing beats betting on the applications. Sharad Sanghi is a pioneer who built India's technology infrastructure backbone. He founded NetMagic in 1998, India's first data center company, scaling it to ₹3,600 crores revenue and 19 data centers before selling to NTT Communications for $116 million. Under his leadership, the company grew to serve 1,500+ enterprise customers with 300MW of IT capacity. After a successful exit, he's now building his second unicorn - Neysa, an AI cloud platform that raised $50 million in just 6 months. With degrees from IIT Bombay and Columbia University, and experience building the early internet backbone in the US, Sharad brings 30+ years of infrastructure expertise to India's AI revolution. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Infrastructure-First Strategy: Building foundational technology layers creates more defensible businesses than applications 👉Crisis Management: Survived dot-com crash and 2008 financial crisis through disciplined focus on profitability over growth 👉Zero Layoff Philosophy: Maintained employment through multiple economic downturns, proving empathy drives long-term success 👉80-20 Cloud Strategy: Competed with hyperscalers by focusing on 20% of features that 80% of customers actually use 👉AI Market Opportunity: India's transition from labor arbitrage to product innovation creates massive global opportunities 👉Supply-Constrained Business: Data center and AI infrastructure businesses benefit from demand exceeding supply 👉Second Innings Mentality: Starting a new venture at 56 proves age is irrelevant when solving transformative problems This insightful conversation was conducted by Akshay Datt, serial entrepreneur and host of Founder Thesis, India's leading startup-focused podcast featuring deep conversations with disruptive founders. #DataCenter #CloudComputing #AIInfrastructure #StartupPodcast #TechEntrepreneur #IndianStartups #AICloud #Infrastructure #Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #CloudAI #DataCenters #AIRevolution #TechLeadership #StartupJourney #IndianTech #AIAdoption #TechInnovation #CloudInfrastructure #aibusinessideas Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Shreya/Sonu/Arijit or Youtube/Spotify - Who Really Makes Money From Bollywood Songs? 2:03:45
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"80 to 90% of income for all artists, even Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, comes from live events only. YouTube pays barely 1-2 paise per stream today." This shocking revelation from Gaurav Dagaonkar exposes the broken economics of the music industry. While millions stream their favorite songs, artists make almost nothing from digital plays - a problem that led him to build Hoopr, India's leading music licensing platform. Gaurav Dagaonkar is the Co-founder and CEO of Hoopr, India's leading music licensing platform serving over 200,000 creators and 125+ enterprise clients including Myntra, ITC, and Marico. An IIM Ahmedabad MBA who rejected corporate placements to pursue music, Gaurav spent over a decade as a successful Bollywood music director working on films like Joker, Heartless, and Lanka. His YouTube channel Songfest has garnered half a million followers. After experiencing the industry's broken economics firsthand, he built Hoopr, which has raised multiple funding rounds and revolutionized how creators access licensed music. Host Akshay Datt explores how domain expertise combined with business acumen created this remarkable entrepreneurial success story. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Industry Economics: Music streaming pays artists only 1-3 paise per play, forcing 80-90% of artist income to come from live performances 👉Market Opportunity: Only 1-2% of venues comply with music licensing laws, representing a massive untapped market 👉Customer Validation: Hoopr interviewed 150+ creators and 50+ brands before building their platform, ensuring strong product-market fit 👉Revenue Model Innovation: Rejecting minimum guarantee models in favor of transparent unit economics created sustainable growth 👉Creator Impact: Independent artists can earn more from a single micro-sync license than years of streaming revenue 👉Copyright Complexity: Indian artists gave away both publishing and master rights, unlike Western markets where artists retained publishing control #entrepreneurship #startup #musicindustry #creatoreconomy #iimahmedabad #bollywood #musictech #foundingindia #musiclicensing #startupjourney #businessbuilding #artistrights #copyrightlaw #digitalcreators #musicbusiness #startupfunding #productmarketfit #indianstartups #creativeindustry #founderstory #musicentrepreneur #techinnovation #platformbusiness #revenuemodel #sustainablebusiness #startuplife #entrepreneurmindset Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 How to Bootstrap a Deep Tech VC fund in India | Ashish Taneja (growX Ventures) 2:07:08
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Cash is just a commodity. What truly attracts top entrepreneurs is the connection you build." Ashish Taneja completely flips the traditional investor-founder power dynamic in this eye-opening conversation with host Akshay Datt, revealing why the best founders actually choose their investors, not the other way around. Ashish Taneja is the Founding Partner & CEO of GrowX Ventures, one of India's pioneering deep tech venture capital firms. A Chartered Accountant who transitioned from being the India CEO of Vertex (a major UK BPO firm) to venture investing, Ashish has bootstrapped GrowX from angel investments in 2008 to managing ₹400+ crores across institutional funds. His portfolio includes a spectacular 17x return from spacetech company Pixxel, and notable exits to companies like Reliance and NASDAQ. With 49 investments and 9 successful exits over 15+ years, Ashish has become a leading voice in India's hardware and deep tech ecosystem. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Deep Tech Focus: India's future lies in hardware-first companies solving complex problems in space, defense, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing 👉Patient Capital Thesis: Deep tech requires 4-6 year investment horizons versus software's 18-month cycles 👉Dual Valley Strategy: Successful deep tech investing means navigating both technology risk and commercialization risk simultaneously 👉Founder-First Philosophy: The best entrepreneurs choose their investors based on value-add, not just capital 👉Barbell Portfolio Strategy: Combining high-risk seed deep tech bets with lower-risk Series B growth investments 👉Bootstrap Mentality: Building a VC fund through personal savings, consulting revenue, and reinvested returns rather than institutional money #VentureCapital #DeepTech #SpaceTech #HardwareStartups #IndiaVC #StartupFunding #TechInvesting #DefenseTech #Semiconductors #PatientCapital #FounderThesis #AkshayDatt #GrowXVentures #AshishTaneja #StartupEcosystem #AngelInvesting #SeriesB #SeedFunding #TechEntrepreneur #IndianStartups #VCStrategy #InvestmentStrategy #TechFounders #StartupJourney #ModernIndustrials Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 The EV revolution is here, can EMO Energy be the next BP/ HPCL/ IOCL? | Sheetanshu Tyagi(Co-founder) 2:07:25
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Energy is the only input cost that can be systematically optimized over time." A game-changing perspective from battery tech pioneer Sheetanshu Tyagi that's reshaping how India's quick-commerce giants think about profitability. This insight is driving EMO Energy's transformation from a hardware company to an Energy-as-a-Service platform. Sheetanshu Tyagi is the Co-Founder & CEO of EMO Energy, a deep-tech startup revolutionizing India's EV battery landscape. With over a decade of experience at world-class companies including Rivian (as one of the first 50 employees), Ather Energy, and Ola Electric, Sheetanshu has been at the forefront of the global EV revolution. He holds 8 patents for innovative automotive systems and has successfully raised $7.86 million for EMO Energy, achieving a valuation of ₹203 crores. Under his leadership, EMO has deployed over 2,000 battery packs, covered 18.3 million kilometers, and established partnerships with industry giants like Blinkit, BigBasket, and Domino's. Host Akshay Datt explores Sheetanshu's journey from a 2BHK startup to building India's most advanced battery technology platform. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Hardware-First Philosophy: EMO's contrarian approach focuses on superior mechanical and thermal engineering rather than expensive specialized cells 👉Fast Charging Breakthrough: 20-minute charging capability with 5+ year battery life, solving the critical downtime problem for commercial fleets 👉Immersion Cooling Innovation: Proprietary liquid cooling technology maintains uniform temperature within 1°C across all cells 👉Energy-as-a-Service Model: Transitioning from 90% hardware revenue to 50%+ software and services, offering systematic energy cost optimization 👉Strategic Market Focus: Targeting high-utilization commercial fleets rather than consumer market, doubling rider productivity to 140-160 km/day 👉Sodium-Ion Future: Predicting India's potential to bypass lithium dependency and build sovereign battery technology using locally available materials #EVBattery #StartupIndia #DeepTech #ElectricVehicles #BatteryTechnology #EnergyStorage #Entrepreneurship #TechStartup #Innovation #FastCharging #EMOEnergy #IndianStartups #CleanTech #SustainableMobility #VentureCapital #HardwareTech #EVInfrastructure #BengaluruStartups #FutureOfMobility #StartupJourney #TechFounder #electricmobility Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
