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In 1978, Nand Kishore Chaudhary (NKC) got a job offer from a Government bank and the chance to move from Churu to Jaipur -- something most people could only dream of back in the day.But, he declined that offer. He saw an opportunity in the carpets business which was a 100% export market and was growing steadily. He also saw this as an opportunity to impact lives and connect with people.So, he took a leap of faith. He took a loan of INR 5000 from his father. Bought a bicycle. Two looms. And started working with 9 artisans in Churu.And that's how Jaipur Rugs was born.Fast forward to today, he has created a sprawling empire with their carpets being exported to 60 different countries. They have trained >40,000 artisans and run various social initiatives via Jaipur Rugs Foundation.NKC & Jaipur Rugs are a shining example of how a business can create lasting impact in the lives of people.I learnt a lot while speaking to NKC and we spoke about a range of topics like:(02:03): How NKC started his entrepreneurial journey with INR 5,000(08:14): Inception of JaipurRugs — navigating early challenges of doing biz in the 1980s(14:49): What goes into making an exquisite handcrafted rug? Wool > Yarn > Carpet(20:31): How long does it take to make one carpet?(22:02): Challenges in the rug making biz - machine made carpets + reduction of artisans(25:28): BIG OPPORTUNITY — Evolution of luxury rugs market in India(28:17): Jaipur Rugs Foundation — changing lives of artisans(32:12): BUILDING LEGACY — Integrating children into the family biz(36:33): New initiatives @ JaipurRugs - converting artisans to artists(39:41): RAPID FIRE QsYou can check out their website @ JaipurRugs

The story of Mikiamo begins in Agra, with 3 friends [Aakriti, her husband & Davide] chilling out discussing [drunk] business ideas in the midst of a lot of beer, wine & whisky. While discussing business ideas, their Italian friend [Davide] asked if he could have a shot of Limoncello -- and all of them came to the realisation that there was no proper Limoncello brand in India. Lo & behold, an idea formed in their minds. Why not bring this traditional Italian drink to India? And that's what they're doing with Mikiamo. They're brining the taste and the culture of Italy to the bustling cities of India. I learnt a lot about operating an alcohol brand in India from Aakriti and we spoke about a range of topics like: (02:00): Introduction to Aakriti Kochhar, the founder of Mikiamo Limencello (05:44): Aakriti's take on the India growth story (06:46): Making an entry in the liquor biz + idea for Limencello (11:57): IDEA > REALITY (15:44): What's so special about Italian lemons? (18:15): How is Limoncello different from whisky / wine / beer? (24:39): What's the best way to consume Limoncello? (26:48): Strategy behind choosing Goa to launch the brand (29:26): How do you distribute a liquor product? (34:53): Expansion into other markets (Delhi / Haryana) + understanding the regulatory requirements of setting up a liquor brand (39:08): How is the market shaping up for Limoncello in India? (43:58): Talking about Pocket Dynamite + the importance of Limencello in Italy (49:43): What is the meaning of Mikiamo? (51:08): VISION FOR THE FUTURE (54:11): RAPID FIRE Qs

In this episode, I invited Jigar Mehta - founder of Honey Twigs, a company that is reshaping how we think and consume honey. Honey has a lot of nutrients. Rich in anti-oxidants. Better for blood sugar. Helps in healing. Honey is a segment which has not been disrupted for a VERY long time. The first thought that I get when I think about honey, is that it is a medicine. We're not really motivated to consume it daily. With Honey Twigs - Jigar is on a mission to change that perception. They make aesthetic looking 'twigs' which are mess free, naturally sourced and make consuming honey a lot of fun! I had a lot of fun talking to Jigar on this episode, and it was like a crash course into the business of honey. We spoke about: (01:58) How did Jigar get a taste of entrepreneurship & the idea to enter the world of honey? (06:52) The 0 to 1 journey of HoneyTwigs — creating innovative honey variants  (14:42) Strategy to create mass market flavors for consumers (18:42) Disrupting the way people consumed honey (27:00) THE SHARK TANK EFFECT (32:22) Competition from new players? (34:13) Crystallisation = Pure Honey (39:12) Mythbusters on Honey (46:38) Key takeaways running HT (48:12) RAPID FIRE Qs

In this episode, I invited Krishi Fagwani — founder of Thrive, a company in the food aggregation space. This space is dominated by Zomato + Swiggy, but suffers from a few issues like high restaurant commissions, low customer rewards etc. Thrive wants to solve that. They are a restaurant first platform offering low commissions, rewarding customers for their activity with cashbacks & offering various loyalty programs. It is a platform where restaurants & customers can thrive, together! I had a lot of fun talking to Krishi, and it was like a crash course in the food biz. We spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction  (01:42): What was it about the food industry that appealed to Krishi + how he got started  (07:09): First time entrepreneurs + executing the business plan + navigating through various iterations  (10:45): Competing w/ the BIG FISHES (Zomato & Swiggy)  (18:34): Leveraging existing business partners during COVID for growth  (20:32): Journey through the years + customer traction  (28:47): Building the ultimate platform for foodies - digitalising the word of mouth  (35:36): HYPOTHETICAL Q - would Krishi sell Thrive to Zomato?  (41:46): BLOCKER FOR FUTURE GROWTH?  (45:02): Why Krishi is not getting into QCom?  (47:36): 10Y in the industry - learnings and key takeaways  (51:56): RAPID FIRE Qs!

