ChaiNet: The Agentic Commerce Podcast

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ankush Jagga, co-founder of UnfoldXR, AI for frontline workers who fix ACs and pick your Blinkit orders.Ankush has built three startups with two exits. Now he’s building for the workers the world forgot to serve.We talk about what happens when a technician hits a new problem, how quickly commercial pressure shapes his product, and his goal of impacting one million lives by 2030.If you run a frontline business this one’s for you.Listen to Ankush Jagga on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Kathy Walkling, co-founder of Eco Femme, a social enterprise that pioneered washable cloth pads in India and reached 27 countries.Eco Femme created livelihoods for rural women, ran free education for girls, and proved that purpose and profit can coexist. Then, after 15 years, Kathy handed it over and moved back to Australia.We talk about why she believed in cloth pads, how she built without outside funding, what 15 years of slow growth does to a person, and what it felt like to let go.If you’re building something you hope outlives you, this one’s for you.Listen to Kathy Walkling on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Shivam K, founder of The Teaser Company, a creative shop that has worked with over 100 D2C brands.Shivam trained as a screenwriter at FTII and wrote ads for Honda and McDonald’s. He believes most founders are fixing the wrong problem.We talk about what kills an ad in three seconds, why high-production ads often fail, the five links in a creative chain, and whether AI excites or scares him.If you’re about to increase your ad budget without fixing the creative first, this one’s for you.Listen to Shivam K on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Dr Brent Ridge, co-founder of Beekman 1802, one of the world’s most recognised goat-milk skincare brands.No funding, no plan. Just an idea that kindness could be a business strategy. We talk about cold-walking into Henri Bendel with a bar of soap, why they bootstrapped for a decade, what happened on QVC, and what happens to a kindness brand when AI starts shopping for consumers.If you think kindness is soft, this one’s for you.Listen to Dr Brent Ridge on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Sukrit Goel, founder of CannazoIndia, who took his brand to Shark Tank.We talk about why a ₹100 crore brand doesn’t exist yet, whether this is a demand or supply problem, what it takes to get a compliant product to market, how hemp brands acquire customers without paid ads, and whether AI can level the playing field.If you’re watching a category that should be bigger than it is, this one’s for you.Listen to Sukrit Goel on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ali Syed, founder of Ōkami Parfums, a made-in-India brand inspired by Japanese minimalism.Ali went from policy and development banking to building fragrance. We talk about why India supplies ingredients but not brands, whether young Indians treat perfume like sneakers, how you sell scent online, and where AI helped him build Ōkami.If you think Indian perfume is only attar and old-world luxury, this one’s for you.Listen to Ali Syed on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Nishtha Khanduja, a growth marketing leader with eight years of experience across food, wellness, and fitness.Campaigns that took weeks now run in hours. Content that needed a studio now takes twenty minutes. But having the tools doesn’t mean you know what to do with them.We talk about when she felt the shift, where ChatGPT works and where it flops, whether AI can actually tell a brand story, and whether marketing jobs will exist in five years.If you’re a marketer trying to figure out what matters in 2026, this one’s for you.Listen to Nishtha Khanduja on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ankit Agarwal, co-founder of Fang Oral Care, backed by Mamaearth’s parent company.Ankit started with his own dental problems. Before Fang, he built and shut down MyNutraCart. That failure taught him what he needed.We talk about what “clean label” actually means in toothpaste, whether Indians care what’s inside their tube, why disrupting Colgate is hard, and where AI fits inside Fang.If you care about what goes into your food but never look at your toothpaste this one’s for you.Listen to Ankit Agarwal on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Carlos Chacón-Martínez, a cell biologist who studied at the Max Planck Institute and built Niostem, a headset that aims to wake up dormant hair follicles.Carlos went from scientist to founder, then stepped down as CEO to focus on the tech.We talk about why keeping hair is so hard, how to convince people that a headset works, what broke when orders flooded in, and what he’d tell someone scared to start.If you think hair loss solutions only come in a bottle, this one’s for you.Listen to Carlos Chacón-Martínez on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Shray Arora, CEO of Helium, an AI platform that personalizes D2C storefronts in real time.Shray is a McKinsey