The Startup Operator

In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with

Dilip Kumar, investor at Rainmatter, to unpack the complex world of

healthcare startups in India. The conversation dives into the

fundamental challenges of building trust, why tech solutions often fall

short, and the cultural and structural nuances that make healthcare a

uniquely difficult sector to crack. Dilip shares his journey from

founder to investor, the gaps in India’s healthcare infrastructure, and

why founders must rethink traditional VC playbooks if they want to bu...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with Venkatesh Mudragalla, co-founder of Jeh Aerospace, to discuss the intricacies of the aerospace industry. The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the challenges Boeing faced, the impact of supply chain constraints, and the critical nature of manufacturing in the aerospace sector. Venkatesh shares his journey from working with Tata to starting J Aerospace in 2022, the importance of advanced manufacturing, and how India is poised to become a global aerospace hub.

Topics:

00:00 Sneak peak

01:06 Introduction

03:28 Challenges and Evolution in...

In this episode of The Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with K. Ganesh, the serial entrepreneur behind BigBasket, Portea, Bluestone, and HomeLane. They delve into topics like staying relevant in the ever-changing startup ecosystem, the importance of focusing on large, core sectors, and the reality of embracing both failures and small successes in entrepreneurship. Ganesh shares his insights on potential sectors for future startups, including green energy, climate tech, and space tech, while emphasizing the need for passion and a bit of foolishness in believing in one's ideas. They also discuss the importance of planning for exits, how...

Join us for an intriguing episode of the Startup Operator Podcast as Roshan talks to Gokul, the founder of CynLr, a pioneering deep tech robotics startup. Discover how CynLr is transforming the way machines recognize and handle objects through advanced vision systems. Gokul shares the challenges of hardware manufacturability, innovation in automation, and insights into the future of robotics and human life. Learn about the journey of building a deep tech startup, fundraising intricacies, and fostering interdisciplinary talent to solve complex problems in the robotics industry.

00:00 Sneakpeak

01:03 The Journey of CynLr's Founders<...

In this episode of The Startup Operator Podcast, host Roshan sits down with Divesh Dhawan, founder of Meyrahkee Advisors, to discuss the evolving landscape of hiring in startups. They delve into the importance of understanding Gen Z workers, the sectors currently in high demand, and valuable tips for candidates to get shortlisted. They also touch on the cultural aspects that influence hiring decisions and share some of the top startups known for their exceptional work environments.

00:00 Introduction

01:41 Current Hiring Trends in Startups

03:56 Tips for Job Candidates

07:38 Evaluating Company...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan cover the latest and most impactful headlines from India's startup ecosystem. They start with Swiggy's second-largest IPO of the year, Zomato's innovations, Freshworks' recent layoffs and simultaneous stock buyback, and ISRO's new partnership with IIT Madras. They also discuss Elon Musk's Starlink seeking permission for satellite broadband in India and the closure of Stowa's alternate MBA program.

Topics:

00:00 Introduction

00:44 Opening comments

01:19 Major Headlines

02:28 US Elections and Tech Influence

06:05 Swiggy's Market Debut

09:22 Zomato's New Features<...

In this special episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, we venture out to meet the dynamic team behind SSS Defense, an emerging defense manufacturer in India specializing in small arms and ammunition. Join us for an in-depth conversation with co-founders Vivek and Dinesh as they share insights on building a defense company from the ground up, the challenges of operating in the defense sector, the intricacies of procurement, and their ambitious plans for the future.

Topics:

00:00 Sneak Peak

00:43 Introduction

03:03 The Origin of SSS Defense

3:18 Starting up...

In this roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into the evolving landscape of India's startup ecosystem. They honor the late Ratan Tata, reflecting on his monumental contributions and the lasting impact of the Tata brand. The conversation shifts to India's ambitious plans to become a global semiconductor hub by 2025. They then discuss Elon Musk's technological advancements, like Starship and autonomous cybercabs, and their implications for India's labor market. Concerns over India's technological lag and Security issues, highlighted by data breaches like DotPay and Star Health Insurance are also discussed. It concludes with humorous insights on cultural events such as BookMyShow's...