In this episode, I invited Garvita Mamodiya - founder of Teela, a company which is curating unique experiences with its [aesthetic looking] glamping resorts. With the fast paced work culture that we're heading towards, people are not getting an opportunity to truly connect with nature. To fully detox. To engage in adventurous activities. Enter Glamping. A phenomenon which is emerging in India which is a mixing luxurious accommodation with camping. Teela is providing unique experiences for it's customers allowing them to truly connect with their surroundings offering activities include ATV riding, paintball, private dining, nature walk etc. I had a blast talking to Garvita and learnt a LOT about glamping and the future of hospitality in this episode. We spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00) – Introduction (04:30) – When did Garvita first get a taste for entrepreneurship + talking about her inclination towards the hospitality industry. (07:45) – Transitioning from building a normal resort to launching a Glamping Resort. (09:57) – What is GLAMPING? (14:56) – What are the various adventures you can indulge in @ Teela? (16:29) – SECRETSAUCE: Constant iterations > Learning from customer feedback > curating new experiences (20:18) – Talking about traction, marketing strategies, harnessing the power of Instagram and exploring new geographies. (27:15) – Challenges & learnings from building a hospitality company. (33:07) – Talking about the vibrant team @ Teela (35:18) – What is Garvita building next? What is keeping her excited about the future? (43:10) – RAPID FIRE Qs Check out Teela's website here

In this episode, I invited Shubham Singh – founder of Craste, a company creating value added products like packing materials, panel boards and paper from agricultural residue with the vision to create wealth from waste. India generates more than 500 MILLION tonnes of agricultural residue every year. We are all aware of the incredible amount of pollution caused by stubble burning because farmers don't know what to do with so much waste. Shubham saw this problem as an opportunity. With an abundance of agricultural residue – you could build systems to derive value added products from them. After 5 years of intensive R&D and a lot of patents filed, Craste is absolutely crushing it in this sector. Value added products from agricultural residue, at scale, across various rural areas in India – could transform the country. And we should do whatever we can to support them! I learnt a lot from Shubham in this podcast and we spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (02:15): How did Shubham first get a taste of entrepreneurship + building Gramiksha (06:40): Moving back to academics Imperial College of London – researching about carbon capture. (10:48): Meeting the QUEEN OF ENGLAND. (14:17): Getting into a entrepreneurship fellowship called ‘Waste to Value'. (18:35): The problem of agricultural residue + creating products from this waste. (23:00): THE JOURNEY FROM IDEA > R&D > EXECUTION. (31:57): Making money from waste > entering the commercializing phase. (34:25): THE PROCESS: converting agricultural residue into value added products. (38:37): How is competition in this space? Can Craste compete with plastic packaging companies? (43:00): How do you apply to Government fellowship programs? (46:20): How does the future of Craste look like? (49:00): RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS You can reach out to Shubham at shubham@craste.co to get your hands on the 100+ business ideas that he has! You can learn about government fellowships at Venture Center's website here You can learn about what Craste is building here

In this episode, I invited Bhuman Dani – founder of WickedGud, a company promoting guilt free eating with the mission of un-junking one kitchen at a time. Did you know that the noodles you eat are already deep fried? The pasta that you eat has a lot of refined flour? If you're consuming these packaged foods on a daily basis, it's not healthy – especially if it is being consumed by kids. How do you solve this problem? You eliminate the deep fry process. You eliminate the refined flour. At the same time, try to keep the taste and texture. That's exactly what WickedGud is trying to build. With health icons like Shilpa Shetty representing the brand and with grabbing eye balls on Shark Tank, WickedGud has positioned itself perfectly to conquer the future of food. I had a blast talking to Bhuman and we spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (01:11): How did Bhuman start his entrepreneurial journey? Was it in his blood? (04:48): Is there a secret to crack BCG interviews? (05:55): What tilted Bhuman to exit his first venture and start another venture towards guilt free eating? (12:28): ELEVATOR PITCH (15:57): How were the early days of WickedGud? Why did Bhuman start with Pasta? What were the methodologies adopted to go from idea to launch? (21:46): NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES + using different technologies to drastically reduce saturated fats. (33:08): Talking about traction, distribution strategies, geographies that are working for the brand and customer feedback. (42:29): How was the experience of working with Shilpa Shetty to represent WickedGud? (45:11): THE SHARK TANK EXPERIENCE (49:17): What is the long term vision for WickedGud? Any new product launches in the pipeline? (50:44): RAPID FIRE Qs

In this episode, I invited Bhagyashree Bhansali – founder of The Disposal Company, an organization that is helping brands to achieve plastic + carbon neutrality. Imagine that you're a brand that is using 100KG of plastic in your packaging, production etc. and you want to be able to offset your plastic footprint without setting your own recycling plant. You reach out to the folks at The Disposal Company. They understand your plastic footprint. They coordinate with recyclers to ensure 100KG of similar plastic get recycled. And they sell you the plastic credits. It's a win – win – win. I had an amazing time talking to Bhagyashree & learnt a TON of stuff about plastic / carbon credits and how the waste management industry functions in general. We spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (01:44): A brief dive into the psyche of Bhagyashree and her experiences (05:45): How can a normal Indian citizen get into politics / activism / social service? (10:00): When did Bhagyashree get exposure + building knowledge base about the waste management sector? (17:00): BUILDING A BUSINESS: How did Bhagyashree transition into building a business around waste management (19:56): Can Microplastics cause cancer? (20:55): Getting into the business of plastic credits + starting THE DISPOSAL COMPANY (22:54): Talking about the initial days + building traction (26:10): How is the industry shaping up for the plastic credits market? (29:42): ELEVATOR PITCH FOR THE DISPOSAL COMPANY + Understanding the B-model (37:44): THE SYSTEM: Buying & selling of plastic and carbon credits (42:46): Growth plan for the future (44:18): How are environmental regulations shaping up for plastic / carbon neutrality? (50:47): Collaborating with The Disposal Company (52:23): What can normal Indian citizens do avoid excessive waste and avoid micro-plastics? (58:39): RAPID FIRE Qs If you're a brand owner looking to offset your plastic / carbon footprint – The Disposal Company can help you. You can check out their website or reach out to the founder at bhagyashree@thedisposalcompany.com