alum and a Forbes 30 Under 30. His customers include Noise and Marks & Spencer. His argument: the leak is not in your ads. It’s your store.We talk about what it costs when every visitor sees the same homepage, the signals most people never look at, and when personalisation becomes manipulation.If you’re still spending more on traffic instead of fixing the leak, this one’s for you.Listen to Shray Arora on ChaiNet now This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ayush Aggarwal, founder of Rasayanam.First, he left a stable finance career in Canada with no plan. Then, after building a brand with over 20 lakh customers, he tore it down and rebuilt it as a science-backed nutraceutical brand.We talk about why he left Canada, what the first day in his basement looked like, why he keeps saying no to funding, and one decision he wishes he could unmake.If you’re sitting on a decision you’ve been avoiding, this one’s for you.Listen to Ayush Aggarwal on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Shubhangi Bansal, co-founder of Ekaksh International.After nine years at Microsoft, Shubhangi pivoted into ingredients exports. Her approach: spec first, documentation upfront, and telling buyers when she can’t help.We talk about what surprised her about Indian exports, where AI fits in her business, and whether AI can ever replace human trust in global trade.If you’re in sourcing or exports, this one’s for you.Listen to Shubhangi Bansal on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Sargam Dhawan Bhayana, founder of Planet Herbs.Sargam took her family’s manufacturing credibility and built a modern wellness brand, thinking seriously about quick commerce, AI-led discovery, and making Ayurveda feel new.We talk about why she launched with therapeutic products, what quick commerce does for her business, how AI changes trust in Ayurveda, and one metric she watches more closely than most founders.If you’re building in wellness or modernising an old category, this one’s for you.Listen to Sargam Dhawan Bhayana on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Kailash Nichani, founder of Topee.Half of Indian men deal with hair loss. Almost no one talks about it properly. Kailash lost his hair early, found something that worked, hated how the industry sold it, and built Topee.We talk about the stigma versus the products, what people get wrong about hair systems versus transplants, and why he bet on transparent pricing in India.If hair loss has ever made you feel less confident, this one’s for you.Listen to Kailash Nichani on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Akshita Singla, founder of Akya Wellness.Most people spend a lot on supplements, but still don’t know what they actually need. Akshita lived in Europe, saw how wellness worked there, and came back to India to fix the product-and-trust problem.We talk about what she checks first on a label, what sells more good products or good marketing, and where AI can actually make wellness useful.If your supplement shelf needs a reset, this one’s for you.Listen to Akshita Singla on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Shilpa Khadilkar, a pharmacist and founder of Renewtra.India is protein-deficient. A study found nearly 70% of popular supplements were mislabelled. Shilpa spent a decade on the supply side before building differently, three years of formulating before selling a single product.We talk about what she saw behind closed doors, the real math on dal and protein, how to separate real claims from marketing, and why she put a QR code linking to clinical evidence on every pack.If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually inside your supplement jar, this one’s for you.Listen to Shilpa Khadilkar on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Devika Bajaj, founder of Daivik Moringa.When doctors gave her supplements that didn’t feel right, Devika looked elsewhere. Moringa worked for her. But the category was broken, weak products, no way for consumers to tell the difference. So she decided to control the product from the source. Her own farm.We talk about what felt broken in moringa, why she had to control the source, building a brand while being a mother of two, and why India trusts foreign wellness language over its own ingredients.If you’ve wondered what “premium” actually means in wellness, this one’s for you.Listen to Devika Bajaj on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Sam Chetwood, founder of CeCe & Me.After 15 years in financial PR, Sam quit her corporate career, retrained as a qualified shoe fitter, and started taking appointments from her kitchen. Today, she runs a franchised business built around one simple belief: kids’ feet are more complicated than most parents think.We talk about:* The moment in a shoe shop that made her walk away from her career.* What parents do that makes her cringe every time.* Why buying a size up or saving “good shoes” for occasions is actually harmful.* What those first few months from her kitchen looked like.* How she teaches someone else to do what took her six months of specialist training.