In this episode of the startup operator podcast, Roshan hosts co-founders Joy Saldanha and Ankita Tandon as they chronicle their journey with Infinyte Club, a groundbreaking platform for startup operators. This episode delves into their strategic expansion into comprehensive wealth management, stressing the importance of execution beyond ideas. They aim to empower startup professionals with robust tools for managing ESOPs and investments, adopting a 'compound startup' approach that marries technical expertise with emotional resilience. Highlighting the Moneyball product and strategic diversification, Infinyte seeks to transform into a holistic wealth management platform, offering diversified equity and comprehensive asset management solutions.<...

In this Roundup, hosts Roshan Cariappa and Gunjan Saha discuss the latest headlines in India's startup ecosystem, covering topics such as the Great Indian Shopping Festival on eCommerce apps, separation talks between Mensa Brands and Men's XP, and GoKwik's acquisition of Return Prime. The episode also highlights government initiatives to simplify processes for overseas startups shifting domicile back to India. Additionally, the conversation touches on India's plans to establish a self-sustained space station by 2035 and land on the moon by 2040, the launch of Accel's new pre-seed accelerator program for Bharat startups. The episode wraps up with an entertaining discussion...

In this episode Roshan engages with Shashank Avdhani, Co-founder of Alyve Health, an insurtech startup. The conversation uncovers the intricacies of the Indian health insurance landscape, focusing on customer-centric products, under coverage issues, and the impact of COVID-19. Shashank discusses his transition from consulting to founding Alyve, emphasizing collaboration with incumbents and navigating regulatory complexities. The episode also examines the role of regulatory bodies like the IRDA, the necessity for specialized licenses, and the prospects for reducing GST on health plans.

00:00 Introduction 
01:17 Shashank's Background and Founding Journey
02:29 Understanding the Health Insurance Market
03:34 Customer Experience i...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan celebrate Startup Operator's top ranking on Chartable and discuss significant events and trends in India's startup ecosystem. They cover highlights from the Global FinTech Festival in Mumbai. Then they delve into Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in AI, the arrest of Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov, and Insurance Dekho's new SaaS platform. Additionally, they discuss upcoming IPOs in the FinTech sector, notable fundraisers by Rapido and Zepto, and unique consumer tech innovations. The episode ends with a discussion on the founder mode versus manager mode in startups and a...

In this episode, Roshan talks to Devendra Agrawal, Founder of Dexter Capital. Having dedicated over five years to investments and two years in a senior corporate finance position, Devendra embraced the entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Dexter Capital, a boutique investment bank.

The conversation encompasses the various factors that shaped today's outlook into startup investing. Tune in for a deep-dive into --

00:00 - Introduction

1:13 - Recent Developments in startup Investing

11:27 - Startup Ecosystem and the Indian Economy

16:04 - Power Dynamics Between Founders and Investors

25:26 - Key...

In this episode Roshan talks to Prashant Sachan, co-founder of Apps for Bharat, to explore the dynamic landscape of India's consumer market and his successful journey with the Srimandir app. With over 3 crore downloads and 3 million monthly users, Prashanth discusses the art of building engaging app-led businesses, the role of monetization, and delivering unique user experiences. The conversation delves into user engagement, iterative experimentation, and scaling challenges, particularly amidst the digital adaptation of religious practices during the pandemic. Additionally, the episode provides practical fundraising advice for startups and insights on operating through economic downturns, stressing the importance of trust...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into key developments in India's vibrant startup ecosystem. They discuss the significance of freedom for startups, the technological advancements in India's digital infrastructure, and the promising updates in UPI's payment system. Highlights include Sarvam AI's innovation in Indian language models, Krafton's plans for an R&D center in India, and significant fundraises by Ather Energy, Fresh Bus, and Skydo. In this week's talk of the town they touch on Google's Eric Schmidt's becoming an arms dealer and Peter Thiel's take on the current state of AI.

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan  discuss major headlines in India's startup ecosystem. Key topics include a U.S. federal judge's ruling against Google for antitrust violations, X's (formerly Twitter) legal battle with advertisers, and an innovative SIP-like approach to startup investing introduced by Infinite Club. They also cover Andhra Pradesh's new YouTube Academy announcement, significant IPOs, and various funding news. 