1 Why 70% of India Is Invisible to VCs | Jyotsna Krishnan (Elevar/ EPIC) 1:50:41
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIndia’s real economic engine isn’t in big cities - it’s in the 400 million+ people building, trading, and growing across Middle India. In this episode of the Founder Thesis Podcast, host Akshay Datt speaks with Jyotsna Krishnan (Managing Partner, Elevar Equity; CEO and Co-Founder, Epic World) on how to invest, build, and scale startups for India’s underserved majority. With 15+ years in impact investing, Jyotsna shares how Elevar Equity has backed 50+ companies, catalyzed $3B+ in follow-on capital, and impacted over 60 million low-income households - proving that profit and purpose aren’t mutually exclusive. She also introduces Epic World and Epic Intelligence, a data platform designed to map the $10 trillion informal economy of entrepreneurial households in India. Key Insights: 👉Elevar’s customer-backward investment thesis 👉Why India’s middle 70% is the biggest untapped market 👉Building startups with distribution, dignity, and deep context 👉Epic World’s vision to productize ground-up insights 👉Why Middle India needs its own startup playbook 👉The real size of India’s economy - beyond GDP metrics #ImpactInvesting #IndiaStartups #FounderThesis #MiddleIndia #VCIndia #SocialImpact #CustomerCentric #InclusiveGrowth #InformalEconomy #StartupIndia #MSME #StartupPodcast #VCPodcast #BusinessStrategy #InvestmentStrategy #StartupEcosystem Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
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Founder Thesis
1 How to Scale Food Like Software - And Still Make Money | Jaydeep Barman (Rebel Foods) 1:50:59
1:50:59 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:50:59
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"I have this fundamental belief that you make abnormal returns not when you are right but when people don't agree with you." This contrarian mindset from Jaydeep Barman perfectly captures how Rebel Foods built a $1.4 billion unicorn by doing what everyone thought was impossible: decoupling restaurant brands from physical real estate. Jaydeep Barman is the Co-founder and Group CEO of Rebel Foods, the world's largest internet restaurant platform operating 450+ cloud kitchens across 100+ cities in three countries. Under his leadership, the company processes 3 million orders monthly, generates ₹1,800+ crores in annual revenue, and achieved unicorn status at a $1.4 billion valuation. A former McKinsey Associate Partner with an MBA from INSEAD, Jaydeep pioneered the multi-brand cloud kitchen model that revolutionized how restaurants operate. In this candid conversation with host Akshay Datt, he shares the journey from a failed Kolkata roll startup to building a category-defining global company. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Contrarian Strategy: Being misunderstood by competitors created a protective moat during Rebel's early growth years 👉Cloud Kitchen Economics: 12-15 month payback periods with 25-30% monthly profits, dramatically better than traditional restaurants 👉Multi-Brand Innovation: Single kitchens operating 15+ brands simultaneously, maximizing asset utilization 👉Technology Moat: Proprietary Rebel OS automates cooking processes, ensuring consistency across hundreds of locations 👉Global Expansion: Strategic approach to international markets, focusing on structural advantages rather than rapid scaling 👉People Philosophy: Hiring for "founder mentality" over CVs, creating an intentionally "abnormal" company culture #CloudKitchen #StartupFounder #FoodTech #Unicorn #RebelFoods #EntrepreneurJourney #StartupStrategy #FoodDelivery #BusinessModel #StartupPodcast #FounderStory #IndianStartups #RestaurantTech #VentureCapital #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #StartupLessons Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
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Founder Thesis
1 Beyond Chatbots: How AI Agents Are Transforming Business | Rajesh Sinha (Fulcrum Digital) 2:02:22
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedHow do you build a $100 million enterprise tech company - without raising a single dollar from venture capital? In this episode, host Akshay Datt speaks to Rajesh Sinha, Founder of Fulcrum Digital and Culinary Digital, shares his remarkable story of scaling two global businesses to ~$100M ARR - fully bootstrapped. From building a customer-funded SaaS + services hybrid model to leading the shift toward autonomous AI agents, Rajesh reveals his frameworks for disciplined growth, tech innovation, and global expansion. He also unpacks how AI agents - powered by SLMs (Small Language Models), governed by secure enterprise frameworks, and orchestrated via Fulcrum's proprietary FT Rise platform - are set to reshape the future of business software. Whether you're a startup founder, enterprise AI strategist, or services operator, this conversation is packed with insight on how to scale without capital, differentiate in crowded markets, and win in the age of AI. Key Topics Covered: 👉How to bootstrap a $100M SaaS and digital services company 👉The evolution of Fulcrum through 5 tech eras: Web 1.0 → AI economy 👉Why vertical and horizontal AI agents are the future of work 👉How Fulcrum is using SLMs vs LLMs for cost-effective AI delivery 👉The mechanics of AI agent governance, pricing, and orchestration 👉Fulcrum’s global delivery model: India, Brazil, Argentina, and beyond 👉Navigating enterprise sales, customer concentration risk, and culture 👉Why Rajesh now sees the value of investors - but didn’t need them #BootstrappedStartup #AIAgents #DigitalTransformation #TechEntrepreneur #StartupGrowth #CustomerFunding #IntelligenceAmplification #PlatformBusiness #EnterpriseAI #FounderThesis #TechServices #ScalingWithoutVC #AIStrategy #BusinessAutomation #TechLeadership #StartupPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SaaS #GlobalBusiness #techinnovation Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel…
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Founder Thesis
1 Understanding Private Credit, AIFs & Startup Financing | Vinod Murali (Alteria Capital) 2:16:05
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Venture debt is like an umbrella - you buy it before it starts raining, because once it starts raining, everything becomes expensive." This analogy perfectly captures the strategic timing required for startup capital - smart founders raise debt when they don't need it, not when they're desperate. Vinod Murali is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Alteria Capital, India's largest venture debt fund managing ₹4,500 crores across multiple funds. Widely recognized as the pioneer of venture debt in India, he has over 17 years of experience in the space and has personally backed more than 220 startups including unicorns like Spinny, Rebel Foods, Country Delight, and OneCard. His firm has deployed over ₹7,500 crores to date, making him one of the most influential figures in Indian startup financing. Before founding Alteria, Vinod spent nearly a decade building India's first venture debt business at Silicon Valley Bank and later InnoVen Capital. Key Insights: 👉Private Credit Evolution: Venture debt sits within the ₹2 trillion private credit ecosystem, filling the gap between traditional banking and equity financing 👉Indian Market Adaptation: India required a complete rewrite of the Silicon Valley venture debt model due to its execution-heavy versus IP-heavy nature 👉Risk Framework: Successful venture debt relies on evaluating four key risks - selection, performance, payment, and resolution 👉Capital Timing Strategy: The best time to raise debt is when you don't need it, not during crisis situations 👉Portfolio Performance: Alteria has achieved less than 0.5% losses across their ₹7,500 crore deployment 👉Regulatory Arbitrage: The shift from NBFC to AIF structure unlocked better capital access and tax efficiency for venture debt funds #VentureDebt #StartupFunding #IndianStartups #PrivateCredit #StartupCapital #VentureCapital #AlteriaCapital #StartupAdvice #Entrepreneurship #StartupStrategy #VinodMurali #FounderThesis #AkshayDatt #StartupFinance #VentureFinancing #StartupEcosystem #BusinessStrategy #StartupGrowth #FinancialStrategy #startuppodcast Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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Founder Thesis
1 Building a World-Class IT Services Business | Kalyan (QualiZeal) 2:01:26
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIn this powerful episode of Founder Thesis, host Akshay Datt speaks with Kalyan Rao Konda, Co - founder of QualiZeal, a quality engineering firm transforming how global companies approach software testing and quality assurance. With over two decades of experience in QA, Kalyan shares his journey - from the early days of reactive testing to today’s proactive, “shift-left” quality engineering model. He unpacks what it takes to build a world-class IT services company, grounded in deep client-centricity, employee empowerment, and a willingness to sacrifice short-term wins for long-term trust. We also explore how AI is revolutionizing software testing, including: 👉How QualiZeal’s proprietary “Humanities AI” platform augments engineers (not replaces them) 👉Solving modern QA challenges like AI hallucinations 👉Improving productivity by 25–30% with AI co-pilots Kalyan candidly breaks down the economics of IT services-from pricing, utilization, and accelerators to gross margins and client segmentation. He explains why value buyers win, how accelerators and COEs give firms a strategic edge, and how to stand out in a crowded, commoditized market. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Kalyan offers hard-won insights on: 👉Founding a company at 45 👉Sales strategies that emphasize relationships (“People buy from people”) 👉Navigating legal challenges while scaling 👉Finding your niche and staying the course This is a must-watch for anyone building in quality engineering, IT services, AI-powered testing, or enterprise SaaS. #QualityEngineering #SoftwareTesting #AIinQA #ShiftLeftTesting #QAPlatform #FounderThesis #ITServicesBusiness #EnterpriseSaaS #StartupJourney #SoftwareQuality #AIinSoftwareTesting #ClientCentricity #HumanitiesAI #BusinessOfQA #Entrepreneurship #Founderthesis Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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Founder Thesis