* Where AI fits into a deeply hands-on business.* What’s real and what’s just a trend with barefoot shoes?* The one piece of advice that surprises parents the most.If you’ve ever bought shoes for a child and hoped for the best, this conversation is for you.Listen to Sam Chetwood on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Nikita Naterwalla, founder of Arelang, and Dr. Shefali Thakkar, who leads R&D.They’re building what they call India’s first candyceutical brand, wellness through chocolates and gummies. No boring pills. No supplements that disappear into a drawer.We talk about:- Where the idea came from and why supplements needed a rethink.- The biggest misconception people have when they hear candyceutical.- How to make a product enjoyable without making it feel unserious.- What consumers should look for to separate real formulation from good marketing.- Whether they’re building a product brand or a whole new category.- What’s harder, making the product or making people understand it?If wellness feels like homework to you, this conversation might change that.Listen to Nikita and Shefali on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Dr. Kanan Doshi, co-founder of The Able Company.For 32 years, Dr. Kanan worked as a pediatric occupational therapist. At some point, she stopped recommending solutions and started building one.The result is Hands-On, a simple, battery-free device that helps people feed themselves, write, and brush their teeth. No app. No power. Just seven attachments. IIT Madras-incubated.We talk about the little girl who changed everything, what the prototype looked like, and why selling a product people need but aren’t looking for is the hardest part.If you believe the best solutions come from people who have seen the problem up close, this one’s for you.Listen to Dr. Kanan Doshi on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Rohan Rai, co-founder of EDA Baby & Child.Rohan and his wife, Dr. Sonali Kohli, a practising dermatologist, built a skincare brand specifically for Indian skin, Indian summers, and Indian conditions.We talk about the dinner table conversation that started it all, what Dr. Sonali saw in her clinic, the truth about baby powder and oil massage, why they built through doctors instead of influencers, and what happens when a dermatologist and a packaging expert disagree on a business call.If you’re a parent wondering what actually works for Indian baby skin, this one’s for you.Listen to Rohan Rai on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ashok Chowdhary, founder of Vrindaam, who proved that entrepreneurship doesn’t have an age limit.At an age when most people are planning retirement, Ashok started a company. Not because he had to, but because he saw a problem that needed solving.We talk about his journey before Vrindaam, the moment he decided to start, whether age was a challenge or advantage, and what he would say to someone who feels it’s too late.If you’ve ever thought it’s too late to start something of your own, this one will change your mind.Listen to Ashok Chowdhary on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Samuel Ade, founder of Ilana, a luxury fashion platform creating pathways for Black fashion designers.Ilana means “pathway” in Yoruba. The platform was born from Samuel’s mother’s dream of seeing her designs sold globally. Today, Ilana offers free mentorship and a scholarship fund powered by every sale.We talk about his mother’s story, launching during COVID, giving away mentorship for free, and who actually decides what counts as luxury.If you believe talent is everywhere but access is not, this one’s for you.Listen to Samuel Ade on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Sidharth Sahni, Co-Founder of Helium.Someone clicks your ad. Lands on your page. Then leaves. Most brands call this a bounce rate and buy more traffic. Sidharth thinks that’s the most expensive mistake in D2C.Helium uses AI to adapt storefronts in real time for each visitor.Sidharth talks about:* What happens in the first thirty seconds in a store?* Why founders misdiagnose conversion as a traffic problem.* What he built first that didn’t work.* What a fully autonomous Shopify store looks like in three years.If you’re still blaming traffic for your conversion problem, this one’s for you.Listen to Sidharth Sahni on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Hunny Bhagchandani, founder of Torchit Electronics.After watching a visually impaired mentor get hurt, Hunny spent three years and built 16 prototypes. Today, his device Saarthi, sells for ₹3,199 compared to German alternatives at ₹70,000 and has shipped to 50,000 people across 40 countries.We talk about walking off Shark Tank without a deal, blindfolding himself live on TV to demo the product, and how AI is changing life for the visually impaired.If you want to hear what building with purpose actually looks like, this one’s for you.Listen to Hunny Bhagchandani on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

