244: Can Devotion Drive Digital Innovation? | Prashant Sachan (Co-founder, Apps for Bharat)

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, authenticity, and financial discipline.  Topics:00:00 Introduction02:27 Starting a Business: Key Insights05:09 Building for the Masses07:05 Experimenting with Ideas09:05 Understanding User Needs16:13 Validating App Ideas24:27 Growth Strategies and User Engagement36:52 Monetization and User Feedback41:37 Building Without Bias42:19 Commitment to User Needs43:11 Business Model Innovation44:26 Monetizing Devotion46:23 Digital Spiritual Tourism49:07 Empowering Lesser-Known Temples58:10 The Role of Devotion in Society01:11:07 Navigating Market Challenges01:11:31 Fundraising Insights01:14:34 App Store Challenges01:18:07 Advice for Founders01:19:49 Recommended Reads for Founders01:21:17 Conclusion and Farewell ------------------------------------- Click here to get regular WhatsApp updates:https://wa.me/message/ZUZQQGKCZTADL1 ------------------------------------- Connect with Us: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-operator​Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperatorStartup​​ ------------------------------------- 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!