1 India's IT Infra Leap: Data Centers, Cloud, AI & What's Next | A S Rajgopal (NxtGen) 2:11:14
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Each rack can deliver 2 crores of revenue versus 6 lakh rupees from data centers." This striking comparison from A.S. Rajgopal reveals why cloud services generate 10x more revenue per rack than traditional data center hosting - a fundamental shift that's reshaping India's digital infrastructure landscape. A.S. Rajgopal is the Managing Director & CEO of NxtGen Cloud Technologies, one of India's leading sovereign cloud providers. With nearly 30 years of corporate experience at Dell, Microsoft, and Reliance Communications, he built and led Reliance's enterprise division to over ₹1000 crores in revenue. Since founding NxtGen in 2012, he has grown it to serve 1000+ organizations with a 44% EBITDA margin and 24% year-on-year growth from existing customers alone. An alumnus of Kellogg and Yale executive programs, Rajgopal is now raising $400 million to build India's largest AI GPU infrastructure, positioning NxtGen at the forefront of India's digital sovereignty movement. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Data Sovereignty: Indian enterprises are shifting from cost-focused to compliance-focused cloud adoption due to data localization requirements and foreign jurisdiction risks 👉Infrastructure Evolution: AI workloads require 10x more power density (100-600 kilowatts per rack) compared to traditional servers, demanding complete data center redesign 👉Business Model Transformation: Cloud services generate 10x revenue per rack compared to traditional data center hosting while requiring higher but more profitable investments 👉Open Source Strategy: Leveraging Red Hat OpenStack/OpenShift reduces customer costs by 10x compared to proprietary platforms while maintaining enterprise-grade capabilities 👉India AI Opportunity: The government's ₹10,000 crore AI initiative creates a ₹20,000 crore market opportunity for sovereign GPU cloud providers #DataCenter #CloudComputing #AIInfrastructure #DigitalIndia #Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #SovereignCloud #GPUCloud #IndiaAI #Datacenter #CloudServices #TechEntrepreneur #DigitalTransformation #AIRevolution #TechInfrastructure #IndianStartups #EnterpriseCloud #TechLeadership #FounderStory #CloudStrategy #AIComputing #TechInnovation #DigitalSovereignty #CloudInfrastructure #TechPodcast…
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Founder Thesis
1 Cracking India's Beverage Market with Beer & Kombucha | Ishan Varshnei(Latambarcem Brewers) 2:00:52
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Craft does not define size... craft is defined by technique, innovation, and quality." This insight from Ishan Varshnei challenges the common misconception that craft businesses can't scale. His scientific approach to brewing has proven that maintaining artisanal quality while achieving commercial scale is not just possible, but profitable. Ishan Varshnei is the CEO of Latambarcem Brewers, housing craft beer brand Maka Di and functional beverage brand Borécha. He has built a dual-brand beverage empire generating ₹30 crores annual run rate, with 80 lakhs monthly revenue from kombucha alone and 400% projected growth this year. After bootstrapping with ₹25 crores family funding for 4 years, he raised ₹12.5 crores in Pre-Series A and is targeting ₹500 crores revenue within 5 years. Ishan holds advanced degrees in Nanoengineering from UC San Diego and Materials Science from Columbia University, and previously worked as a Business Analyst at a Blackstone portfolio fund. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Product-First Philosophy: Spending only 10% on marketing vs competitors' 40-50%, focusing on product excellence over promotion 👉Regulatory Navigation: Successfully operating across multiple Indian states with varying alcohol policies and taxation structures 👉Scientific Innovation: Developing patented SCOBY technology for kombucha using metagenomics and 16S rRNA sequencing 👉Sustainable Growth: Building profitable unit economics before scaling with external capital 👉Distribution Mastery: Achieving 30% revenue from quick commerce and 30% from institutional sales within 6 months 👉Family Funding Dynamics: Leveraging family investment for patient capital and long-term vision alignment #BrewingBusiness #BeverageStartup #FermentationInnovation #IndianEntrepreneurs #StartupJourney #BootstrappedToFunded #QuickCommerce #FounderStory #FounderThesis Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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Founder Thesis
1 What Does It Take to Scale a Hardware Startup in India? Amit Gupta (Yulu) Has the Answers 2:11:37
2:11:37 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked2:11:37
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"We have zero customer acquisition cost with a hardware business." This seemingly impossible statement from Amit Gupta reveals a counterintuitive truth: asset-heavy businesses can create stronger competitive moats than asset-light ones. While Silicon Valley preaches software scalability, Amit proved that owning physical infrastructure can lead to supply-constrained growth where customers queue up for your product. Amit Gupta is the Co-founder and CEO of Yulu, India's largest shared electric mobility platform with 45,000+ vehicles facilitating over 80 million rides and 20+ million monthly deliveries. Previously, he co-founded InMobi, one of India's first profitable unicorns valued at $1+ billion, where he drove global expansion across 70+ countries and helped build a $200 million revenue business. From mobile advertising networks to electric vehicle fleets, Amit has mastered the art of building category-defining companies in completely different industries. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Asset-Heavy Advantage: Physical infrastructure creates defensible moats that digital competitors cannot easily replicate 👉Supply Constraint Strategy: Being supply-constrained with high demand beats demand-constrained growth models 👉EBITDA vs EBIT: Understanding the financial progression from operational profitability to full profitability in asset-heavy businesses 👉Purpose-Built Design: Custom-designed vehicles for commercial use achieve 10x better unit economics than generic products 👉Regulatory Arbitrage: Strategic product design around regulations (sub-25kmph) expanded addressable market significantly 👉Second-Time Founder Lessons: Technology focus vs business expansion - applying learnings across different industries 👉Zero CAC Achievement: Network effects in physical infrastructure leading to organic customer acquisition Chapters: 0:00:00 - Introduction: From Family Business to Tech Entrepreneur 0:18:32 - Early Career: Software to Banking to Startups 0:26:36 - M-Khoj: SMS Search to Mobile Internet Pioneer 0:49:22 - InMobi Success: Building India's First Profitable Unicorn 1:07:21 - Glance Innovation: Lock Screen Revolution Within InMobi 1:17:37 - Yulu Genesis: Personal Traffic Frustration to Mobility Mission 1:25:28 - Product Evolution: Bicycles to Electric Vehicles Pivot 1:39:14 - Technology Deep Dive: IoT, Predictive Maintenance & Security 1:51:52 - Business Model: Asset-Heavy Strategy & Unit Economics 2:12:14 - Scaling Strategy: Direct Operations vs Franchise Model 2:24:51 - Second-Time Founder Wisdom: Key Transferable Lessons #ElectricVehicles #SharedMobility #StartupIndia #Unicorn #AssetHeavy #Hardware #IoT #UrbanMobility #Sustainability #SecondTimeFounder #Entrepreneurship #TechStartups #MobilityTech #IndianStartups #VentureCapital #Scaling #ZeroCAC #SupplyConstrained #RegulatoryStrategy #PhysicalInfrastructure #EntrepreneurAdvice #startuplessons Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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Founder Thesis
1 The Story Behind UPI, And What's Next: ONDC, BBPS & ULI with Deepak Thakur (NPST) 2:21:46
2:21:46 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked2:21:46