In this episode, I invited Preksha Chopra - founder of Welme, a health and wellness company which has created a period pain relief device. Welme, uses TENS technology to reduce period pain in women. It's clinically tested. Has no side effects. It's portable. It's sleek. You can wear it even while you work. Or while you party. No anti-biotics required. I learnt a TON in this episode about period pain and asked a LOT of questions (some stupid ones too :P) and Preksha was kind enough to answer all of them which such calmness. She knows her stuff! We covered a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (01:30): What is Preksha building with Welme and talking about the science behind the tech (04:20): The foundational events that led to the IDEA for Welme (10:51): How does the Product work? (13:08): How challenging was it to convince people to use a tech instrument to treat period pain? How was the initial response to Welme? (17:15): Business in the blood? (18:38): Talking about the MOAT and how Welme can stay one step ahead of the competition (19:50): Why is talking about Periods still considered a Taboo? (22:18): HYPOTHETHICAL Q: What would Preksha do if a big shot Pharma company approached her to buy Welme? (25:35): What are the new products in the pipeline? (27:10): Key learnings while building a business in the wellness space in India (31:38): Talking about manufacturing, customer traction, marketing, product design and distribution (40:52): THE FUTURE OF WELME (42:44): Some FAQs around period pain (50:35): What's the story behind the Logo and the name? (53:00): LUCK VS HARDWORK If you go through severe period pain, why not try out Welme? You can check out their website for exciting new stuff in this space!

I enjoyed the conversation with Sharan so much that we created content equal to two episode. This is the second part where we spoke about the following: (00:13): What does it take to build a company in India? Talking about challenges + key learnings (06:04): How to get your product placed in supermarkets and offline distribution channels? (08:49): How does the FMCG business work? (11:58): BOOTSTRAPPING VS FUNDRAISING (20:07): How do you compete with a player who is funded when you're bootstrapped? (24:15): How is it like having a sibling as a Co-Founder? How do the dynamics play out while running the business? (28:12): Creating a logo to create engagement + capture attention (31:52): Story behind the name ‘Sober & Co' (34:53): Success Factor: LUCK VS HARDWORK

In this episode, I invited Sharan Kripalani - founder of Sober & Co, a ready to drink premium handcrafted lifestyle beverage company. They use exotic ingredients to curate innovative flavors, and looking at their aesthetic bottles will make you want to partyyyy! Staying sober, would be a challenge ;) I had a lot of fun talking to Sharan about how things work in the FMCG beverage market and learnt a ton of stuff in this conversation. We covered a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (04:16): Sober & Co – a brief insight into this exciting beverage brand (08:15): The FMCG beverage market – is it ripe for disruption? (11:21): How did Sharan's entrepreneurial journey start? (14:30): Talking about the initial days @ Sober & Co (17:27): TIMELINE – converting an idea into a product on the shelf (25:26): THE ELEVATOR PITCH FOR SOBER & CO (28:50): Sugar, sugar, sugar – why it is important to create a zero sugar beverage brand (33:31): Talking about customer traction and product adoption (36:31): WHAT'S THE BEST SELLING FLAVOR? (40:12): What is the best performing geographical location in India for their beverages? [I thought it was going to be Delhi!] (44:04): Who is the typical customer and which distribution channel is working really well? (47:01): THE PIPELINE – new flavor launches and exploring new geographies What are you waiting for? Order your first bottle from Sober & Co's website. You can also find them on Amazon or Bigbasket.

In this episode, I invited Harshit Puram - founder of Oknomodhomes, a company in the business of making portable sustainable homes and delivering it across India in just 90 DAYS! Real estate construction takes a lot of time [and money]. You need to reach out to the builders, plumbers, electricians, designers & a whole lot of other people. It's like a side job. Oknomodhomes takes care of this entire process and makes it extremely hassle free. Plus, they build houses from sustainable building materials. Their houses are more durable. Have a positive carbon footprint. Look more aesthetic. Cost you similar to what it would cost you to make a normal concrete house. The houses are portable. And the entire house is built and assembled at lightning speed. This is how the future of construction looks like! I had a blast talking to Harshit about the various things they're doing with Oknomodhomes and we spoke about a range of topics like: (00:00): Introduction (02:25): A brief glimpse into Oknomodhomes   (04:00): How are they building & shipping homes in 90 DAYS?! (06:28): Life before Oknomodhomes: what set the foundational idea for Harshit & Parikshit to start a company in the real estate biz? (11:39): TIMELINE: Idea generation – First Prototype – Go Live (15:07): BRASS TACKS: Talking about traction, target audience, pricing comparisons & growth of the business (22:29): WHY ARE WE STILL BUILDING HOUSES WITH CEMENT? (26:39): MOAT: What makes houses built by Okno more superior compared to normal houses? (36:44): COMPETITION: Are there any new players in the sustainable portable real estate market? (40:32): How does the whole process of buying a house from Okno look like for a consumer? (42:45): How BIG is this market opportunity? (50:24): What is the story behind the name? Check out what Harshit & Parikshit are building with Oknomodhomes and take a look at their aesthetically built homes

In this episode, I invited Anish Malpani - Founder of Ashaya, a non profit organization that functions with a simple vision : 'To recycle the worst kind of plastic waste while empowering waste pickers'. Multi-layered plastics (also known as MLP) is one of the hardest plastics to recycle. It continues to overburden our landfills. Destroys marine life when discarded in the oceans. Recycling MLP is tough, so much so that no one wants to invest their time & money to do it. Anish - saw that as an opportunity. An opportunity to solve a really difficult problem. Ashaya set up a lab in Pune and through a LOT (really a lot!) of research and continuous testing + iterations, they've developed the technology to recycle MLP. I had an amazing time talking to Anish about his journey & about the impact Ashaya is creating, all the while going through an introspection myself. We spoke about a range of topics on this episode like: (00:00): Making sunglasses from a packet of chips – LIKE WHAAAT? (02:21): Why are other people NOT recycling multi-layered plastics (MLP)? What's the hold up? (04:28): Why would you pay a premium to buy MLP when you can get it for free? Anish convinces the Finance geek within me as to why! (08:56): MAJOR TURNAROUND: Transition from a guy climbing the corporate ladder a guy focused on creating maximum impact. (23:47): Zeroing in on the niche to get into in the impact space. (35:20): When did the action begin? How do you FUNDAMENTALLY increase the value of waste? (44:56): BUILDING THE TECH: To recycle something that is impossible to recycle. (51:10): Other value-added products in the pipeline from recycled MLP. (53:56): Did Anish ever feel like calling it quits & throwing in the towel? (59:00): WASTE PICKERS: Lives that Ashaya is touching [and substantially changing] (1:11:53): Is the GoI providing any subsidies for developments in the waste management space? (1:15:38): EXPANSION PLANS: How does the long-term game look like for Ashaya? (1:20:02): The story behind the name & introducing a D2C brand called ‘Without' Have you tried their sunglasses that are made out from a packet of chips? If not - grab them here

