The Indian Startup Show

Neil Patel

A weekly podcast show about Indian startups, entrepreneurs, and more! Hosted by Neil Patel & Friends

  • 45 minutes 40 seconds
    Building Strength for Everyday People: Adarsh Gopalakrishnan founder of Move101 on Making Fitness Accessible.

    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!

    Links

    https://www.move101.net/

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

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    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    10 November 2024, 12:00 am
  • 51 minutes 19 seconds
    Anushka Gupta co-founder of MyMuse on building India’s first bedroom essentials brand.

    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.

    Links

    https://mymuse.in/

     

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

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    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    11 June 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 36 minutes 37 seconds
    Prince Thomas, CEO & Co-founder of MetaShot on building the world's first console-like cricket game

    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. 

    Links

    https://metashot.in/

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

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    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    4 June 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 18 seconds
    Karan Singh, CEO & Founder of Aristobrat, on redefining fashion entrepreneurship.

    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.

    Links

    https://www.aristobrat.in/

     

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

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    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    14 May 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 45 minutes 31 seconds
    Lalit Kalani, Founder of Rock Paper Rum, On building an innovative premium Indian Rum brand

    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 global
    • Why rum?
    • What can go wrong?
    • What should first time founders be focussing on?
    • Mentorship
    • Influencer marketing.
    • Dealing with regulations
    • Being a 2nd time founder. 
    • Spending time in America.

    Links

    https://www.rockpaperrum.com/

     

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    2 May 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 27 seconds
    Megha Gambhir co-founder & CEO of Stupa Sports Analytics on building a global sports analytics company and helping athletes improve sports performance.

    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 world
    • Matches analysed.
    • What excites her most about building this startup
    • Digitising sports events.
    • Being motivated my money.
    • Bring an IT professional turned entrepreneur,
    • Video analysis.
    • Implementation
    • Real time analytics and performances (KPIs)

    And much more

    Links

    https://stupaanalytics.com/#/home

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    8 April 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 43 seconds
    Surbhi Jain, Founder of Neend. On Building an app that aims to help people sleep better.

    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 works
    • Her reluctance to seek feedback from friends and family
    • Contacting customers first thing in the morning
    • Business model.
    • General sleep tips
    • Thoughts 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 Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    13 March 2024, 12:00 am
  • 51 minutes 3 seconds
    Gokul NA. Co-Founder of CynLr. Revolutionising Robotics and making ‘universal factories’ the future.

    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 members
    • Meeting his co-founder
    • Opening an office in Switzerland.
    • Dealing with initial feedback

    Links.

    https://www.cynlr.com/

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    7 March 2024, 12:00 am
  • 31 minutes 1 second
    Pratham Jindal, Founder & CEO of Praper Media. On building a content agency helping creators create!

    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 scene
    • Plans 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 

    Links

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratham-jindal/

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    28 February 2024, 12:00 am
  • 49 minutes 9 seconds
    Sarabjeet Sachar - CEO of Aspiration Jobs. A seasoned career coach & mentor. Guiding busy professionals for a fast pace career growth & future-proof success.

    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 comment

    In 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/Resume
    • Work life balance
    • Thoughts on moonlighting
    • Do people still want careers?
    • What about the traditional 9-5 workday
    • Which 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 more

    Links

    https://www.facebook.com/sarabjeet.sachar/

    https://www.instagram.com/sarabjeetsachar/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarabjeetsachar/

    https://aspirationjobs.com/

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    25 January 2024, 12:00 am
  • 34 minutes 23 seconds
    Aruna Chawla, founder of Salad - A FemTech startup building wellness for women & disrupting the face of a $100bn + global industry.

    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 lean
    • Stats so far
    • Having a bias of action
    • Not wanting to be a founder or do a startup in the beginning. 
    • First impressions of her co-founder
    • The 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 more

    Links

    https://www.grabsalad.com/

    music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel 

    https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2

     

    Listen and Subscribe to More Episodes

    https://www.indianstartupshow.com/

     

    Music by Punch Deck.

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

    6 March 2023, 12:00 am
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