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"When UPI happened, it was like, very clear now, this is something that will change everything." This powerful statement from Deepak Chand Thakur encapsulates the monumental shift the Unified Payments Interface has brought to India's financial landscape. It wasn't just another payment system; it was a revolution that reshaped commerce, financial access, and technological innovation —a revolution that Deepak and NPST have been at the heart of. Deepak Chand Thakur is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Network People Services Technologies Ltd. (NPST). He has guided NPST from a bootstrapped startup to a publicly listed entity on the mainboards of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Under his leadership, NPST achieved FY24 revenues of ₹130.08 crore, a 216% year-on-year increase, and a net profit surging by 310% to ₹26.71 crore. The company's SME IPO in 2021, which Deepak recounts was valued at ₹50 crore, saw it deliver approximately 9000% returns to its early investors and reach a peak market capitalization of around ₹5000 crore. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉UPI's Genesis & Evolution: A deep dive into how UPI was conceived, its evolution from IMPS, and why it became a uniquely successful global model for digital payments. 👉NPST's Role in UPI: How NPST became a crucial technology service provider, bridging the gap between NPCI and banks to facilitate UPI adoption and build scalable solutions. 👉The Tech Behind Scale: Understanding the microservices architecture NPST employs to handle massive transaction volumes, like processing over 5.5 crore transactions daily for a single banking partner. 👉Innovation Beyond MDR: How the absence of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI payments spurred innovation towards creating value-added services and new revenue models. 👉JAM Trinity's Impact: The foundational role of Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) in creating the digital backbone that enabled UPI's widespread success in India. 👉Future of Payments: Exploring what's next after UPI, including digital currency (e₹), ONDC, and BBPS. Chapters: 00:00:49 - Introduction: Deepak's Journey to Becoming a Fintech Founder 00:07:36 - Understanding NPCI and India's Early Payment Ecosystem 00:15:11 - NPST's Bootstrapping Strategy & Early Days Before UPI 00:22:33 - The UPI Revolution: Impact and NPST's Pivot 00:39:14 - Deep Dive: UPI Architecture, Evolution from IMPS & Global Uniqueness 01:07:07 - The Business of UPI: No MDR, Scarcity Driving Innovation 01:19:01 - UPI Going Global & The Foundational JAM Trinity 01:32:55 - Beyond UPI: Exploring BBPS, ONDC & Account Aggregators 01:53:31 - NPST's Business Model in the UPI Era: PPaaS & Value Creation 02:03:48 - The NPST IPO Journey: Fueled by Fintech Growth 02:14:37 - Life After IPO & The Future of Digital Payments in India #UPI #FounderThesis #DigitalIndia #FintechIndia #PaymentsRevolution #NPCI #DigitalPayments #MakeInIndia #StartupIndia #TechInnovation #IndianFintech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #PaymentGateway #Fintech…
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Founder Thesis
1 A Founder & VC's Roadmap to Scaling | Rohit M A (PeerCapital & Cloudnine) 2:02:34
2:02:34 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked2:02:34
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"The sooner you can get to a level where you can actually make yourself redundant, I think that's when you start building an institution." This powerful insight from Rohit M A encapsulates a core theme of our conversation: sustainable growth isn't just about a visionary founder, but about building systems and teams that can thrive independently. It’s about transitioning from being the indispensable force to the architect of an enduring enterprise. Rohit M A is the Managing Partner at PeerCapital, an early-stage tech-native venture capital fund. Before co-founding PeerCapital, he was instrumental in scaling Cloudnine Group of Hospitals from a single unit to a national leader with 42 locations and revenues exceeding ₹1200 crores. With over 23 years of entrepreneurial and management experience, and having angel invested in 70-75 companies, Rohit brings a deep operator's perspective to venture investing. PeerCapital's first fund is close to $40 million, focusing on "consumption enablers" and providing "valuable capital" to founders. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉The Operator-to-VC Journey: Understanding the mindset shift and challenges when transitioning from building a company to funding many. 👉Scaling with Process & Data: How establishing robust processes and leveraging data were critical to massive growth, moving beyond founder-led decisions. 👉"Valuable Capital": PeerCapital's thesis on providing more than just money – offering strategic, operational, and intellectual support. 👉Fundraising Realities: The candid truth about how difficult fundraising is, both for founders seeking capital and VCs raising funds from LPs. 👉Institutionalizing a Business: The importance of professional management, board governance, and preparing a company for long-term success, including being public-listing ready. 👉Focus on the Problem: Why VCs (and founders) should obsess over the problem being solved rather than getting fixated on a single solution. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Rohit M A's Entrepreneurial Path 00:02:13 - The Genesis & Early Vision of Cloudnine Hospitals 00:10:03 - Scaling Cloudnine: From 1 to 42 Hospitals & Key Metrics 00:17:00 - Transitioning to Professional Management & Making Yourself Redundant 00:52:46 - Leveraging Data & Technology for Operational Excellence 01:10:45 - The Cloudnine Fundraising Journey: From VCs to Private Equity 01:24:23 - The Shift to Venture Capital: Founding PeerCapital 01:26:34 - PeerCapital's Investment Thesis: "Valuable Capital" & Founder Fit 01:33:04 - The Surprising Realities & Challenges of Running a VC Firm 01:49:17 - How PeerCapital Evaluates Startups for Investment 02:00:47 - What Kind of Founders Should Approach PeerCapital? #FounderThesis #VentureCapital #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #ScalingBusiness #HealthcareInnovation #TechInvestment #OperatorVC #StartupFunding #BuildingInstitutions #LeadershipLessons #IndianStartups #VCInsights #FounderJourney…
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Founder Thesis
1 Deals to Degrees: Serial Entrepreneur Ashish Munjal's journey from Crown It to Sunstone 1:43:57
1:43:57 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:43:57
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Founders often wear a mask of 'irrational optimism' for their team; a necessary front when leading through uncertainty." This insight from Ashish Munjal delves into the often unspoken psychological aspect of entrepreneurship, where maintaining a strong, positive exterior is crucial for team morale and navigating the startup journey's inherent challenges, even when founders internally grapple with difficulties. Ashish Munjal is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sunstone, one of India's leading higher education service providers. Recognized in the Times 40 under 40 (2022), he is steering Sunstone to impact nearly 20,000 students across 14 cities and over 27 colleges, with projected gross sales of around ₹300 crore by the end of the year discussed in the podcast. His mission is to make quality, job-oriented higher education accessible, particularly for students in Tier II & III cities. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Viral Growth & Engagement: How Crown It achieved massive user engagement (50% MTU/MAU) with near-zero paid marketing, relying heavily on organic referrals. 👉Bold Business Models: The strategic thinking behind Sunstone's initial "Pay After Placement" model to build trust and cut through market clutter. 👉The Power of Pivots: Lessons from Crown It's evolution (deals to data monetization, then enterprise) and Sunstone's strategic shifts (like removing pay-after-placement for UG courses) for long-term sustainability. 👉Offline-First in EdTech: How Sunstone's offline-centric approach proved resilient and attractive to investors, especially when the online EdTech wave faced scrutiny. 👉AI in Operations: Practical examples of how AI is already being used at Sunstone for lead qualification, CV automation, and even creating initial drafts of educational content. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: The Entrepreneurial Itch 00:01:49 - The Crown It Journey: Building a Viral Deals App & Growth Hacks 00:15:35 - Challenges of Gamified Rewards & Why Crown It Pivoted 00:40:47 - The Shift to Education: Identifying the Core Problem for Sunstone 00:48:44 - Sunstone's Innovative Higher Education Model 00:56:19 - "Pay After Placement" & Navigating Sunstone's Early Challenges 01:06:56 - Sunstone's Unique Operations: The University Track vs. Sunstone Track 01:13:18 - Cracking Student Acquisition & The "Easier" Part: Placements 01:23:08 - Funding Journey: Navigating EdTech Investor Waves 01:27:48 - Lessons as a Two-Time Founder & Angel Investing Thesis 01:38:10 - Signalling Credibility to Investors: Early Stage vs. Series A 01:42:52 - AI in Action: Automating Operations & Replacing Resources #FounderThesis #EdTechIndia #HigherEducation #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #IndianStartups #SerialEntrepreneur #StartupLessons #GrowthHacking #EdTechTrends #BusinessPivots #VentureCapital #AIinBusiness #Podcast #InnovationInEducation #leadershipjourney Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 From Coffee Trader To $250M+ VC | Manav Garg (Together Fund) 1:41:21