In this episode, I invited Vivek Gulati - CoFounder of GRIP, a company which is on a mission to open up the alternative asset class to the retail investor. When you think about investment opportunities for retail investors - you think Stocks, Bonds, Gold, ETFs & Mutual Funds, PPF and so on. However, the risk appetite of the retail investor is increasing. They want access to more opportunities. Broader asset classes. And that's where GRIP comes in. GRIP wants to bring opportunities that were previously reserved for HNIs, FIIs & Private institutions to the retail public. Opportunities to invest in assets like Asset Leasing, Inventory Financing, Commercial Real Estate & Startup Equity. We spoke about a range of topics on this episode like: (02:38): Talking about Vivek Gulati & his experiences before starting GRIP (10:50): The Blueprint of GRIP – how the ball started to roll and how the concrete idea to venture into alternative assets was planted (16:54): ELEVATOR PITCH FOR GRIP (20:15): The Idea - opening up the asset class to retail investors (21:40): How can you invest in Alternative Assets through GRIP? What are the different product offerings listed currently? (33:25): Is the competition heating up in the alternative assets market? And what is GRIP doing to stay ahead of the curve (38:11): How does GRIP enter into partnerships with different companies and bring those opportunities on the platform? (45:30): What are the challenges that GRIP faces to grow the biz (49:48): Industry regulations: how is the attitude of regulators towards new financial products? (54:58): What is the story behind the name GRIP – was it supposed to be a tyre company initially :P  (58:32): The dynamic between the co-founders & how they [smoothly] deal with conflict Start your journey into alternative assets today with GRIP

In this episode, I invited Abhijeet Anand - Founder of abCoffee, a brand which is on a mission to bring specialty coffee to every Indian at affordable rates. Specialty premium coffee is not yet mainstream in India. The Indian middle class doesn't consume freshly brewed coffee on a daily basis. The prime reason? It is extremely costly. Abhijeet understood that, when he went on a trail across India to taste coffee brewed in different parts of the country. And that's how the idea of abCoffee was born. With abCoffee, Abhijeet wants to democratize specialty coffee. He wants to brew premium coffee that caters to the Indian palate. abCoffee is unique in the sense that it's not a café or a restaurant but a 'deck' where you can come in, grab your coffee, meet new people & be on your way. As for Abhijeet, I think he is the perfect representation of the brand. Young. Energetic. Passionate. Agile. Talking to him was an absolute pleasure & after recording this episode I had the chance to meet him in person & I got my hands on their Classic Cold Coffee, which was absolutely amazing! We spoke about a range of topics on this episode like: (02:53) – The mysterious man & his journey: Abhijeet Anand (04:44) – What were the events that led Abhijeet to start his own venture? (07:49) – Planning 15 years into the future & working backwards – what is AA's modus operandi? (11:50) – When were the seeds to start a specialty coffee chain sown in AA's mind? (22:28) – A trail across the heart of India to validate the idea for abCoffee (28:45) – Harnessing technology to engineer a cup of coffee + introducing a culture of ‘Grab & Go' (36:48) – What is a Coffee deck? (41:25) – Execution, Execution, Execution (46:13) – What are the BLOCKERS to Growth? (49:17) – Coffee myths & fun facts (55:29) – abCoffee: The story behind the name If you're based out in Mumbai I would really recommend checking out their Coffee decks @ Versova & Powai!

In this episode, I invited Jatan Bawa - Founder of Perfora, a company which is infusing tech into oral care. Perfora has a range of products starting from an electric toothbrush, a smart water flosser, an extremely effective toothpaste and lots more! Perfora wants to change the way people brush & look after their oral hygiene. Oral care is a segment which is ripe for disruption & Perfora has positioned itself very well to reap the benefits of a transformation in the industry. I really loved the session, the honesty with which Jatan answered each & every question I threw at him. Jatan has a rich experience working with startups & his story is REALLY inspiring. Jatan's vision with Perfora is solid & if I had to place a bet, I would put my money on the team that's working at Perfora. Here's a snapshot of the things we covered in this episode: (01:55): Who is Jatan Bawa? Talking about his journey from a small town, to studying in Delhi University which helped him to develop street smartness > joining the audit division of a BIG 4 > the urge to build a business > working for an early stage startup > becoming a founding team member of a startup in the consumer packaged good space > thinking about starting his own side project. (16:27): What was the thought process behind starting Perfora? How did Jatan narrow down on the Oral care market? Talking about what it takes to build a good consumer brand. (25:15): The phase of fishing out for opportunities before Jatan struck onto Perfora. (29:04): Talking about the activities & timelines leading upto the launch of the Company. (31:30): THE ELEVATOR PITCH (33:32): Electric Toothbrush Vs Normal Toothbrush – why you should go the electric way and talking about other oral care products that Perfora is building. [Jatan also teaches us how to brush our teeth in this segment!] (43:19): In the pursuit of disrupting a traditional business, what are some challenges that Jatan faced while scaling the Company. (45:14): Talking about the traction, the best-selling product & the target audience. (48:22): B2B vs B2C: what works best for Perfora? (52:07): How does Perfora deal with competition & ensures that it stays ahead of the curve? (55:57): What's next for Perfora? (59:46): What's in a name? Talking about the story & the meaning behind 'Perfora' Want to take control of your oral hygiene? Check out what Perfora has to offer here

