Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️

Ask ChatGPT a medical question and it will almost always agree with you. Pranav Reddy thinks that is exactly what makes general-purpose AI dangerous in a clinic, so he built one that stops and says "I cannot verify this" instead of guessing.Pranav is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of ZenMD, an India-focused clinical AI platform he built with his sister Rithika Reddy, the company's Founder and CEO. He spent his career in marketing in the US, from an agency internship to director to running his own shop, drawn the whole time to human behaviour and data. She came from a decade in fintech. The idea arrived on a family trip to India, when a friend who had been told for years in the US that they were lactose intolerant was diagnosed by an Indian doctor, almost instantly, with a worm. Different hemisphere, different symptoms, different training data. ZenMD launched in India in May 2026 with four workflows - ZenScribe for voice-to-clinical documentation, ZenNotes for automated OPD notes, ZenConsult for evidence-based decision support, and ZenScan for medical imaging - and a proprietary hallucination correction layer sitting underneath all of it.A grounded conversation about trust, data privacy, and why the hard part of healthcare AI is not the answer, it is knowing when to refuse to give one.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:43 - From marketing to human behaviour01:45 - Leaving the agency to build his own02:07 - The inception of ZenMD with his sister Rithika03:34 - The friend who was not lactose intolerant04:17 - The light bulb: connecting both hemispheres05:00 - Why western-trained AI misses Indian conditions06:34 - Why they built ground-up instead of adapting07:41 - Training the models and validating with doctors09:04 - Multi-layer verification: how the algorithm works09:57 - Why ChatGPT will never tell you that you are wrong10:44 - Selling to doctors when you are not one12:08 - Why a marketer and a fintech builder can do this13:01 - Adoption in a pen-and-paper culture13:38 - Repeat users and earning trust14:22 - Why a doctor's time is the real constraint15:07 - ZenScribe and the burden of OPD notes15:19 - The surprise use case: drug dosage16:04 - The supplement that binds to your morning coffee17:07 - The four workflows explained18:33 - Why they are workflows, not products19:25 - The hallucination problem in healthcare20:17 - How ZenMD refuses to guess21:47 - Live testing at medical colleges22:35 - Healthcare data security in India vs the US24:00 - Building for HIPAA, DPDP and ABDM from day one24:54 - Separating who you are from what you have26:40 - Future plans27:10 - Equalizing medical information globally29:02 - NEET prep and medical students on the platform29:32 - Making ZenMD second nature for clinicians30:26 - Closing thoughts---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

Can you really pull clean drinking water out of thin air? Navkaran Singh Bagga has been doing exactly that for nine years. In this episode he breaks down the technology, the economics, and the uncomfortable truth that most climate tech founders avoid: being green is not enough if you are not also cheap.Navkaran is the Founder & CEO of AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems, the Kolkata-based company behind akvosphere.com. A third-generation Kolkata entrepreneur who studied in the UK and returned in 2007 to the family trade and exports business, he went on to run a hotel and turn around a steel company before going into clean tech in 2016. AKVO builds atmospheric water generators that mimic condensation to extract potable water from humidity in the air, with systems running in 16 countries and roughly 90% of sales coming from outside India. Its Water On Want (WOW) model lets companies skip the capital cost entirely and simply pay per litre.This is a refreshingly blunt conversation. No sob story, no mission-statement theatre, just a capitalist who thinks the market, not the government, decides when a technology is ready.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:34 - Kolkata roots, family business and 19 years of ventures01:28 - Why water: the sector everyone ignores02:04 - Discovering atmospheric water generators03:57 - The Big Short, Michael Burry and betting on water04:43 - "I don't have a sob story, I saw a business opportunity"05:14 - Why India is a natural fit for air-to-water05:53 - How the technology actually works07:42 - Why this is an urban solution08:13 - Taking pressure off utilities and cutting water waste08:58 - Contamination, transport and India's attitude to water10:16 - Is the water safe when the air is polluted?11:49 - The commercial case: how affordable is it really?12:49 - Rs 100 for a bottle vs Rs 2.5-5 a litre from air13:49 - Why they discontinued the home product14:24 - Go-to-market: why large corporates buy15:01 - Water On Want: the pay-per-litre model15:28 - Making the ROI make sense to a business16:40 - Why he does not want government subsidies19:10 - Why AKVO is not the solution for data centres20:14 - Future plans: water as a service across 16 countries21:27 - Are developed markets more open to this?22:18 - Enterprises plan for crises, consumers wait23:21 - Advice for climate tech entrepreneurs24:08 - "Green without being economical makes no sense"26:29 - Closing thoughts---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

Sunil Maddala runs India operations for FuelBuddy, the country's largest doorstep fuel delivery company - 180 cities, 10,000 customers a year, and more than 50 crore litres delivered since inception. In this episode he explains why the next chapter isn't fuel at all.He breaks down what actually differentiates FuelBuddy from the oil marketing companies, how the platform serves everyone from a 20-litre order to a customer taking 30 lakh litres a month across 15,000 locations, why 80% of customers never leave, and how the company is repositioning from fuel delivery to "power as a service" - where FuelBuddy owns the generator and you simply pay for the electricity.Sunil is an engineer from Delhi College of Engineering with an MBA from IIM Calcutta, and has spent three decades in corporate roles across India, Europe and Asia - the last 15 of them building new ventures. FuelBuddy was founded in 2016 by Gautam Malhotra and Adnan Kidwai, has raised roughly $24 million across three rounds, and now operates beyond India in the UAE, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:35 - Delhi College of Engineering to IIM Calcutta01:27 - How FuelBuddy Started and Why COVID Nearly Killed It02:15 - The Post-COVID Restart and First Funding02:46 - Second Round: Going Global to Middle East and Africa03:09 - The Numbers: 180 Cities, 50 Crore Litres Delivered04:02 - Why India Only Allows Diesel (and CNG in Nigeria)04:29 - From Fuel Delivery to "Power as a Service"05:02 - Who Actually Buys Doorstep Diesel?05:57 - Powering India's Data Centres and Quick Commerce06:49 - 20 Litres to 20 Lakh Litres: The Range of Orders07:25 - 15,000 Locations and a 99% Uptime SLA08:56 - What Makes FuelBuddy Different from the Oil Companies10:08 - The Tech Stack: 400 Stores, One Dashboard11:15 - Using AI and Video Proof to Kill Fuel Pilferage11:39 - Zepto, 400 Locations and No Minimum Order12:41 - Modular Solutions and Sticky Customers13:24 - Why 80% of Customers Never Leave14:18 - What the Regulator Actually Controls16:16 - Surviving Fuel Shortages and Supply Shocks18:47 - $24 Million Raised: What Excites Investors21:09 - "Why Own the Generator? We'll Own It"22:00 - EVs, Hydrogen and the Future of Fossil Fuel---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

Dinakara Nagalla spent two decades building mission-critical software for airlines, then sold EmpowerMX to Swedish enterprise giant IFS. His next act is Menthra, an AI-powered emotional wellbeing platform that hit 50,000 downloads in under two months in India.In this episode he explains why he walked away from aviation, how Menthra's memory layer works differently from ChatGPT or Gemini, why he refuses to call it just a chatbot, and how the platform hands you over to a real human therapist the moment AI stops being the right answer.Dinakara began his career as a research engineer at IIT Bombay in 1995 before moving into aviation technology at American Airlines and EDS. He went on to found EmpowerMX, the first cloud-based MRO platform for aviation, which IFS acquired in 2024. He is the author of "Becoming Human: Embracing Imperfection and Finding Purpose" and the speaker behind the TEDx talk "The Algorithm That Broke Me". Menthra is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, with Indian operations through Menthra India Private Limited.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:51 - From IIT Bombay to Aviation: The Early Years03:20 - American Airlines, EDS and Deciding to Leave04:22 - Building EmpowerMX: Cloud for Aircraft Maintenance05:26 - The Name "Menthra": Where Mind Meets Heart06:52 - Why Should Everyday Problems Take Years to Solve?07:34 - More Than a Chatbot: AI, Therapists and Coaching10:04 - How Menthra's Memory Differs from ChatGPT12:37 - The User Journey and the Free Tier14:25 - Conversation Styles: Oracle, Best Friend, Therapist16:11 - When the AI Hands You Over to a Human16:53 - Pricing an Expensive AI Product19:21 - Go-To-Market: Digital, Campus Events and CHROs20:28 - 50,000 Downloads in Under Two Months23:36 - The 18-Month Roadmap: Workplaces and Universities26:05 - Going Global: 18 Countries by Year End27:29 - India's Mental Health Gap and the Stigma Problem28:34 - Building a Credentialed Clinician Network29:37 - Closing Thoughts---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

Dr. Kamaljit Anand, Managing Partner & Chief Data Scientist at KiE Square Analytics and founder of KiEVerse, joins ELI to unpack what really makes enterprise AI work. From IIM Ahmedabad to Gallup and Fractal, he shares two decades of lessons on data science, the rise of data engineering, and why "poor data in means poor outputs out" no matter how good your AI is.KiE Square is a data-to-decisions analytics firm that has delivered 200+ programs globally across pharma, FMCG, retail, and financial services. Its product suite KiEVerse — BrandVerse, SpendVerse, and MarketVerse — brings digital brand equity, ad spend optimization, and marketplace intelligence under one roof. Dr. Anand also makes a strong case for Sovereign AI and small language models as the future of enterprise data.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:00 - From IIM Ahmedabad to Gallup & Fractal03:20 - Building KiE Square: Services to Products07:00 - Real Use Cases: Pharma Pricing Engines & FMCG11:00 - Marketing Data Lakes & Real-Time ROI13:45 - Is AI a Disruptor or an Enabler?17:30 - Real-Time Streaming Pipelines (Kafka, Flink, Airflow)21:10 - AI Reality Check: Privacy & Safety Concerns22:00 - How Do You Price a Data Product? Unit Economics22:50 - Inside KiEVerse: BrandVerse, SpendVerse, MarketVerse27:40 - The Future: Sovereign AI, SLMs & Data Sovereignty33:40 - Closing