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"SaaS as we know it is DEAD." This might sound controversial, but as Manav Garg explains, the old model of simple workflow automation is being rapidly superseded. AI agents are now capable of executing complex tasks based on simple commands, fundamentally changing how businesses operate and what they expect from technology. Manav Garg is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Together Fund, an operator-led VC firm managing over $250M AUM and backing ambitious early-stage Indian SaaS and AI startups. Before this, he founded Eka Software Solutions in 2004, building it over nearly two decades into a global leader in commodity management software. He scaled Eka to $34 million in revenue with $9 million in profit by 2014, raised over $55 million, navigated a complex pivot to the cloud, and ultimately exited the company. He is also a co-founder of SaaSBOOMi, Asia's largest SaaS community, and is passionate about building India as a Product Nation. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉The challenging journey of pivoting an already profitable company (Eka) to the cloud. 👉Learnings from bootstrapping, fundraising, M&A, and scaling enterprise SaaS globally. 👉The Operator-VC model: "Paying it forward" with capital plus know-how. 👉Why "People Buy From People": Building trust is paramount in enterprise sales. 👉The Founder Exit journey often involves an identity crisis, not just financial calculations. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:32 - Early Career: Commodity Trading & Learning Lateral Thinking 00:10:50 - Spotting the Gap: The Founding Idea for Eka Software 00:19:29 - Starting Eka: Solo Founder, Seed Funding & Early Choices 00:25:33 - Zero-to-One: Building Eka Profitably From Year 1 00:34:20 - Scaling Up: Raising VC & Growing Through M&A ($34mn ARR) 00:40:55 - Facing Crisis: The Commodity Crash & The Cloud Pivot Decision 00:48:58 - Navigating the Difficult 3-Year Cloud Transition 00:53:07 - The Exit Journey: Deciding to Sell Eka & The Process 01:05:04 - SaaSBOOMi & Founding Together Fund (The Operator-VC Model) 01:10:09 - Investing Thesis: AI Wave, Market Size & Evaluating Founders 01:19:34 - Key Lessons from 20 Years: Pricing, Sales, Product Love & Processes 01:33:11 - Why SaaS is Dead & The Future with AI Agents #FounderThesis #SaaS #StartupIndia #IndianStartups #VentureCapital #OperatorVC #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseSoftware #CloudComputing #FounderJourney #StartupExit #Entrepreneurship #Bootstrapping #SalesStrategy #ProductManagement #TechIndia #MakeInIndia Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 KukuFM's Secret Sauce: Exclusivity, Efficiency, and 'Asli Dhanda' 1:45:30
1:45:30 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:45:30
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Raising more money often means you made more mistakes." This counter-intuitive take from Vinod Kumar Meena challenges the common startup narrative where fundraising equals success. He argues that true success lies in capital efficiency and building a sustainable business, not just chasing the next round. Vinod Kumar Meena is the Co-Founder & COO of KukuFM, India's leading audio content platform. An IIT Jodhpur graduate and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, he has scaled Kuku FM to over 6 million paying subscribers, targeting over ₹1000 Crore ($150M) in ARR, demonstrating phenomenal growth in the vernacular content space after raising over $70M. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Why Silicon Valley startup advice can be detrimental in the Indian context. 👉The critical role of content exclusivity and understanding 'Bharat' for monetization. 👉Mastering digital distribution, influencer marketing, and why 'ads are content'. 👉The 'science' behind engaging mobile-first content (fast-paced, escapism). 👉Why gut calls often trump logical debates in decision-making. 👉Building a 'default alive' business vs. a VC-dependent startup. 👉AI's role as an enabler in content, not (yet) a replacement for creators. Chapters: (0:00:00) - Intro: Vinod's Journey from Village to IIT & Entrepreneurship (0:07:30) - Early Startups, EdTech & Selling to Toppr (0:18:08) - Why Vinod Left EdTech & The Power of Travel (0:23:23) - Genesis of Kuku FM: Identifying the Vernacular Audio Gap (0:29:45) - Building Content Supply & Cracking Monetization for India (0:46:40) - Deep Dive: Monetization Strategy & Exclusivity (0:51:30) - Unique Distribution Tactics: Influencers & Content-as-Ads (01:06:30) - Mobile-First Content Science: What Engages 'Bharat'? (01:17:50) - Challenging Startup Norms: Fundraising, Gut Calls & Silicon Valley Myths (01:49:25) - AI in Content: Hype vs. Reality & Future Outlook (01:55:35) - Final Advice: Build a BUSINESS, Not Just a Startup #FounderThesis #StartupIndia #IndianStartups #ContentBusiness #VernacularContent #AudioPlatform #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #StartupAdvice #Monetization #DigitalMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #BuildingForBharat #MakeInIndia #MediaTech #ContentStrategy #Fundraising #VentureCapital #BootstrappingMindset #Leadership #businessstrategy Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 Deep Dive: How We Got to GPT (and What's Next) with Vinay Sankarapu (Arya.ai- An Aurionpro Company) 2:33:43
2:33:43 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked2:33:43
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"When people think of AI, they think it's probably happened in the last 10 years or 20 years, but it's a journey of 70 plus years." This quote from Vinay Sankarapu challenges the common perception of AI as a recent phenomenon. Vinay Sankarapu is the Founder & CEO of Arya.ai- An Aurionpro Company, one of India's pioneering AI companies established in 2013. An IIT Bombay alumnus, Vinay led Arya.ai to become a profitable (EBITDA positive for 3+ years) enterprise AI player focusing on the BFSI sector, achieving significant scale (~₹50-100 Cr revenue range) before its acquisition by Aurionpro Solutions. He was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 (Asia) and is now also leading AryaXAI, focusing on making AI interpretable and safe for mission-critical applications. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉AI's True Timeline: Unpacking the 70+ year evolution from Alan Turing to modern LLMs. 👉Core Concepts Demystified: Neural Networks, Deep Learning, Backpropagation, CNNs, RNNs, Transformers explained simply. 👉The Deep Tech Journey: The challenges and pivots involved in building an early AI startup in India. 👉Explainability is Key: Why making AI understandable (XAI) is critical for trust and adoption, especially in regulated industries. 👉Future of AI: Insights into AI agents, verticalization moats, responsible AI governance, and the changing SaaS landscape. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #AIHistory #TechHistory #NeuralNetworks #LLMs #Transformers #ExplainableAI #XAI #ResponsibleAI #AIEthics #AIGovernance #StartupIndia #IndianStartups #Entrepreneurship #FounderThesis #DeepTech #BFSI #FintechAI #podcast Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 The B2B Whisperer: Dhruv Verma's Secrets to Landing (and Keeping) Big Clients 1:12:59
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"B2B sales is not selling a product. It's building up a relationship." This insight from Dhruv Verma underscores a core theme of our conversation: in the high-stakes world of B2B, particularly with large enterprises, trust and deep understanding built through relationships are paramount, often trumping product features alone. Dhruv Verma is the Founder & CEO of Thriwe, a global B2B consumer benefits marketplace he started in 2011 (initially as GolfLan). Facing extreme hardship early on, including selling his house to keep the company alive, Dhruv pivoted and built Thriwe into a leader serving over 15 million customers globally. The company is profitable and achieved revenues of ~$32 million (approx. 300 Cr INR), while Dhruv and his team retained ~65% equity. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉The immense power of resilience and learning from failure, including knowing when to cut losses decisively. 👉Why pivoting from B2C to a B2B focus unlocked significant growth and product-market fit. 👉The art of B2B sales: building deep trust and offering intuitive, innovative solutions beyond just delivering value. 👉How strategic acquisitions and building a strong tech stack create competitive advantages. 👉The importance of maintaining founder control and building a sustainable, profitable business over chasing valuations. Chapters: 0:00:01 - Early Drive: Making Money Since School Days 0:07:14 - Corporate Stints & Early Failed Ventures 0:09:05 - Idea Spark: Golf & Mass Affluent Benefits 0:12:41 - Launching GolfLan 0:15:14 - Painful Failure & Selling House 0:18:24 - GolfLan B2C Model & The Breakage Problem 0:27:41 - The Profitable B2B Pivot 0:35:28 - Expanding Beyond Golf: Becoming Thriwe 0:41:17 - Building Supply, Tech Edge & Creative Products 0:51:14 - The Art of High-Value B2B Relationship Sales 1:07:21 - Rebranding Lessons & Founder Control 1:10:48 - Angel Investing & Tier 2/3 India Focus #FounderThesis #AkshayDatt #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #B2BSales #LoyaltyPrograms #CustomerEngagement #Pivoting #BusinessStrategy #Resilience #Bootstrapping #Profitability #StartupJourney #Leadership #Innovation #GolfLan #IndianStartups #TechStartup #GlobalBusiness #FounderStory #Podcast #businesspodcast Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 Policybazaar: Growth, IPO & Future Bets | Tarun Mathur 1:15:35
