The Indian Startup Show

In this episode, I sit down with Saurabh Nigam—HR leader, angel investor, and author of People-Powered Startups: Building a Culture of Collaboration, Innovation, and High Performance. With over two decades of experience, Saurabh shares actionable insights on building a thriving startup culture, avoiding common HR mistakes, and hiring the right people at the right time. We dive into: Why startups struggle with HR—and how to fix it. The role of AI in recruitment. How to retain top talent and manage toxic high performers. Managing mental wellness in a high-growth startup environment. The three non-negotiables in any startup culture. Red flags that indicate a new hire isn't working out. The best time to hire your first HR professional and much more.In this conversation we talk about:How Saurabh became a LinkedIn Top Voice and his strategy for successTop HR Skills: Why empathy and resilience are key traits for successRemote Work: Myths and best practices for building a distributed teamGiving Tough Feedback: How to deliver criticism without demotivating employeesAngel Investing in HR Tech: What Saurabh looks for in a startupLinks https://www.amazon.in/dp/0143473743 Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Showcasing emerging artists—today, my guest is Leia Tyebjee, co-founder of Pylot Studios, an interdisciplinary creative platform dedicated to artistic design, curation, and community engagement. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of creating spaces for artists, breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, and how Pylot Studios is redefining art curation. Leia also shares her thoughts on AI in art, mistakes emerging artists make, the importance of community, and why she still chooses to work with film photography in the digital age. And finally, we talk bananas, interesting first impressions of New York, travel photography tips, and much more!In this episode we talk about:The Birth of Pylot Studios – From a coffee-fueled idea in 2019 to a thriving creative platformThe Problem They're Solving – Helping artists find space and opportunities to showcase their workThe Hardest Part of Curation – Reaching out, building trust, and bringing themes to lifeLeia's Background – From Mumbai to New York, studying photography, and her artistic influencesWhy She Still Shoots on Film – The tactile, immersive experience of analog photographyPhotography Trips & Creative Rituals – Habits that fuel her artistic processMistakes Emerging Artists Make – And how to navigate the art world more effectivelyArt & Technology – Thoughts on AI's impact on creativityBreaking Barriers – Navigating a male-dominated industry and standing up for yourselfThe $6.2M Banana?! – The wild side of the contemporary art worldBuilding Community – How to start from scratch, make connections, and find your creative tribeand much more LinksPylot Studios WebsitePylot Studios Instagram - @pylotstudios Leia Tyebjee Instagram - @leiatyebjee Yitzhak Franco Instagram - @__ytzk__  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Indie Hacker Special! I speak to Piyush Patel, the founder of AmplifyX Labs and a prominent voice in the micro-SaaS and indie hacking space. From bootstrapping projects to building in public and exploring AI-powered tools, Piyush shares invaluable insights into his personal journey, product development strategies, getting your first customers and the future of micro-SaaS. This episode is packed with actionable advice for aspiring indie hackers, developers, and entrepreneurs who want to build and scale meaningful projects without funding. He also shares how numerology and astrology influence both his personal and business decisions, and reveals the surprising story of how he used Bumble to gain new customers!in this conversation we talk:Why most people don't know what indie hacking is, and how the small but vibrant community in India is shaping the space.Piyush's step-by-step ideation process for identifying and validating product ideas.Building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and finding your first customers without breaking the bank.Common mistakes to avoid when developing and scaling a micro-SaaS product.The key strategies Piyush uses to scale his projects while staying bootstrapped.Why he prioritizes “selling before building” and “distribution before product” as the foundation for success.Navigating tough calls, feature prioritization, and knowing when to pivot or shut down a project.His thoughts on the rise of "AI for X" products and how indie developers can leverage AI to innovate.Opportunities and threats AI presents for the indie hacking community.Learning from failure and building emotional resilience as a bootstrapped founder.Tips for indie developers to build their personal brand on YouTube and social media.How to prioritize marketing efforts across channels like SEO, Meta, TikTok, and email marketing.Why networking is crucial for indie developers and Piyush's advice for making meaningful connections.How public speaking has helped him grow personally and professionally, with tips for beginners.Where Piyush sees the micro-SaaS industry heading in the next 5–10 years.Advice for aspiring indie hackers: Qualities you need, mistakes to avoid, and how to stay motivated.What he would do differently if he had to start over from scratch.and much more!Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/whatsuppiyush/https://bento.me/whatsuppiyushhttps://x.com/WhatsUpPiyush  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Chicken and hot sauce are a match made in heaven! In this episode, II'm joined by Mikhel Rajani, co-founder of Naagin Sauce, India's first and favourite hot sauce brand. Mikhel and his team spotted a gap in the market about five years ago and have since transformed Naagin Sauce into a household name, now partnering with KFC India and reaching both domestic and international customers.We dive deep into the story of building Naagin Sauce and what it takes to pioneer a brand in an untapped market. Here's what we cover:Why India didn't have a hot sauce brand before Naagin and how they championed Indian Ghost Chillies.The challenges of being first movers in the market—and how they overcame the heat, both figuratively and literally.Creating and  testing recipes that balanced nostalgia and innovation.Mikhel's insights from 15 years in the F&B industry: branding, marketing, and growing a team from 3 to 50 employees.His hiring philosophy: "Loyalty over certificates."Overcoming the challenges of Covid, raising funding, and why every business idea should be stress-tested by smarter people who can punch holes in it.We also touch on fascinating behind-the-scenes stories:The quirky inspiration for the brand name, involving cricket and the iconic "Naagin dance."Mikhel's preference for low-key launches instead of flashy events.His incredible marketing innovations, including the world's first pizza delivery by drone in 2012, which was featured on BBC and CNBC.Mikhel also shares valuable advice for founders:Why India is not for beginners, and how to handle 100 rejections without taking them personally.How his management style has evolved over the years and why documenting mistakes is crucial for growth.Practical tips on working with co-founders and maintaining healthy partnerships.Finally, Mikhel's closing advice for first-time founders:“Don't accept defeat. There will always be someone willing to help you on your journey.”Links https://www.naaginsauce.com/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

The world is getting fatter! In this episode, we dive deep into fitness and nutrition with Adarsh Gopalakrishnan, founder of Move101 in Chennai. Move101 is a unique strength and conditioning gym tailored for regular folks with little to no training background, and it also offers online coaching.Adarsh's journey into fitness began in an unexpected way: he started working out to impress a girl who liked the biceps of a popular MTV VJ. He had no biceps and he wanted biceps and he started lifting weight and he got biceps! Thirteen years later, he's trained hundreds of clients both in-person and online.Here's what you can expect in this episode:Adarsh's Journey: Being an unconventional, anti-institutional kid who dropped out of school.Right Place, Right Time: Catching the CrossFit wave in 2008–2010 and building a unique, community-driven gym.Word-of-Mouth Success: Why Adarsh spends zero on Google or Facebook ads and still has an 80% client retention rate—higher than most big box gyms.The Protein Problem in India: Why Indians often lack protein in their diets, the supply chain issues around whey protein, and what alternatives you can eat.Fitness in a Post-COVID World: How the pandemic actually boosted his business and his thoughts on the global obesity crisis.Social Media Pressure: The unrealistic expectations to look “jacked” and the common mistakes people make in strength training (like too much volume and variety, and poor goal setting).Adarsh shares insights on improving your communication skills Training Myths & Realistic Goals: Why you don't have to train like a beast,  loving single-leg squats, and why a six-pack is hard. But a  four-pack is good enough!The Problem with Corporate Wellness Programs: Why Adarsh isn't a fan and his thoughts on the most effective exercises.Navigating Diet Fads and Fitness Trends: Adarsh's advice on avoiding the hype around the latest diet crazes, fitness gadgets, and weight-loss drugs.The Indian Fitness Market Today: His views on why he's not interested in scaling his business and how his philosophy on fitness has evolved over the years.And for a fun finish: we talk about how to handle those family gatherings where well-meaning aunties offer Pepsi and jalebi when you're trying to stay on track!Linkshttps://www.move101.net/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