In this episode, I invited Ayushi Chamaria - CEO & Founder of Sippin', a company which makes cocktail (and mocktail) mixes. It's an extremely new concept in India, but if you're looking to experiment with your drink and want to add some classy flavors to it - Sippin' has you covered. The industry for cocktail mixes, although niche - is growing rapidly presenting opportunities to existing players. One of the things that stood out to me while talking to Ayushi, was the sheer passion in her voice (it's contagious!), her knowledge of the industry and how she has REALLY focused on creating an amazing product for her consumers. Here's a snapshot of the things we covered in this episode: (00:00) Introduction & a mini plugin for cocktail mixes (03:24) Who is Ayushi Chamaria? What was she doing before she ventured into the world of cocktail mixes? (05:17) How Ayushi stumbled upon the idea to create cocktail mixes and gave the power to everyone to be their own bartenders (08:15) The initial days at Sippin' and the challenges Ayushi faced in creating a Company in an extremely new & niche industry (12:52) THE ELEVATOR PITCH OF SIPPIN' (15:08) Cocktail mixes have calories? (16:49) The Sippin' experimentation lab & how Ayushi tested and created new [extremely unique] flavors which forms the core of Sippin's business (22:08) The anatomy of a cocktail mix – how to use them? (25:11) Talking about the traction that Sippin' has generated since it's official launch and which distribution channel (B2B/B2C) is turning up the heat (32:07) Apart from being used in an alcoholic beverage, what are some other ways in which the mixers can be used? (34:09) Are there a lot of new entrants in this space? How is competition shaping up for Sippin'? (36:48) Liquid mixers Vs Powdered mixers (37:59) Ayushi's key takeaways running her own biz (43:08) What's next for Sippin'? You can buy your first cocktail mix at Sippin' here

In this episode, I invited Deep Harlalka - CEO & Founder of VeClan, a company which makes vegan spreads & dips. Veganism isn't a new concept. It's been followed in the western countries for a while & is slowly making its way to the heart of India. But there is a long way to go before it gets mainstream, because it has to compete with a behemoth that is the DAIRY INDUSTRY. Deep Harlalka, is a passionate individual to say the least. And he wants to dip his feet into all things vegan. We spoke about a range of topics on this episode like: (00:00): Introduction (03:33): Who is Deep Harlalka? How did he get pulled into the world of veganism? (08:11): What were the events that led to the birth of VeClan? (11:25): The product launch phase – after getting the initial validation from family & friends (17:48): How was the product received by the Indian consumers and talking about the distribution strategies to make the product available across India [however, we took a completely different tangent here] (19:50): The experimentation process and how Deep came up with recipes to add an Indian tadka in his vegan dips (21:34): VeClan's distribution strategy (24:39): THE BIG Q – how is VeClan competing on the pricing front and why are vegan products so expensive? (28:44): THE CLICHÉ Q – Vegan vs Vegetarian, what's the difference? (31:33): Why Deep *strongly* believes that the entire DAIRY INDUSTRY is a scam (37:41): Talking about the blockers for growth at this point in time (40:19): Deep's key takeaways running his own biz (42:32): VeClan's 5Y Business plan You can check out VeClan's various product offerings here

In this episode, I invited Vivek Bajaj - Founder & CEO of StockEdge and Elearnmarkets, two platforms that are empowering retail investors in India. If you look at the statistics, a lot of retail investors LOSE money in the stock markets. They get their fingers burnt, and they never look back at the stock markets as a medium to generate wealth. Vivek Bajaj & his team are changing the game for these investors. We spoke about a range of topics in this episode like: (00:00) Introduction (04:57) Talking about Vivek's journey, how a seed of experimenting with life was implanted in his mind at a very early age, how he continues to challenge his limits & what he thinks is the greatest skill a person can have [and why professional courses might be a scam!] (12:15) The impact that IIM Indore had on Vivek's personality & mindset and what makes the IITs/IIMs of the world, breeding grounds of great minds (17:10) Talking about how Vivek executed the business plans he had created while he was at IIM & why he joined the commodity segment in JM Financial after completing his MBA (19:08) Why Vivek started his own commodity trading business & talking about some of the unique experiences he had (20:40) What pulled Vivek towards the stock markets? [Marwadi genetics?] (22:45) What happened after Vivek made his first BIG trade in the commodity markets & how things started to scale from that moment (24:20) Why Vivek started to pivot from the commodity/currency trading business & how Michael Bloomberg inspired him to create a platform for retail investors (27:52) The idea behind StockEdge & Elearnmarkets? How Vivek & his team plan to capture the entire investing & trading ecosystem (34:40) Talking about the pricing plans and the value addition – how retail investors can benefit from access to these platforms (39:00) The vision behind the ecosystem – to develop people to become independent, not to retain them endlessly (40:00) Talking about some of the common mistakes that retail investors make in the stock market (43:36) Who inspires Vivek? [I really like the answer to this one!] (46:16) What is the next challenge that he is taking on? (47:15) Metaverse: good or bad for humanity? [Vivek suggested the war between Ukraine Russia could've been done on the Metaverse :P] (51:00) Vivek's key learnings from his journey so far Want to become a smarter investor? Check out some of the content at Elearnmarkets & discover exciting investment opportunities at StockEdge!