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"If you're going to find something, think of building this for the next 20 years. Think very long term." This powerful advice from Tarun Mathur underscores the importance of long-term vision in entrepreneurship, reminding founders that enduring companies aren't built overnight but over decades. Tarun Mathur is the Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer at Policybazaar for Business, India's leading online insurance marketplace. With an impressive 17-year journey since co-founding the company in 2008, Tarun has been instrumental in its growth, including the launch and leadership of its B2B arm, Policybazaar for Business. His experience spans analytics, revenue management, strategic initiatives, and various insurance verticals within the company. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Mission-Driven: Policy Bazaar was founded with a mission to protect middle-class India through transparent, accessible insurance, focusing initially on term life insurance. 👉Evolving Sales Model: Realizing insurance is a complex purchase, Policy Bazaar shifted from a purely digital model to an assisted one, incorporating call centers and advisors to build trust and aid understanding. 👉Product Focus: While starting with auto insurance, the focus evolved to high-importance protection products like health and term life insurance, educating the market along the way. 👉B2B Expansion: PolicyBazaar for Business targets the underserved SME/MSME sector, offering protection products like liability, cyber, and group health insurance, tailored to business needs. 👉Data-Led Product Innovation: Customer conversations and claims data are rigorously analyzed to improve user experience, develop relevant product propositions, and refine pricing with insurance partners. 👉Building for the Long Haul: Success stems from a long-term vision, customer obsession, focusing on product proposition, and consistently showing up over many years. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro: Tarun Mathur's Origin Story 00:06:43 - The Genesis of Policy Bazaar 00:12:00 - Early Challenges & Securing Funding 00:15:37 - Selling Insurance Digitally: The Pivot to Assisted Sales 00:19:03 - Understanding Insurance Distribution Models (Agent vs Broker) 00:25:34 - Evolution of Product Mix: Auto, Health & Term Life 00:35:08 - Building Policy Bazaar for Business (B2B) 00:45:54 - The Cyber Insurance Opportunity & Product Innovation 00:55:48 - B2B vs B2C Customer Acquisition Strategy 01:00:45 - The Journey to IPO 01:04:14 - Entering the Reinsurance Market 01:23:28 - Policy Bazaar's Secret Sauce: Customer Obsession 01:35:42 - Advice for Young Founders #FounderThesis #Insurtech #InsuranceIndia #StartupIndia #IndianStartups #Entrepreneurship #AkshayDatt #Fintech #DigitalInsurance #B2B #SME #MSME #TermInsurance #HealthInsurance #CyberInsurance #IPO #BusinessStrategy #CustomerObsession #ProductManagement #DataAnalytics #Leadership #StartupAdvice Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speaker, not necessarily the channel.…
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1 The Future is Climate AI Solutions | Rohit Toshniwal (Sprih) 1:14:36
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"Behind the scenes, it's a Climate AI. It's a very deep Climate AI engine that we have built, which drives all of these workflows." Rohit Toshniwal pulls back the curtain on the sophisticated technology needed to tackle complex environmental challenges, highlighting how Artificial Intelligence is becoming essential for managing sustainability data and driving climate action. Rohit Toshniwal is a serial tech entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Sprih, which builds a Carbon Intelligence and Management platform using Climate AI to help organizations catalyze climate action. An IIT Kanpur graduate, Rohit previously co-founded Arkin Net, acquired by VMware for over $100 million, and helped scale that business within VMware to ~$250 million in revenue. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Why tracking environmental and social impact is becoming critical for businesses, driven by regulations, investors, and customers. 👉 Understanding Carbon Dioxide Equivalence (CO2e) as a key metric for environmental performance. 👉 How strong performance on sustainability metrics can unlock preferential financing and attract talent. 👉 The role of technology, particularly Climate AI, in simplifying complex data collection, analysis, and reporting for climate action. 👉 Lessons from building and selling Arkin Net, and scaling it post-acquisition. 👉 The importance of long-term vision and the right partners for building sustainable businesses. Chapters: 👉 00:00:51 - Intro: Rohit's Journey into Green Tech & Sustainability 👉 00:04:30 - Understanding Corporate Impact: Beyond Finance 👉 00:09:39 - Why All Companies Should Track Climate Impact 👉 00:15:07 - Deep Dive: Understanding Carbon Reporting & CO2e 👉 00:20:13 - Climate Performance, Capital Access & Business Advantage 👉 00:26:05 - Introducing Sprih: Climate AI for Carbon Management 👉 00:39:50 - The Market Opportunity in Climate Tech & Carbon Intelligence 👉 00:57:25 - Rohit's Early Career: From Cisco to Startups & VMware 👉 01:02:42 - The Arkin Net Story: Building & Selling for more than $100 Million 👉 01:06:30 - Scaling Post-Acquisition: Growing to $250M within VMware 👉 01:11:31 - Engineer's Take: How to Build a $250M Business 👉 01:18:29 - Building Philosophy: Focus on Roots, Not Flowers #Sustainability #ClimateTech #CarbonReporting #ClimateAI #CarbonIntelligence #Sprih #FounderThesis #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #FounderJourney #BusinessStrategy #VMware #IITKanpur #NetZero #ImpactInvesting #ClimateAction #IndianStartups…
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1 Building a ₹7500 Cr AUM Fintech | Harshvardhan Lunia (Lendingkart) 1:24:00
1:24:00 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:24:00
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"The customer is the CEO of the company; he can fire everyone." This core belief drove Harshvardhan Lunia's journey in building Lendingkart. He emphasizes that obsessively solving the customer's problem—be it the need for speed, transparency, or convenience—is the ultimate key to building trust and a successful financial services business. Harshvardhan Lunia is the Founder & CEO of Lendingkart, a fintech platform transforming SME lending in India. An ISB graduate and Chartered Accountant, he leveraged his background in banking and SME credit advisory to launch Lendingkart in 2014. Lendingkart has since disbursed over ₹20,000 crores to more than 3 lakh customers across 4,500+ towns and cities in India, achieving a total AUM of ₹7,500 crores (with ₹5,500 crores via co-lending) by FY24. Key Insights from the Conversation: ✅SME Lending Pain Points: Traditional lending for SMEs suffered from slow processes (3-4 months) and lack of transparency, creating a market gap. Lendingkart focused on speed (hours/days) and transparency from day one. ✅Data Over Tradition: Realizing traditional financial statements were often adjusted for tax purposes, Lendingkart pioneered using bank statement analysis and cash flow data for underwriting. ✅Tech-Driven Underwriting: The platform evolved from rule-based systems to sophisticated algorithms trained on billions of data points to assess risk and determine loan terms, achieving high predictive accuracy (97.5%). ✅The Rise of Co-Lending: Partnering with banks and larger institutions (co-lending) became crucial post-COVID, allowing Lendingkart to scale distribution while sharing risk and capital. By March 2022, 80% of business was co-lending, reaching a 25/75 (own books/co-lending) AUM split in FY24. ✅Distribution is Key: While underwriting and collections tech are vital, building trust and reaching customers across India (distribution) is the ultimate differentiator in the absence of a large legacy brand or branch network. ✅Fundraising Conviction: Raising capital involves storytelling and unwavering conviction in your vision, especially when building something new. It's an exam where you must clearly articulate why your approach will work. Harshvardhan even shared his unique approach of pitching using a whiteboard instead of presentations. #Lendingkart #HarshvardhanLunia #FintechIndia #DigitalLending #SMEFinance #MSME #NBFC #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #IndianStartups #FounderThesis #BusinessPodcast #VCFunding #CoLending #DataAnalytics #Underwriting #FinancialInclusion…
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1 ESOPs Aren't Monopoly Money, Here's Why | Satish Mugulavalli (Hissa) 1:38:16
1:38:16 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:38:16
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"ESOPs aren't lottery tickets; they're a calculated risk with a potential for real wealth creation." This seemingly simple statement from Satish Mugulavalli, Founder and Managing Partner of Hissa, encapsulates the core message of this episode: shifting the perception of ESOPs from "paper money" to a strategic tool for both companies and employees. We unpack the often-confusing world of ESOPs, going beyond the jargon to reveal the real-world mechanics and benefits. Satish Mugulavalli is the Founder and Managing Partner of Hissa, a platform revolutionizing private market transactions in India. Hissa facilitates ESOP liquidity for employees and provides access to growth-stage private companies for investors. Satish is building a 150Cr fund with a 150 Cr greenshoe option. They have already closed 30 crores in their first round. The platform has generated over 5Cr in revenue till date. Key Insights from the Conversation: ✅Discounts are Normal: Understand why ESOP transactions often happen at a discount to the last valuation, and why it's not necessarily a red flag. ✅Tax Implications: Learn the crucial difference between perquisite tax and long-term capital gains, and how it impacts your decision to exercise. ✅The Founder's Perspective: Discover why companies offer ESOPs in the first place, and how they view them as a strategic tool. ✅The Employee's Perspective: Get practical advice on evaluating an ESOP offer and understanding your potential upside. ✅Building the Future: Hear Satish's ambitious vision for creating a transparent and efficient private market exchange in India. ✅The right questions to ask as an employee. Chapters: 0:00:00 - Introduction: Demystifying ESOPs and the Rise of Hissa 0:03:15 - Satish's Journey: From Startup Ecosystem to Private Markets 0:05:36 - Hissa's Dual Approach: SaaS Platform and Investment Fund 0:11:05 - Target Market: Identifying the Right Companies for ESOP Liquidity 0:20:30 - The Hissa Fund: Investment Strategy and Fundraising 0:39:23 - Understanding Valuation Discounts in Secondary ESOP Transactions 0:58:11 - ESOP 101: Grant, Vesting, Exercise, and Tax Implications 1:02:37 - The "Why Exercise?" Question: Balancing Risk and Reward 1:07:38 - Employee friendly ESOPs 1:11:51 - Building the "NSE/BSE of Private Markets": Hissa's Long-Term Vision 1:18:00 - Hissa's Go-To-Market Strategy: Reaching Founders and Companies 1:25:00- Future of ESOPs #ESOPs #StartupIndia #PrivateMarkets #Hissa #SatishMugulavalli #FounderThesis #Equity #Compensation #Vesting #StockOptions #Startups #Investing #Finance #India #Liquidity #TaxPlanning…