On a mission to make intimacy easy, approachable, and fun. Today my guest is Anushka Gupta, co-founder of MyMuse. MyMuse is India's first bedroom essentials brand, dedicated to making intimacy easy, approachable, and fun for Indians everywhere. Anushka and her husband started in a small apartment and now operate a warehouse serving over 150,000 customers across 1000+ Indian cities. They've also built a massive community of over 100,000 followers on Instagram and other social media platforms. During our conversation, Anushka discusses smashing taboos and disrupting the industry, as well as the different and innovative products offered by MyMuse. She also talks about the pros and cons of being the first to market, funding rounds, and social media marketing including the 3 second rule.  Additionally, she shares valuable insights on building a brand from scratch, utilising email marketing for brand loyalty, conducting customer development and dealing with assumptions. Anushka reflects on her journey, from meeting her husband to overcoming conservative mindsets and the role of education in dismantling taboos. She also discusses the future of sexual wellness in India and what has surprised her the most in her entrepreneurial journey with India's leading luxury intimate wellness brand. Finally, we delve into the topic of which city in India is the most friskiest and much much more.Linkshttps://mymuse.in/  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Experience real cricket at home! In this episode, I sit down with Prince Thomas, co-founder of MetaShot, a Bangalore-based gaming startup. MetaShot offers a unique and immersive cricket experience through a cutting-edge metaphysical smart bat.Prince shares how the idea for MetaShot emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the early days of development, from the initial prototypes—a cricket bat with a sensor and a copy of EA Cricket 2007—to securing significant investments from prominent investors and eventually having a best selling product on Flipkart. Throughout our conversation, Prince delves into the intricacies of how MetaShot works, the major challenges faced, and why they chose to launch exclusively in Bangalore initially. He offers insights into their marketing funnel strategies, leveraging social media influencers, and handling both positive and negative feedback. We also explore the future of the gaming industry in India, pitching to investors, and using customer feedback to refine the game. Prince shares his experiences working with co-founders, the unwavering support from his wife, and overcoming scepticism from his father in the early years. Additionally, he reveals some fascinating hiring strategies. We talk about the T20 in America, being a cricket nut and finally an interesting tale on the origins of his name. Linkshttps://metashot.in/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Step into the dynamic world of Indian menswear fashion with our latest episode! Join us as we sit down with Karan Singh, the creative force behind Aristobrat, a brand renowned for its premium men's clothing. In this insightful conversation, Karan takes us on a journey from his inspiration drawn from a transformative trip to Scandinavia to the inception of his own fashion brand. Delve into his innovative financial strategies, including the use of factoring, and gain a deeper understanding of India's burgeoning menswear scene. Discover Karan's pearls of wisdom as he discusses crafting a brand strategy, mastering social media marketing, how he came up with the name and his take on social media influencers. He unveils his secrets behind effective Google & Meta ads campaigns and his unique perspective on decision fatigue. Karan talks about his favorite brands, the importance of gut instincts in business, and learning how to navigate competition while staying true to your brand's narrative. But that's not all! Karan shares his fashion disasters, reveals the benefits of avoiding the news, discusses whether Indian men are fashionable compared to the rest of the world, and explains why focusing on the constant rather than the changing is key. For aspiring founders, Karan offers invaluable advice, and for fashion enthusiasts, he provides expert tips to elevate your wardrobe game.Linkshttps://www.aristobrat.in/  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Drawing inspiration from the timeless game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, today's guest is Lalit Kalani, the Founder of Rock Paper Rum, an innovative Indian Rum brand prominently featured on Season 3 of Shark Tank India. In this episode, Lalit delves into the journey of launching his venture, shedding light on navigating the competitive Mumbai market, mastering branding, product development, and effective marketing strategies. He talks about India's complicated relationship with alcohol. He offers invaluable advice on pitching, discusses the transformative impact of Shark Tank, and reveals insights into the decision-making process behind delaying the launch.  And finally, Lalit shares enticing cocktail recipes for our enjoyment. Join us for an insightful discussion that not only explores entrepreneurship but also reflects on the significance of reestablishing family legacy as a third-generation entrepreneur, along with its accompanying pros and cons.In this episode we talk about:Thoughts on going globalWhy rum?What can go wrong?What should first time founders be focussing on?MentorshipInfluencer marketing.Dealing with regulationsBeing a 2nd time founder. Spending time in America.Linkshttps://www.rockpaperrum.com/  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Driven by love for Table Tennis. Megha Gambhir, is the amazing co-founder and CEO of Stupa Sports Analytics. Her company is revolutionising the world of sports by providing athletes with cutting-edge analytics and insights to improve their performance. She talks about how she got started with a MVP - an Excel spreadsheet, to now working  the ITTF and  multiple international federations on her client list  and a number of global clients. She talks about leaving a well-paying job to figure it all out. Talks about working with her husband (pros & cons) She talks about pivoting. Building a B2B AI-based SaaS platform,  enabling end-to-end tournament management with live streaming and building an AI-based video analysis solution. She talks about funding. The two main questions VC's asked about. Advice for building an MVP . What should a first time entrepreneur be focusing on? Manifesting things, and table tennis tips. So please enjoy the show. In this episode we talk about:Being in a data driven worldMatches analysed.What excites her most about building this startupDigitising sports events.Being motivated my money.Bring an IT professional turned entrepreneur,Video analysis.ImplementationReal time analytics and performances (KPIs)And much moreLinkshttps://stupaanalytics.com/#/home Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Making India sleep better: More than 55% of Indian adults face trouble falling asleep at least three nights a week. Today, I speak with Surbhi Jain, the founder of Neend, a free app offering stories, soothing sleep sounds, meditation, and more to help users unwind and nod off. Launched in 2021, Surbhi shares how she started this journey after contracting Covid and struggling with sleep issues. She released the MVP on YouTube, experiencing significant organic growth. Surbhi discusses building a consumer app in the wellness space, addressing topics like traction, funding, her background, dealing with competition, and a referral scheme that didn't work out. She also shares insights into investing in startups, revealing what she looks for and her thoughts on the wellness space. Finally, Surbhi talks about handling criticism of her WhatsApp display picture by an unnamed investor and much more!In this conversation we also talk about:How it worksHer reluctance to seek feedback from friends and familyContacting customers first thing in the morningBusiness model.General sleep tipsThoughts on blue light glasses , do you they work.Dealing with biases. Scaling the business. Links https://neend.app/  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Universal factories of the future. Today my guest is Gokul NA, Co-Founder of CynLr.  a pioneering deep-tech startup dedicated to the radical reinvention of dynamic vision-enabled robots, unlocking the potential to create the 'universal factories' of tomorrow. In this enlightening discussion, Gokul takes us on a journey back over a decade, recounting the humble beginnings with his co-founder in a modest office that evolved into a sprawling 13,000 sq ft research space. This state-of-the-art facility boasts robot research cells, cutting-edge electronics, a sophisticated camera and vision laboratory, all meticulously managed by an expert team of engineers and researchers. He delves into topics ranging from design, product development, and entrepreneurship. Why does he seek more competition, not less? Gokul discusses the impact of robotics on jobs and elaborates on the intricacies of the design process. The conversation explores high barriers to entry ($30K to buy the robot arm, $250K to adopt the full solution, over 12-24 months) , The robotics scene in India, energy consumption considerations, and the evolution of early prototypes. Gokul sheds light on their business model, detailing the planned volume of robot sales, revenue figures, and the current status of funding.Gokul shares insights into motivation, the strategic onboarding of new team members, market validation, and adoption strategies. He imparts valuable advice tailored for first-time founders, Real-world applications. in the final stretch, Gokul provides an in-depth answer on the art of securing partnerships for startups.In this conversation we also talk about:Selling to engineers.Coconuts!Building the ecosystem before building your business.Onboarding new team membersMeeting his co-founderOpening an office in Switzerland.Dealing with initial feedbackLinks.https://www.cynlr.com/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

From a 13-year-old dreaming of becoming a YouTuber to now leading a 6-figure video content agency, today I speak with Pratham Jindal, Founder and CEO of Praper Media—a content agency collaborating with some of the biggest creators on the planet. In this episode he shares insights into launching the agency, recounting the story of securing his first customer by spending 100 Rupees on a super chat. Pratham delves into his unique hiring philosophy and offers perspectives on AI, Chat GPT, and Sora. Additionally, he unveils his distinctive framework for hiring staff and discusses effective cold email strategies.Pratham provides valuable advice on transitioning from a solo freelancer to starting an agency, reflecting on some mistakes made, such as not trusting his gut. He shares insights for first-time founders and entrepreneurs, discussing his hands-off management style.  Why his first content channel failed and key takeaways and starting your own content channel. Content is not an easy game!Pratham highlights why Instagram is his most significant marketing channel and explains his reluctance to use freelancer websites. Talks about the startup scene in Chandigarh. Finally, he talks about his venture into creating a KPOP channel in India and much more.In this conversation we talk about:Starting in his parents bedroom. Not having issues with pricing Algorithms Meeting his Co-founder Being consistant.The booming creator scenePlans for the future.Starting young,  did he miss out on social life?A great story about using the wifi restaurant password to complete a job.Getting referrals. Growing quickly 1. to 45 team 1,000 sqft office Qualities entrepreneurs must have - Communication. And much more Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pratham-jindal/

It's a tough job market out there folks! , and on today's episode, we have an expert to guide us through it. I'm joined by Sarabjeet Sacher, the founder of Aspiration Jobs, with a profound passion for coaching professionals in areas such as career growth, career development, job search strategies, and interview techniques.He shares valuable insights on crafting a compelling CV—what to include and what to avoid. The episode explores the intricacies of salary negotiation, providing tips on answering pivotal questions like "Why should I hire you?", 'Where do you see yourself in 3 years time?'   And his thoughts on software billionaire NR Narayana Murthy 70 hrs commentIn this insightful conversation, Sarabjeet  delves into the question of whether working for a startup is a wise career move. Great advice for first time graduates with no work experience. And how to deal with those gaps in your C.V!We even touch on some wisdom inspired by Tony Robbins. Sarabjeet also offers practical advice on handling rejection gracefully.As we wrap up, he generously shares his top recommendations for achieving career growth. This episode is packed with invaluable information, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.In this conversation we also talk about:What is the purpose of your CV/ResumeWork life balanceThoughts on moonlightingDo people still want careers?What about the traditional 9-5 workdayWhich is more important: culture fit or technology fit.Don't do a 13 page resume!Are CV's are still relevant?The future of job interviews.The importance of soft skills.And much moreLinkshttps://www.facebook.com/sarabjeet.sachar/https://www.instagram.com/sarabjeetsachar/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarabjeetsachar/https://aspirationjobs.com/