Sanjeev Kumar, Founder and CVO of Harley Street Healthcare Group and Global CEO of HARLEY of LONDON, joins ELI to share his vision for building the world's first integrated health, wellness, and lifestyle ecosystem. From Wall Street to Harley Street, he talks about the HOLNESS framework, bringing affordable genetic sequencing to India, and why tier 2 cities are the future of healthcare.Harley of London is a London-based luxury healthcare group expanding rapidly into India with its HOLNESS ecosystem and MyCare 360 digital platform. The company recently acquired Mahaveer Hospital in Aurangabad and is partnering with state governments on preventive genomics programs aimed at making healthcare more precise, personalized, and affordable.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:00 - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Trial, Error & Curiosity04:00 - The HOLNESS Framework Explained08:50 - India Market Entry & Genetic Sequencing Vision14:00 - Why Tier 2 Cities? The India Expansion Strategy19:30 - MyCare 360: The Digital Health Ecosystem23:00 - AI Agents Liora & Aarav: Your Health Companions26:00 - NBFC Financing for Healthcare29:00 - The Wholeness Dollar: A New Financial Infrastructure33:00 - AI in Healthcare: Practical Reality vs Hype38:30 - Closing---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty speaks with Akashanand (Akash) Karnik, Global COO & Whole Time Director of 1Point1 Solutions Limited - a BSE-listed, AI-powered Business Process Management (BPM) company operating across 9 delivery centers on 5 continents.Akash shares how India's BPM industry, once built entirely on labor arbitrage, is being transformed by AI. But his take is refreshingly human: 'It is not about human elimination - it's about upgrading the human to solve problems faster.' He walks us through 1Point1's growth via 3 strategic acquisitions in 3 years, how their AI platform handles multilingual CX across continents, the real impact of AI on jobs (reskilling vs. replacement), and why the company chose to go public on BSE. A candid conversation about the intersection of AI, people, and global business process delivery.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction & BSE Listing Congratulations00:45 - What Does 1Point1 Solutions Do?03:50 - Growth Strategy: M&A + Organic Sales04:55 - India's BPM Industry & the AI Disruption Question08:30 - Building an AI-First Tech Stack10:43 - AI for Multilingual Customer Support13:45 - AI's Real Impact: Cost Savings for Clients16:15 - Will AI Replace White-Collar Jobs?17:23 - 'It's Not About Elimination, It's About Upgrading'21:00 - Human-in-the-Loop: AI + People Working Together24:00 - AI in Customer Service: Real-World Examples27:27 - 'Upgrading the Human to Solve Problems Faster'29:05 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty speaks with Krunal Kantale, Co-founder & MD of Alligator Automations - a packaging automation company based in Pune that has grown from 2 people to 500+ employees since its founding in 2008.Krunal and his co-founder Srinivas Choudhary started their journey winning 43 national and international robotics awards while still in college. They quit their jobs during the 2008 recession - against their families' wishes - and landed their first order of Rs 1.5 lakhs. Today, Alligator Automations serves industries from FMCG to fertilizers to chemicals, handling everything from primary packaging to palletizing, warehousing, and dispatch. He discusses the challenge of selling automation in a country where labor is cheap, the role of AI and computer vision in modern manufacturing, and how customization wins projects over standard machines.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:31 - About Alligator Automations01:00 - Krunal's Background & Experience04:14 - Starting During the 2008 Recession05:27 - First Order: Rs 1.5 Lakhs from Mumbai08:20 - What Alligator Automations Does09:47 - Is Packaging Automation a Big Market?12:30 - Use Cases: FMCG, Fertilizer, Chemicals15:15 - Pitching Automation When Labor is Cheap19:30 - Customization vs. Standard Machines21:00 - IoT, AI & Computer Vision in Manufacturing23:30 - Global Expansion: Middle East, Africa, Americas27:46 - Advice for Entrepreneurs29:05 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty speaks with Anand Jain, Founder & CEO of Aerem (meaning 'clean air' in Latin) - a solar-focused FinTech platform making rooftop solar adoption accessible through financing, technology, and an end-to-end ecosystem.Anand, a Yale MBA and former Wall Street investment banker, breaks down a staggering shift: 10 years ago, 70% of energy investment went to coal and gas. Today, 70% goes to solar. Yet India has tapped only 5-7% of its rooftop solar potential. The catch? Lack of financing, fragmented installer ecosystem, and consumer hesitation. Aerem solves this with structured loan products, a curated solar equipment marketplace (SunStore), remote monitoring (AeROC), and training for 2,000+ EPC partners. He also discusses India's dramatic shift from 90% Chinese module imports to 85% domestic manufacturing in just two years.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:37 - What is Aerem?01:00 - The Company Name: Clean Air in Latin04:20 - Solar Energy: Current State & Potential05:00 - 70% of Energy Investment Now Goes to Solar09:00 - Solar is 70-80% Cheaper Than Grid Power09:35 - Why Isn't Every Rooftop Solar Yet?10:00 - The Financing Gap Aerem Solves12:50 - 2,000 Projects in 4 Years14:00 - Consumer Hesitation & Technology Maturity16:55 - Standalone Solar vs. Hybrid with Battery21:00 - India's Solar Manufacturing Revolution24:00 - Future of Solar Technology26:40 - Advice for Entrepreneurs29:05 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty speaks with Navneet Gupta, Founder & CEO of ServiceGTD (Get Things Done) - a platform solving elder care and concierge services for NRIs whose parents live back in India.Navneet shares his personal journey as an NRI who realized the massive gap in India's elder care ecosystem. With no single reliable platform for NRIs to arrange care for aging parents remotely, he built ServiceGTD - a trusted concierge that handles everything from caretakers and nurses to daily errands. He discusses the fragmented service landscape, partnering with local providers across India, using AI chatbots to bridge timezone gaps, quality control challenges, and the emotional weight of caring for loved ones from thousands of miles away.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:36 - What is ServiceGTD?01:04 - Why the Name GTD (Get Things Done)03:30 - The NRI Problem: Elder Care Gap in India04:54 - Problems ServiceGTD Solves08:30 - COVID as an Eye-Opener for Elder Care10:05 - Building the Platform & Service Categories12:45 - Care at Home: Attendants & Nurses16:30 - Using AI & Chatbots for 24/7 Support18:28 - Operating as a Young Company with Partners22:26 - Vetting & Selecting Service Partners25:30 - The Onboarding & Fulfillment Process26:15 - Scaling Pan-India: City-by-City Strategy28:30 - Quality & Trust: Refusing Bad-Fit Customers32:00 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs32:52 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty speaks with Manasa Rajan, Co-founder & CEO of Jupiter Meta - a deep tech startup using zero-knowledge proofs and blockchain to deliver privacy-first consumer intelligence.Manasa shares how 60% of internet traffic today comes from bots, making traditional data collection and ad targeting unreliable. Jupiter Meta's solution uses on-device Aadhaar verification (zkKYC) to prove users are real humans without ever storing their personal data. She walks us through their products - Superch (consumer app), Hercules (AI-powered brand intelligence platform), and Poseidon (deep data query tool) - and their recent MoU with the Karnataka government.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:33 - Manasa's Background & Entrepreneurial Journey01:33 - Why Jupiter Meta Was Born03:00 - The Data Quality Problem05:35 - 60% of Internet Traffic is Bots08:01 - How Jupiter Meta Solves This08:16 - Zero Knowledge Proof & On-Device KYC10:55 - The Superch App & User Experience13:55 - How Brands Use the Data (Hercules Platform)17:15 - Poseidon: Deep Research & Consumer Insights19:30 - Behavioral Data from Real App Usage21:37 - Is Privacy a Myth? The Decentralized Difference25:04 - Vision: Democratizing Data Access for Entrepreneurs28:08 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur's Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India's startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

In this episode, Priya Ranjan Mohanty sits down with Dhruv Chopra, Managing Partner of Dewan P.N. Chopra & Co. and MD of DPNC Advisors — one of India’s top boutique advisory firms founded in 1940.Dhruv shares the remarkable three-generation journey of transforming a pre-Independence law practice into a full-service advisory powerhouse serving 30 of India’s top 200 business groups. He discusses the evolution of the CA profession, the rise of family offices in India, navigating family disputes, and advice for aspiring advisory professionals.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction00:49 - About Dewan P.N. Chopra & Co.01:55 - History of the Firm (Founded 1940)06:16 - Dhruv’s Journey & Building DPNC Advisors08:30 - Evolution of the CA Profession09:36 - Why Businesses Need Advisors Today12:30 - Specialization vs. Generalization in Advisory13:17 - DPNC’s Proprietary Framework for HNIs16:45 - Rise of Family Offices in India20:08 - Professional vs. Personal in Family Investing23:04 - Navigating Family Feuds & Disputes27:56 - Advice for Aspiring Advisory Professionals29:53 - Closing Remarks---About ELI Podcast:ELI (Entrepreneur’s Live Interviews) brings you inspiring stories from India’s startup ecosystem. Real founders, real journeys, real insights.Website: https://eli-podcast.com

Welcome back to the ELI Podcast! In this episode, Priya sits down with Dr. Prithwi Singh, Co-Founder and CEO of Khetika, a rapidly growing clean-label food brand in India focusing on fresh batters, spices, dry fruits, and staples.Dr. Singh shares his journey from consulting at BCG to building a food brand centered entirely around honesty, single-origin sourcing, and transparency. We dive into the four major types of food adulteration rampant in India today, why chemical preservatives aren't always necessary for shelf life, and how Khetika’s "SAATHI" program connects directly with farmers to ensure a completely clean, farm-to-plate supply chain.If you are curious about what really goes into your packaged food, or if you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking to understand supply chains and the FMCG space, this episode is a must-watch!🎧 Check out more episodes at: https://eli-podcast.com⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Prithwi Singh & Khetika0:28 - What is a "Clean Label" Food Brand?1:41 - The Truth About Preservatives & Shelf Life3:24 - Dr. Singh’s Background: From BCG to Entrepreneurship4:16 - The Four Major Types of Food Adulteration in India7:58 - The Early Days of Khetika & Tackling the Staples Market9:25 - "Making Honest Food the New Normal" & A Personal Wake-Up Call11:41 - The Khetika SAATHI Program: Building a Transparent Farm-to-Plate Supply Chain13:26 - How to Maintain Consistent Quality with Single-Origin Sourcing17:12 - Pricing Strategy: How Khetika Competes with Mass Market Brands18:36 - Utilizing $18M in Series B Funding: Clean Manufacturing Expansion19:54 - Navigating Competition Against FMCG Giants21:26 - Brand Loyalty & The Indian Consumer’s Shift Towards Health23:03 - The Realities of Entrepreneurship: Purpose Over Profit🔗 About the Guest:Dr. Prithwi Singh is the Co-Founder and CEO of Khetika, a brand committed to making honest, clean, and unadulterated food the new normal in India. Learn more about their mission at khetika.com.Tags:#ELIPodcast #Khetika #DrPrithwiSingh #CleanEating #FoodTech #FMCG #Entrepreneurship #SupplyChain #StartupIndia #HealthAndWellness