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1 Shruti Aggarwal (Stashfin) on Building a ₹2000 Cr Profitable Lending Business 1:35:47
1:35:47 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:35:47
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"You have to be good at collections if you want to be a good lender." This was just one of Shruti Aggarwal's amazing insights in this episode: lending profitability relies on responsible repayment, not just customer acquisition. Shruti Aggarwal is the Co-Founder of Stashfin, a digital lending platform in India. She has built a profitable fintech with a loan book of ₹2000 crores and monthly disbursements of ₹300-400 crores. Stashfin operates with remarkable efficiency, generating ₹800 crores in revenue with only 170 employees. Shruti is a CA, holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, and has experience at Merrill Lynch. Key Insights from the Conversation: ✅Underserved Market: Stashfin focuses on the Indian middle class, often underserved by traditional banks, with small-ticket, unsecured personal loans. ✅RBI Regulations: The evolving regulatory landscape has impacted growth and capital requirements but ultimately promotes a more sustainable lending environment. ✅Technological Efficiency: Stashfin leverages technology for extreme operational efficiency, automating processes to minimize costs. ✅Customer Retention: 90% repeat business demonstrates the success of Stashfin's customer-centric approach and product convenience. ✅Leverage Control: Understanding and managing leverage is crucial for NBFCs, and recent RBI guidelines aim to limit risk. Chapters: 0:00:00 - Introduction: Shruti Aggarwal's Entrepreneurial Journey 0:05:51 - Returning to India & Identifying the Credit Gap 0:11:18 - Choosing the NBFC Model: Control and Responsibility 0:17:01 - Stashfin's Profitability and Unit Economics 0:23:43 - Impact of RBI's PPI Guidelines on Credit Line Cards 0:28:58 - Overview of RBI's Fintech Regulations (2016-2024) 0:41:17 - The Chinese Loan Apps Issue and Regulatory Response 0:48:36 - The Importance of Leverage in Lending 0:53:54 - Stashfin's Funding Strategy: Diverse Sources 01:15:04 - Technology-Driven Efficiency at Stashfin 01:27:20 - Stashfin's Underwriting and Fraud Prevention 01:33:36 - Future Opportunities in Indian Fintech #FintechIndia #DigitalLending #NBFC #RBI #PersonalLoans #IndianEconomy #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #FinancialLiteracy #LendingRegulations…
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1 Ashok Vashist (WTI Cabs): The Anti-Unicorn Founder, Bootstrapped to IPO! 1:14:35
1:14:35 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked1:14:35
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"The solution to every problem lies in the market, not the boardroom." Ashok Vashist shares a powerful lesson on the importance of staying grounded and understanding customer needs directly, rather than relying solely on theoretical discussions in boardrooms. This principle has guided WTI's success. Ashok Vashist is the Founder of WTI Cabs (Wise Travel India), one of India's leading B2B mobility solutions providers. He built WTI from scratch, starting with ad-hoc services in 2009, to a 400Cr revenue company which had an IPO in 2024, and is now expanding globally. Ashok's story is a testament to resourcefulness, customer-centricity, and the power of a "hungry" team. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉Niche to Scale: WTI started by dominating a neglected niche (ad-hoc corporate transport) before expanding into broader mobility services. 👉DCO Model Evolution: The interview provides a unique perspective on the rise and fall of the Driver-Cum-Owner model in the Indian mobility landscape. 👉Customer-Centricity is King: WTI prioritizes long-term relationships and bespoke solutions for its corporate clients. 👉Building Internal Strength: Ashok champions financial prudence and building internal liquidity over reliance on external funding. 👉Org Structure by Capability: Organizational design should be based on the capabilities of the team, not just abstract process frameworks. 👉Global expansion: A strong B2B focussed expansion strategy to grow into a global mobility major. Chapters: 0:00:00 - Introduction: Ashok Vashist's Journey Building WTI 0:03:43 - The Origin of WTI and the Early Days 0:05:41 - Finding Opportunity in the Ad Hoc Market 0:08:50 - Scaling Up: From Ad Hoc to Process-Oriented 0:17:34 - The DCO Model: Origins, Benefits, and Drawbacks 0:29:28 - The Future of Fleet Aggregation: Beyond DCO 0:35:56 - Expanding into Car Rentals and MSP Services 0:40:39 - The Commonwealth Games: A Defining Moment 0:45:08 - Organizational Structure: People Over Process 0:50:37 - Going Public: The SME Board and Beyond 0:58:45 - Global Expansion: The Dubai Strategy 01:03:51 - Culture, Hunger, and the Importance of Staying Grounded 01:09:16 - Building sales culture, and the power of honesty #IndianStartups #FounderJourney #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #CustomerCentricity #OrganizationalCulture #CompanyCulture…
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1 Tashwinder Singh (Niyogin) on Building India's Next Fintech Giant, Beyond UPI 2:11:05
2:11:05 Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked2:11:05
Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir Geliked"We realized that just lending is not the answer. You need to solve a problem for the small business owner." This quote from Tashwinder Singh encapsulates the core philosophy driving Niyogin's approach. It's not just about providing capital; it's about understanding and addressing the holistic needs of small businesses in India, moving beyond simple transactions to genuine problem-solving. This sets the stage for a discussion about a more nuanced and impactful approach to fintech. About Tashwinder Singh: Tashwinder Singh, CEO of Niyogin, is a financial services veteran with a track record of building and scaling businesses. He spent 18 years at Citibank, culminating in leadership roles before transitioning to the world of private credit at KKR, where he managed ~$1 billion in annual disbursements in India. Now, he's leading Niyogin's ambitious journey to revolutionize lending for small businesses, growing their loan book from ₹100 crores to a targeted ₹800 crores in the near future. His experience spans corporate finance, consumer banking, and the complexities of the Indian credit market. Key Insights from the Conversation: 👉The Power of Partnerships: Niyogin's model heavily relies on strategic partnerships with a wide range of institutions, enabling them to reach a vast network of MSMEs and leverage existing distribution channels. 👉Beyond UPI: While UPI is a success story, Niyogin recognizes its limitations in rural India and focuses on addressing the unique challenges of cash-based economies and integrating cooperative banks. 👉Technology as an Enabler: The acquisition of iServeU and its technology platform (including soundbox technology) is central to Niyogin's strategy, providing both financial inclusion solutions and SaaS revenue streams. 👉Risk Management: Niyogin's approach to partner-originated loans, including risk cover, showcases a focus on sustainable growth and minimizing NPAs. 👉The Importance of Distribution: Niyogin's direct selling agents combined with strategic partnerships with institutions, gives them a wider and deeper reach. Chapter Headings with Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction: Tashwinder Singh's Journey from Citibank to Niyogin 00:03:15 - The IL&FS Crisis and its Impact on Indian Credit 00:07:40 - Joining Niyogin: Identifying the Opportunity in MSME Lending 00:12:25 - Niyogin's Business Model: Lending, Distribution, and Technology 00:18:50 - Building the Loan Book: Targets and Strategies 00:24:30 - iServeU Acquisition: The Technology Backbone 00:31:10 - The Soundbox Strategy and Bank Partnerships 00:38:00 - Addressing the Challenges of Rural India: Beyond UPI 00:44:45 - Risk Management and the Zero NPA Approach 00:51:20 - The Future of Niyogin: Monetization and Growth Plans 00:57:00 - Competition and the Evolving Landscape 01:01:05 Key Learnings and Advice for Entrepreneurs #Fintech #India #MSME #Lending #SmallBusiness #RuralIndia #UPI #FinancialInclusion #Credit #iServeU #Niyogin #TashwinderSingh #Investment #Banking #Technology #SaaS #Soundbox #DigitalPayments #Entrepreneurship #Startup #BusinessPodcast #FinancePodcast #KKR #Citibank #LoanBook #NPA #CooperativeBanks…