Enabling the well-being of more than 355 million Indian women through products, experiences, and experts. Today my guest is Aruna Chawla, founder of Salad, a lifestyle planner mobile app that support women to better manage their health throughout the menstrual cycle by providing personalised nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle advice. She talks about her own personal journey of being in and out of hospital. She talks about building an MVP without  a CTO or developers. Aruna talks about why they don't want to go viral and or build landing pages. She talks about the first version of Salad,  a condom company which sold 20,000 in only two months with no paid marketing. She talks about her time at the Antler India residency , where they raised a  pre-seed round and met her co-founder. She talks about being a FemTech founder in India and the size of the market.  Every month, nearly 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate, and nearly 85% of this group suffer from hormonal imbalances. She talks about hormones , period tracking and finally she talks about her super strength and advice on how to build healthier habits and goals  using behavioural  science and much more!In this conversation we talk about:Keeping it leanStats so farHaving a bias of actionNot wanting to be a founder or do a startup in the beginning. First impressions of her co-founderThe state of the sexual wellness and FemTech industry india. Conducting over 1000 interviews with women across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. 6 years of research Her motivations.Shaking up the healthcare industry.and much moreLinkshttps://www.grabsalad.com/music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Bye Bye Potholes! Today I have the pleasure to talk to Sourabh Kumar, co-founder of PotHoleRaja, a social venture that 's on a mission to make India & the world pothole-free.  He got the idea After reading a tragic story about a woman who lost her life due to a pothole. He gave up his highly paid corporate job to fill in potholes around the streets of Bangalore at 5AM!  He didn't tell his parents but he started getting goosebumps when random strangers started to praise his work and efforts. Without any background in civil engineering he started doing crazy google searches and ended up creating a number of cool products including Gridmats. a revolutionary patented product that's eco-friendly, durable and crafted entirely from 100% recycled plastic waste to construct pavements/roads. He talks about a life changing moment meeting his co-founder. Talks about key learnings in the early days. Thoughts on social entrepreneurship in India some do's and don'ts  (You can make money!) Why waste is the new gold. Talks about why you must be a risk taker and good at sales. Talks about the uncomfortable question he asks people when hiring.  Talks about keeping the faith and business models including franchise models. He talks about growing rapidly (100% growth) He reflects on this past year (2022). Thoughts on building a culture of being open.  And finally he talks about the biggest pothole he has ever seen and explains how filling a pothole is as easy as making 3 min Maggi noodles and much more.In  this conversation we talk about:Why potholesGoing to Singapore and reflecting on it's infrastructure. The promise he made to himself when quittingBecoming a problem solverThoughts on why the government are not doing this despite everyone paying taxes.15000 km road trip checking out the potholes.Expanding into different countries.Civic tech  helping the governmentWhat does leadership mean to SourabhDealing with and the war with waste.Just him and his co-founder for the first two yearsAnd much more Linkshttps://www.potholeraja.com/Check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities. Join for free for 1 month and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Content is king! Today my guest is Gautam Madhavan CEO & founder of Mad Influence and influencer management agency. They do more than just connect creators and brands. They do digital marketing, social media management, content authoring, and providing consulting services to businesses. They are trying to create the biggest content companies in the world. In this episode he talks about how he got this off the ground by seeing the shift from Blogging to Vlogging 2017/18, realising the power of video and was laser focussed on tiktok in the early days before it was popular.  He explains why you shouldn't plan too much when starting up. Talks about dealing with uncertainty in the early days and hiring strategies. Advice for all you budding social media creators (Don't do it for the $$). Building an AI platform for content creators and why you shouldn't worry about the algorithms. Thoughts on Twitter for content creators. Talks about who are the upcoming social media influencers in India.  His favourite content creators. Talks about research, conversation rates and analytics. Talks about how they Influence the influencers and why you cannot learn this at University, it's all about building relationships. And he gives great advice on building relationships (be transparent) and why they don't poach clients/creators/staff. He talks about what he looks for when choosing social media influencers (it's not just the numbers) And finally we talk about his favourite campaign promoting the movie Bachchhan Paandey  which got a billion organic views which involved kidnapping a bunch of influencers on a train. In this conversation we also talk about:Running India's & Asia's biggest content creator festival in Goa (2023)First mover advantage.Being down to earth and humble.Short video culture. What excites him most about building this company.Why he prefers content creators instead of social media influencers. Getting support from Mum and Dad. Bootstrappinghiring adviceAnd much more Links https://www.madinfluence.com/homeCheck out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities. Join for free for 1 month and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Building the next wave of technology. Today my guest is seasoned investor Nitin Sharma, general partner & co-founder of Antler India. A global early-stage venture capital firm that invests in the defining technology companies of tomorrow. They're one of the fastest growing VC firms in the world. In this episode he talks about his 15+ year investing experience. He talks about how they help early stage founders. He talks about the differences between American entrepreneurs and Indian entrepreneurs. Talks about the No1 mistake founders make after raising money and how he deals with startup failure. He talks about Web3, Metaverse, Fintech and ONDC.  Gives important advice if you want to become an investor.  And finally he talks about the importance of mentorship and gives great startup advice based on Aristotle's persuasion triangle (character,emotion, logic)In this conversation we also talk about:His first year (2008) as a VCHow many startups they invest in and how muchHow to help founders with the residency program.Values, vision and skills.Going global from day onePitching advice (why you & why now?)The importance of building a global network.Validating ideas.Dealing with new technologiesBeing passionate but not emotional.and much more!linkshttps://www.antler.co/indiaCheck out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities. Join for free for 1 month and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

