Dickens said, it was the best of the times, it was the worst of the times. The words have never been truer. Best because there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur. Worst because the clutter is mind-numbing. Founder Thesis breaks through the noise to bring you stories of success & failure, grit & struggle, bouquets & brickbats from some of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in India.
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Akshay Datt Podcasts
At The Spotlight, we go behind the scenes and identify and highlight the upcoming disruptors from the startup space!
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Marketing is often considered a nice to have, not a must have. “Let’s get business first”, is what one has often heard. However, MARKETING WHEN DONE RIGHT, GETS BUSINESS. In this show marketing stalwarts talk about how marketing works in the real world. In this show you will learn how marketing will help you to - win business - acquire new consumers - grow the brand - build defensibility - command higher pricing power. Vani Dandia is an award winning marketeer who has spent over two decades ...
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India Booked is a podcast that uses literature as a lever to bring multiple facets of India alive. A perfect podcast for bibliophiles, trivia junkies and people interested in learning more about India. Every episode focuses on a different theme and takes place via a conversation between the host with celebrated authors.
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Welcome to the podcast where all stories are welcome. This is a podcast with no agenda. Hidden or otherwise. In a freewheeling conversation over coffee, Sheba gently nudges people to shake off their masks and share their real selves. Hear what keeps people ticking, what helps them make sense of the world, and what is the inner, most private conversation people have with themselves. Hear people being, well….human. Expect to hear from the quiet introverts, because Sheba has a soft corner for them.
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किस्से कहानियाँ हमारी ज़िंदगी का उतना ही अहम हिस्सा हैं, जितना शायद खाना और पीना । कहानियाँ हमें हँसाती हैं, रुलाती हैं, सिखाती हैं। वो बचपन में सुलाती हैं, बड़प्पन में रुलाती हैं। कहानियाँ हमें वहाँ ले जाती हैं, जहां हमें गाड़ी या जहाज़ भी शायद न ले जा पाएँ । तो चलिए हम भी चलते हैं दूर कहीं, कुछ कहानियों के साथ । आप का तहे दिल से स्वागत है इस पॉडकास्ट पर, जिसका नाम है ‘कहानियों का गुच्छा’। इसमें आप सुनेंगे हिन्दुस्तानी ज़बान के प्रसिद्ध लेखकों की कहानियों की कई शृंखलाओं को, जिनको चुना गया है किस ...
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Hosted by Nakul Kumar, this podcast will feature some interesting personalities from various domains of life. From sportsmen to artists and entrepreneurs, we'll speak to a line-up of unconventional people. What will always remain constant is our focus on how technology shapes their lives and their go-to hacks & tricks. We will explore their unique relationship with technology and try to soak in all that can enhance our and our listeners' relationship with technology. Hacks, tricks, insights, ...
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Shreya/Sonu/Arijit or Youtube/Spotify - Who Really Makes Money From Bollywood Songs?
2:03:45
2:03:45
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2:03:45"80 to 90% of income for all artists, even Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, comes from live events only. YouTube pays barely 1-2 paise per stream today." This shocking revelation from Gaurav Dagaonkar exposes the broken economics of the music industry. While millions stream their favorite songs, artists make almost nothing from digital plays - a pr…
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How to Bootstrap a Deep Tech VC fund in India | Ashish Taneja (growX Ventures)
2:07:08
2:07:08
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2:07:08"Cash is just a commodity. What truly attracts top entrepreneurs is the connection you build." Ashish Taneja completely flips the traditional investor-founder power dynamic in this eye-opening conversation with host Akshay Datt, revealing why the best founders actually choose their investors, not the other way around. Ashish Taneja is the Founding …
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The EV revolution is here, can EMO Energy be the next BP/ HPCL/ IOCL? | Sheetanshu Tyagi(Co-founder)
2:07:25
2:07:25
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2:07:25"Energy is the only input cost that can be systematically optimized over time." A game-changing perspective from battery tech pioneer Sheetanshu Tyagi that's reshaping how India's quick-commerce giants think about profitability. This insight is driving EMO Energy's transformation from a hardware company to an Energy-as-a-Service platform. Sheetansh…
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Why 70% of India Is Invisible to VCs | Jyotsna Krishnan (Elevar/ EPIC)
1:50:41
1:50:41
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1:50:41India’s real economic engine isn’t in big cities - it’s in the 400 million+ people building, trading, and growing across Middle India. In this episode of the Founder Thesis Podcast, host Akshay Datt speaks with Jyotsna Krishnan (Managing Partner, Elevar Equity; CEO and Co-Founder, Epic World) on how to invest, build, and scale startups for India’s …
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Crypto vs Stocks vs Gold: What Should You Really Invest In? | Raghvendra Nath(Ladderup) Explains
1:15:16
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1:15:16Stop thinking about your wealth like a startup. Your biggest strength as a founder - your bias for high-risk, high-growth, and breakneck speed - is your biggest liability when managing your own money. The instinct that built your company can easily destroy your personal wealth. This episode is the antidote. In this episode, host Akshay Datt sits do…
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Your Money Deserves More Than 3% - Bond Investing Explained | Suresh Darak (Bondbazaar)
1:20:37
1:20:37