Topics
00:00 Introduction 
00:27 Headlines
01:29 Olympic Highlights and Reflections
04:54 Celebrating Milestones
06:03 Google's Antitrust Issues
14:28 Twitter's Legal Battle with Advertisers
20:05 Legal Battle Insights
20:25 India's First SIP for...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan break down significant updates from India's startup ecosystem, including Karnataka's new job reservation bill, the union budget's key highlights, and notable trends on Twitter. The discussion covers the impact of CrowdStrike's software glitch, and Ola's competitive move against Google Maps. The episode concludes with insights on the importance of education and skilling, the controversial angel tax, and recent fundraising activities within the ecosystem.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Karnataka's New Job Reservation Bill
11:01 Union Budget Highlights for Startups
23:06 The Blue Screen of Death Incident
26:46...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into major headlines in India's startup ecosystem. They discuss BlackBuck's filing of its DHRP papers for a 550 crore rupees IPO with SEBI, and IdeaForge's acquisition of a stake in space tech startup Galaxeye space. The episode also touches on the ongoing Twitter feud between Elon Musk and the European Commission over free speech. 

00:00 Introduction
01:23 Attempt on Trump's life
06:12 BlackBuck's IPO Filing
10:26 IdeaForge's Strategic Acquisition
13:29 Elon Musk vs. European Commission 
18:45 New York City's Trash Dilemma
23:15 Retired Bureaucrats Entering Venture Capital

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss significant developments in India's startup ecosystem. Topics include SEBI's new regulations affecting brokerage firms, the launch of Narayana Health's game changing insurance product, and the shutdown of the Koo app after failed acquisition talks. The hosts also touch on Reliance Retail's relaunch of the Chinese brand Shein, Swiggy's new feature for food recommendations, and Peak XV Ventures' focus on AI startups.

Topics:

00:00 Introduction

00:26 Headlines and opening banter
03:00 SEBI's 2 new circulars

09:13 Narayana Hospital's New Health Insurance Product

14:27...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into significant headlines shaping India's startup ecosystem. They start with a discussion on Micromax Venture's fund performance and key insights from the Figma Config conference. The hosts also explore Zomato's new Restaurant Service Hub, the rise of regional content with Stage's growth, and OYO's withdrawal of its IPO papers. They touch on Foxconn's alleged hiring discrimination and provide a roundup of notable startup fundraises. The episode concludes with interesting career advice from Chamath and user-centered product insights from Arvind Srinivas.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction 
00:21 Cricket F...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan talks to Nivas, a seasoned SaaS marketer, to discuss his journey and insights into SaaS marketing. Nivas shares his accidental entry into the SaaS world, joining Freshworks (then Freshdesk) post-acquisition of his startup in 2015. The conversation highlights the importance of building a world-class product, visionary leadership from Freshworks CEO Girish, and the challenges of educating the market about SaaS in its early days. Nivas also delves into his role at SpendFlo, emphasizing the value of investing in brand from the outset, developing an intimate event strategy for engagement, and managing...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss  the significant drop in placements and employment of IIT graduates in the country, financial troubles at ThirdWave Coffee and Reshamandi, and the launch of Safe Superintelligence Inc. by Ilya Sutskever. The hosts also touch on notable fundraising rounds for Zepto, Alyve Health, and Bira91, and conclude with an analysis of interesting tweets and market trends.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Topics of the week
01:40 Weekly Highlights: Events and Sports
02:29 IIT placements and Job Market Insights
06:12 Economic Trends: Middle Class Growth and Spending
08:07 T...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, host Roshan welcomes Varun from Bounce. Varun shares insights into Bounce’s progression from its origins as Wicked Rides, a bike rental company, to becoming a prominent player in the electric mobility market. He discusses the significant milestones such as the launch of Bounce Infinity, the introduction of the E1 and E1 Plus models, and their burgeoning B2B operations, including a collaboration with Sun Mobility to supply 30,000 bikes. Varun delves into the innovative pivots that guided Bounce’s journey, highlighting the company's transitions driven by customer needs and market gaps. Addi...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss major headlines impacting India's startup ecosystem. Key topics include the newly elected Indian government and its potential impact on the startup environment, particularly in electric vehicles and funding policies. The hosts highlight the inclusion of ten Indian startups, like Pixel and Niramai, in the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers list. The episode wraps up with discussions on recent funding news and trending social media topics.

00:00 Introduction
00:11 Topic readout
02:04 Opening comments
06:10 Startup Ecosystem and Government Policies
10:24 Indian Startups on Global Stage
13:34...