Welcome back to the ELI Podcast! In this episode, Priya sits down with Akshay Shekhar, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kazam, India's leading agnostic E-mobility and charging platform.Akshay shares his entrepreneurial journey from his corporate days at PepsiCo and Godrej to building his second startup. We dive deep into how Kazam is solving the massive challenge of EV charging infrastructure in India, specifically for the booming two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and commercial fleet markets. We also discuss the future of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, the realities of building V1 products, and the core traits every successful entrepreneur needs: curiosity, perseverance, and humility.Whether you're an aspiring founder or interested in the rapidly growing climate tech and EV space, this episode is packed with actionable insights!🎧 Check out more episodes at: https://eli-podcast.com⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to Akshay Shekhar & Kazam0:39 - Akshay’s Background: From Corporate Life to Second-Time Founder4:19 - Starting Kazam: The YouTube Channel & Early EV Hypothesis7:35 - Solving Charging for Q-Commerce Fleets (e.g., BigBasket)10:21 - The Reality of Building V1 Products & OEM Integrations13:07 - How Kazam's Software Reduces Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)17:15 - The Future of EV Payments & Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading20:47 - The Realities of Entrepreneurship: "You Are a Salesman for Life"24:32 - Managing Culture and Scaling from 5 to 350+ Employees26:20 - Top 3 Traits of Successful Founders: Curiosity, Perseverance, and Humility28:53 - Why Now is the Best Time to be an Entrepreneur in India🔗 About the Guest:Akshay Shekhar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kazam, an IoT-based EV charging platform building the future of electric mobility and energy management across India. Learn more about their work at kazam.energy.Tags:#ELIPodcast #Kazam #AkshayShekhar #EVCharging #ElectricVehicles #Entrepreneurship #StartupIndia #ClimateTech #EnergyTrading #SaaS

Welcome back to the ELI Podcast! In this episode, Priya sits down with Vivek Tiwari, the Founder of Medikabazaar, India's pioneering B2B online marketplace for medical supplies and equipment.Vivek shares his entrepreneurial journey—from his corporate experience at Tata and setting up dialysis clinics, to building a platform that solves complex procurement and supply chain challenges for hospitals. We discuss the early days of B2B e-commerce, overcoming the marketplace "chicken and egg" problem, and the massive scale Medikabazaar operates at today. Vivek also dives deep into VIZI, their patented AI/ML hospital inventory management software, and explains how it is uniquely tailored to tackle Indian healthcare challenges and disease patterns.🎧 Check out more episodes and resources at: https://eli-podcast.com⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to Vivek Tiwari & Medikabazaar0:58 - Vivek’s Background: From Corporate Life to Healthcare Entrepreneurship3:32 - How Medikabazaar Works: Solving Hospital OPEX & Procurement Pain Points6:56 - Navigating the Early Days of B2B E-commerce in 201510:01 - Managing Massive Scale, Growth, and Customer KRA/KPIs12:24 - Catering to Government Hospitals and Tenders14:41 - Understanding Regulatory Nuances in the Medical Supply Chain16:08 - Deep Dive into VIZI: Patented AI/ML for Hospital Inventory Management19:26 - Adapting Global AI Tech for Indian Healthcare Nuances (e.g., Seasonal Diseases)22:57 - Vivek’s Vision for the Future and Next Steps🔗 About the Guest:Vivek Tiwari is the Founder of Medikabazaar, an industry leader revolutionizing the way medical institutions and practitioners procure supplies, manage inventory, and optimize healthcare costs across India.Tags:#ELIPodcast #Medikabazaar #VivekTiwari #HealthTech #B2BMarketplace #Entrepreneurship #MedicalSupplies #AIinHealthcare #SupplyChain #StartupIndia

Welcome back to the ELI Podcast! In this episode, Priya sits down with Vineeth Mohan, Founder and Chief of Innovation at DBiz.ai, an engineering firm focused on AI and digital transformation.We dive deep into how AI is completely transforming the Business Intelligence (BI) landscape. Vineeth explains the concept of allowing end-users to simply "talk to their data" without relying on heavy data engineering teams to build endless dashboards. We also discuss the challenges of integrating massive enterprise data silos, why building a robust "semantic layer" is the real magic behind accurate AI outputs, and how enterprises are adopting AI tokenomics.Whether you are a founder building an AI SaaS or an enterprise leader looking to modernize your analytics, this episode is packed with valuable insights!🎧 Check out more episodes at: https://eli-podcast.com⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to Vineeth Mohan & DBiz.ai0:39 - Vineeth’s Career Journey: From Yahoo to Entrepreneurship2:35 - Disrupting BI: Building Products That Let You Talk to Data4:45 - The Historical Pain Points of Analytics & Engineering Bottlenecks7:03 - Bringing the "Vibe Coding" Revolution to Data Analytics8:18 - Integrating Data Silos & The Importance of Semantic Data Models12:33 - How AI Learns Your Company’s Unique Business Vocabulary18:32 - Which AI Models Work Best? (Claude Opus, Open Source, and Context)21:26 - The Business Side of AI: Selling to Enterprises & Tokenomics27:18 - Top AI Use Cases: Investigative Analysis in Finance & Supply Chain31:21 - Vineeth’s Advice for Founders: Automate Your Life & Solve Domain Problems🔗 About the Guest:Vineeth Mohan is the Founder and Chief of Innovation at DBiz.ai, a firm specializing in unlocking the value of enterprise data through AI and modern engineering. Learn more about their work at dbiz.ai.Tags:#ELIPodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessIntelligence #DataAnalytics #DBiz #VineethMohan #Entrepreneurship #SaaS #DataScience #TechPodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Sameer Kanodia, Managing Director and CEO of Lumina Datamatics, to discuss the evolution of content services, the impact of AI on the industry, and his journey as a second-generation entrepreneur.Lumina Datamatics is a leading global provider of content, data, and technology solutions, serving top-tier publishers and international retailers. Sameer breaks down how the company manages massive scale, ensures data security, and leverages automation to stay ahead of the curve. He also shares candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on taking calculated risks and why human validation remains crucial in the age of Artificial Intelligence.Topics Discussed: 🚀 The genesis and growth of Lumina Datamatics 🤖 How AI is disrupting (and enabling) content workflows 📉 Managing data consistency for global e-commerce giants 💼 Entrepreneurship advice: Corporate experience vs. Starting up 🔮 The future of jobs and technology in 2025 and beyond-----------------------------------Chapters00:00 Introduction 00:27 Who is Sameer Kanodia? 01:21 What is Lumina Datamatics? (Scale & Reach) 02:04 The Genesis: Spinoff and Mergers 03:19 Solutions for Publishers & E-Commerce 04:36 How AI is Disrupting Content Services 06:38 Challenges in Managing Large-Scale Data 09:53 Automation & Data-Driven Workflows 11:17 Future Plans: Innovation & Acquisitions 12:00 Ensuring Data Security & Compliance 13:08 Advice for Emerging Tech Entrepreneurs 14:40 Will AI Eliminate Jobs? (The Uber Analogy) 17:20 Calculated Risks & The Value of Experience 18:50 The Changing Landscape of Entrepreneurship 20:11 Closing Thoughts: AI as an Enabler#LuminaDatamatics #SameerKanodia #Entrepreneurship #AI #ContentMarketing #Ecommerce #BusinessPodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Abhinav Singh, the Founder of Techugo, a leading mobile app development company known for building highly scalable applications for startups and Fortune 500 clients like Airtel, Godfrey Phillips, and Byju’s.Abhinav shares his rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey—from early success and a failed acquisition that led to bankruptcy, to rebuilding his life and company from scratch. We dive deep into the technical side of the business, discussing what makes an app truly scalable, the importance of documentation, and why enterprises still struggle with legacy tech.We also explore the future of the industry: Will AI agents replace traditional app UIs? Are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) a threat to native development? And is the role of the app developer at risk due to AI coding tools?Topics Discussed:Building scalable apps with 200k+ downloads.Why enterprises outsource mobile development.Abhinav’s personal story of bankruptcy and redemption.The shift from traditional UI to AI-driven conversational interfaces.Native Apps vs. Progressive Web Apps (PWA).The impact of AI on the future of software development jobs.Chapters(00:00) Introduction: Meet Abhinav Singh of Techugo (00:49) What makes a mobile app scalable? (01:46) Custom Solutions vs. Readymade Templates (03:02) Startups vs. Enterprise Clients (Fortune 500s) (04:45) Why big enterprises struggle to build mobile apps in-house (06:51) Go-To-Market Strategy and App Marketing (07:59) Abhinav’s Journey: From $2B Exit Deal to Bankruptcy (10:33) Rebuilding from rock bottom to 1400+ Apps delivered (11:30) Technical Scalability: Why documentation is critical (14:34) Success Stories: TrueFan, Byju's, Gyan Fresh & Pickleball (16:50) The future of UI: AI Agents and Conversational Interfaces (20:56) Native Apps vs. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) (23:24) Will AI replace App Developers? (26:09) Conclusion

In this episode of ELI Podcast, we host Nikita Baliarsingh, the co-founder of Nexus Power, a startup revolutionizing the energy industry by building rechargeable, bio-organic, and biodegradable batteries from crop residue.Nikita shares the incredible journey of how she and her twin sister, Nishita, pivoted from wanting to build electric cars to solving the biggest bottleneck in the EV industry: the battery. We dive deep into how they utilized crop waste (stubble) to create a sustainable alternative to Lithium-ion batteries, effectively tackling both the E-waste crisis and air pollution caused by stubble burning.In this conversation, we discuss:The transition from management graduates to biotech entrepreneurs.The technical specs: Energy density vs. Lithium-ion.The focus on Stationary Energy Storage (BESS) and 2-Wheeler EVs.Government grants, patents, and the roadmap to commercialization.If you are interested in CleanTech, Sustainability, and the future of Electric Vehicles in India, this episode is for you!00:00 - Introduction: Nikita Baliarsingh & Nexus Power 01:01 - Background: From Business Family to Bio-Tech \02:10 - The Origin Story: Why Pivot from Cars to Batteries? 03:24 - The Problem with Lithium & The Bio-Material Solution 04:40 - Tackling Stubble Burning: Batteries from Crop Waste 05:20 - The First Experiment: Building a Battery at Home during COVID 06:55 - Scaling Up: From 2 Sisters to a Team of 40 08:14 - Applications: 2-Wheelers vs. Stationary Energy Storage 11:14 - Tech Deep Dive: Energy Density vs. Lithium-ion 14:04 - Market Strategy: Filling the Supply-Demand Gap 15:35 - Government Support, Grants & Validation 18:35 - Intellectual Property: Patents on Material & Process 20:11 - Funding Journey: Bootstrapping to VCs 21:47 - Future Vision: Commercialization & Going Global 22:58 - Can India Beat China in Battery Technology?