In this episode, I invited Karan Mehra - Founder & CEO of Tyke Invest, a company that has created a platform which enables people to invest in startups with as little as INR 5000. Up until now, retail investors had to watch VCs corner the BIG gains from increase in startup valuations, but now the game is open for everyone. Through Tyke, everyone can get in on the act & own a piece of the pie. I had a really fun session & learned a lot conversing with Karan. We spoke about a range of topics in this episode like: (00:00): Introduction (4:37): Exploring Karan's background & understanding how he dipped his feet into the world of entrepreneurship (6:00): What's the Elevator Pitch for Tyke Invest & what are the pain points that the company seeks to address (09:51): What were some of the biggest BLOCKERS that Karan faced while building Tyke (11:19): Tyke's competitive advantage & why this space hasn't been explored by other players yet (12:21): The process of investing in a startup through Tyke from A to Z (16:00): Possibility to execute this model on a global level? Can Tyke tap into international investors? (17:00): How was Tyke able to reduce the investment amount to as low as INR 5000? (18:05): Talking about User growth and traction since Tyke's beta launch & what are the different segments that they're targeting in B2B segment (23:28): What's the market size & how BIG of an opportunity is Tyke tapping into? (25:12): Is competition heating up in this space & how is Karan planning to stay ahead of the curve? (27:12): Talking about Tyke's revenue model (I really liked it!) and what potential revenue streams can they leverage in the future (30:24): Karan's key takeaways of running his own business & what are some of his learnings (33:10): The story behind the name ‘Tyke'? Do you want to be the owner of a startup? Make your first investment through Tyke!

In this episode, I invited Kuonal & Aayushi - founders of 23BMI & Upnourish, two brands which are perfectly positioned to tap into the growing meal replacement market in India. We spoke about a range of topics in this episode like: (00:00): A brief into Kuonal & Aayushi's respective backgrounds and how the idea of starting a meal replacement company popped in their minds (08:55): Talking about the R&D process, building new products and execution of the idea into action (13:15): How long it took to turn the idea into a marketable product? And what it felt like to see an idea manifest into reality. (15:20): *CLICHE Q* How are meal replacements different from protein powders? (20:00): The meal replacement market opportunity - how big is the market? Who are the other players in this segment? (27:56): Talking about the Product SKUs (28:15): The thought process behind setting up two separate brands [23BMI & Upnourish] (31:40): Decoding the founder journey - talking about the challenges & key learnings along the way (35:50): *THE BIG Q* How long does it take for an overweight person to start seeing changes in their body after taking Upnourish's meal replacements? [Hint: you're gonna love the answer!] (36:57): What are the immediate changes that happen inside your body & how long before someone reaches 23BMI [science-y stuff] (39:50): Talking about pricing points & the traction generated (42:15): What's it like being business partners AND partners in life! (45:55): Some customers can be a biaatch :P (48:05): What's in the pipeline for Upnourish and 23 BMI? Ready to try out meal replacements? Check out 23BMI & Upnourish!

In this episode, I invited Karan Kalra who is a visual engineer & has a decade long experience in creating illustrations, motion graphics & animations. We spoke about a range of topics in this episode like: 1. Karan's journey exploring various creative crafts 2. How he got into NFTs 3. What exactly is an NFT & how it's different from other Cryptos 4. How NFTs work - what are some technical aspects to keep in mind while minting/selling NFTs 5. Platforms where you can trade NFTs 6. How NFTs could liberate artists 7. Other potential use cases & Karan's take on the future on this tech 8. What's next for Karan Kalra You can find more about Karan on his Instagram page here. Also, do check out his NFT collection here

In this episode, I invited Vaibhav & Sayantani - cofounders of What's up Wellness, a company in the health & wellness space. Their first product is a [delicious] gummy which is packed with nutrients which targets the skincare/haircare/nailcare segment. We spoke about a range of topics in this episode like: How working for various D2C startups helped Vaibhav & Sayantani in creating their own company The idea behind entering the nutraceuticals market & the filtering process they used to choose gummies as their medium of distribution of the required nutrients The R&D process - trying out flavors that would work, choosing the right mix of nutrients, sampling the product & using feedback to make changes. The key ingredients used inside the product & what makes it unique Questions that Vaibhav & Sayantani get from their customers & how setting the right expectation at every touch point is vital Key learnings from running their own venture WuW's long term strategy & the thought process behind the name [which, is quite funky!] If you're spending tons of money on skincare/haircare products & are looking for alternative solutions that work - why not give these incredible gummies a shot? Check out their website here - whatsupwellness.in

In this episode, I invited Jayanti & Shalini - two sisters who have created India Hemp & Co, a company which sells various products made from Hemp - like protein powder, hemp oils etc. We talked about a range of topics in this episode like: 1. The central idea behind building a company in the Hemp space 2. Challenges faced during the initial days (insert - the pandemic) & how they turned crisis into opportunity. Also spoke about the GTM strategy and the target market of the company. 3. How being incubated with IIM-Bangalore have helped in the brand building process 4. The product offerings, the manufacturing & sourcing process and the regulatory landscape around Hemp in India & abroad 5. IH&C's NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH - GOOD DOGGO TREATS. We discussed the R&D process, how they came up with the idea to create something in the pet space. IH&C is the only company to launch a hemp treat for pets! 6. Talked about the potential of Hemp, how it could disrupt various sectors & why it is the next BIG thing. 7. Jayanti & Shalini's words of wisdom for anyone entering the Hemp or the F&B space 8. IH&C's long term vision and how they plan to capture opportunities in this space And, understanding the experience of working with a sister who is also the co-founder. [Well, their secret is that they never fight! :p] If you're someone interesting in the hemp space or want to learn how to build a sustainable/creative brand - this episode is just for you. Find more about IH&C here - https://www.indiahempandco.com/

In this episode, I hosted Shailesh Ganeriwala & Animesh Thakur - cofounders of OGHemp, a company which is making paper & packaging materials from Hemp. We dived into their respective journeys, how they got in the Hemp space & why they specifically targeted the paper industry. Shailesh explained the benefits of making paper from Hemp & why it is a no brainer to do so! Animesh covered the process they follow to make paper from Hemp & also spoke about the challenges in the initial days in manufacturing Hemp paper. We discussed OGHemp's target market, distribution channels & what sets them apart from other players in the market. I was also curious about why Hemp has not exploded [yet] in India & Animesh had a very interesting answer to it. We spoke about the company's long term vision & what exactly does 'OG' stand for in OGHemp! Check out their website here - https://www.oghemp.in/