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Founder Thesis
1 Nishith Rastogi (Locus) shares the engineer's guide to SaaS scale up 2:02:37
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedFrom a $10,000 first customer to multi-million dollar contracts, hear the incredible growth story of Locus! In this episode of the Founder Thesis podcast, Founder and CEO Nishith Rastogi shares key strategies on how a shift from B2C to B2B helped fuel its success in the on-demand economy. Gain key insights into their go-to-market strategy, AI integration, and the importance of building strong customer relationships. Get actionable insights for your own entrepreneurial journey! Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date. Connect: Nishith Rastogi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishithrastogi/ Akshay Datt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-datt/ Founder Thesis: www.founderthesis.com…
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Founder Thesis
1 Yamini Bhat (Vymo) on Empowering Sales teams 1:12:58
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedYamini Bhat is a rare breed - a female founder of a tech startup, but beyond that her achievements are simply phenomenal - Vymo is a global Saas company doing double digit million in ARR, and has raised $45mn till date. In this episode of the Founder Thesis podcast Yamini Bhat recounts her fascinating transition from McKinsey consultant to the founder of Vymo, a cutting-edge sales automation platform. Learn about the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and the breakthroughs and strategies that helped her scale the company globally. Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date. Connect: Yamini Bhat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamininatti/ Akshay Datt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-datt/ Founder Thesis: www.founderthesis.com…
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Founder Thesis
1 Arvind Parthiban (SuperOps) on The Power of Product Marketing 1:16:02
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIn this episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Arvind Parthiban, CEO & Co-Founder of SuperOps, a $50M SaaS company. Arvind highlights the critical role of product marketing in startup success and emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date. Connect: Arvind Parthiban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvind-parthiban/ Akshay Datt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-datt/ Founder Thesis: www.founderthesis.com…
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Founder Thesis
1 Simplifying global money transfer | Srivatsan Sridhar @ Skydo 2:22:12
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedThe global cross-border payments market is on a remarkable growth trajectory, expected to hit $290 trillion by 2030. Amidst this booming landscape, discover how Srivatsan Sridhar successfully navigated the challenges and founded Skydo, a platform which addresses traditional pain points around high fees, delayed settlements, and compliance hurdles and makes international transactions hassle-free. Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date. Connect: Srivatsan Sridhar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srivats80/ Akshay Datt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-datt/ Founder Thesis: www.founderthesis.com…
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Founder Thesis
1 Divakar Vijayasarathy (DVS Advisory Group) on Scaling Through Value Creation 2:00:10
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIn this episode, Divakar Vijayasarathy shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, from overcoming early struggles to building a global financial powerhouse. Tune in for invaluable lessons on scaling businesses, mastering tax dynamics, and creating lasting value in the professional services sector. Divakar is the Founder of DVS Advisory Group, a tax advisory, business advisory and PE firm that has grown to an annual revenue of $300mn and has 18,000 clients across 40 countries. He is a published author of 17 books related to Tax. Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date. Connect: Divakar Vijayasarathy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divakar-dvs/ Akshay Datt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-datt/ Founder Thesis: www.founderthesis.com…
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Founder Thesis
1 From founding unicorns to funding them | Rajul Garg @ Leo Capital 2:12:58
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIn this episode, we delve into Rajul Garg's inspiring journey from his beginnings as a budding entrepreneur to a successful venture capitalist. Rajul is the founder and managing partner of Leo Capital, a venture fund that invests in early-stage technology companies. A serial entrepreneur turned investor, Rajul co-founded GlobalLogic, a digital engineering services company that was acquired by a Japanese company for $10 billion. He also co-founded Pine Labs, a merchant commerce platform valued at $6 billion, which plans to launch an IPO soon. In addition, he ventured into the edtech space by co-founding Sunstone Eduversity. Akshay Datt, a serial entrepreneur who has run ventures in employability training and hiring, hosts the Founder Thesis podcast. He has interviewed 500+ founders to date.…
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Founder Thesis
1 Building a $100mn ARR SaaS company from India | Anand Jain @ CleverTap 1:49:44
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedAnand Jain lost his father when he was just 12. This experience caused him to step into an entrepreneurial role very early in life and Anand has literally done it all - from selling detergent door-to-door, to repairing and assembling computers to writing software. Despite no academic track record to speak of, Anand ended up getting hired by a tech company in the Silicon Valley in peak dot com era. And while he could have settled for the American dream and made big dollars, he decided to come back to India and chase impact instead. In India, he set up the original restaurant discovery website before Zomato, and if things had worked out differently - that startup would be a peer of Zomato and Swiggy today. But the best is yet to come and Anand is currently the co-founder and product head at Clever Tap - which is a 100-million-dollar Saas company with a strong focus on serving India. This puts CleverTap into a category of its own with hardly any peers. This conversation is proof that adversity leads to the best kind of resilience and Anand’s humility and depth of insights will leave you hungry for more. Stay tuned for this very special episode of the Founder Thesis podcast with your host Akshay Datt.…
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Founder Thesis
1 The last great battle for serving offline ads | Sandeep Bomireddi @ Adonmo 1:36:48
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedIt’s no secret that the business model of the internet is basically advertising. Think about what you spend time doing online - there’s a high chance that 80% of the time you are viewing ads. And you might think that the business of serving ads to consumers is done and dusted, but there are still opportunities for startups to win ad dollars away from the googles and the Metas of the world, and one such startup is Adonmo. Adonmo started life as a company converting cabs into ad spaces by installing screens on them. And this was a smart move if you think about it - the offline advertising market is the last great untapped opportunity, and cabs are the perfect way to run hyperlocal ads that dynamically change based on location and time of day. But life had different plans for this young startup, and they went through multiple near-death experiences before finally emerging as a dominant offline hyperlocal ads platform that has raised more than 40 million dollars from the likes of Zomato and others. Listen to the rollercoaster story of Adonmo’s journey straight from its amazing founder Sandeep Bommireddi in this episode of the Founder Thesis podcast, with your host Akshay Datt.…
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Founder Thesis
1 A deep dive into the business of security | Kapil Bardeja @ Vehant 1:27:08
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Später Spielen Später Spielen Listen Gefällt mir GelikedI can bet that almost all of you who are listening to this episode of the Founder Thesis podcast would have interacted with Vehant’s products. The next time you go into an airport or an office building, take a look at the brand name on the baggage scanner that they are using - there’s a very high chance that you will see Vehant’s logo on it. But Vehant is so much more than a company that makes X Ray baggage scanners, and in this episode of the Founder Thesis podcast, your host Akshay Datt interviews Kapil Bardeja who founded the company pretty much straight out of college. The humble startup that was born in the dorm rooms of IIT Delhi is today helping the government power futuristic smart city projects and bring India at par with the western world in terms of the security infrastructure. Stay tuned for a deep dive into the business of security and safety and subscribe to the Founder Thesis podcast on Youtube or any audio streaming app.…
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