Yuma Energy is a joint venture between Yulu, India’s largest shared electric mobility provider, and Magna, one of the world’s leading automotive technology suppliers. Formed with the vision to accelerate EV adoption in India, Yuma Energy is building the country’s most extensive and reliable Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) network. With over 35 million battery swaps completed and more than 2,000 stations across 17 cities, Yuma Energy is redefining urban mobility by making it cleaner, smarter and more accessible.

In this episode of the ELI Podcast, we sit down with Senthil Kumar Hariram, the Founder of FTA (Fire the Agency). With over 18 years of experience in the digital marketing landscape—including co-founding Neil Patel Digital India and scaling it to $5M ARR—Senthil is disrupting the traditional agency model.We discuss why the traditional agency model is broken, why he named his new venture "Fire The Agency," and the massive shift from "Search Engine Optimization" to "Search Engineering" in the age of AI and ChatGPT. Senthil also drops a truth bomb for early-stage founders: why you probably shouldn't be spending money on SEO yet.In this episode, we cover:Senthil’s journey from selling cars to leading marketing at HCL and NPD.The evolution of Google algorithms (Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird).Why clients fire agencies and why talent leaves them.The impact of AI and scraping on Google Search results.Actionable advice on when startups should actually invest in SEO.Subscribe to ELI Podcast for more founder stories!#SEO #DigitalMarketing #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #FireTheAgency #AI #BusinessGrowth

What's the biggest legal mistake you can make in your first 12 months as a founder?In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Saket Bisani, a technology lawyer and the founder of Bisani Legal. As a founder himself, Saket shares a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of running a law firm like a startup to the common legal pitfalls he sees founders fall into every day.Saket breaks down the fundamentals every founder needs: from why your Founder's Agreement is a critical roadmap, to the exact day you should file for your trademark. We also dive into government grants for startups, the 3 criteria for filing a patent, strategies for employee disputes, and a step-by-step playbook for recovering money from clients.Finally, we explore the future, debating whether AI will ever replace lawyers and judges.Learn more about Saket and his firm: https://www.bisanilegal.com/Timestamps / Chapters:(00:00) Why a Lawyer Became a Founder (01:43) Specializing in Startups & Tech (02:43) Running a Law Firm Like a Business (03:48) A Client-Centered Strategy: Empathy & Clarity (05:12) The Single Biggest Legal Mistake Founders Make (06:42) The Founder's Agreement: Your Business Roadmap (07:41) Secret Government Grants for Startups & Trademarks (09:31) The Real Cause of Founder Disputes (And How to Fix Them) (12:33) IP Strategy: File Your Trademark on Day 1 (14:20) How to File a Patent: The 3 Essential Criteria (19:13) Handling Employee Contracts & Disputes (22:00) A Step-by-Step Guide to Recovering Unpaid Invoices (25:56) The True Power of a Legal Notice (28:29) The Future: Will AI Replace Lawyers? (31:43) Conclusion

In this insightful episode of the ELI Podcast, we sit down with Shradha Agarwal, the dynamic Co-founder of Grapes Worldwide, a rapidly growing marketing agency. Shradha shares her captivating journey, from an engineering background and an MBA from MICA to leading a global integrated communications agency.Discover:- Her unconventional path into digital marketing and how she transformed Grapes from a software company into a digital powerhouse.- The strategic decisions that led Grapes to become an integrated agency and expand into international markets like London and Dubai.- The "superpower" of Grapes: a strategy-first approach that focuses on client's long-term goals and builds lasting relationships.- Shradha's candid views on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is disrupting the marketing agency model, from content creation to client conversations, and how Grapes is embracing it.- Her perspective on distribution challenges in an age of content overload and the "survival of the fittest" mentality in the industry.- The future vision for Grapes: focusing on business objectives, brand fame, riding market waves, and the importance of networking.Chapters[00:00] Introduction to Shradha Agarwal & Grapes Worldwide[01:19] Shradha's Journey to Grapes: From Engineer to Co-founder[03:18] Transforming Grapes: From Software to Digital to Integrated Agency[06:15] The Evolution of Grapes & International Expansion[07:39] Profitability: India vs. International Clients[08:07] The Superpower of Grapes: Strategy & Client Relationships[09:30] AI's Disruption in the Marketing Agency Model[11:57] AI Not Firing Jobs: A Parallel to Computers & Internet[13:38] Identity AI & Genetic AI: The Next Frontier[16:06] Client Conversations: Addressing AI's Impact on Costing[17:04] Threesync: Grapes' AI-Driven Content Creation Tool[19:03] The Nuances of AI Production: Managing Client Expectations[21:17] Navigating AI's Impact on Content Distribution & Attention Spans[24:32] The Vision for Grapes: Money, Fame, and Riding the Wave

In this episode of the ELI Podcast, we sit down with Swati Nathani, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Team Pumpkin, an independent marketing agency. Swati shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, from her diverse background in merchandising, analytics, and operations to co-founding a leading agency. We dive deep into how AI is disrupting the marketing and advertising industry, exploring its current impact on content creation, performance marketing, and client expectations. Swati also offers her perspective on how agencies can reposition themselves to thrive in the AI revolution and what young professionals should learn to stay relevant.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to ELI Podcast and Swati Nathani00:24 - Swati Nathani's Journey Before Team Pumpkin03:02 - The Story Behind "Team Pumpkin"03:56 - Team Pumpkin's Growth, Services, and Key Clients06:33 - AI's Disruption in the Marketing Industry10:07 - Brands Embracing AI in Marketing Campaigns12:18 - Client Objections and the Value of Marketing Agencies in the AI Era14:39 - Impact of AI on Pricing and Performance Marketing18:39 - Upskilling and Adapting to AI in the Workforce20:52 - Entrepreneurship Lessons and Advice23:23 - Concluding Remarks

Is AI coming for your job? According to Rahul Gupta, the bootstrapped founder of BlackNGreen and the new Agentic AI venture Nexiva, the answer is a definitive yes—especially for the customer support industry.In this episode of Entrepreneur's Live Interviews, Priya sits down with Rahul for a candid conversation about his incredible journey from a telecom engineer to a global entrepreneur. He shares the story of bootstrapping BlackNGreen to 80 countries without funding and reveals the "ChatGPT moment" that made him pivot his entire company towards AI.Rahul gives a brutally honest prediction about the future of work, the reality of the AI valuation bubble, and why he believes this is the single biggest opportunity of our lifetime for those willing to adapt.In this episode, we discuss:- The journey of bootstrapping a global tech company from India.- How a simple phone loan service grew into a massive success.- Why most AI implementations fail (and it's not the AI's fault).- The prediction that 80% of customer support jobs will be gone in 3 years.- How individuals can 4x their value by upskilling with AI.- Whether Agentic AI is a dangerous tool or a massive opportunity.- How AI is fundamentally changing the definition of entrepreneurship.#AI #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #AgenticAI #TechInterview #Startups #EliPodcastChapters00:00 - Intro: Meet Rahul Gupta, Founder of BlackNGreen & Nexiva01:00 - The Early Days: From Telecom Engineer to Bootstrapped Founder03:18 - The First Hit Products: Solving Problems for Global Telcos05:35 - The "ChatGPT Moment": Pivoting a Global Company to AI07:16 - Why Traditional Customer Care is Broken (and How AI Fixes It)08:22 - Launching Nexiva: The Vision for an Agentic AI Platform10:16 - Game Changer: How Human-Like AI Voices Change Everything12:55 - The Real Cost Savings for Businesses Using AI Agents14:06 - The Challenge of Making AI Speak Human in 100+ Languages16:27 - A Brutal Warning: "Customer Support Jobs Won't Exist in 3 Years"20:06 - Beyond Customer Care: Will AI Like Sora Replace Creative Jobs?21:38 - The 4x Opportunity: Upskill with AI or Be Left Behind25:47 - Will AI Force Everyone to Become an Entrepreneur?28:11 - The AI Bubble: Why 95% of AI Implementations are Failing33:40 - Agentic AI is Not Just a Buzzword: The Real Evolution37:40 - Is Agentic AI Dangerous? Who's to Blame When AI Makes Mistakes43:21 - Redefining Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI46:07 - Outro

Join us for an insightful conversation with Tuhina Anand, founder of Koda Integrated Marketing Services, a content-first digital marketing agency for B2B Tech and SaaS companies globally. In this episode, Tuhina shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, from a journalist covering page three to becoming a "reluctant founder" who built Koda with a mission to question the status quo in marketing.Discover how Koda pivoted from a content-only agency to a full-funnel marketing powerhouse, embracing technology and human intelligence to deliver outcome-led campaigns. Tuhina also delves into the impact of AI on content strategy and SEO, the evolution of Account-Based Marketing (ABM), and her projections for the future of digital marketing, emphasizing the need for agencies to adopt technology and integrate diverse expertise.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a marketing professional, or simply curious about the future of B2B tech marketing, Tuhina's journey and insights offer valuable lessons and inspiration.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Tuhina Anand and Koda Integrated Marketing Services00:26 Tuhina's Career Genesis: From Journalism to Entrepreneurship01:06 The Passion for Words: A Constant Through Her Journey02:50 The Entrepreneurial Itch: Deciding to Start Koda in 201903:24 The Trigger for Entrepreneurship: If Not Now, When?04:33 Taking Baby Steps: Consulting Roles Before Full Entrepreneurship05:56 Koda's Evolution: From Content Agency to Full-Funnel Marketing07:39 AI's Disruption in Content Workflow: Acknowledging the Shift09:31 Human Expertise vs. AI: Where Uniqueness and Research Prevail11:06 AI-Handled vs. Agency-Outsourced Content: Examples12:04 The Role of Human Expertise in Research-Oriented Content13:14 AI as an Enabler: Creating Options and Scaling Efforts14:47 Koda's Pricing Model: Beyond Per-Word Rates16:17 The Complete Marketing Operation: Koda's Full-Funnel Approach16:44 Pitching to Clients: Overcoming AI Content Objections17:19 What AI Cannot Disrupt: The Intelligence Layer18:24 AI as a Collaborator: Human Intelligence with AI Tools20:46 Forecast for the Future of Marketing and Agencies22:03 Closing Remarks and Best Wishes