India is protein-deficient. So I turned the country’s favourite snack into the solution.On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Razia Ali, founder of Poptein, India’s first protein popcorn.After 20 years at Dell, AMD, and Yahoo, Razia walked away with a few lakhs, a WhatsApp number, and a Wix website. Four months later, she’s bootstrapping a clean-label protein popcorn brand.We talk about why she left corporate, why popcorn instead of protein bars, what it costs to stay clean on ingredients, and how AI made building easier than it would have been in 2018.If you’ve thought about leaving corporate to build something, this one’s for you.Listen to Razia Ali on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, Asgar Dungarwalla, founder of GiftsOnline4U, shares his journey from the RAF to building an e-commerce business in 2007, when people were scared to use credit cards online.Today, his team of five sells over 4,500 personalised products, including AI-generated caricature gifts made from customer photos.In this conversation, Asgar talks about:- What e-commerce looked like before the internet was trusted.- How he survived 19 years of constant change.- What mobile, social, and AI actually did to his business.- Why he’s not afraid of AI and you shouldn’t be either.- One mistake he sees founders repeat again and again.If you think AI is the hardest part of e-commerce, listen to this.Tune in to ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

She spent 28 years climbing the corporate ladder. Won awards. Did everything right. Then one day, she threw all those trophies in the trash and walked away.Today, Shilpa Arora is the only woman among five co-founders at Insurance Samadhan, a company that has recovered over ₹220 crore for Indians cheated by their own insurers.She also pitched on Shark Tank. And has a lot to say about what it actually takes to be taken seriously as a woman founder.If you’ve ever felt invisible in a room full of decision-makers or wondered whether you need to know everything before you lead this conversation will hit different.Listen to Shilpa Arora on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Burak Karabulut, co-founder of Boost Up Solutions, a consultancy that helps brands actually get value from the martech they’ve already paid for.After four and a half years at Insider Turkey’s first software unicorn, Burak watched brands sign six-figure deals, get excited about flawless demos, and then fail to use the platform three months later. That gap between buying and using became the foundation for his own company.Key insights from the conversation:* How expensive martech ends up unused, and who owns the failure.* What separates brands that get value fast from those that never do?* Why vendor case studies rarely match a brand’s actual situation.* How Boost Up delivers implementation faster than in-house teams.* What AI features brands buy but never turn on.* What Indian D2C brands are about to get wrong as they spend big on martech.If you’re sitting on a martech stack that isn’t delivering this one for you.Listen to Burak Karabulut on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Jashid Hameed, co-founder of Nuvedo India’s first premium functional mushroom brand.After IIM Indore and a career managing 25 fast-fashion stores, Jashid walked away to grow mushrooms. When he entered the market in 2021, it was practically empty. Even on Shark Tank, one shark had to be told that mushrooms are fungi, not plants. Today, Nuvedo has created a category from scratch.Key insights:- Why did he leave a structured career to pursue something that didn’t exist?- How to launch when you can’t advertise without first educating your audience.- The Shark Tank moment, no deal, but a 1,100% traffic surge.- Where AI fits in a business, blending science with wellness.- Building a community that failed once and why he’s attempting it again.- Bootstrapping to a crore in revenue and knowing when funding actually matters.- What IIM didn’t teach him that the farms did.If you’re building in a category that doesn’t yet exist, this conversation is your playbook.Listen to Jashid Hameed on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Lokendra Tomar, founder of Diabexy India’s first and largest manufacturer of low glycemic load food products.Lokendra spent years selling diabetes medication at Sun Pharma, but something bothered him: he was selling management, not a solution. He left, started nutrition consultations, and built Diabexy. Today, the brand has ₹16 crore in revenue, 2.1 million YouTube subscribers, and a 70% repeat purchase rate all with zero VC money and zero debt.Key insights:* Why did he walk away from selling drugs to build a real solution.* The Shark Tank moment when he said no to 20% equity.* How bootstrapping for eight years shaped the business.* Why 2.1 million YouTube subscribers became his moat.* What AI means for a brand where the founder is the trust.