India is expected to be home to 700 million gamers by 2025. So Today my guest Piyush Kumar, he is the Founder and CEO of Rooter.  A game streaming and E-Sports platform. Rooter has emerged as the largest player in the Indian gaming category, with close to 50 million downloads, making it the No. 1 app in the ‘sports' category on the Google Play Store since October 2020. Rooter is at the perfect intersection of Gaming and Content surge in India. So he talks about how it got this off the ground. He talks about what your MVP should look like. Talks about hiring strategies and philosophies. Mistakes made in the early days. Talks about why the future of social networking is gaming. Talks about the business model & raising $25+Million. Talks about finding his co-founder via Twitter and talks about the E-Sports landscape in India including dealing with the parents! Talks about how to build a consumer app and pivoting. Gives some great book recommendations and finally he talks about why everyone should try entrepreneurship at least once in their life and much much more so please enjoy the show.In this conversation we talk about:E-Sports in the Olympic games.Being an Esports player is becoming a respectable job.StatsInfluencer marketing Performance marketingResearch.Can anyone be an entrepreneur?Book recommendation - How to build a billion dollar app.Advice for first time founders.Esports tournament. Links.https://web.rooter.gg/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month.https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Sport tech and driving sports engagement. Today my guest is  Amit Purohit  CEO and co-founder of Fantasy Akhada, a fantasy sports platform that provides you with an opportunity to play Fantasy Cricket, Fantasy Football and Fantasy Kabaddi by using your sports knowledge and skill. So today he talks about building a hyper growth sports tech startup, going from the 181st fantasy app to being in the top 5 , amazing stuff. He talks about the USP - focusing on customer delight. Talks about marketing and why they focus on quality not volume. A great story about getting  legendary cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle into becoming a brand ambassador and investor with a cold email. Gives advice for first time founders and his primary role as a founder. Nearly giving up , raising finance and finally some fantasy sports do's and don'ts for first time players.In this conversation we talk about:Why didn't they go for a subpar cricketer to promote the brand.?Dealing with customer service calls  on New Year Eve Being an ex-Star Sports employee.Getting support from friends and family Being a very competitive market because of the Low barrier to entryKey learnings and customer feedback in the early days. What is the business model? Having all the skill sets to get this off the ground. Raising finance. Talks about the team. How fast are they growing? Stats and engagement so far. Linkshttps://www.fantasyakhada.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month.https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Get your popcorn ready! Today my guest is Shalibhadra Shah, CEO & Co-founder of ABC Talkies. An online movie platform for filmmakers to submit  their  films and for cinema lovers to watch independent cinema on a pay-per-view model. He talks about what motivated him to get this off the ground and  what problem they are solving . He talks about how they add value to the filmmaker and talks about the business model & revenue streams including variable ticket pricing.  He talks about being blessed with failure in the early days and keeping the faith.  Talks about the current state of the movie industry in India and the booming regional content in tier 2/3 cities.  And finally he talks about the time he spent working with PM Modi sharing some interesting tales and insights including the Modi masks  and much more .In this conversation we also talk about:Having an interesting background in digital medialeadershipDigital consumption trendsHow it works & who owns the copyright. Short film market is boomingThe team and hiring process.Huge amount of content not being monetized Wanting to be the Youtube of Movies.Being a stepping stone Favorite movies.and much morelinkshttps://abctalkies.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month.https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Launching rockets into space! My guest is Srinath Ravichandran CEO & co-founder of Agnikul, a Chennai-based Indian aerospace manufacturer specialising in building launch vehicles capable of taking micro and nano-satellites to Low Earth Orbit, on-demand. He started as an outsider , working in finance but his heart was always in aerospace. In this episode he talks about the crazy amount of networking, cold calling professors and asking himself some existential questions to get this off the ground! He talks about going through the Airbus Incubator. Raising $11million in Series A funding. Talks about 3D technology, the business model. Great product milestones. Why India is the best place to build rockets. Talks about the Space Tech community in india. Thoughts on Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos endeavours. Talks about dealing with red tape & the government. He gives great advice on networking if you're a bit shy and finally he talks about why he thinks there is life on other planets and why it could be a good thing!In this conversation we also talk about:Making the experience of going into space , like booking an UberMeeting his co-founder playing cricket.Advice for first time founders.Personalising the building of the rocket.Advice on starting your own space tech startup.Educating investors using a 3 step processDealing with the doubters. Living close to SpaceX in the early days.Building the engine using 3D tech. Why building a rocket company is like running a transportation business. And much more https://agnikul.in/#/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month.https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Transforming storytelling. Today my guest is Summit Nayak - Co-founder of Ekank. They are building a storytelling platform,   democratising non-fiction by bringing lost and forgotten history to the forefront. He talks about how they got this off the ground. Talks about ignoring the experts who told him not to build the product because it wasn't cool enough. But since launching  they have  13.8 million monthly active users, spending in total 74 million minutes on the app and have raised a cool $1million in funding. He talks about building the community, gives thoughts on product management. He talks about building a niche product. Why they are  different from other platforms. Talks about the creator economy and scaling too fast in the early days. Pitching & fundraising insights. Declining attention spans. Having a pool of creators & storytellers. And finally he shares his favourite stories (The Battle of Plassey)  and much more.In this conversation we also talk about:Building a culture companyWhat problem are they solving?Research & customer developmentHaving a proven track record in building startupsFirst impressions of his co-founder.Understanding what the market wantsIs it pressure off or on after raising $GamificationTalking to the experts - William DalrympleBusiness modelKey metrics they focus onWhy they invite creatorsHiring/interview processAnd much more https://www.ekank.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more.Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month.https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Disrupting the traditional fashion supply chain with digital intervention. Today my guest is Pawan Gupta.  Co-founder and CEO of Fashinza. They are digitising the supply chain to make it more efficient, transparent, fast, and sustainable. It all started with a trip to Jaipur the clothing manufacturing capital of India - not to talk about manufacturing but pain points. He will discuss what those pain points are! He talks about how they went from  building the MVP using WhatsApp, AirTable and Excel in 2020 to now being one of the biggest companies in the world in this sector. Amazing stuff!  He talks about how they use technology (new and old)  to digitise the supply chain. Thoughts on scaling. How they work with brands and how they onboard customers. Talks about building trust in the early days. Dealing with fast fashion and ethical issues. Gives great  advice for first time entrepreneurs, Being 2x entrepreneur. Talks about having a successful exit. Talks about his 2 part hiring process. And finally he talks about NFT's  his sporting hero Sourav Ganguly and why you should think BIG!In this conversation we talk about:How they connect customers, buyers and suppliers. Growing 20% each month. Digitising the shop floor.Personalised fashion being the next big thing.What motivates him?It's a data problem. Not tech or people problemWhat was his best day so far. What will this company look like in 10 years time?Being a technology first companyProviding real time data, to save costs and be more efficient. Reducing rejection rate  on an assembly line from 20% to 3%And much more!Linkshttps://fashinza.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 1 month. https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=onmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Make your startup investment ready! Today my guest is Priyanka Madnani, Founder & CEO of Easy to Pitch. Easy to Pitch is one of the fastest-growing one-stop pitching solutions for start-up founders &  entrepreneurs looking to raise capital for their unique ideas. Since starting she now helps over 500 startups and reviewed over 5000 decks. So in this episode she talks about how she spotted a gap in the market for pitching solutions. Talks about helping founders and what investors are looking for. She talks about what founders should include in the pitch deck & getting your first 3 slides right. She talks about whether you should demo the product and thoughts on Shark Tank pitches. She talks about what founders struggle with when pitching. She talks about the reality of funding and  a 10 second pitch which helped her get a client. She goes on to  talk about branding, building relationships, winning awards  and leadership. and much more!In this conversation we talk about:What inspired her to do this?Why her first ever pitch deck flopped and how she turned it all aroundNot everyone gets fundingAdvice on starting your own brand.Having no role models or mentors at the start.Starting a Facebook group and using Youtube, Instagram, Linkedin.Being a top entrepreneur in indiaGetting funded.Don't forget the financials!Being a solo player and turning into a team player.Advice on finding a co-founderMake sure you practice and be patientAnd much morelinkshttps://easytopitch.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Your 24x7 singing buddy! Today my guest is Gopal Krishna Koduri  CEO & co-founder of Riyaz.   A  music learning app that  offers an easy and convenient way for aspiring singers to practise their music lessons anywhere, anytime make music learning accessible and affordable. He talks about his love of classical indian music which  inspired him to build this app.  How the app works. He talks about building a venture-funded, steadily growing music learning app that is used around the world (2million downloads, 4k paid users) Talks about UI & UX design challenges, talks about how they deal with feature requests. Talks about pricing and subscription models. Talks technology stacks , how they use data to improve the product. How they get users to download the app.   Dealing with positive and negative feedback. Talks about the EdTech scene in india. Building an MVP in 2017. Thoughts on building an edtech and finally he talks about his fav singers, pays tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, one of India's most beloved singers, who passed recently and he gives you some singing tips for the next time your in the shower! & much more!In this conversation we also talk about:organic growthWhat problem they are solving?4,000 paid users18-35 category not being served.Killing featuresKeeping track of OKRsBeing a hands on founderhow long does it take to be a great singer?And much morelinkshttps://riyazapp.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Make Memes Earn Money!  Today my guest is Kyle Fernandes CEO & Co-founder of MemeChat. Founded in 2019, it is a platform that allows users to create viral memes and get rewarded for them. So in this episode he talks about how he came up with the idea. Talks about being a hyper growth startup (25 million memes , 6 million downloads, 1.3 monthly active users). Talks about how he designed & developed the app from scratch. Talks about getting funding from 500 Startups. Next he talks about a new NFT marketplace he is creating called  - MemeClub, so anyone can buy and sell memes globally. He talks about  scaling, the business model, Meme marketing,  viral content, being confident and key metrics -( Daily active users) He talks about giving users a solid reason why they should download the app. Creating an acquisition and distribution channel. And finally he talks about his favourite memes and how to get your meme to go viral   and much much MORE!In this conversation we also talk about:Fundraising advice - be patient!Reaching millions of people on a daily basisThoughts on Shark TankBeing a entrepreneur at the age of 15Getting 50x rejections from VC and then turning down 50 x VC's!Getting approached by major brands to do meme marketingSetting up 600+ pages on FacebookNo other company was doing this!Bringing technology and memes together.Creating value for creatorsWhy memesCreating a memechat keyboardand much moreLinkshttps://memechat.app/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Adding fun to a ‘White' industry. Today I speak to Sulay Lavsi, the founder of Bummer, whose mission is to disrupt the millennial-focused underwear market. In this episode he talks about his amazing journey from not being taken seriously in the early days to his dramatic appearance on  Shark Tank India. He shares brand building strategies and talks about marketing to GenZ &  millennials. He talks about pricing philosophies  -are you playing the brand game or the price game? & spotting a gap in the market . He talks about The mild negative reaction to Shark Tank india on social mediaHe talks about the business model and building partnerships. Why they use micro-influencers rather then the big social media influencers. Why he used paid marketing at the start to establish the brand. Talks about Falling in love with the business and brand. Hiring challenges in Tier 2 cities.  He talks about spending 2 years on R&D and finally he talks about his life changing trip to America. and much more so please enjoy the show.In this conversation we also talk about Why underwear?Assumptions made in the early daysDesign challengesGoing on Shark Tank & pitching in front of millions watching.Studying entrepreneurship  in California.His primary role as a founder.Pitching adviceWhats special about bummer underwear?The manufacturing processand much more!Linkshttps://bummer.in/P,Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/track/4XfCbGXHPfStMMtghzjqfe?si=f79e5abeed7c480e  

Hello everyone, Thank you for downloading the last episode 2021. After 5 years of interviewing amazing Indian Entrepreneurs I am thinking about investing in a few Indian startups in 2022! if you are building something exciting and need some seed funding  to get your startup off the ground please contact me. Today you will hear some of the best guests I have spoken to over the past 12 months. You will hear from Newslaundry co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri  (2.39m) on building an alternative news model & paying to keep the news free! Next up is Siddharth Manvati (Ph.D) Co-Founder of ClearMeat.  (35.06) He talks about building India's first cell based meat company. Next is ​​Vivek Bajaj co-founder of StockEdge & Elearnmarkets (59.40) he talks about building the Bloomberg ecosystem for retail Investors in India. And last not least Minakshi Singh Co-founder & CEO of Sidecar & Speakeasy  (1hr34m)  She talks about building India's best bar & being featured in the coveted Asia 50 best bars in 2020. So sit back  & enjoy some of the best moments of The Indian Startup show and I wish you all the very best for 2022!  Newslaundry co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri on building an alternative news model & paying to keep the news free!(2.39m)Indians don't pay for news! Well they do and today my guest is Abhinandan Sekhri, co-founder of Newslaundry, a news, current affairs & media analysis organisation. They are building an alternative news model , so in this episode he talks about building this high risk venture. Old media & new media business models. Not being dependent on eyeballs. Find out which newspaper is worth reading. Dealing with Twitter trolls. Govt interference in the news. Thoughts on PM Modi, Arnab Goswami and what kept him going in the early days. And why the 'self made man' is a myth. Finally we talk about his experience of directing/producing Highway On My plate , the award winning travel and food program.Where are they now? Dr Siddharth Manvati (Ph.D) Co-Founder of ClearMeat. On building India's first cell based meat company. Chicken 2.0I catch up with Dr Siddharth Manvati, co-founder of Clear Meat. He came on the podcast last year (EP125) And a lot has changed since we last spoke. He finally talks about the magical moment he finally tasted the first product. He talks about the science behind evaluating taste and smell. The economics of making lab based chicken. Talks about raising finance. Talks about proof of concepts, having 14 sleepless nights , why they are moving from the Indian market to the global markets. When will this be available to the general public? And how they plan to scale the company.Vivek Bajaj co-founder of StockEdge & Elearnmarkets on building the Bloomberg ecosystem for retail Investors in IndiaVivek Bajaj is back on the show! He is co-founder of StockEdge & Elearnmarkets.com. He appeared back in August 2016 (EP39) and since then his app has gone from 50K downloads to 1.5million downloads. And has gone from employing 25 staff to over 140 staff. So in this episode he talks about how they have scaled the operation. Talks about finding great business partners. Thoughts on the current stock market. Common mistakes first time investors make. Shares formulas for investing including the ‘10 10 10' rule. Talks about his best investments and worst. Why Reliance stock is a ‘buy'. Why he doesn't invest in Bitcoin. Talks about raising finance. Gives great advice for entrepreneurs And finally the most important lesson about money he has learned so far!Minakshi Singh Co-founder & CEO of Sidecar & Speakeasy on building India's best bar & being featured in the coveted Asia 50 best bars in 2020Minakshi started with an Excel spreadsheet back in 2006. And this year has recently been awarded the best bar in India , and in Asia's 50 best bars list of 2020. Amazing achievement considering women working in bars is extremely uncommon. it's a bit of a taboo subject. So she talks about how she overcame those challenges. She talks about finding her passion, Working 14-15 hours a day. She reveals how she got people in India to drink an Old Fashioned & Whisky Sour's! What she learned about herself during lockdown. We talk about india's complicated relationship with alcohol. And finally she shares her secrets to making a great cocktail. It's truly an amazing story and one that will inspire you as well.THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE PODCAST & SEE YOU IN 2022!P,Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/track/4XfCbGXHPfStMMtghzjqfe?si=f79e5abeed7c480e