Join us as Swarup Bose, Founder and CEO of Celcius Logistics Solutions, shares his incredible journey of digitizing India's cold supply chain. From his two decades of experience in the traditional cold chain sector to founding Celcius during the COVID-19 lockdown, Swarup discusses how his company is tackling critical issues like food and medicine wastage through innovative technology.Highlights:- The fundamental role of cold chain logistics in our daily lives, from ice cream to life-saving medicines.- How Celcius evolved from a pure marketplace to a 3PL partner, serving major brands like Parag Dairy, Godrej, Dr. Reddy's, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto.- The staggering 1.3 trillion rupees worth of perishables India loses annually and how Celcius is fighting this wastage.- The technological backbone of Celcius, including IoT devices, real-time tracking, and in-house management solutions.- His personal entrepreneurial path, from his father's influence to overcoming challenges in fundraising and market adoption.- The grand vision for Celcius: to create an unbroken, tech-enabled cold chain network that supports farmers, expands market access to Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, and contributes to food security.Chapters[00:00] Introduction to Swarup Bose & Celcius Logistics[00:30] Celcius's Evolution: From Marketplace to 3PL Partner[01:02] The Crucial Role of Cold Chain in Logistics[03:25] Innovation & Modernization in Traditional Cold Chains[05:17] Combating 1.3 Trillion Rupees in Perishable Wastage & COVID's Impact[06:58] Understanding Current Market Problems: Supply Shortage & Mindset Shift[09:31] The Technology Powering Celcius: IoT, Tracking & In-House Solutions[10:53] Celcius's Customer Base and Asset-Light Model[13:05] Swarup Bose's Entrepreneurial Journey: From Family Business to Startup[19:00] Navigating the Zero-to-One Journey & Fundraising Success[23:27] The Grand Vision for Celcius Logistics & Industry Impact[29:25] Swarup's Key Learnings on Entrepreneurship: Perseverance & Belief[31:52] Closing Remarks

In this episode of our podcast, Nitin Mahajan, founder of Quickads.ai and BrandBooster.ai, unpacks how AI is transforming the advertising landscape, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). He discusses the challenges faced by SMBs in traditional marketing, the innovative solutions his platforms offer, and his unique "skin in the game" business model. Nitin also shares his entrepreneurial journey and his vision for India's role in the global AI story.Chapters:00:03 - Introduction to Nitin Mahajan, Quickads.ai & BrandBooster.ai00:30 - Why AI for Advertising? Serving SMBs01:51 - The Challenges of Traditional Ad Creation & How Quickads.ai Solves Them04:36 - The "Controversial" Synergy: Quickads.ai (AI) + BrandBooster.ai (Human Touch)05:59 - Addressing Meta/Google's Struggles with SMB Ads & The "Uber of Ads" Model08:32 - The "Skin in the Game" Business Model: Making Software Free11:20 - Why "Ugly Ads" Win on Meta: The Liquid Death Example12:24 - The Future of Marketing: Speed, Taste, and Technology15:01 - Are Marketing Agencies Becoming Tech Agencies? The Evolution of a Marketer17:29 - Nitin's Entrepreneurial Journey: From McKinsey to AI Founder18:57 - Why AI? Expertise, Opportunity, and the Intersecting Skills20:07 - AI as a Bubble: A Realistic Perspective on Exponential Growth21:17 - India's AI Story: Consumer AI, Services, and Employing the Youth24:15 - Advice for Aspiring AI Entrepreneurs: Resilience is Key

In this episode, we sit down with Pawan Gupta, the visionary Cofounder & CEO of The Wedding Company. This marks Pawan's second appearance on our podcast, where he dives deep into his entrepreneurial evolution from Betterhalf.ai to building India's largest wedding planning company.Pawan shares the compelling story behind The Wedding Company, revealing how a long-held vision transformed into a thriving enterprise focused on standardizing and enhancing the wedding planning experience. He discusses the critical shift from matchmaking to end-to-end wedding services, driven by the core premise of providing reliability, affordability, and accessibility in a traditionally unorganized sector.Join us as Pawan unpacks:- The Genesis of The Wedding Company: How years of planning and market observation led to identifying and addressing the complexities of Indian weddings.- Innovating a Traditional Market: The strategic development of a "lightweight managed marketplace" model that balances technology with high-touch operational excellence to solve for reliability.- The Power of Scale: Insights into building a network of 28,000+ venue partners, completing over 1,000 weddings, and achieving operational profitability across eight cities.- Technology as a Backbone: How The Wedding Company leverages its robust platform for customers, suppliers, and internal teams, from personalized proposals to real-time venue availability.- Disrupting with AI: A sneak peek into their innovative AI applications, including automated decor designs from Pinterest photos and future plans for generative AI in wedding planning and financing.- The Future of Weddings: Pawan's long-term vision to transform The Wedding Company into the "Uber for weddings," empowering independent event planners and standardizing services across India.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Manish Godha, CEO and Founder of Advaiya, a technology consulting and implementation services company. In this episode, Manish shares his two-decade entrepreneurial journey, from his early days in Udaipur and experience at ICICI Bank to founding Advaiya and its evolution.Manish introduces the concept of Peripheral Automation, explaining how businesses can integrate diverse applications and technologies without disrupting core systems, enabling faster innovation and maximizing existing tech investments. He provides real-world examples of successful Peripheral Automation implementations in sectors like AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction).We also delve into the current landscape of AI and its business value, discussing the hype vs. reality of AI adoption, its impact on data and automation, and crucial security considerations like prompt injection attacks. Manish offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on navigating technological waves, emphasizing the importance of bottom-line impact for sustained growth. Discover how AI is reshaping the future of work and empowering entrepreneurs.Key Discussion Points:- Manish Godha's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Advaiya.- Understanding "Peripheral Automation" and its strategic advantages.- Real-world applications of Peripheral Automation in various industries, including AEC.- The true business value of AI and navigating its current hype.- Security challenges in AI implementations, particularly prompt injection attacks.- Future of work and entrepreneurship in a technologically advanced world.- Advice for entrepreneurs on technology adoption and creating impact.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction to Manish Godha & Advaiya[00:26] Manish Godha's Entrepreneurial Journey & Background[01:18] Early Career & Enterprise IT Exposure at ICICI Bank[02:14] Exploring Entrepreneurship & The Birth of Advaiya[03:41] Working with Microsoft Technologies & Advaiya's Evolution[05:55] Advaiya's Shift to Solutions & IT Initiatives[06:22] Understanding Peripheral Automation[08:02] Why Traditional Enterprise Architecture is No Longer Adequate[09:02] The Layered Approach of Peripheral Automation[11:35] Benefits of Peripheral Automation: Flexibility & Cost-Effectiveness[13:00] Differential Innovation & Maximizing Existing Investments[14:46] Learning from Past Mistakes & The Peripheral Automation Framework[16:52] Real-Life Examples of Peripheral Automation Success (AEC Sector)[17:56] Bid Management & Project Risk Management in Construction[20:35] Optimizing ERP Implementations in Real Estate with Peripheral Automation[22:52] Broader Applications: Purchase, Inspection, Quality Management[24:32] AI: Hype vs. Reality & Business Value[26:19] Early AI/ML Use Cases & The Generative AI Hype[28:02] The Role of AI Evangelists & Influencers[29:54] Disillusionment with AI & The Importance of Tangible Results[31:27] Treating AI as Another Technology: Cost, Benefit, Decision[32:00] AI Security Concerns: Data Exposure & Prompt Injection Attacks[33:37] The Unsolved Challenge of Prompt Injection Attacks[35:22] AI's Impact on Entrepreneurship: Leveraging Resources[36:26] Navigating Technology Waves: Lessons from Cloud & Blockchain[38:25] Identifying True Impact: Growth, Efficiency, and Effectiveness[39:19] Why Blockchain's Enterprise Adoption Stalled[39:44] AI's Transformative Effect on the Entrepreneurial Process[40:43] AI as an Assistant: Augmenting Entrepreneurial Capabilities[42:16] Scaling Faster & Experimenting Quicker with AI Assistance

In this insightful episode of the ELI Podcast, we sit down with Nitin Kochhar, the Chief Operating Officer & Chief Business Officer at Brick & Bolt. Nitin, a seasoned "Unicorn Builder" with a remarkable background in e-commerce (Flipkart, Shopclues), logistics (Rivigo), and EdTech (White Hat Jr., Embibe), shares his journey of venturing into the massive tech-enabled construction market.Discover how Brick & Bolt is transforming the residential and commercial construction landscape in India by addressing critical customer pain points:- Delays: Eliminating project delays with penalty-backed timelines.- Cost Overruns: Ensuring transparent pricing and no unexpected cost increases.- Money Security: Implementing an industry-changing EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) system for contractor accountability.- Transparency & Quality: Utilizing 16 proprietary apps and a "digital twin" concept for real-time monitoring and over 470 quality checks through QASCON, even for NRI customers abroad.Chapters[00:00] Introduction[00:46] Nitin Kochhar's Journey to Brick & Bolt (Flipkart, Shopclues, Rivigo, Hero Group, White Hat Jr., Embibe)[01:50] The "Unicorn" Success & Startup Mindset[02:29] Brick & Bolt: On Track to Become a Unicorn in India's $600 Billion Construction Market[03:35] The Core Problems Brick & Bolt is Solving in Construction (Delays, Cost Overruns, Money Security, Transparency)[05:59] Monitoring Experience: The 16 Apps & Digital Twin for Customers[09:03] Solving Financial Insecurity & Inconsistent Deliveries with EMD and Vetting Contractors[12:45] Penalty System for Delays & High On-Time Delivery Rates[13:52] Brick & Bolt's Pricing vs. Local Contractors: Transparent BOQ & Value Proposition[15:46] Nitin Kochhar's Day-to-Day Role as COO & CBO[17:30] Handling Volatilities in Construction (Material Costs, Weather) with Tech-Driven Scheduling[18:32] Customer Acquisition & Growth Strategy (Digital, Offline, Commercial)[20:58] Scaling to Different Cities: Addressing Regional Challenges & Bylaws[23:23] Future Expansion Plans for Brick & Bolt[24:14] Future Innovations: AI in Quality Control & 3D Printing in Construction[27:30] Entrepreneurial Learnings: Mental Strength, Learning Mindset & People Skills[29:15] Closing Remarks & Best Wishes