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss Agnikul Cosmos launching Agniban, the world's first 3D-printed rocket engine. The Indian government proposing a Digital Competition Bill to limit the dominance of tech giants such as Google, Amazon, and Apple. Meanwhile, Fintech company Paytm plans significant layoffs to counter its financial losses, and payment processor Stripe goes invite-only in India due to regulatory changes. 

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:20 Space Sector Achievements: Agnikul Cosmos
00:43 Digital Competition Bill: Tech Giants vs. Government
00:59 FinTech Industry Updates: Paytm and Stripe
14:12 Weekly Fundraisers and Market Insights

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into the hottest headlines from India's burgeoning startup ecosystem. They cover a variety of topics including a feud between Ola and Microsoft, highlights from Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference, and Google’s potential acquisition of HubSpot.  The show features insightful views on the strategies and implications of these developments, along with some engaging cricket commentary and industry gossip.

00:00 Introduction
00:34 A Quick Movie Recommendation: Aavesham
00:52 India's Startup Ecosystem: Feuds, Acquisitions, and Innovations
04:00 Microsoft vs. Ola: A Feud Over Cloud Infrastructure
09:08 Microsoft's Build Devel...

India's Startup Ecosystem and Global Tech Innovations: A Comprehensive Roundup

In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup,  Roshan Cariappa and Gunjan Saha dive into the latest highlights of India's startup scene and global tech developments. They discuss the intriguing capabilities of GPT 4o, Girish Matrubhutam stepping down as CEO of Freshworks. The discussion wraps with an optimistic outlook on India's potential in brand building and luxury goods on the global stage, suggesting a significant shift in perception towards 'Made in India' products.

00:00 Introduction
03:38 The Fascination with AI: From GPT-4o to Social Consequences

In the latest episode of The Startup Operator Roundup, Gunjan and Roshan makes sense of the ongoing dispute between WhatsApp and GoI over the new IT rules, Razorpay’s newly launched UPI Switch and its promise for bettering UPI, RBI’s notice to Kotak Mahindra Bank, and much more. 

If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Remember to subscribe to the podcast for regular updates from India’s growing startup ecosystem.

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Connect with Us: 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-operator
Tw...

Divanshu Kumar co-founder and CEO of Solinas, talks about the story of a robotics startup evolving from an education-focused non-profit to tackling water and sanitation challenges in India, highlighting the intricacies of operating a hardware startup, manufacturing strategies, and the significance of B2B and B2G relationships. The discussion further encompasses strategic growth, detailing a technology firm's expansion from India to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, emphasizing cost-effective technology solutions, high-end R&D, and the importance of maintaining culture within growing teams. The episode offers invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, market understanding, and the continuous learning required...

This episode of the Startup Operator Roundup delves into recent developments within the Indian startup ecosystem, covering topics like GoI's plans to purchase Nvidia GPUs to rent and sublet for Indian startups to use, India SaaS report, Flipkart's attempt to buy Zepto and more!

Topic:
00:00 Intro
05:00 India planning to sign deal with NVIDIA
11:17 India's SaaS report 
20:33 Flipkart's failed plans to buy Zepto
26:00 building UPI-like platform for EV users 
30:20 Fundraises of the week 
32:30 Talk of the town 

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India SaaS Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1urd7...

This Podcast features deep dives into the burgeoning field of Generative AI (Gen AI), with a particular focus on its application in media and entertainment. The conversation with Subho, a co-founder of Neural Garage, explores the transformative potential of advanced AI technologies, such as attention mechanisms and large language models. It addresses the predictions, capabilities, and limitations of Gen AI, underscoring the journey from domain-specific to generalized models and the critical role of data. The dialogue further navigates the broad impact of AI across various sectors, debunking misconceptions about general intelligence, and providing an outlook on future advancements and...

This episode of the Startup Operator Roundup delves into recent developments within the Indian startup ecosystem, covering topics like Ola's strategic withdrawal from international markets to prioritize Indian expansion ahead of its IPO, Elon Musk's planned visit to India for potential manufacturing collaborations with Reliance Industries, and Apple's increasing iPhone production in India. The episode also highlights Sridhar Vembu's new venture into manufacturing power tools through his company Karuvi, and discusses various fundraising events, including employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) buybacks at The Sleep Company. 

