The Indian Startup Show

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 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

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  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

Sports tech and driving sports engagement. Today my guest is  Amit Purohit  CEO & 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 EveBeing an ex-Star Sports employee.Getting support from friends and familyBeing 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 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

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  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

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  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

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  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

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 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

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 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

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  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

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  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