Today you will hear some of the best guests I have spoken to  over the past 12 months. You will hear from  Raghav Gupta, the co-founder of Nymble labs. (2.57)  His team has built a personal cooking assistant called Julia, so we talk about his appearance on TV. He talks about how they have developed the robot since we last spoke, talks about raising finance ,setting up offices in China and California. Next we have Nitesh Salvi Founder & CEO of Pocket52 (39.11)  on building India's largest poker platform .He talks about how he went from playing poker in the late nights in his student dorm with friends to building India's largest poker platform. And last but not least we have Yash Pariani  (1h.08m) co-founder of The Indian Gaming League (IGL) . On building India's most popular e-sports league & the booming indian e-sport scene.Catching up with Raghav Gupta, the co-founder of Nymble labs.(2.57)  He came on the show back in November 2017 and he is back again with an update. His team has built a personal cooking assistant called Julia. We talk about his appearance on TV. How they have developed the robot since we last spoke, talks about raising finance ,setting up offices in China and California. Talks about why they are changing market focus from India to US. Gives great advice on customer development and how they qualify customers. Talks about becoming comfortable with uncertainty. He talks about how they demoed the robot at TechCrunch robotics conference without paying $$$$ for a booth. And finally we got some music at the end of the show.in this conversation we talk about:-Being VC backed & new business modelHow they came up with research goalsDeveloping a Customer Development process that helped gather more insights about consumers.How they separate feedback from noiseHow they capture the feedback.Taking the cooking robot to the houses of people who had signed up in SF, San Diego and LADealing with the coronavirusThoughts on the b2b and b2c marketsDealing with the competitionDon't fall in love with your product. Fall in live with the problem!Nitesh Salvi Founder & CEO of Pocket52 (39.11)You Got to Know When to Hold Them, Know When to Fold Them! Today I speak to Nitesh Salvi,  founder and CEO of Pocket52.   He talks about how he went from playing poker in the late nights in his student dorm with friends to building India's largest poker platform. He talks about how they build trust and loyalty on the platform. Talks about getting rejected over 150 times despite already having a previously successful exit. He talks about creating a white label business as well as a B2C model. Talks about the psychological side of Poker. Dealing with fraud. And we talk about gambling responsibly  and finally he talks about his  biggest wins and losses on the poker table! and much more.in this conversation we also talk about Growing the user baseSpending 6/7 researching the marketCoin dumpingBuilding a scalable productThe importance of using Lava lamps!Pitch deck adviceCreating the right environment for customersAdvice for first time entrepreneursPlaying poker with his familyReading peopleYash Pariani  (1h.08m) co-founder of The Indian Gaming League (IGL) The Indian e-sport scene is booming. So today I speak to Yash Pariani co-founder of The Indian Gaming League. IGL is India's most popular competitive gaming and esports league that hosts gaming tournaments online and they are growing fast!  IGL hosts daily online tournaments and battle royales across all your favourite game titles like Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite, Dota 2, Fifa 20, 8-Ball pool, Clash Royale, Pubg and many more. So in this episode he talks about how he is creating an infrastructure for Indian gamers. Talks about building trust within the community. How demonetisation helped the esports industry in India. Talks about esports as a respectable career.and finally he talks about Steve Jobs, dealing with concerned parents and dealing with cheats!In this conversation we also talk about:Stats so farKey learnings as an entrepreneurWhy Fortnite became a hit gameWhat you need to be a top esports player?Streaming gamesEsports v traditional sportsWill it become an Olympic eventOffline tournaments v online tournamentshow much can you win?Thoughts on starting your own Esports teamFemale E-gamersSeeking challengesif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/track/4XfCbGXHPfStMMtghzjqfe?si=f79e5abeed7c480e  

India's fintech adoption is booming. So today my guest is Ankur Joshi  CEO & Co-founder of Nuclei,a bootstrapped software enterprise startup that helps banks improve digital banking services by integrating its API platform to increase customer engagement through merchant marketplace and wealth management services. He talks about how he got this off the ground. Mistakes made in the early days. He talks about why they bootstrap and not raise any capital. He explains why the primary product is the team. He then talks about building partnerships, thoughts on B2C and B2B business models.  Talks about sharing equity with staff. Talks about why they think globally from day one & the tech hiring challenges in India. Talks about going fully remote and  building culture. And finally he talks about mental toughness and What he looks for in a co-founder.In this conversation we talk about:Having patienceBeing a serial entrepreneurDon't worry about the vanity metrics!Onboarding new employees. Choosing attitude over skill set.Management style - depends on the maturity of the other person. Building an integrated API platformProcessing 3 million transactions a month.Partnering with 18 banks in India and S.E Asia. And much moreLinkshttps://gonuclei.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

The wearable devices market in India is expected to reach a sales volume of 16.22 million units by 2024. So today I speak to Anmol Saxena, the CEO & founder of Ashva Weartech. They develop wearable solutions for chronic knee pain & spine. So in this episode she talks about her own battles with knee pain that inspired to build a prototype at a hackathon. And since then they not looked back! She talks about how the products work, quitting her job at Ford. Building a MVP. Talks product development. She talks about her research in the early days. She went to 50 clinics and spoke to over 110 knee pain patients. She talks about  dealing with feature requests and how they kill products. Getting paying customers and then having to refund them and then getting to pay again! Why they use an Excel spreadsheet when things go wrong. Partnering with on of India's leading physiotherapist.Talks about an offline marketing campaign that worked really well. Talks about sales forecasts for next year. How they onboard customers. And finally she talks about how the lean business model canvas can help you with your pitch.In this conversation we also talk about:-The wearables market in IndiaHaving a great teamMudra - a motion sensor worn on the upper back. It corrects your spine posture with sensory feedback.Sales forecasts for next yearCreating a reporting system for chronic knee painGetting support from Mum and Dad after quitting Ford.Book recommendation - The art of startup fund raising - Alejandro Cremades3 stages of building the first MVP.8/10 patients do not turn up to the clinic after the first session.The two business modelsStress!Going through an incubatorNot having access to high quality physio in the early daysand much morelinks https://www.ashvaweartech.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Building bionic arms for people with disabilities! Today I speak to Rishi Krishan, the CEO & Co-Founder of Symbionic. Symbionic is an affordable, assistive technology startup that makes smart prosthetic devices. It all started due to a freak bus accident which led to him losing his arm.  So in this episode he talks about the huge challenges building a bionic arm. He talks about how he validated the idea by being a human guinea pig. Talks about how they build empathy into the product and the market size. Talks technology and the business model. Talks about the key takeaways in building the first prototype  , talks about user experiences and 3D printing. Talks about what makes this bionic arm so special. Why your users should be your first investors. Getting great advice from AssisTech Foundation (ATF). Talks about being able to ride a bike again! Predictions for 2022. And finally he talks about advice he would give to his younger self and what first time founders should be focusing on.In this conversation we also talk about:-Using 3D printing customisation and sensorsBreaking out of the biases.Having small breakthroughs 10 million amputees in India. How would he sum up his journey so far?Thoughts on recruiting & why you shouldn't always hire the most experienced person. Working with a great teamExisting solutions did not workBuilding something cooler, functional and cheaper.Using it in public and dealing with the reaction.FundingCreating crowdfunding campaignsWorking in a niche marketFeedback loops & dealing with the steep learning curves. and much more!Links http://thesymbionic.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Ganesh Shankar is back! He came on the show in October 2017 (EP68) & he is celebrating 10 years as an entrepreneur! Ganesh is the co-founder & CEO of FluxGen FluxGen is on a mission to help industries become water positive, and aims to help save 1 billion litres of water everyday using his product AquaGen, a smart real-time water flow and level monitoring system. So in this episode he talks about improving the product using design thinking. He talks about time spent in the Cisco Launchpad Tech accelerator. Talks about dealing with the water crisis. He gives bootstrapping advice. Talks about digitising water structures and how they reduce water consumption by 30%. He talks about bringing water transparency and data to clients.‘Who will marry you now' - his mom's reaction to him quitting General Electric to do this (he got married!) He talks about  India being the largest groundwater extractor in the world, bigger than China & USA. He talks about the original MVP back in 2017. Having big clients onboard. Questions you should ask yourself before quitting your 9-5 job to do a startup. and finally we reminisce about his epic bike journey from Bangalore to Goa and getting a proposal on Valentines Day, but not that type of proposal! and much more!In this conversation we talk about:10 years as an entrepreneur!Looking back would he change anything?A commencement speech that still motivates himNew projects in solar using dronesBootstrapping is good if you don't have a scalable plan Getting criticism in the early days The true cost of waterHow does he keep on top of things?The ongoing climate crisisA question you must ask → What is the primary driver for buying your solution? Transitioning from projects/consulting company to a product company. Not getting too worried about not getting sales in the early days. Start with the customer or start with the idea?How they de-risk industries and facilities from the water crisis. Dealing with the pandemicBuilding AI & IoT based end to end water management solutions.Being the founder and director of the non-profit The Sustainability Mafia (Susmafia.org). And much more!Links https://fluxgen.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Nivedha is back on the show!  I spoke to her back in December 2017 (Ep 72). She is the Co-founder of TrashCon. They have created a machine that helps solve India's huge waste management problem by converting mixed waste into Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste. They started with one tiny machine doing 100kg/day to now doing 200,000 kgs/day!  Last year they did a million dollars revenue and have 3 million dollars in the pipeline this year. She talks about spending 2.5 years working in a dumpsites around India . She talks about working with big corporations and municipalities.  Nivedha then talks about how they launch & test MVP's and product development. She talks about when to use experts &  when NOT to use experts. Going from 3 to 60 staff & what they look for in hiring, having a great co-founder  and finally she talks about how you shouldn't look for 100% perfection in building a startup..85% is ok! ,  Doing TedX talks  (Failure is when you decide to fail...) Winning awards, and why they have banned the word ‘impossible' and looking back would she change anything? and much more! In this episode we talk about:Creating wow boardsHaving more downs then upsPatentsHas india's attitude to waste changed?Having no credibility at the start to now working with big corporations & municipalities.Having a co-founder who is a chartered accountant &  engineer helps. How they use the technology to separate the wasteBuilding a culture & not micromanaging everythingHaving a strong vision.Advice for first time founders - Have a clear problem statement.Don't look for perfection! The market is not looking for perfection. Going global.and much more Linkshttps://trashcon.in/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Logistics is the hottest industry to be in right now , according to my guest Mudasar Mohamed, Co-Founder & COO of Ezyhaul. Ezyhaul is a logistics tech startup based in India and South East Asia. They are on a mission to transform transportation logistics by building an ecosystem around shippers, truckers, government agencies, and third party service providers. So in this episode he talks about how they validated the MVP by talking to experts & truck drivers. Talks about being very close to going bankrupt but are now growing fast!  300% in 2 years with $180 million in revenue.  Talks about how they digitize the trucking process. Talks about how they use data, dashboards and analytics to improve decision making.  Talks about the two reasons why startups fail. Why three is the magic number in founding a startup. What to look for in a co-founder and the qualities you need to be a COO. Talks about the golden rule in growing a 2 sided market. Why do they employ data scientists? Talks about not getting carried away with valuations & Why is the transport industry still 20 years behind? And finally he talks about whether you!.. YES YOU! should pursue entrepreneurship or stay in your 9-5  job and much more! So please enjoy the show. In this conversation we also talk about:Ecommerce is booming.How they matching supply & demandDealing with resistance to change.Beating the competition by entering Tier 2 cities.First impressions of his co-foundersHe shares what he looks for in hiring (do something entrepreneurial)Books/podcasts recommendationsCreating a blue ocean & staying away from the red oceansWhy the focussed initially on Delhi and BangaloreHow they improve the life of truckers.75K trucks on the platformand much more!Linkshttps://www.ezyhaul.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