* How does he sell premium products in a price-sensitive market.If you’re a founder wondering whether to raise or bootstrap, this one’s for you.Listen to Lokendra Tomar on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Nirav Bhatt, founder of Sellers Umbrella, an Amazon agency that has managed over 200 brands and more than $5 million in ad spend. After six years at one of India’s top Amazon agencies, Nirav built his own firm to help founders move past guesswork and build real growth on the platform.Key insights from the conversation:* What separates winning Amazon sellers from those who struggle.* Why Amazon should be a primary channel, not an afterthought.* How the first 90 days set the trajectory for the entire first year.* When PPC becomes a crutch instead of a growth tool.* Why inventory decisions are actually SEO decisions.* The most common mistake across 200+ brands.* How AI-driven automation is changing Amazon advertising.* The one thing to do tomorrow if you’ve never sold on Amazon.If you’re an Indian D2C founder who has been overlooking Amazon, this episode gives you the real playbook.Listen to Nirav Bhatt on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Charles Roche, co-founder of The Roche Hair Experience. After 19 years in fuel logistics, Charles left a stable career to build a wig company built around one belief: losing your hair should not mean losing your confidence. He opens up about the moment he decided to start, the first six months of building while still working full-time, the hardest conversations he's had with clients, and what nineteen years of logistics taught him about running a deeply human business. If you've ever wondered whether your current skills could build something completely different, this conversation is for you.Listen to Charles Roche on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Seena and Reyana, co-founders of SheR HQ, a platform that helps health and wellness brands build online communities people actually want to be part of. Both founders have deep experience inside some of India’s most interesting health companies, Seena at Rocket Health, and Reyana leading content at Rocket Health and building community at Databeats in Singapore. In this conversation, they make the case for why brands need community before they need more customers, what separates a real community from a WhatsApp group nobody talks in, and where a D2C founder with thousands of customers but zero community should start on day one. They also unpack the most common mistakes brands make, how to keep spaces safe when people share personal struggles, and whether AI makes the community more valuable or less in an era of automated content. If you’ve ever wondered whether community is actually worth the effort, this one will change your mind. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Anant Bhat, Co-founder and CTO of Paperflite.After a decade at Cognizant, Anant left to build a content intelligence platform. But today, we’re talking about what happens when AI agents become the shoppers instead of humans.In this conversation, Anant breaks down:* What changes when AI agents shop on behalf of consumers?* Whether great creatives still matter when the buyer isn’t human.* What “AI-ready content” actually looks like for D2C brands.* How AI will reshape India’s D2C market.* Concrete steps founders should take to prepare for the AI agent era.* The biggest mistakes brands are making with AI right now.If you’re a D2C founder wondering what agentic commerce means for your business, this episode is for you.Listen to Anant Bhat on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Amit Singha, founder of Anuprerna.Amit left a high-stakes M&A career at Infosys to go back to his roots in West Bengal. Today, he works alongside artisans who carry 200-year-old traditions, connecting them to modern markets.In this conversation, Amit opens up about:* What made him walk away from corporate life to count handloom threads in a village?* The on-ground reality of working in weaver clusters that nobody talks about.* How he’s solving the brutal working capital gap in artisan commerce.* What “technology-enhanced” actually means when you’re working with handloom weavers.* The big question: What happens when AI agents start making purchase decisions for consumers?* Whether AI becomes the biggest advantage artisan brands have ever had or their biggest threat.* India’s China+1 moment and why global ethical fashion brands aren’t already calling.* The thing he built that he was confident about, and later realized he was completely wrong.* His advice to anyone wanting to build a sustainable artisan brand in India.If you’re wrestling with what AI means for human-centered businesses, this one’s for you.Listen to Amit Singha on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Matthew Taff, co-founder of Natch.Matthew landed in Mumbai from New York and saw something most locals had stopped noticing a gap in the market for honest, premium snacks. In 2017, he and his wife Meher took the leap.Eight years later, they’re still here.In this conversation, Matthew opens up about:* What jumped out at him when he first walked into an Indian supermarket was* The moment an observation became a business idea.* The hardest year in eight years of building.* Whether being an outsider was an advantage or a disadvantage.