Pavan Kavad is the Managing Director of Prithvi Exchange, a publicly traded, RBI-authorized foreign exchange company in India. As a second-generation entrepreneur, he has scaled his family business from 15 to 31 branches, growing its turnover by over 4x to 4,100 crores.In this conversation, Priya and Pavan discuss the intricacies of the foreign exchange market, the challenges of navigating a regulated industry, and the digital transformation shaping the future of finance. Pavan shares his journey from making deliveries on day one to leading the company, offering profound insights on leadership, innovation, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to build a lasting legacy.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction0:48 - Pavan's Background & Prithvi Exchange's Growth2:58 - RBI's Foreign Exchange Categories Explained4:10 - Core Products: Currencies, Forex Cards, and Remittances6:05 - Pioneering Home Delivery in the Forex Industry8:15 - The Founder's Story: From CA to Forex Visionary12:45 - The Transition to a Digital-First Approach15:45 - How Fintech is Transforming Indian Finance19:15 - Adapting to a Rapidly Changing Global Market21:35 - Pavan’s 10-Year Training: Learning Every Facet of the Business25:08 - Challenges of a Second-Generation Entrepreneur27:30 - Vision for the Future: Tech, UPI, and Virtual Cards31:00 - Advice for Entrepreneurs: "Don't Take Baby Steps, Go Global"32:15 - The Golden Decade for India33:30 - A Walk Down Memory Lane

In this episode, we sit down with Vineet Agrawal, Co-founder of Jiraaf, to discuss his incredible journey from a small town in Orissa to the forefront of India's fintech revolution.Vineet shares his experiences working in corporate banking and private equity, the key insights that led him to identify a massive gap in the fixed-income market, and the story of how he built Jiraaf from the ground up during the COVID-19 pandemic.Tune in to learn about the structural barriers that kept retail investors out of the bond market, how Jiraaf is making high-yield, fixed-income opportunities accessible to everyone, and Vineet's hard-won lessons on resilience, building relationships, and long-term thinking in the world of entrepreneurship.Chapters(00:00) - Intro(00:27) - Vineet's Journey: From a Small Town to XIMB and Corporate Finance(03:43) - The "Aha!" Moment: Uncovering a Gap in the Investment Market(08:27) - The Leap of Faith: Starting Jiraaf During the Pandemic(11:10) - Why Were High-Yield Bonds Inaccessible to Regular Investors?(14:52) - Building a New Category: How Jiraaf Developed its Platform(18:53) - How Jiraaf Breaks Down Large Bonds for Retail Investors(21:34) - The Challenge of Educating a New Market(26:21) - Why Competition is a Good Thing for a New Industry(29:29) - Overcoming the Challenges of Building a Fintech Company(31:21) - The Story Behind the Name "Jiraaf"(34:15) - Key Lessons Learned on the Entrepreneurial Journey(36:48) - Outro

In this episode of the ELI podcast, host Priya chats with Nupur Khandelwal, the co-founder of CarePay. Nupur shares her journey as an entrepreneur, starting from her background as a chartered accountant to co-founding two ventures in the healthcare space. She delves into the challenges and insights that led to the creation of CarePay, a platform aimed at making healthcare treatments more affordable through innovative financing solutions. Nupur also discusses the role of AI in their technology, their future plans for expanding into the broader healthcare payments ecosystem, and her personal definition of entrepreneurship.Chapters:00:00: Nupur's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey.01:36: The Problem CarePay Solves.02:49: CarePay's Zero-Cost Financing and Merchant Benefits.03:51: Addressing Fraud and Risk with a Smart Scoring System.04:36: AI's Role in Improving Patient Onboarding and Experience.06:15: Future Plans: Expanding into Healthcare Payments.08:52: Advice on Entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we sit down with Sanjog Anand, the co-founder of Rostrum Education, a leading global admissions consultancy. Sanjog shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his school days to building a company that has helped over 5,000 students get into top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League schools.We dive deep into the booming industry of education consulting, the impact of AI on learning, and what the future holds for higher education. Sanjog offers invaluable insights for students and parents navigating the competitive landscape of international university admissions.Chapters0:00 - Introduction to Sanjog Anand, Co-founder of Rostrum Education0:55 - Sanjog's Journey: From Delhi to Singapore, the US, and Back2:51 - The Evolution of Rostrum: From Tutoring to University Counseling6:14 - Rostrum's Business Model and the Shift During COVID7:50 - The Booming Industry of Studying Abroad12:33 - The Emotional Drivers Behind Education Choices18:15 - The Impact of AI on the Value of Higher Education Degrees23:45 - The Future of Education: Skill Building vs. Traditional Learning

In this episode, we sit down with Deepak Narayan, the visionary founder of Practus, a leading business consulting firm. Deepak shares his incredible journey, from a childhood spent moving across six different states to becoming a Chartered Accountant and eventually, a pioneering entrepreneur.Discover the key traits—like mastering trade-offs, resilience learned from sports, and a rebellious spirit—that shaped his path. Deepak opens up about the evolution of his company, from its beginnings as WealthTree, pivoting to MyCFO, and finally transforming into the 360-degree consulting powerhouse that is Practus today.YouTube Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction to Deepak Narayan, Founder of Practus(00:21) - A Spiritual Perspective on "Past Lives"(01:40) - A Nomadic Childhood: Moving Across Six States(03:05) - The Pros and Cons of a Constantly Changing Environment(04:26) - The Journey to Becoming a Chartered Accountant(05:05) - The Origin Story: From WealthTree to MyCFO(05:47) - How a Nomadic Upbringing Shapes an Entrepreneur(08:02) - The Art of the Trade-Off: A Key Entrepreneurial Trait(10:11) - Learning to Break the Ice and Build Connections(11:30) - The Role of Sports in Building Resilience and Teamwork(12:43) - Why Trade-Offs are Crucial in Business and Life(14:15) - A Real-World Example: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic(16:45) - Gut Feeling vs. Logic: Making Tough Decisions(19:43) - The Intersection of Spirituality and Entrepreneurship(22:43) - The Genesis of Practus and the Family's Reaction(26:43) - Leaving a Secure Job for the Entrepreneurial Leap(31:13) - Overcoming the Initial Difficulties of Starting a Business(36:49) - The Strategic Pivot from WealthTree to MyCFO and Practus(39:18) - The Future of Consulting in the Age of AI(45:20) - Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Eklavya Podcast, we sit down with Rohit Sakunia, the Founder Director of ArtE Mediatech, a full-stack creative and technology agency.Rohit shares his incredible 40-year journey in a nutshell—from growing up in a business-oriented family in Rourkela and dreaming of filmmaking, to his time at ESPN and Google, to finally taking the entrepreneurial plunge. He opens up about his hits and misses, including his first venture, Glance Media, and the lessons that led him to build ArtE Mediatech from a one-room office to a 150-person powerhouse with a presence across India and plans for global expansion.We dive deep into the current state of the media and advertising industry and discuss the elephant in the room: AI. Is AI a threat or a tool? Rohit offers a compelling, optimistic perspective on how AI will enhance creativity and make the excellent magnificent, rather than replacing human storytellers.YouTube Chapters(00:00) - Intro: Meet Rohit Sakunia, Founder of ArtE Mediatech(00:26) - The Nuances of Running a Company from Home(01:29) - The Secret to Scaling: Hiring Great People(03:06) - A Founder's Life: Juggling Travel and Multiple Offices(04:41) - From a Small Town in Odisha to the World of Business(06:19) - The Entrepreneurial Bug & a Childhood Dream of Filmmaking(07:18) - Education, Early Career, and an MBA during the 2008 Recession(09:27) - Why He Left His Dream Job at ESPN(10:34) - The Life-Changing Call from Google(11:48) - First Startup Failure: The Story of Glance Media(13:09) - The Genesis of ArtE Mediatech with a College Friend(15:19) - Side Hustles with Impact: The 3min.life Initiative(18:33) - Building a Full-Stack Agency Through Acquisitions(21:27) - The USP: Why ArtE Mediatech Doesn't Outsource Work(22:35) - Is the Media Industry Being Disrupted by AI?(24:10) - "Tools Don't Build Brands, Stories Do"(26:10) - Can AI Replace a CMO?(29:01) - How ArtE Mediatech Uses 13+ AI Platforms Daily(30:24) - Are Clients Cutting Budgets Because of AI Tools?(33:17) - 5-10 Year Prediction for the Media Industry(35:35) - An Eternal Optimist's View on AI's Future(36:55) - Closing Remarks & Best Wishes for ArtE Mediatech