In this episode, I invited Guneesh Sahny - founder of Kensho, a company exploring the world of Nootropics or 'Cognitive Enhancers' This was a really interesting episode, and Guneesh explained how he came up with the idea to start Kensho, explained what exactly does a 'Nootropic' mean. He also touched upon the benefits of each ingredient that goes into their product 'Elevate' & how Nootropics help people deal with stress & unproductivity. Guneesh explained how educating people about the product is a major challenge for them, since supplements & brain enhancers are still Taboo. Talking about their 5 year vision, Kensho wants to get into therapy, introduce biohacks & also get into exciting ventures like Cryotherapy and sensory deprivation tanks. You can find more about Kensho here - feelkensho.com

In this episode, I invited Ajinkya Dhariya - owner of Pad Care Labs, a company providing end to end solutions in the Menstrual Hygiene segment. We spoke about how Ajinkya embarked on this journey, how during his engineering days he came across the problem in the Menstrual hygiene space & started Pad Care Labs. Ajinkya also explained the difficulties & the challenges he faced while building the company & what are the things to keep in mind while scaling a product based company. You can find more about Padcare Labs on their website - https://padcarelabs.com/ OR check out their Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/padcare/?hl=en

In the final part on our series on Textiles, we spoke about Alok Industries & Trident.  Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, we covered two textile stocks - Raymond & Page Industries.  Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, we spoke about the characteristics of the Textiles business, the ecosystem i.e. the process right from spinning the yarn to stitching/designing the fabric. We also covered the subject of why companies like to get listed on the stock exchanges. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In the previous episode, we demystified certain terms associated with Cryptocurrencies & spoke about how Coinbase’s IPO could be a massive moment in the history of Cryptos. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/cardano-ripple-and-other-lesser-known Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Silawath Irshad - host of 'The Growth Mindset Podcast', to talk about some trade secrets in the podcasting world. We spoke about Silawath's journey, how he got into podcasting & how he was able to grow and attract such great minds on the podcast. Silawath broke down the process of how he approaches people and the level of research that goes behind the scenes. We also dissected the future of podcasting in India and how it's at a tipping point at the moment. If you're getting into content creation or podcasting, this episode is for you. Follow 'The Growth Mindset Podcast' here - https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZYKAhvHgcM0xaSB65hoec

In this episode, I invited Mehul Patel - owner of PaanCasa, which is the world's most innovative Paan place & they have the ambition to become a globally renowned brand in the next few years. Mehul walked me through his journey, how his Nanima sparked his interest into Paan when he was a kid and how he turned his hobby into a serious business. We also talked about the challenges of running a tobacco & nicotine free Paan cafe & how he turned this challenge into an opportunity. Mehul explained the creative process they follow inside PaanCasa before launching a new product or a new flavor & offered a lot of insights into setting up & creating a Food & Beverages business. You can find more about PaanCasa here - https://www.paancasa.com

Unless you’ve been living under a cave, you’ve probably heard of Cryptocurrencies. The original idea behind it, was to be a digital form of money which was not controlled by any central authority. But, something entirely different transpired. People started ‘investing’ in Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum & most recently Dogecoin - with the sole purpose of getting rich quick. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/demystifying-cryptocurrencies-and Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Hansika Chhabria - owner of OneLess, a sustainable clothing company. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world after the Oil industry. To build some context, it takes around 20,000 Liters of water to make just 1kg of cotton! Imagine that, in a country like India where there's massive water shortages. And, to address this problem statement - Hansika started OneLess. We spoke about how Hansika got into sustainable clothing & what motivated her to become an entrepreneur. We discussed about the pain points that OneLess is targeting and the processes they have in place which truly makes OneLess a sustainable clothing brand. The journey wasn't an easy one by any means. Hansika faced a lot of setbacks early on - because they were experimenting with materials which were never used before to make clothes [Hint: Bamboo]. The learning curve was a steep one. Hansika explained how OneLess differentiates itself from Competition and why research is extremely important for anyone looking to enter in this field. We also deep dived into the long term vision of the Company and I couldn't end the conversation without asking her how she came up with the name 'OneLess'. It was a fun packed conversation & I personally cannot wait for their Bamboo products to hit the market! If you want to find out more about OneLess, check out their website - https://oneless.co.in/

The Government of India recently notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 - and it’s going to have major implications on the Media & Entertainment industry going forward. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/the-new-it-rules-boon-or-bane Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode I invited Raina De, the creative force behind 'Cheethi' - a digital time capsule that let's you communicate with your future self [or with a loved one]. We spoke about a range of topics - starting with how Raina came up with the name [It's really catchy isn't it?]. Raina explained how she used to write physical letters for her future self & how the pandemic and the loss of a close friend prompted her to create a digital time capsule. We explored how Cheethi works, the security systems in place to protect the data & what's the biggest blocker for Cheethi's growth. We also bounced around the idea of writing a digital letter, which could be physically delivered in the future! Get started on your first digital time capsule here - https://www.cheethi.com/

Nazara Technologies - a diversified gaming company, is going to debut on the Indian exchanges very soon. On the final day, the issue was oversubscribed by 175 times - not surprising, since the Company is backed by Rakesh ‘Big Bull’ Jhunjhunwala. The issue is a complete ‘Offer for Sale’ with IIFL & the promoters offloading INR 582 crore worth of shares. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/ipo-8-nazara-technologies Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

Easy Trip Planners - an Online Travel Agent (OTA) which makes most of it's money from airline ticket sales - is coming out with an IPO. On the final day, the issue was oversubscribed by around 159 times. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/ipo-7-easy-trip-planners Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