Topics:
00:00 Opening Banter: RCB Match 
00:24 Welcome to the Startup Operator Ro...

Siddharth Mehta, co-founder of Kiwi,  discusses the disruptive innovation of credit on UPI in India. Siddharth, with a rich 20-year background in the cards and merchants sector, shares insights into his transition from CEO of FreeCharge to co-founding Kiwi, emphasizing the unique challenges and learnings in both roles. The conversation explores the potential for credit card growth in India, poised to jump from 40 million to 100 million users, and how Kiwi aims to facilitate this expansion by targeting a segment of 28 to 40-year-old salaried individuals who are heavy UPI users. Siddharth outlines the journey of Kiwi from its inception to t...

This podcast episode brings to light the entrepreneurial journey of Vineeth, the founder of TeleportMe, through a riveting dialogue on the Startup Operator Podcast. It traces the Indian startup ecosystem's evolution from 2012, marking a shift from pure engineering zeal to a more polished, professional approach to building startups. Vineeth opens up about TeleportMe's early days, including turning down a Google acquisition, to mastering the panorama app market, culminating in over 20 million downloads and pivoting towards a B2B model aimed at disrupting the VR and AR spaces with a crowdsourced street view concept. The episode encapsulates the essence of...

In this episode of The Startup Operator Roundup, Gunjan and Roshan break down the week's startup news and more!If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!

Topics:
00:00 Intro
02:39 Opening comments - PM Modi & Bill gates conversation 
07:20 Amul to sell milk in USA
09:44 Indian fintechs hit with notices
12:24 Zetwork bags order to setup 1,400 EV charging stations 
14:37 Swiggy instamart unprofitable 
17:51 Fund rai...

Rahul is the founder & CEO of Intervue - a hiring tech startup. He was also featured on Shark Tank India Season 3. In this episode he spoke about exploring his entrepreneurial journey, the development of his business 'Intervue', and the pivotal moments and insights gained from his experience on Shark Tank. Rahul discusses the importance of understanding customer needs, staying agile, and the intricacies of scaling in the SaaS industry. The talk also covers the cyclical nature of the recruitment industry, strategies for survival and growth in a changing market, and the impact of effective hiring. Additionally, Rahul shares personal...

In this episode of The Startup Operator Roundup, Gunjan and Roshan break down the week's startup news and more!If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!

Topics:
00:00 Intro
05:27 Start-up Mahakumbh
10:47 Import duties cut for EV makers
15:16 AI regulations now flexible
21:55 Paytm gets NPCI nod
23:55 Zomato’s pure veg fleet and it’s roll back
26:51 Nexus Venture's Sameer Brij Verma star...

Gaurav Sharma is the founder and CEO of SaaSLabs - a dynamic platform revolutionising productivity and workflow automation for sales and support agents. His entrepreneurial journey began as a passion project where he started from scratch and embarked on a path of innovation and growth.Through his ambition and a distribution-first mindset, Gaurav scaled his SaaSLabs to new heights. In this podcast he talks about building for SMEs, addressing their unique needs and challenges in the market, retaining customers, building a distribution network and so on. Tune in to this episode to unlock the keys to success in the...

In this captivating interview, Abhinav Das, the Co-founder and CEO of Orangewood labs shares his entrepreneurial journey, spanning multiple startups and groundbreaking innovations. From collaborating with co-founders to revolutionizing Indian manufacturing, Abhinav's insights inspire and inform. He discusses commercialization strategies, staying innovative, and imparts valuable advice for new founders. Join us as we delve into the challenges and triumphs of building startups, navigating complexities of building in the Robotics space.

Topics:
00:00 Intro
01:45 The start of Abhinav's journey 
15:14 Post Ahmedabad 
20:54 Meeting his co-founders
23:40 Complexities of working with CNC machines 
25:40 Building robotic arms
...

In this episode of The Startup Operator Roundup, Gunjan and Roshan break down the week's startup news and more!If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!

Topics:
00:00 Intro
07:21 Indus Valley Report 
14:35 Krutim's false claims 
18:25 Google play delists Indian apps
24:19 Elon: the most impactful human being 
27:47 Elon takes OpenAI to court 
30:43 AI Pin to soon launch in India
33:28 Disney and...