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Vivek Tandon, a serial entrepreneur and the visionary founder behind revalyu (formerly known as perPETual Technologies), a groundbreaking company transforming the future of plastic recycling.Join us as Dr. Tandon shares his incredible journey, from being born in Uganda and attending school as a refugee to founding multiple successful technology companies in the environmental and renewable energy sectors, such as Aloe Private Equity and Greenko Group PLC. He discusses his earliest entrepreneurial ventures, born out of necessity, and the educational path that led him from a BSc in Physics at Imperial College to a PhD in Engineering.Dr. Tandon delves deep into the story of revalyu and its mission to tackle the global plastic waste problem. Learn about the innovative chemical recycling technology (glycolysis) that allows revalyu to convert used PET bottles and polyester back into high-quality material—a concept he calls "minds above ground."We explore the logistical challenges of recycling over 9 billion bottles, the state of the recycling industry in India (a world leader in collection), and the evolution of brand adoption from a marketing "gimmick" to a core business strategy.This is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, and anyone interested in how technology and determination can create a sustainable impact on our planet.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder of revalyu00:55 - From Uganda to India: Dr. Tandon's Early Life and First Entrepreneurial Steps03:05 - University Ventures and Early Success in Telecoms05:21 - The Genesis of revalyu: The Concept of "Minds Above Ground"08:44 - The Science: How revalyu's Technology Chemically Recycles PET Plastic11:55 - Why Focus on Bottles? Understanding Different Types of Plastic13:56 - The Logistics Behind Recycling 40 Million Bottles a Day in India16:21 - The Biggest Challenges: From Investor Skepticism to Market Volatility20:33 - Beyond the Gimmick: How Brands Are Genuinely Embracing Sustainability22:24 - India's Role as a Global Leader in Plastic Recycling25:13 - The Future for revalyu: Scaling to Meet a Global Problem27:35 - A Message for Entrepreneurs: The Mega Trend of Recycling30:12 - Closing Remarks

In this episode of ELI - Entrepreneur's Live Interviews, we sit down with Kashiish A Nenwani, Director at Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals. Kashiish shares her inspiring journey from a background in finance to becoming a leader in the manufacturing sector.In this interview, Kashiish discusses:* Her personal and professional journey.* The evolution of Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd from a modest start-up to a global exporter.* The company's digital transformation with SAP.* Building a people-first organization and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.* The challenges and strengths of being a woman in a male-dominated industry.* The concept of Green Finance and Shivtek's commitment to sustainability.* Her definition of impactful leadership and advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs.Join us for an insightful conversation with a leader who is making a significant impact in the industrial world.**Chapters:**(0:00) Introduction(0:27) Kashiish A Nenwani's Background and Journey to Shivtek(02:00) The Evolution of Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd(03:30) Shaping the Company's Vision with a Finance Background(04:40) Driving Digital Transformation with SAP(06:21) Building a Future-Ready and People-First Organization(07:47) Challenges and Strengths as a Woman in Manufacturing(09:40) Championing Diversity and Inclusion at Shivtek(12:50) Understanding Green Finance and Sustainable Growth(19:15) Defining Impactful Leadership(20:43) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Women Leaders

In this episode, we welcome Professor Vivek Singal, author of the book "Dominion and Dharma," to discuss his critique of modern capitalism and his vision for a more conscious and equitable future. A graduate of IIT Delhi and the University of Michigan, with a background in management advisory and liberal arts, Professor Singal offers a unique perspective on the intersection of capitalism, spirituality, and civilizational values.He shares the personal anguish and series of events that led him to write his book, from observing the hypocrisy at the World Economic Forum to a powerful encounter at the Age of Discovery monument in Lisbon. Professor Singal delves into the fundamental incompatibility between the Western capitalist worldview, which sees the world as a marketplace, and the dharmic worldview, which views the world as an interconnected mandala.The conversation explores the historical roots of extractive capitalism, using the island of Madeira as a prototype of a "minimum viable plantation model" that combined monoculture and slave labor. Professor Singal draws a compelling analogy between old colonial models and modern institutions like corporations and NGOs, which he argues perpetuate a form of "colonialism with a compassion filter."The discussion also touches on the Industrial Revolution's role in turning humans into surplus labor and the potential dangers and promises of emerging technologies like AI. Professor Singal concludes with a call to action for the younger generation to ask critical questions, challenge existing paradigms, and reconnect with a sense of sacred responsibility to create a future our descendants can be proud of.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction to Professor Vivek Singal[01:10] The Premise of "Dominion and Dharma"[02:10] The World Economic Forum and the Spark for the Book[03:32] The Age of Discovery Monument and Civilizational Grief[04:20] Reconnecting with Dharmic Roots in Kochi[05:15] The Goal: Not to Reject the West, but to Remember the East[06:23] Capitalism's "World as a Market" vs. the Dharmic "World as a Mandala"[07:49] The Dangers of a "Win-Lose" Mentality[09:34] Identity: "What Do I Do?" vs. "Who Am I?"[12:21] The Island of Madeira: A Prototype for Capitalist Exploitation[13:59] The "Minimum Viable Plantation Model"[17:02] "Humanitarian Capitalism": Colonialism with a Compassion Filter[18:38] The Threat of Exponentially Growing Technologies[20:17] The Hypocrisy of Modern Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives[24:35] The Industrial Revolution: Transforming Souls into Surplus Labor[27:31] The Advent of AI and the "Phygital Civilization"[30:21] The Unseen Consequences of the Automobile[31:07] The Neurons in Our Heart and Gut[33:43] A Call for Young People to Challenge the Status Quo[36:26] How to Reconnect with Dharma and Sacred Responsibility[37:25] The Power of Asking Questions[38:42] Closing Remarks

In this episode, we sit down with Vineet Tagi, the Global CTO at Biz2x, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Indian SME lending sector. Vineet shares his extensive experience in building scalable, tech-led businesses and delves into how Biz2x is leveraging technology and AI to provide accessible credit to underserved SMEs. The conversation covers the intricacies of the Indian credit ecosystem, the importance of "time to credit," the role of alternative data in underwriting, and the future of embedded finance and agentic AI in transforming the lending landscape.Chapters[00:00] - Introduction to Vineet Tagi and Biz2x[00:49] - Vineet's Journey: Building Scalable Systems[03:21] - Understanding the SME Credit Landscape in India[08:25] - Innovation in "Time to Credit" for SMEs[14:40] - Leveraging Alternative Data for Credit Decisions[20:52] - The Role of AI Agents in Underwriting[25:51] - The Rise of Fintech GCCs in India[29:56] - Future Trends in Lending and Financial Technology[34:08] - Conclusion

In this episode, we sit down with Anand Shiralkar, the founder of Rian, an innovative AI platform that is revolutionizing the world of voiceovers and translation. Anand shares his incredible journey from working in Japan's finance industry to becoming a serial entrepreneur and investor in India.We dive deep into the world of Voice AI, discussing how Rian is blending human expertise with cutting-edge technology to create high-quality, emotion-aware dubbed content for everything from YouTube videos to OTT web series. Anand breaks down the complex workflows involved in AI dubbing, the importance of cultural nuance, and the future of human-in-the-loop AI systems.If you're interested in AI, startups, the creator economy, or the future of language, this is an episode you don't want to miss!Chapters:00:02 - Welcome and Introduction00:26 - Anand's Journey from Japan to Entrepreneurship02:12 - The Genesis of Rian: An AI Translation Company03:18 - Anand's Other Venture: DG Future Tech04:41 - Voice AI and Translation Use Cases at Rian09:21 - The Detailed Workflow of AI-Powered Dubbing14:59 - The Human-in-the-Loop: Why AI Needs Human Intervention19:59 - How AI is Making the World Flat by Breaking Language Barriers28:34 - The Future of Jobs and the Rise of the "New-Age Linguist"31:02 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

How do brands truly understand what consumers want in an age of data overload? We dive deep into the evolving world of market research with Praveen Nijhara, CEO of Hansa Research Group, one of India's largest and most respected consumer insights firms.In this insightful conversation, Praveen unpacks his journey and the dramatic transformation of the research industry. We explore how technology is not just changing but revolutionizing the field, from data collection to groundbreaking analysis.In this episode, we cover:🔹 Praveen's personal journey from his early days at IMRB to leading a legacy institution like Hansa Research.🔹 The critical role of technology in modern data collection, from QR codes to advanced online panels.🔹 How cutting-edge tools like facial coding and eye-tracking are providing deeper, more accurate insights than ever before.🔹 The current landscape of market research in India, including the top spending industries and the unique challenges of a diverse market.🔹 The future of research: Praveen's vision on the growing role of AI, the potential of synthetic data, and why human intervention remains indispensable for true strategic thinking.This is a must-listen for any business leader, marketer, or data professional who wants to understand how strategic decisions are powered by deep consumer understanding in the digital age.Chapters(00:00) Introduction(00:46) Praveen's Journey into Market Research(01:43) The Underrated Career Path of Market Research(03:59) The Legacy of Hansa Research & Key Milestones(09:05) How Technology Transformed Data Collection(21:04) The Revolution in Data Analysis (Facial Coding, Eye Tracking)(27:08) Today's Market Research Landscape in India(32:57) The Future: AI, Synthetic Data, and the Role of Human Insight

In this episode, we sit down with Chris George, the Co-founder & CEO of Qube Health, a pioneering Health-FinTech platform that is revolutionizing how Indians pay for their healthcare.Three out of four Indians are either underinsured or have no health insurance, leading to a staggering $72 billion in out-of-pocket medical expenses annually. Chris shares his personal journey into entrepreneurship and the harrowing family experience with the healthcare system that became the genesis for Qube Health.Join us as we dive deep into:- The fundamental flaws in India's healthcare financing system.- How Qube Health leverages the UPI network to offer instant cashback and no-cost EMIs on all medical bills.- Their unique B2B2C model and major partnerships with companies like Flipkart.- The future of healthcare payments, the impact of government initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, and how technology can make quality healthcare accessible to all.If you're interested in startups, fintech, or the future of healthcare in India, this is a conversation you don't want to miss! Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:35) Chris George's Entrepreneurial Journey: From Events to E-commerce(02:58) The "Horrors of Healthcare" That Inspired Qube Health(03:31) Why India's Healthcare System is Still Broken(04:35) The $72 Billion Problem: Out-of-Pocket Expenses(06:17) The Core Mission: Solving for "Ability to Pay"(07:15) How Qube Health Makes Healthcare Payments Frictionless(09:05) The "Google Pay for Healthcare": How the App Works(10:10) Instant Cashback or No-Cost EMI: The Two Choices(11:15) Qube's B2B2C Model: Partnering with Employers(12:50) How is the Pre-Approved Credit Line Determined?(13:51) Preventing Misuse: How Qube Identifies Medical Expenses(15:15) The Flipkart Partnership: A Case Study in Employee Benefits(16:42) Qube vs. Traditional Lenders: The "Desperation Financing" Problem(18:15) The Rise of Hospital-Led Financing: Competition or Validation?(19:17) Why "Choice" is the Most Important Factor for Patients(20:26) View on Government Initiatives: Ayushman Bharat & UHI(21:28) Qube's Vision: Becoming a Channel for Direct Benefit Transfers(22:29) Reaching Tier 2/3 Cities and Rural India via UPI(24:12) The Lending Puzzle: How Qube Manages Collections & Defaults(26:35) Outro