* What nobody tells you about building a premium brand in India.* His advice to founders with a small budget and a lot of conviction.If you’re building something in a market you didn’t grow up in or just need to hear what patience and clarity actually look like, this conversation is for you.Listen to Matthew Taff on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Manish Paul, founder of MoePuppy.After his dog Juno passed away because he couldn’t get a vet in time, Manish walked away from a 16-year trading career to build something that mattered. His first venture, Monkoodog, grew to real revenue and made it to Shark Tank India auditions, but eventually had to shut down.Most people would have stopped. He started again.Today, MoePuppy is competing against funded giants with zero external capital, all because his German Shepherd needed better skincare products.In this conversation, Manish opens up about:* The moment that made him leave finance forever.* Why Monkoodog looked successful but was breaking inside.* How a former trader learned to formulate pet products.* Competing against $50M+ brands as a bootstrapped founder.* What failure taught him about himself.* His advice for new founders.If you need to hear what persistence actually looks like, this one’s for you.Listen to Manish Paul on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ravi Rathi, founder of BLEP Pet Food.After a decade in banking, defense tech, and political consulting, Ravi’s world shifted when his German Shepherd, Max, got sick from premium kibble. That personal crisis led him to question what actually belongs in a pet’s bowl. He left his career to find answers.Today, BLEP has delivered over a million meals to thousands of pet parents with just seven people on the team.In this conversation, Ravi opens up about:* The moment his dog got sick, and why it made him question everything.* What it took to build a pet food brand that earns an unusually high repeat purchase rate.* Treating customer education like a political campaign teaching pet parents how to read ingredient labels.* Navigating the brutal timing of finding product-market fit just as giants like Reliance and Godrej enter the category.* The operational reality of building in pet food: retort packaging, cold chain logistics, and manufacturing partnerships.* What selling across platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and quick commerce reveals about how people discover and buy.* India’s pet economy is growing fast, but is still largely untapped for commercial brands.If you’re building in consumer goods or navigating the messy middle of India’s startup ecosystem, Ravi’s story offers a rare look at what it actually takes to compete when the giants show up.Listen to the full conversation with Ravi Rathi on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Jigar Mehta, founder of Honey Twigs, India’s first squeezable honey brand.For 2.5 years, Jigar was a showcaller at Kingdom of Dreams, controlling every second of 250 performances and working with the biggest names in entertainment at the IIFA Awards. He had the kind of career most people in live entertainment dream about. Then he walked away.Years later, he stood on Shark Tank India pitching something completely different: honey in plastic sticks.In this conversation, Jigar breaks down:* Why he chose B2B distribution over the viral D2C playbook.* The real story of what happens after the Shark Tank cameras stop rolling.* How he got Starbucks as a customer with zero brand recognition.* What surprised him most about expanding internationally was* Building competitive moats in a commodity category like honey.* How he uses AI to improve efficiency across operations.Honey Twigs didn’t reinvent honey. They reinvented how people experience it.Tune in to hear Jigar Mehta’s full story on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

Most fitness brands make money when you quit. You sign up, stop showing up, and they keep charging. Anish Menon thinks that’s broken.He spent four years inside The OutFit Gym learning the business, watching what worked, what didn’t, and why most people never see results. Then he built LIFTR Strength and Conditioning on a simple bet: align the gym’s incentives with the members’ goals.Eight locations later across India, Sri Lanka, and Dubai, he’s proving it works. All without taking a rupee from investors.In this episode, we get into:* Why he left software engineering at Accenture to chase fitness.* The four years he spent learning before launching and why that mattered.* How traditional gyms are designed for member failure (and why they don’t even realize it).* The 6-week transformation model that flips the script.* Building community when most gyms feel like lonely treadmills in a row.* Expanding to three countries on zero funding and the partnership model that made it possible.