The IPO frenzy doesn't seem to be slowing down, with 3 IPOs already hitting the markets in the past week. A dozen more IPOs are in the beeline to get listed on the markets in the next two months. MTAR Technologies is a precision engineering company which was incorporated in 1999. At the time of recording, the issue was oversubscribed by around 10 times & has attracted a lot of pre-IPO interest from anchor & institutional investors. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/ipo-6-mtar-technologies Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, we invited Eklavya Rishi - owner of Botany Bar, a company which makes cosmeceuticals - products which provide skin treatment. I have not really tried a lot of skin care products in my life (used a face wash once or twice :P), but I have seen the people around me use it and one thing that stands out - is the cost. Skin care, is quite expensive - especially if it's branded. Plus, you don't really know if what you're using is sourced from natural ingredients. Rishi explained how the idea for Botany Bar came to him, when he saw his friends being ignorant about skin care - shelling out a lot of money on skin care products, on ayurvedic brands, or engaging in home remedies. He wanted to change that. And Botany Bar was floated. We discussed about the challenges Rishi faced while starting the Company, it's current product offerings. Rishi emphasized how important it was for him to source only the purest of raw materials. We also touched base on how Rishi differentiates himself from other skin care companies out there and how his bio-chemistry background helps him to maintain a competitive edge, how he creates brand awareness for the Company, and how he has priced the products to strike the perfect balance of premium and cost efficiency. (a Botany bar skin oil costs only INR 400!) Rishi's vision for Botany Bar is to occupy & become a necessity product for each Indian household going forward. They also plan to launch a range of other skin care products which were stuck in the pipeline due to COVID-19. Finally, we asked him a question he gets asked the most - 'What's the story behind the name?!' You can check out their products here - https://www.amazon.in/s?i=merchant-items&me=A3W17ZOOOLTZ6V

Tesla. Bitcoin. Dogecoin. Cryptocurrency. These might be the internet's most searched words in the past month. Why wouldn't it be? The price of Bitcoin has shot up by > 1000% since March 2020. Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency which was created out of a meme - has risen by almost 1400% in the past month or so. Greed, has really overtaken the markets - with people wanting to make easy quick money. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/the-cryptocurrency-bubble Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, we talk about key highlights of the Union Budget 2021. It's a topic which has been covered quite a lot in the past week, and we just want to give it an analytical angle for the 'Aam Aadmi'. The markets were on fire during the Budget week. Sensex was up by more than 4% in a single day and was up by 8% for the week - on the back of a positive budget with no new taxes being introduced. COVID Cess & Capital gains taxes were on the cards, but the Finance Minister announce any such measured pushing the markets into the stratosphere. Read more on https://thebazaar.substack.com/p/the-union-budget-2021 Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Puneet & Jatin - co-founders of CureSee, a company which has created a vision therapy software to treat an eye condition known as 'Amblyopia' or better known as Lazy eye. Around 3-5% of the global population suffer from this condition and most of them are not even diagnosed. The situation in India is worse, because not only the patients, but the doctors are also not aware about the treatments of Amblyopia. That's where CureSee steps in. They have created a large scale awareness among doctors through countless seminars and workshops. Puneet was doing his internship in an eye care hospital, when he saw a patient suffering with lazy eye go untreated. That disappointed him and he wanted to do something about it. And that's how CureSee was born. We spoke about the initial days of the Company, how Jatin iterated and created the vision therapy software. We spoke at lengths about how lazy eye is different from other eye conditions like squint. (I had a lot of doubts) Puneet explained how the software works (it's actually a series of eye exercises!), the revenue model of the Company and how they were able to substantially reduce the price of treatment. You can find more about CureSee on their website - https://curesee.com/

January has seen a flurry of IPOs, starting with IRFC, bouncing to Indigo Paints and Home First Finance and now, StoveKraft. And, there might be a few more in the pipeline. StoveKraft's issue size is INR 413 crore out of which INR 95 crore is a fresh issue which will be used to prepay debt on the books. The rest is Offer for Sale - the major beneficiary of which is Sequoia Capital - the investor getting a sweet exit. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

The IPO frenzy is here to stay with IRFCL becoming the first company to come out with it's IPO in 2021. We touched upon the history and the business model of the company. We spoke about the growth of the Industry (i.e. Indian Railways) and how IRFCL is in a pole position to benefit from it's growth. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Rushabh Shah and we spoke about the recent vaccines that got emergency approval in India. We also spoke about how the supply chain would work for the purpose of distributing vaccines, and highlighted key challenges that the GoI will face in the timely administration of the vaccine. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Rishi Nanda - a corporate trainer who specializes in Indian Epics. We took a journey down the rabbit hole which lead us to the reason why Rishi quit his job, the struggle and the pain he endured to find out what he wanted to do, how he picked up on Indian Epics and how he got his first break into Corporate training. Rishi, revealed his secret of how he became such a good storyteller & how taking feedback from your wife can change the game completely. Check out Rishi's website here- www.RishiNanda.co.in, and his book here -https://www.amazon.in/dp/1646786998/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_gJ27Fb5W9GHM5.

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'Hemp' or 'Bhaang'?. For most it's a glass of Thandai during Holi. What if I told you, that apart from getting you high - Hemp has the potential to disrupt 8-10 different industries? I invited Aman (Host of TexWired), and we decoded what the difference is between Hemp & Marijuana. We discussed the different use cases of Hemp and the industries we feel it will disrupt in the foreseeable future. We also touched upon some recent M&A action in the space. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com

In this episode, I invited Sankalp and Shreyash - cofounders of ValuEarth, a company which makes plastic alternatives using natural materials. We spoke about how they came up with the idea to start ValuEarth & the product pipeline that they currently have. Sankalp elaborated on the challenges of growing the Company and why plastic is so sticky. We also spoke about the growth in the plastic alternatives market and how they plan to diversify and enter new business verticals in the future. You can find out more about ValuEarth here - https://www.instagram.com/valuearth/?hl=en. And, check out their store here - https://www.valuearth.com/shop/

Mrs. Bectors - a regional biscuit and bakery company is coming out with an IPO. We touch upon briefly on the history of the Company, and then we analyzed the Company on several parameters. We discussed the Company's competitive advantage, the growth in the Indian biscuit and bakery market. We evaluate how it fares against the Industry big shots (Britannia, Parle & ITC) and take a look at the numbers. Get on the email list at thebazaar.substack.com