In this episode, we sit down with Ajitesh Gupta, the Co-founder and CEO of "Crowwd," a merit-based social media platform for investors and traders that is on a mission to democratize financial discussions and de-noise finance.Ajitesh shares his incredible journey, from a family of bureaucrats to studying at the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London. He talks about his early entrepreneurial ventures, including a failed startup at 17, and a successful exit at 20. He explains how his own experiences with the stock market's volatility and the lack of reliable information led to the creation of Crowwd.Join us to learn:- How Crowwd is using an 80-parameter model to ensure the credibility of financial information.- Their strategy for combating fake news in the financial space.- Why they believe financial information should be free and their unique monetization strategy.- The challenges of transitioning a company from Europe to India.- Crowwd's three-stage vision for the future, including brokerage services and AI-driven portfolio optimization.This is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the future of FinTech in India!YouTube Chapters:00:00 - From Bureaucrat Family to Entrepreneur: Ajitesh's Journey02:30 - First Startup Failure at 17 & A Successful Exit at 2002:59 - The "Aha!" Moment: Why the World Needs Crowwd03:15 - What is Crowwd? Democratizing and De-Noising Finance06:05 - The 80-Parameter Model for Vetting Financial Content07:07 - How Crowwd Fights Fake News08:50 - Why Crowwd's Content is Free: The Monetization Strategy10:35 - The Challenges of Moving a Company from Europe to India11:15 - The Social Aspect of Crowwd13:00 - The Future of Crowwd: Brokerage, AI, and Portfolio Optimization27:35 - The "Zero to One" Journey: Building a Company Culture

From condensed matter physics at IIT Delhi to building a global cybersecurity powerhouse across 4 continents - this is the remarkable story of Sooraj Vasudevan, founder of Calculus Networks.In this episode of ELI Podcast, discover how a physics graduate transformed a Mexico City startup into a vendor-agnostic system integration company serving AT&T, governments, and Fortune 500 companies. Learn why he chose Mexico over Silicon Valley, how COVID-19 forced a complete business model pivot, and his vision to build India's next billion-dollar tech story using AI.🔥 Key Highlights:- The Tejas Networks mafia effect - how India's first B2B hardware startup created entrepreneurs- Why Mexico is surprisingly similar to India for doing business- The "Starbucks approach" to system integration that's disrupting traditional IT- Building SOCs (Security Operations Centers) across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania & India- How to transition from techie to business leader without an MBA- The future of AI in cybersecurity and why hackers might have the upper hand📊 About Calculus Networks:Founded in 2016, Calculus Networks provides networking, telecommunication, and cybersecurity solutions to enterprises and governments globally. Named "Top 10 SD-WAN Services Company 2023" by Enterprise Networking Magazine, they're the

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Dr. Angad Singh Bedi, the Managing Director of BCD Group, one of India's oldest and largest real estate conglomerates. Angad shares his unique perspective on the evolution of the Indian real estate market, from a family business rooted in pre-partition India to a professionally-run, zero-debt empire.Join us as we dive deep into the most pressing topics shaping the industry today:- The post-COVID shift in homebuyer priorities and the new definition of a 'home'.- How Gen Z is disrupting the property market with new demands.- The critical debate on Floor Space Index (FSI) and the future of urban development in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru.- The rise of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and what's fueling their growth.- How the industry is tackling challenges like infrastructure strain and climate change.- The impact of technology, from PropTech and AI to 3D printing in construction.- Angad's vision for India's real estate landscape in 2040 and its journey to a multi-trillion dollar economy.Whether you're a prospective homebuyer, an industry professional, or simply interested in the future of Indian cities, this conversation provides an invaluable insider's view.Don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more insights from India's leading entrepreneurs!Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(00:24) Meet Angad: From Chartered Accountant to Real Estate Leader(02:16) The Legacy of BCD Group: A Zero-Debt Empire Built Across Decades(04:03) The Current State of Indian Real Estate: An Era of Maturity & Professionalism(05:58) Post-COVID Real Estate Trends & The New Definition of 'Home'(08:28) Beyond Square Footage: The Rise of Community-Centric Living(10:34) Gen Z Enters the Market: How Are Young Homebuyers Different?(12:32) The FSI Debate: Should Indian Cities Grow Vertically or Horizontally?(14:42) India's Untapped Potential: Real Estate Growth in Tier-2 & Tier-3 Cities(16:24) Climate Change & Infrastructure Collapse in Major Indian Metros(18:20) The Government's Role: How RERA & Policy are Shaping the Market(20:09) The True Cost of a Property: Land, Approvals, and a Developer's View(21:49) PropTech & Innovation: How Technology is Transforming Real Estate(24:30) Vision 2040: The Future of India's Multi-Trillion Dollar Real Estate Economy(25:48) Closing Remarks

In this episode of Eli, we sit down with Shalini, the Managing Director at Planview, a global leader in Strategic Portfolio Management and Digital Product Development.Join us as Shalini shares insights from her remarkable 25-year career spanning the evolution of the software industry. We dive deep into how Planview helps iconic businesses like TVS Motors and Aditya Birla navigate complex transformations, prioritize investments, and drive their strategic goals in a rapidly changing world.Shalini also discusses the critical shift from a "project" to a "product" mindset, her passionate vision for India as a leading "product nation," and the immense potential of the country's tech talent. We explore the profound impact of AI on business, education, and the very nature of work, weighing its opportunities against the challenges it presents to our traditional ways of thinking.Finally, Shalini offers her perspective on the future of entrepreneurship in an age where AI can handle execution, and what it now takes for founders to succeed.Whether you're a business leader, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of technology and work, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction to Shalini & Planview(00:40) Shalini's 25-Year Journey in Software(03:34) What is Planview? Building for the World from India(07:05) How Planview Solves Problems for Giants like TVS & Aditya Birla(13:54) The Shift: Why Businesses are Moving from Projects to Products(18:12) Can India Become a True "Product Nation"?(20:49) Transforming India's BFSI & Government Sectors(24:50) AI's Double-Edged Sword: Opportunity vs. Anxiety(27:57) Rethinking Education in the Age of AI(31:44) The Future of Entrepreneurship: Beyond Ideas and Execution(35:58) Conclusion

In this episode, we sit down with Ronak Samantray, the founder of TakeMe2Space and ex-cofounder of NowFloats, for a deep dive into his incredible entrepreneurial journey.From his early days in Odisha and learning to code at age 10, Ronak shares the story of how he caught the startup bug. He gives a behind-the-scenes look at building NowFloats, scaling it to 50,000+ paid customers, and the eventual acquisition by Reliance.Ronak then takes us through his bold pivot into the final frontier with TakeMe2Space 🛰️, a company building an AI-inferencing data center in orbit. He discusses:The mission to make space accessible and affordable for everyone.How they are using AI to build satellites and the future of "Vibecoding."The role of ISRO in India's growing space-tech ecosystem.His vision for the future of data centers and why it lies beyond Earth.Why the most important differentiator for any startup today is the speed of execution.Join us for an inspiring conversation about building from the ground up, navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and aiming for the stars.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Ronak Samantray00:34 - Early Life, College, and the Entrepreneurial Spark03:05 - Learning to Manage People and "Get Work Done"05:53 - The Early Days of NowFloats & Leaving Microsoft09:36 - Building the NowFloats Founding Team14:17 - The "Sine Wave" of a Startup: The Tough Times18:52 - Cracking the SMB Market: Product & GTM23:33 - The Reliance Acquisition: Scaling with a Giant27:16 - How Coding Shapes a Founder's Mindset30:05 - The Future of Coding: AI as a "Super Sharp Intern"41:00 - Why Space? The Mission Behind TakeMe2Space45:25 - Building Satellites & The $2/Minute Business Model51:37 - Are Data Centers Moving to Space?55:15 - The Future of Entrepreneurship: Speed of Execution59:00 - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Venkatesh (Venky) Sundar, the Co-founder of Indusface, a leading application security SaaS company protecting over 5,000 global businesses.Venky shares his incredible journey from being a sports stats junkie in India to building a globally recognized cybersecurity product. He talks about the early days of Indusface, the pivotal acquisition of their first product by Trend Micro, and the lessons learned that led to the creation of their flagship platform, AppTrana.Dive deep into the world of application security as Venky explains how Indusface is tackling modern threats, the dual role of AI as both a disruptor and an enabler, and why cybersecurity needs to be a day-one priority for every founder.Tune in to learn:- How a conversation about meeting Sachin Tendulkar led to a business partnership.- The strategy behind achieving a 100% customer recommendation rating on Gartner.- Why the underserved SMB market is a multi-trillion dollar opportunity for cybersecurity.- The five key components of AppTrana and how it provides end-to-end protection.- Actionable advice for founders on building a secure and scalable business from the ground up.Chapters:(0:00) - Introduction to Venkatesh Sundar, Co-founder of Indusface(0:34) - Venky's Background: From Chennai to North America and Back(1:54) - The Origin Story of Indusface & Its Roots in Cybersecurity(2:49) - From Sachin Tendulkar to a Business Partnership(4:57) - Finding a Niche: Securing Public-Facing Applications & APIs(6:55) - The First Big Milestone: Acquisition by Trend Micro(8:03) - The Birth of AppTrana: From Risk Assessment to Full Protection(9:03) - Building a Global Product from India(13:06) - Go-To-Market Strategy & Defining the Ideal Customer Profile(16:26) - Why Indusface's Customers are Vertical-Neutral(21:16) - Balancing a Generic Platform with Industry-Specific Customizations(25:02) - The Secret to Achieving 100% Customer Recommendation(29:26) - A Deep Dive into the 5 Pieces of the AppTrana Platform(31:58) - The Double-Edged Sword: AI as a Disruptor & Enabler in Security(37:40) - Why Cybersecurity is a Day-One Priority, Not an Afterthought(42:30) - Final Words & Inspiring the Founder Ecosystem#Cybersecurity #SaaS #FounderStory #Indusface #StartupIndia #AppTrana #AIinCybersecurity