* Competing against funded giants by being smaller, sharper, and more honest.If you’re building something, questioning your career, or just tired of paying for a membership you never use, this one’s for you.Listen to Anish Menon on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ravi Gupta, founder of Guugly Wuugly, a father who turned a frustrating shopping trip for his daughter into a D2C kidswear brand.With no fashion background, he couldn’t even tell cotton grades apart. Ravi left his IT job at Wipro to build something meaningful. He traveled thousands of kilometers across India, visiting manufacturers and learning textiles from scratch. Then came the hardest decision, mortgaging his family home to fund the dream.In this conversation, Ravi breaks down:* Why does he spend nine months learning before launching an anti-MVP approach in a world obsessed with speed?* The conversation with his wife before putting their home on the line.* What it actually takes to get into Shark Tank India.* Walking into the tank, facing the sharks, and hearing “no” on national television.* What happened after the episode aired was the reality of life post-Shark Tank.* Serving thousands of customers while figuring out sustainability.If you’re a founder, dreaming of leaving corporate, or just love stories of pure conviction, this conversation will stay with you.Catch the full episode with Ravi Gupta on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we welcome Bella Vasta, a 20-year veteran of scaling service businesses, a former National Pet Sitting Business of the Year winner, and now an AI optimization strategist.Bella knows the struggle firsthand: the systems every growing business needs (hiring, onboarding, operations) rarely get built because creating them feels like work that pulls you away from the business. Her mission? To change that.We dive into:* Why operational systems are the missing piece in most service-based businesses.* How to build a hiring system using AI, not by replacing humans, but by creating structure.* The difference between using AI as a shortcut vs. using it as a foundation for scale.* What she learned from selling multiple businesses and how that shaped her AI philosophy.* A practical 101 on how AI systems actually get built by someone who’s done it.If you’re a founder, business owner, or operator stuck in hiring chaos or operational overwhelm, this episode gives you a blueprint for building systems that stick.Tune in to hear Bella Vasta on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Apeksha Jain, Founder & CEO of The Gourmet Jar.In 2012, long before clean labels and D2C food were mainstream, Apeksha launched a gourmet condiments brand in India with zero preservatives, small batches, and premium pricing. Growth was painfully slow for years, but she stayed committed to quality when shortcuts could have accelerated everything.Today, The Gourmet Jar has sold 2.5 million jars and helped redefine Indian gourmet proving that conviction and patience can build something lasting.We explore:* Why did she start when no one believed Indians would pay a premium for local gourmet products?* The reality of painfully slow growth and the moment she almost quit.* Staying stubborn on clean ingredients, even when it hurts financially.* What building a slow business teaches you that fast growth cannot.* Her advice for founders who feel too early, too small, or too niche.If you’re building with patience, betting on quality over quick wins, or simply need a reminder that meaningful brands are built over years not months this episode is for you.Listen to Apeksha’s journey of conviction on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Darshankaur Khalsa, co-founder of Pets of Paradise.After pitching dog ice cream brand Waggy Zone on Shark Tank India and receiving five “nos,” Darshankaur didn’t quit. Instead, she transformed her vision, merged into Pets of Paradise, and shifted focus to serving India’s massive first-time pet parent market.We dive into:* What she learned from scaling Waggy Zone to 200+ stores before Shark Tank* How hearing “no” on national television fueled a bigger, more resilient business model* Why an authentic, human-driven community beats AI-generated content even in a tech-first world* Competing as a bootstrapped brand in a category crowded with funded rivals* Building trust as a certified pet wellness coach in an industry driven by transactions* Her advice to women founders on resilience, category creation, and community as a core strategyIf you’re building in D2C, pet care, community-led commerce, or navigating life after a “no,” this episode is packed with real, relatable founder wisdom.Tune in to hear Darshankaur’s unfiltered journey on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, meet Shweta Poddar, founder of CandidMen India’s only men’s-only rental fashion platform. A woman founder in the world of men’s formalwear, she built a profitable, bootstrapped brand by ignoring conventional startup wisdom.Shweta’s journey began when her own data revealed a clear mismatch her inventory was women’s, but her customers were men. Instead of following the crowded women’s fashion market, she doubled down on men’s formalwear, renting premium sherwanis and tuxedos at a fraction of retail price.We explore:* Building a men’s-only brand as a woman founder and how it became her advantage.