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1:20:37What if your idle savings could earn 8–13% returns instead of just 3–4% sitting in your bank account? In this episode of the Spotlight, host Akshay Datt speaks with Suresh Darak, founder of Bondbazaar, a digital bond investment platform that’s making the fixed-income space accessible to retail investors. With 20+ years in financial services and 13 …
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How to Scale Food Like Software - And Still Make Money | Jaydeep Barman (Rebel Foods)
1:50:59
1:50:59
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1:50:59"I have this fundamental belief that you make abnormal returns not when you are right but when people don't agree with you." This contrarian mindset from Jaydeep Barman perfectly captures how Rebel Foods built a $1.4 billion unicorn by doing what everyone thought was impossible: decoupling restaurant brands from physical real estate. Jaydeep Barman…
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Beyond Chatbots: How AI Agents Are Transforming Business | Rajesh Sinha (Fulcrum Digital)
2:02:22
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2:02:22How do you build a $100 million enterprise tech company - without raising a single dollar from venture capital? In this episode, host Akshay Datt speaks to Rajesh Sinha, Founder of Fulcrum Digital and Culinary Digital, shares his remarkable story of scaling two global businesses to ~$100M ARR - fully bootstrapped. From building a customer-funded Sa…
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Understanding Private Credit, AIFs & Startup Financing | Vinod Murali (Alteria Capital)
2:16:05
2:16:05
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2:16:05"Venture debt is like an umbrella - you buy it before it starts raining, because once it starts raining, everything becomes expensive." This analogy perfectly captures the strategic timing required for startup capital - smart founders raise debt when they don't need it, not when they're desperate. Vinod Murali is the Co-founder and Managing Partner…
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Building a World-Class IT Services Business | Kalyan (QualiZeal)
2:01:26
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2:01:26In this powerful episode of Founder Thesis, host Akshay Datt speaks with Kalyan Rao Konda, Co - founder of QualiZeal, a quality engineering firm transforming how global companies approach software testing and quality assurance. With over two decades of experience in QA, Kalyan shares his journey - from the early days of reactive testing to today’s …
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India's IT Infra Leap: Data Centers, Cloud, AI & What's Next | A S Rajgopal (NxtGen)
2:11:14
2:11:14
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2:11:14"Each rack can deliver 2 crores of revenue versus 6 lakh rupees from data centers." This striking comparison from A.S. Rajgopal reveals why cloud services generate 10x more revenue per rack than traditional data center hosting - a fundamental shift that's reshaping India's digital infrastructure landscape. A.S. Rajgopal is the Managing Director & C…
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Cracking India's Beverage Market with Beer & Kombucha | Ishan Varshnei(Latambarcem Brewers)
2:00:52
2:00:52
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2:00:52"Craft does not define size... craft is defined by technique, innovation, and quality." This insight from Ishan Varshnei challenges the common misconception that craft businesses can't scale. His scientific approach to brewing has proven that maintaining artisanal quality while achieving commercial scale is not just possible, but profitable. Ishan …
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A Founder's Guide to Legal Contracts | Aditya Pandranki (Doqfy)
1:02:26
1:02:26
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1:02:26"India's complex regulatory landscape, often seen as a hurdle, can actually be a powerful competitive advantage for startups." Aditya Pandranki shares how Doqfy strategically leveraged the intricacies of varying state-wise stamp duty regulations, turning a common business challenge into a unique selling proposition and a significant moat. Aditya Pa…
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What Does It Take to Scale a Hardware Startup in India? Amit Gupta (Yulu) Has the Answers
2:11:37
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2:11:37"We have zero customer acquisition cost with a hardware business." This seemingly impossible statement from Amit Gupta reveals a counterintuitive truth: asset-heavy businesses can create stronger competitive moats than asset-light ones. While Silicon Valley preaches software scalability, Amit proved that owning physical infrastructure can lead to s…
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The Story Behind UPI, And What's Next: ONDC, BBPS & ULI with Deepak Thakur (NPST)
2:21:46
2:21:46
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2:21:46"When UPI happened, it was like, very clear now, this is something that will change everything." This powerful statement from Deepak Chand Thakur encapsulates the monumental shift the Unified Payments Interface has brought to India's financial landscape. It wasn't just another payment system; it was a revolution that reshaped commerce, financial ac…
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A Founder & VC's Roadmap to Scaling | Rohit M A (PeerCapital & Cloudnine)
2:02:34
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2:02:34"The sooner you can get to a level where you can actually make yourself redundant, I think that's when you start building an institution." This powerful insight from Rohit M A encapsulates a core theme of our conversation: sustainable growth isn't just about a visionary founder, but about building systems and teams that can thrive independently. It…
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Deals to Degrees: Serial Entrepreneur Ashish Munjal's journey from Crown It to Sunstone
1:43:57
1:43:57