If everything is going digital why not theatre? Today I speak to Shreyas Talpade, actor , director , producer and now he is entering the exciting world of entrepreneurship building India's first ever streaming platform dedicated to Theatre and Performing Arts called Nine Rasa. This platform  gives you access to several hours of plays, skits, story-telling, stand-Ups, chats and more across several languages. In this episode he talks about how the idea got conceptualised during the pandemic. Talks abut how the platform works, developing the ecosystem and being a first time entrepreneur. He talks about the decision making process on what goes on the platform and what doesn't. Shreyas then goes on to talk about his acting career including his big break,  learning the craft, getting recognised for the first time. Talks about dealing with directors & writers and finally he talks about why you should ignore the critics , stop overthinking and just go do it!In this conversation we also talk about:Streaming 100hrs of contentThe rise and fall and now the rise of theatre in india. Millennials liking the conceptWho are they targeting?Everyone's a critic!Could he have made it as a cricketer after staring in Iqbal?Dealing with the emotional side of acting. Getting out of the comfort zone & thinking outside the boxTheatre classics v  new content.Not spending any money on marketingAdvice for first time entrepreneursWhy he is not competing with  Netflix and other streaming services? And much more!Links https://www.ninerasa.com/portal/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Making it easier and cheaper for e-rickshaw drivers to earn a livelihood. Today my guest is Varun Goenka, CEO & Co-Founder of ChargeUp. Charge-up offers the simple solution of Battery as a Service (BAAS)  to a growing community of 2.4 million E-Rickshaws. The company enables the e-rickshaw drivers to join the service without any upfront costs. By subscribing to a daily battery rental plan. Charge-up allows the drivers to visit the swapping station as many as 2-3 times a day to swap the discharged batteries with fully charged batteries. In this episode he talks about how he got started by talking to over 500 drivers, finding huge pain points on the way. He will explain what they are. Talks about working backwards to create product market fit , which they did in 12 months. Talks about traction, the business model  and how they use technology and data to grow the business. E.g driver behaviour, patterns, performance analytics and how they leverage the data.   Talks about missing out on the opportunity in solar and what he  learned. Talks about the positive impact they have on drivers earnings and the environment.  Talks about trying influencer marketing, partnerships with dealers. How fast they are growing. Thoughts on oil/fossil  companies. He talks why reading Bhagavad Gita helps and finally he talks about having a growth mindset and why being a backbencher at school helped!In this conversation we talk about:Battery technologyProduct researchHelping drivers overcome range anxiety & increase revenueOvercoming negative feedback from the battery dealers.How they stop the theft of batteriesHow they build trust with drivers and dealersHaving a co-founder with 'no attitude'Pay per use v buying the asset'Imagination is more important than knowledge' - Albert EinsteinLast mile connectivity/shared mobilityThoughts on the indian Government role in the clean tech space.Working on B2B deliveriesThe experience of driving an electric vehicle.Thoughts on bootstrappingand much moreLinkshttps://echargeup.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Every year 300,000 wheelchairs are sold in india. 95% of all wheelchairs are one -size fits all. Imagine wearing shoes and everyone has to wear size 14 shoes! So today my guest is Swostik Dash, CEO & Co-Founder of Neomotion. This Chennai-based startup has developed a personalised wheelchair, and a battery-powered clip-on device that converts the wheelchair into a roadworthy electric vehicle. So they helping people with disabilities to live a more independent life with their products. So in this episode he talks about how the journey started by talking to 200 Wheelchair users in 40 locations around india. Talks about the initial stages product development. You will learn how  he makes decisions around feature requests.Talks about how they balance creating impactful products, social change while making money at the same time. Talks about the main 5 metrics he checks every morning. Why don't they go after fancy features.  Interesting thoughts on what Wheelchairs will look like in 100 years time . Talks about the donation drive business model, major milestones. And finally talks about the huge impact he is making on people's lives.In this conversation we also talk about:Why they don't want VC funding yet.Traction & sales so farCustomisations -No two wheelchairs are the same. Supply chain managementManufacturing / fulfilling orders/ quality controlProof of conceptsAdvice on product development Product iterationsWhat they are working on right now.What went wrong in the early days.Enabling wheelchair users to live life to the fullest. Advice for first time founders.Using a whiteboard to deal with negative and positive feedbackProduct design adviceWhy you shouldn't get stuck on your idea‘Startup is a systematic risk minimisation' - Warren Buffet. Solving the problem of Indoor and outdoor mobilityand much moreLinkshttps://www.neomotion.in/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Cryptocurrency is a trillion dollar industry & with a billion people in India the potential is huge! So today my guest Edul Patel CEO of Mudrex. A Y-Combinator startup building an algorithmic trading platform for cryptocurrency.  They help crypto traders create, test and deploy their trading rules into automated trading algorithms without writing code. Started back in 2011 reading the original white paper while still in college and now they are growing 40% month on month. They have 2.5k paying customers and $10 million of assets under management. So today you will find out how he got his first 1k customers. Insights into the crypto scene in india. Talks about the hype/greed/fear/excitement/ in crypto. Are crypto trading bots better than human traders? Talks about the best advice he received at YC(19)  & the intense 24 hr demo day. Edul shares his product strategies on how products should be built and should they how they should be killed. The 3 books he gives to all his employees. And finally I talk to Edul about my first week as a crypto trader! So we talk about portfolios & trading advice. Please note I am not a financial advisor. So please seek financial advice and if you're interested in buying crypto please see the link on the show notes.In this conversation we also talk aboutTractionThe Crypto lightbulb momentIndian regulationsWho are they targeting? Talks about why crypto is so volatile (or is it?) Dealing with user experiences issues in the early days..The challenge indian regulations dealing with crypto and what he would change.Happy to let his bots trade while sleeping.After 10 years finally breaking even and making profitDeal making advice (less is more)3 key skills to become a product manager (32.49)Whats can do wrong in cryptoAdvice for first time product managers with no experienceDealing with stress. Originally building a crypto exchange for India.Linkshttps://mudrex.com/P.SEarn $10 USD in bitcoingemini.com/share/qng4qpxceP.P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Today you will hear some of the best guests I have spoken to  over the past 5 years. You will hear from Vineet Rajan.  Co-founder of Scout My Trip  - India's premier do-it-yourself platform for road trips .talks about pivoting, new insights on the India travel market , growing 5x , expanding into S.E Asia, using virtual scouts & life changing road trips! Next we have Aayush Jindal Co-founder of Toesmith. (45m.46sec)  India's first tech-driven footwear brand, offering customisation of shoes at an affordable price. Next up Vikas Jha CEO & founder of Alore CRM (1h 19m)   - On building one of India's fastest growing sales platform. And last but not least I speak to The Startup Guy aka Vijay Anand , Founder of the Startup Centre (1h 54m)  he talks about the Indian Startup Ecosystem - what's going right, what needs to be tweaked and where to next? So sit back  & enjoy some of the best moments  Vineet Rajan.  Co-founder of Scout My TripThis is an exciting new feature called Where Are They Now ? I catch up with previous guests who came on the show. I catch up With Vineet Rajan the co-founder of Scout My Trip India's first subscription-based travel planner powered by local travel experts. He gives us an update on what's been happening since I last spoke to him over 2 years ago including being recognised as being of the top 50 startups to watch in india. Talks about expanding into SouthEast Asia. He explains why they pivoted and now use virtual scouts, talks about raising $500k, talks about content marketing strategies , talks about hot new destinations in india you should visit , talks about a life changing trip to Ladakh and finally he talks about eating ghost chillies in North East India and his second wife latitia(his bike!)In this conversation we also talk about:Growing 5x since 2018A phenomenal 2019 winning 6+ awardsOffline marketing strategiesBusiness Travel marketWorking with HondaClimate change & sustainable travelGreat story how he met his co-founder on the highwayGreat road tripsBeing a startup guy and his co-founder being a corporate guyConsumer mindset in indiaIncome Tax Exemption granted under Startup India ProgrammeHow they use virtual scoutsUsing AI in the futureBeing trapped in the snow for 20hrs!Aayush Jindal Co-founder of Toesmith. (45m.46sec)'It was his birthday & I thought of customising a shoe and gifting it to him on his birthday' And so Toesmith was born! and they haven't looked back . I speak to Aayush Jindal Co-founder of Toesmith , India's first tech-driven footwear brand, offering customisation of shoes . In this episode he talks how the 3d customisation works. Talks about customer research , pitching his parents the prototype , how they target customers via Facebook and Instagram, how many orders that get a day, quitting the corporate life, how they plan to scale the operation and finally he gives advice on building an e-commerce business & brand in India.In this conversation we also talk about:Pricing strategies that don't pinch!Getting great feedback & design from a tattoo artistWalking away from nice job at BainHow they deal with copyright issuesThoughts on the offline / retail market.Is it pressure off or pressure on?Launching internationally & scalingExperiencing failure on his previous start-upGetting advice from parents who work in the shoe manufacturing business.Vikas Jha CEO & founder of Alore CRM (1h 19m)  India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets for SaaS (software as a service)-based customer relationship management (CRM) firms. So today i speak to Vikas Jha founder & CEO of Alore. Alore offers everything needed to run a sales team at scale - from finding business email addresses to running automated drip campaigns to monitoring the performance of sales teams. So he talks about it all got started , how the product works. How they acquire customers around the world organically without spending money on marketing. Talks about nearly going bankrupt , talks about what makes a great salesperson, being an ex-merchant navy officer turned venture capitalist turned entrepreneur. Gives great book recommendations , talks about burnout , mental health. He talks about bootstrapping strategies what worked and what didn't work and finally he talks about how he transitioned from corporate life to startup life.in this conversation we also talk about:Sales so farEarly bootstrap strategies using Facebook groupsProduct design processUnique pricing models2 business modelsIs email still a good way to sell?The 'land & expand' strategyBook recommendation - Atomic Habits by James Clear & OKR by John DorrSeeing 800 business plans in a year as a VC and what to put in a pitch deck.Great hiring advice and processes.How he dealt with mental health & burnoutAdvice on pivotingDealing with rejectionThe Startup Guy aka Vijay Anand , Founder of the Startup Centre (1h 54m) India is the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, what's going right, and what needs to be tweaked? I speak to Vijay Anand, AKA The Startup Guy, founder of The Startup Centre in Chennai. He is an entrepreneur and has been mentoring startups in India for the past 10 years. So In this episode we talk about the state of the Indian startup ecosystem. Talk about finding India's identity - China has processes & innovation, Germany does precision machinery, US and Israel drive innovation, Japan has quality. What is India's story?The involvement of India's government - the good & bad. Talks about If someone wants to start a venture today, what areas should they focus on? talks about the 2 kinds of entrepreneur, overvaluation of startups, ethics, blockchain, dogs!, space travel, super human beings and what does he go for - the person or the idea? And much more , so please enjoy the show.in this conversation we also talk about:Differences in the Indian eco-system v Israel eco-systemBig observation about indian startupsIndian domestic market v global marketBill gates & Mark Zuckerberg chatHow do you unlearnLooking at a person as asset not a liabilityThe 3rd wave of startupsHow to find co-foundersWhat gets Vijay out of bed?P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Giving a voice to people who don't have a voice. Today my guest is Meet Singhal. Co-founder of Stamurai.  A Mobile app that helps you learn & practice speech therapy exercises for stuttering & stammering. So in this episode he talks about how stuttering controlled his life almost having a breakdown and how he turned it all around by developing this mobile app.  Talks about the initial prototype & acquiring his first customers. Which now has 40,000+ installs across 155 countries around the world. Talks about the science and psychology around stuttering. Never ordering food he liked only ones that were easy to say. Dealing with speech therapists. (30% sceptical , 70% encouraging) Talks about the best day so far. What you should and should not do when dealing with a person who stutters and telling his first ever joke! Talks about the subscription based business model . Does music work? - We talk about the headphone scene from the King's Speech! And finally gives great advice about raising finance & finding product market fit. Its an inspiring story and one that will inspire you!In this conversation we also talk about:Traditional speech therapy is expensiveGrowing 15% every month.His Initial assumptions - would people use a self-directed product?Honey is not the cure for stammering & other quacky myths! Speech therapy has not changed for the last 100 years.Being a 2x entrepreneurWhy do people stutter?Biggest learning from the initial MVPWhy his first startup failed  (Khan academy for india) Being Inspired by Charlie Munger. App design challenges.‘Getting rich is never easy in a well formed society'How they onboard users. Getting help from Prosus,  a global consumer internet group.Why do products fail? ‘It's a hard journey , but filled with meaning'Product roadmap - expanding into other speech disorders. linkshttps://stamurai.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Pampering your furry friends the right way! Today my guest is Anjali Kalachand, co-founder of  A Petter Life an e-commerce platform to understand your dog's nutritional & lifestyle needs. In this episode she talks about why she quit corporate life to do this. Growing 150% after launching only 2 months ago. Talks about identifying gaps in the market and being a bootstrapped startup.   She talks about why the pet industry is similar to the children's industry. Mistakes made in the early days and lessons learned. The rise of dog ownership in India due to the pandemic. Thoughts on the offline competition. And finally she talks about dog friendly vegan ice-cream & why you should buy a dog!In this conversation we talk about:Helping new/existing pet parentsStarting this during the pandemicStray dogs in MumbaiWhat problem are they solving?Dealing with bureaucracy in corporate life.Do dogs have personalities similar to their owners?Is india a nation of dog lovers?and much morelinkshttps://www.apetterlife.in/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Dropping out of education to do an EdTech startup! Today my guest is Mohammad Yousuf CEO of Edunify. Edunify assists schools in connecting with prospective parents online and helps parents find the right schools for their children. Think of it like a matchmaking service. So in this episode he talks about great traction so far, talks about how they went about validating the idea. Why is selling to schools is one of the toughest markets you can be in. Thoughts on the indian education system & what can be improved. Talks about being a successful 3 time entrepreneur at the age of 21. Talks about successful SEO strategies to get parents to the website. Getting zero marks on his exams including entrepreneurship! and how he turned it all around despite personal hurdles like significant leg disability. Why pretending to be 24 yr old helps! And finally he talks about time blocking techniques that help him focus and be more productive.  Which you can try as well. In this conversation we also talk about:The business modelThe startup scene in Lucknow & thoughts on moving to Bangalore.Advice for first time founders.Paying his own way through collegeThoughts on paid advertising.Being a big fan of ClubhouseWhat problem are they trying to solve?Customer discovery & feedbackWhat was he like at school?Recalling his first pitch!Thoughts on going globaland much moreLinkshttps://www.edunify.in/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