* Why she pivoted from online-only to opening six physical stores, and where most sales actually happen.* How CandidMen stays profitable in an industry where funded competitors burn cash.* Her real Shark Tank experience before, during, and after the tank.* The unglamorous truths of running a rental business: fraud, perception, and unit economics.If you’re building a brand, thinking about rental, or just tired of the same old D2C playbook, this conversation is a refreshing lesson in building differently.Tune into ChaiNet to hear Shweta Poddar’s unfiltered founder story. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Aasis Katyal, founding member of GOAT Life, just seven days after their game-changing Shark Tank India appearance.While the spotlight showed five Sharks fighting to invest, the real story unfolded off-camera over 16,000 orders flooding in within a week, backend systems pushed to the limit, and a 15-person team operating under unprecedented pressure.In this raw, real-time conversation, Aasis pulls back the curtain on what viral growth truly looks like from the inside:✅ The first chaotic hour after the episode aired and the first order.✅ How “backend chaos” met “inside clarity” to keep operations running.✅ Why quick commerce (like Blinkit) drove nearly half of all sales.✅ The compressed lessons learned in 7 days that normally take startups years.✅ Managing team exhaustion while scaling production and maintaining quality.✅ The honest prep that worked, what didn’t, and what they wished they’d done.If you’re building a D2C brand, preparing for your own breakthrough moment, or simply want to understand the reality behind viral success, this episode is an unfiltered look at scaling under fire.Hear the full story with Aasis Katyal on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we speak with Denil Dedhia, founder and CEO of Bowlful Foods, a bootstrapped D2C brand bringing authentic, convenient Indian meals to the world through freeze-drying technology.Tired of bland ready-to-eat options while studying abroad, Denil returned to India and bet on an overlooked food-tech method to preserve taste, nutrients, and authenticity. Without outside funding, he has since scaled Bowlful into a global brand, offering a wide range of dishes that rehydrate in minutes.We dive into:✅ Why he chose freeze-drying over conventional ready-to-eat methods.✅ How he built and scaled a capital-efficient food brand from the ground up.✅ The unique challenges of competing against established giants without VC backing.✅ Navigating price sensitivity while maintaining a premium positioning.✅ Why did he develop a specialized product line for niche dietary needs?If you’re building in D2C, foodtech, or are curious about bootstrapping with patience and product belief this episode offers honest, actionable insights from a founder who’s done it.Listen to Denil Dedhia’s story on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, we speak with Masroor Lodi, founder of Unlock Fit, a pioneering wellness platform that builds AI-powered health programs based on your DNA.After a successful career at Unilever, Sanofi, and founding The Entrepreneurship School, Masroor walked away at age 40 when genetic data revealed a truth he couldn’t ignore: most wellness plans are generic, but our bodies are not.We explore:✅ The genetic discovery that made him reset his entire career.✅ What your DNA reveals about diet, fitness, and health that wearables and trackers cannot.✅ Why he transitioned from teaching entrepreneurship to becoming a student again.✅ How combining genetic insights with AI creates truly personalized wellness.✅ The future of predictive health and what genetics can tell you about your well-being years in advance.If you’re in healthtech, interested in AI-driven personalization, or curious about building from a truly foundational insight, this episode is for you.Listen to the full conversation with Masroor Lodi on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com

On this episode of ChaiNet, a mechanical engineer turned operator shares how a semiconductor supply chain career became the launchpad for a D2C fashion brand in India serving 1 lakh+ customers and doing around $65,000 in monthly revenue.We discussed:* Moving from engineering and supply chain into fashion without formal fashion training, and scaling 5x by focusing on business fundamentals and complementary co-founder skills.* Finding an edge with bamboo-cotton essentials, prioritising comfort, fabric innovation, and repeat customers over chasing trends.* Using engineering rigor and AI tools for material research, quality control, demand and inventory planning, and AI-powered customer service in a SKU-heavy category.* The reality of D2C unit economics at $65K MRR in India and why the focus is on sustainable profitability, not vanity growth.The contrarian truth is that you don’t need fashion school if you bring operator discipline, systems thinking, and smart use of AI. Listen to this story on ChaiNet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com