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1:43:57"Founders often wear a mask of 'irrational optimism' for their team; a necessary front when leading through uncertainty." This insight from Ashish Munjal delves into the often unspoken psychological aspect of entrepreneurship, where maintaining a strong, positive exterior is crucial for team morale and navigating the startup journey's inherent chal…
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Building a 400cr+ Waste Empire | Dhruv Luthra (Luthra Group)
1:08:56
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1:08:56"Waste is the resource which is in the wrong place." This powerful statement from Dhruv Luthra encapsulates the core philosophy driving the Luthra Group. It’s a paradigm shift from viewing waste as a problem to seeing it as an opportunity – a valuable raw material waiting to be transformed. This mindset has propelled the Luthra Group to the forefro…
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From Coffee Trader To $250M+ VC | Manav Garg (Together Fund)
1:41:21
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1:41:21"SaaS as we know it is DEAD." This might sound controversial, but as Manav Garg explains, the old model of simple workflow automation is being rapidly superseded. AI agents are now capable of executing complex tasks based on simple commands, fundamentally changing how businesses operate and what they expect from technology. Manav Garg is the Co-fou…
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KukuFM's Secret Sauce: Exclusivity, Efficiency, and 'Asli Dhanda'
1:45:30
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1:45:30"Raising more money often means you made more mistakes." This counter-intuitive take from Vinod Kumar Meena challenges the common startup narrative where fundraising equals success. He argues that true success lies in capital efficiency and building a sustainable business, not just chasing the next round. Vinod Kumar Meena is the Co-Founder & COO o…
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Deep Dive: How We Got to GPT (and What's Next) with Vinay Sankarapu (Arya.ai- An Aurionpro Company)
2:33:43
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2:33:43"When people think of AI, they think it's probably happened in the last 10 years or 20 years, but it's a journey of 70 plus years." This quote from Vinay Sankarapu challenges the common perception of AI as a recent phenomenon. Vinay Sankarapu is the Founder & CEO of Arya.ai- An Aurionpro Company, one of India's pioneering AI companies established i…
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The B2B Whisperer: Dhruv Verma's Secrets to Landing (and Keeping) Big Clients
1:12:59
1:12:59
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1:12:59"B2B sales is not selling a product. It's building up a relationship." This insight from Dhruv Verma underscores a core theme of our conversation: in the high-stakes world of B2B, particularly with large enterprises, trust and deep understanding built through relationships are paramount, often trumping product features alone. Dhruv Verma is the Fou…
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Solving Healthcare Affordability Crisis | Aditya Sharma (Affordplan)
51:05
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51:05"The journey of reduction in health care costs is not the responsibility of the hospital on its own, it's also the responsibility at the patient level." Aditya Sharma, CEO and Co- founder of AffordPlan, is tackling the critical issue of healthcare affordability in India. From his unique perspective as an investor-turned-founder, he's driving a purp…
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Policybazaar: Growth, IPO & Future Bets | Tarun Mathur
1:15:35
1:15:35
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1:15:35"If you're going to find something, think of building this for the next 20 years. Think very long term." This powerful advice from Tarun Mathur underscores the importance of long-term vision in entrepreneurship, reminding founders that enduring companies aren't built overnight but over decades. Tarun Mathur is the Co-Founder & Chief Business Office…
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The Future is Climate AI Solutions | Rohit Toshniwal (Sprih)
1:14:36
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1:14:36"Behind the scenes, it's a Climate AI. It's a very deep Climate AI engine that we have built, which drives all of these workflows." Rohit Toshniwal pulls back the curtain on the sophisticated technology needed to tackle complex environmental challenges, highlighting how Artificial Intelligence is becoming essential for managing sustainability data …
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Building a ₹7500 Cr AUM Fintech | Harshvardhan Lunia (Lendingkart)
1:24:00
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1:24:00"The customer is the CEO of the company; he can fire everyone." This core belief drove Harshvardhan Lunia's journey in building Lendingkart. He emphasizes that obsessively solving the customer's problem—be it the need for speed, transparency, or convenience—is the ultimate key to building trust and a successful financial services business. Harshvar…
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Surviving Downturns and Bootstrapping a Fintech Giant | Sameer Mathur (ROINet)
1:03:00
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1:03:00"You cannot grow the country's GDP if a third of your population is not a part of the financial inclusion piece." Sameer Mathur highlights the critical link between financial inclusion and national economic growth, emphasizing the vast untapped potential of serving the underserved in India. This isn't just about business; it's about societal impact…
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ESOPs Aren't Monopoly Money, Here's Why | Satish Mugulavalli (Hissa)
1:38:16
1:38:16
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1:38:16"ESOPs aren't lottery tickets; they're a calculated risk with a potential for real wealth creation." This seemingly simple statement from Satish Mugulavalli, Founder and Managing Partner of Hissa, encapsulates the core message of this episode: shifting the perception of ESOPs from "paper money" to a strategic tool for both companies and employees. …
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