I catch up with Dr Geetha Manjunath, CEO & CTO of NIRAMAI, a deep-tech startup, offering a radiation-free, non-invasive, non-touch, breast cancer screening solution. I spoke to her back in Sept 2017 (Ep67) when they only had a handful of customers, now they are one of the top deep tech startups in India.  In this episode we talk about their core technology  called Thermalytix. How they have innovated during the pandemic. Talk about how they create AI/ML models and how they test them before production. Talk about scaling issues & being part of Google Launchpad and Phillips accelerators. How they have shortened the B2C sales life cycle from 6 months to 6 weeks. Thoughts on selling to hospitals. A deep dive on how do they train the machine when there is little data.  She also talks about developing (AI)-based computer-aided software for controlling the spread of River Blindness with the help from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. She takes a trip down memory lane and talks about  being a member of the C-DAC team which built the first commercial indian supercomputer. And finally she gives great advice for first time entrepreneurs.In this conversation we also talk about:Talk about patents & IP.Being a thought leaderSupervised v Unsupervised learningLaunching a new B2C home screening serviceWorking with data augmentationThermal imagingTaking it to the villagesScaling from 1 to 10 then 10 to 100Using microservicesGetting in the shoes of the usersAre they still a startup?Major milestones reachedHealthcare startups take time!and much more!Linkshttps://www.niramai.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

My first ever guest is back on the show! Harshdeep Singh  Hura founder of WrapItUp - a text summarizer. He appeared on show back in August 2015. We talk about how his app now has 3.5M users. Why he turned down $20 million acquisition for the app. How a anthropology course on apes was a breakthrough moment. Talks why he almost quit tech, what changed and gives us his new fresh perspective on life. He gives us great insights on mobile app design, development &marketing strategies. Talks about going from idea to MVP (starts at 25.19 take notes!) and why does not want a co-founder. Talks about becoming a pastry chef. Thoughts on Clubhouse being the next big thing. And finally we take a trip down memory lane and talk about the embarrassing first ever episode of the indian startup show. in this conversation we talk about:Starting out writing algorithms on paper & not using existing NLP algorithmsBeing the most successful solo iPhone app developer in India (in my opinion!)Taking risks in your 20'sReaction to friends and family on turning down $20millionSetting up Indoor Hydroponic farming space.Entering the News Summarization space with a new line of products built around the WrapItUp algorithm, L.A.S.T. 5 [Linguistically Advanced Summarization Technique]Is it still a good idea to build an iphone app in 2021Helping salesforce administration to learn to code and then getting angry feedback from Salesforce content creatorsBeing stressed &  receiving  a cold email that got his life back on trackGrowing an inch since we last spoke (6ft 9 inch)Building a remote first  E-commerce agencyWhy they don't do regular marketing to create brand awareness.Hiring only fans influencersHow he settles arguments with his dad.Why ‘luck can only take you so far!'Why you shouldn't change the world - but change one person's worldStarting WrapitUp because he was too lazy to readAnd much more!Linkshttp://harshdeephura.com / @kinngh on Clubhouse and Twitter / http://admin2dev.com / http://wrapitupapp.com (both available on http://harshdeephura.com) P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV 

Building India's first home-grown AR headset. Today my guest is Pankaj Raut the co-founder & ceo of AjnaLens. AjnaLens designs & manufactures AI-powered mixed-reality glasses for defence , education and enterprise customers. He talks about it all got started by being inspired watching James Bond movies. He talks about how the product helps the Indian armed forces & talks about design and development process.  He talks about VC funding, future trends & opportunities. He gives us his thoughts on the AR/VR startup community in india. Thoughts on Google glasses 10 years on and dealing with the competition.  And finally he talks about leaving India at the age 17 to go study in London.  Meeting his co-founders at Google startup weekend.  Seeing his first hologram and being inside a tank! In this conversation we also talk about:Building the first prototypeChallenges in the AR/VR marketWhat will VR/AR devices look like in the future.Getting a scholarship to go LondonWhere the names comes from.Common mistakes AR/VR startups make.Meeting people with the right synergies.How he resolves differences of opinion with his co-foundersAdvice for first time founders - take 2 steps back!and much more!Linkshttps://www.ajnalens.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV   

Building a digital bank to help small businesses in india.  My guest today is Anish Achuthan CEO & co-founder of Open - a new age digital banking platform. In this episode he talks about how they raised $37 million from prominent investors, and shares amazing growth statistics. He talks about how they use customer acquisition channels.  He shares UX strategies when developing the website & mobile app. Talks about being a 5x entrepreneur. Talks about the importance of branding and PR in getting your startup off the ground. Talks about how they evaluate talent. Going from 10 to 250 employees. Thoughts on demonetisation 4 years on. Hiring a sales guy when they couldn't afford one.  Pitching to investors with a live demo instead of a slide deck.And finally you will learn how to deal with corporate companies if you're a startup.In this conversation we also talk about:User testingCreating a pilotBeing the first mover in the marketBuilding Culture & LeadershipBeing persistanceBeing married to the co-founderis 'Cash still king?'Reaching out to small villagesBanks having reservations in the early daysIntegrating legacy systemsand much morelinkshttps://open.money/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV    

Nothing is useless in this world. What can be a waste to you is someone's asset' - The ‘Recycle man of India' aka Dr Binish Desai, social entrepreneur & founder of Eco-Eclectic . I spoke to him back in February 2019 (Ep 106) and he is back again to talk about inventing a new type of brick made from recycled PPE material. He talks about creating a female empowerment centre for former sex workers. He then talks about building low cost homes using 3D technology, talks about trust issues after getting ripped off by a business partner. The pillars of success and what we can expect in 2021. And why you should start identifying waste as an asset.In this conversation we also talk about:Observe - fail - Learn - Solve  framework.Creating Eco BinsThe process of converting PPE into bricks..Brick 2.0!Creating affordable housing in the USA, Philippines & india, & Africa The Recycle man - the bookWhat did he learn about himself during the pandemicMaking jewellery & crockery out of coffee wasteCarrying 2 bricks around wherever he goesStop using single use coffee mugs!Expanding globallyTrying to create the world's first recyclable house. 3D printing of the entire home.Coming from a family of social entrepreneurs.and much morelinkshttps://www.binishdesai.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

100 million famers are expected to be online in the next 5 years. So today I speak to Siddharth Dialani, co-founder & CEO of BharatAgri a farming technology platform where they work with farmers directly. improving their productivity. Think of it as a digital farming assistant. So in this episode he talks about what inspired him to do this, building the first prototype. The problems farmers face. Time spent working on a farm for a year & being treated like an outsider . He then talks about how they create an algorithm that decreases the cost of production to farmers. Talks about how they use analytics to improve the customer journey. Talks about raising finance , how you should pitch investors. Why 'investors want you to do less not more' How they on-board farmers online.  And finally he talks about his time at housing.com. The current farmers strike and being awarded Forbes 30 under 30!In this conversation we also talk about:-Insights gained from talking to over 400 farmersWhy agriculture is a complicated business.Farmers  not understanding the share icon & notification icon. And how they changed itSoil/water/weather parameters that go into building an algorithm.Quickly pivoting to a digital strategy during the pandemicThoughts on product market fitWhat will farming look like in 20 years time?Pitching & getting $50k from Uber.Book recommendations.and  much moreLinks https://bharatagri.com/P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatelmusic by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

No 1 Best Business Podcast in india!  Big Thank You to CEO magazine India. I am humbled and honoured. Today you will hear some of the best guests I have spoken to over the past years. You will hear from Shankar Prasad. Founder of Pureplay Skin Sciences. They are Building India's fastest growing new-age, values-driven vegan skin care & beauty brand. Next I speak to  Akriti Khatri The founder of the Venus Detective Agency - India's leading female private detective agency And finally  I speak to  Naina Hiranandani, COO & Co-Founder of Sirf Coffee.  A Bespoke dating service revolutionising dating for global Indians. So please enjoy the show, and i wish you all the best for the new year!Pureplay‘One piece of advice I will give is this - listen to the consumer , listen to the consumer, listen to the consumer , everything flows from that, if that's not part of you equation then your starting at the wrong place - Shankar Prasad. Today I speak to Shankar Prasad, Founder, Pureplay Skin Sciences.One of indian fastest growing vegan & grooming brands. He has over 20 years of creating and building consumer goods india. So in this podcast we talk about his iterative design process, his research , his pricing strategy , using social media influencers, the Skin care for men market, taking calculated risks, advice on building your own consumer goods brand and learn how to improve your communication skills. And finally some warren Buffett chat as well.In this conversation we also talk about:Starting out as a chemical engineer.Leaving corporate life and going it alone.Why vegan?Bring inspired by the goodness of nature, and & doing goodOnline & offline selling strategiesUnderstanding want goes on in the west ,will likely happen in IndiaSocial media advice - Earn your place at the table.Launching skin care products for men & size of market.Favourite brands and why.Thoughts & experiences on using Youtube video for marketing & advertising.Sirf CoffeeWhat do women want? & how do you deal with those annoying Aunties! Well today your going to find out. My guest is Naina Hiranandani, COO & Co-founder Sirf Coffee. Sirf Coffee is a bespoke dating service revolutionising dating for global Indians. In this exciting episode she talks about servicing clients around the world using an offline approach to dating and why they take this approach. She talks about the operational side of the business and why the business model has not changed over 10 years. She talks about why they don't spend money on marketing or take investment and finally she shares some great dating advice you can try if your footloose and fancy free!In this episode we talk aboutHow many dates have they have setupWalking away from a lucrative career to do thisBuilding a prototypeWord of mouth marketingDo opposites attract?What it takes to be a COOThe future of datingBeing different to the rest of the competitionHaving courageBook recommendation Sapiens - Yuval Harari & Modern Romance - Aziz AnsariVenus Detective AgencyThe explosion of online dating & matchmaking apps in India has led to a huge rise in the number of private investigators tasked with exposing love cheats. Today my guest is Akriti Khatri , the founder of Venus Detective Agency . She is like the female Miss Marple, So in this exciting episode she talks about how she got started and turned this into a very successful business with offices around india. She gives great advice for first time founders and she will also talk about going undercover to check up brides and grooms before they get married , she talks dating, using high technology gadgets, conflicts, emotions. Why business is booming due to soap operas and why spending 30 days in the office doing nothing set her up for big success!In this conversation we talk about:Business modelBlackmail , honey traps & love affairsWhy females make the best detectivesWhats in her spy kit?The Long hoursWould she recommend this as a career?P.Sif you need something to do during these challenging and difficult times and want some inspiration and need some creativity. check out Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, tech, and more. Anyone can join the millions of members in our community to learn cutting-edge skills, network with peers and discover new opportunities.Try Premium free for 2 months and access all my classes!https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/neilpatel P.P.SBig News I am starting a production company creating Indian based dramas documentaries & animation shows package them up for multicultural audiences around the world. So if you are writer ,scriptwriter, producer animators or know someone who is or has an original and interesting story tell or want to pitch me your concepts then get in touch and we can turn this into the next big Netflix / Amazon Prime show. Please get in touch music by Punch Deck. https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV