Galata

Vikas and I dive into his journey building Shoffr: From testing with just 2 BYD cars to scaling a thriving fleet, his unique “vibe-based” hiring philosophy, raising funds directly from customers, spotting massive growth opportunities, and much more!

Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder, Zerodha, and I discuss markets, Greek philosophy, helpers high, Renaissance paintings, luck and so much more!Reach Nikhil on Instagram: @nikhilkamath586Links to significant resources mentioned in the interaction:Books:Money: Master the Game - 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders Updated (Indian Reprint)The Courage To Be Disliked: How to free yourself, change your life and achieve real happinessMichelangelo: A Life in Six MasterpiecesOn the Shortness of Life (Penguin Great Ideas) By SenecaKochland - The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in AmericaMaverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual WorkshopPS If enough of you buy from these links, Amazon India will treat me with a Thick Chocolate Shake.from Corner House!Other ResourcesBeing ethical is long-term greedy- Naval RavikantKasparov's classic quote in this New Yorker articleGod Friended Me episode.Investing advice for beginners by Nikhil on Shradha Sharma's Money MattersCorrection: The quote was not by Barkha Dutt; it was by Shoba De. Link to the article***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Drop a note to puneethsuraana@gmail.com 

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ravichandar V, the visionary behind Bangalore International Centre (BIC) and Sabha. From his early days at BITS Pilani and IIM Ahmedabad to founding Feedback Consulting and later transitioning to civic leadership, Ravi shares his remarkable journey of building public spaces and cultural institutions in Bangalore. Discover how he revolutionised property tax systems, created world-class venues for arts and culture, and mobilised philanthropic support from tech leaders like Nandan Nilekani and Azim Premji. This episode offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship, civic engagement, fundraising strategies, and the importance of community building in modern India.Challenge to You:“Better Citizen Challenge”The Challenge:“How can I be a better citizen tomorrow compared to the citizen I was today? Ask yourself what I can personally do better, and as a result of which the city will become better.”Hashtag: #BetterMeAction Items:• Identify one thing in your neighbourhood that you’d like to fix• Take personal action to improve it• Share your effort on social media with #BetterMe• Tag both me (@Puneethsuraana) and the guest (Ravichandar V)Core Philosophy:Individual civic responsibility leads to collective city improvement - focusing on personal accountability rather than just complaining about problems.Duration: One-week challengePeople & Personalities Mentioned:• Ravichandar V - Civic leader, entrepreneur,• Puneeth Surana - Yours truly :-)• Nandan Nilekani - Infosys co-founder, Bangalore Agenda Task Force• Hema Ravichandar - Former Infosys HR head, Ravi’s wife• Azim Premji - Wipro chairman, philanthropist• SM Krishna - Former Karnataka Chief Minister• Thomas Callet - Major BIC donor• Mohandas Pai - Philanthropist• Shibu Lal - Tech entrepreneur, donor• Jayaraj - Former BMP Commissioner Institutions & Organisations:Educational: BITS Pilani, IIM Ahmedabad, Monfort School, Yercaud. Corporate: Infosys, Wipro, Myco (now Bosch), Feedback Consulting.Cultural: Bangalore International Centre (BIC), Sabha, Chennai International Centre, Bangalore Literature FestivalGovernment: Bangalore Agenda Task Force, BMP, JNNURM, City ConnectEvents: OASIS (BITS cultural festival) Books, Movies & Media Mentioned:• “Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verges - Ravichandar’s fiction recommendation, which he found “absolutely mesmerising”• “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari - One of two books that “really resonated” with him• “The Wisdom of Crowds” by James Surowiecki - His second non-fiction pick, focusing on how crowds have more wisdom than select experts OTT/Streaming:• “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+ series) - Recent content he consumed and “quite enjoyed” for unwinding• Galata Podcast - Mentioned as content he listens to while walking with his earbuds

Join us for a deep dive with visionary engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose groundbreaking ideas on education, sustainability, and social justice have inspired millions worldwide. In this extended conversation, you’ll learn:• What education is truly for: Why we must shift from conquering nature to nurturing it, and how unschooling and mother-tongue instruction empower real learning.• Climate wisdom from Ladakh: Stories of Wangchuk’s mother predicting the farming crisis and how indigenous knowledge drives his fight against glacial melt.• The “I Live Simply” movement: How a pledge-based platform can mobilise global behavioral change—planting trees, reducing meat consumption, choosing trains over flights—without spending a rupee.• Revolutionary activism: Lessons on nonviolent resistance, the power of failure, and Gandhi’s timeless call to “live simply so others simply live.”As Wangchuk awaits a Supreme Court hearing on October 6th, challenging his detention, his words resonate with urgent clarity: personal change sparks collective revolution. Perfect for climate activists, education reformers, social entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking practical, scalable solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.About I Live Simply movement:A unique crowd-funding campaign where the contribution made is not monetarily, rather by pledging a greener and simpler lifestyle changes.As leaders of tomorrow, students’ participation in this movement can have a huge impact on fighting global warming. Some of the pledges today’s youth can make could be: Making your college campus plastic-free, planting more trees in your campus and around, adopting bike-pooling or using more of public transport, reducing unnecessary water consumption, less data consumption which meant lesser online streaming, taking initiatives to partner with waste management organisations for proper recycling of e-waste, TetraPaks, plastics etc.PS: To measure the impact of this episode, I urge you to use #ilivesimply #TheGalataPodcast  Link: https://www.ilivesimply.org/ About Sonam Wangchuk,A mechanical engineer by education, Sonam has worked in the field of education reform for 27+ years. The man who inspired the popular “Phunsukh Wangdu” character in the Bollywood hit Three Idiots, Sonam has been instrumental in changing the face of education in the mountains. His sessions throw a whole new perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship that embraces social change.In 1988, he founded SECMOL (Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh) that aims to reform the government school system in Ladakh. In 1994 he was instrumental in the launch of Operation New Hope, a triangular collaboration of the government, village communities and the civil society, whose work has been instrumental in improving the pass percentage of 10th graders in the region from a dismal 5% to 75%.For students who still failed in their state exams, he founded the SECMOL Alternative School Campus near Leh, a special school where the admission criterion is a failure in exams and not grades. As an engineer, Sonam Wangchuk has been teaching innovation at the SECMOL Alternative School, where together with the students, he designed and built solar heated buildings that are low cost, made of earth/mud but maintain +15 C even when the outside temperature is –15 C in Ladakhi winters.His “Ice Stupa” artificial glacier has claimed fame for helping solve the water crisis in the region due to climate change and fast melting glaciers. The Ice Stupas store water in the winter in the form of giant ice cones or stupas, which melt over summer and provide water to the lands, just in time for irrigation.Sonam is the recipient of several awards, The Rolex Award for Enterprise 2016 in Hollywood USA, The Terra Award 2016 for World’s Best Earth Buildings in Lyon France, The UNESCO Chair for Earth Architecture for India in 2014, ‘Real Heroes’ Award by CNN IBN Channel in 2008, ‘Green Teacher’ Award by Sanctuary Asia Magazine in 2005, Ashoka Fellowship by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public in 2002, ‘Man of the Year’ by The Week magazine in India in 2001 and the Governors Medal by the J&K State Government in 1996.Introduction Credits: Outstanding Speakers Bureau.Links to reach Sonam:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wangchuk66Website: https://secmol.org

🎧 About Galata Podcast Galata is a Kannada word that means the ruckus of noise. Through candid, long-form conversations, I explore entrepreneurship, creativity, and the pursuit of meaningful work with some of India’s most interesting minds. 🏛️ About Hundredhands Hundredhands is a Bangalore-based collaborative architecture practice founded by Bijoy and Prem Chandavarkar. Their work spans institutions, cultural spaces, and residences, known for thoughtful design, sensitivity to context, and the philosophy that architecture is less about materials and more about meaning. 🔗 Learn more: http://hundredhands.com📚 Mentions & ReferencesPeople & Practices• Nilesh Thakkar – restorer• Shaju & team (Kerala) – carpenters• Prof. Vasavada – Ahmedabad, conservation mentor• Arjun Mallik – Mumbai• Sensing Local – Bangalore practice• Compartment S4 – design practice• Matter – Goa practice• Malleswaram Rising Team – Suchitra and teamOther Mentions• RBNMS Trust – heritage owner of Cinnamon & Sabha• Prem Chandavarkar – Bijoy’s brother & collaboratorBooks & Magazines• Ways of Seeing — John Berger• Invisible Cities — Italo Calvino• Mad Magazine• Asterix comicsLectures• Neil McLaughlin lectures on YoutubeMovies• Conclave• Perfect DaysFilms by Bijoy & Prem• Doshi (2009) — documentary on B.V. Doshi• Doshi (2019) — follow-up film after Doshi’s Pritzker Prize🏛️ Places, Projects & Works Mentioned• Bangalore International Centre (BIC) – Bangalore• Sabha – Bangalore (restoration project, RBNMS Trust)• Cinnamon – Bangalore (RBNMS property)• IIM Bangalore – campus designed by B.V. Doshi• Aira School – Bangalore• Innovation Hub at IISc – Bangalore• Hope Orphanage – Trichy, Tamil Nadu• Arshila Project – Kochi• Parsi Temple renovation – Bangalore• National War Memorial – near Planetarium, Bangalore (by Somaya & Kalappa)• Nandi / Bhoganandiswara Temple – Nandi Hills• Kovalam Ashok Hotel (now Leela Kovalam) – designed by Charles Correa• Kerala temples – referenced for their spatial sequences and intimacy• Sri Rangam Temple – Tamil Nadu (contrast with Kerala temples)• Akbar’s Mausoleum at Sikandra – Agra• Diamond Bourse – Mumbai (B.V. Doshi project)

In this episode of The Galata Podcast, I’m joined by Suresh Kumar, the founder of Pepul Tech, a privacy-first social network that’s reimagining how people connect online. Suresh has an incredible journey: he bootstrapped Pepul from zero to a million users in just three months, built strong relationships that powered growth, and even turned down funding offers to stay true to his vision. In this conversation, we dive into the art of proactive selling, the courage it takes to say ‘no’ when everyone expects a ‘yes,’ and the deeper philosophy behind building a social platform that’s designed to make the internet more human.Resources mentioned in the episode:Books mentioned:As a man thinketh The Secrets by Ronda BryanTough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do! - Robert H. Schuller7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. CoveyZero to Million Dollar by Suresh Kumar G | MacAppStudio at AIC RaiseSteve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement AddressThe making of Girish Mathrubootham - Factor Daily articleMovies Founders - McDonald's moviePadayappaBaashhaShoutouts:Balaji Kalyana RamanGirish MathruboothamVijay Shekar Sharma RajnikanthM. G. Ramachandran

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with CK Kumaravel, co-founder of Naturals Spa & Salon, to unpack his inspiring journey — from pioneering India’s beauty revolution to the secret to catching unstoppable growth, why even a great product needs marketing muscle, and how dreaming big attracts big opportunities. A must-listen for dreamers, doers, and entrepreneurs alike!

Hey, It's Puneet! Join me on this utterly, butterly delicious  journey! I have got a fascinating 2-hour episode lined up all about Varghese Kurien, the legend behind India's White Revolution. We'll be flipping through the pages of his book I Too Had a Dream and sharing the juiciest highlights. From his game-changing innovations in the dairy industry to his unwavering commitment to uplifting rural communities, From breaking the back of monopolies to safely treading the political and bureaucratic waters for 50 years,  Kurien's story is packed with inspiration and insight into what makes Indian entrepreneurship tick! So grab a snack, settle in, and get ready for a cozy chat about Kurien's legacy and the spirit of entrepreneurship that continues to shape India's future. Trust me, this is one conversation you won't want to miss!In this episode, I discuss the book called "I Too Had a Dream" by Varghese Kurien and its lessons on Indian entrepreneurship.Buy the book for the full story: I Too Had a Dream by Varghese KurienWhen you buy from the link, you support me with no additional cost to you. :-)Watch Manthan the movie produced by Kaira's farmers. 

In this electrifying episode of Galata, join Puneeth as he sits down with the legendary Peter De Jager, a titan in the world of change management and technology. Together, they dive deep into the intricacies of navigating change, captivating audiences, and crafting compelling presentations.Discover why people leave companies, the real secret behind effective change, and the most crucial question you need to ask when leading change initiatives. Peter reveals his unparalleled techniques for grabbing and holding an audience's attention, debunking the myth of starting with a joke and delving into the fine line between humor and a joke.Uncover the pitfalls of blindly following best practices, learn how to make a lasting impact on stage even as an extreme introvert, and bid farewell to death by PowerPoint with Peter's invaluable insights. From the power and perils of confirmation bias to the essential three letters in change management, this episode is a masterclass in navigating the complexities of modern leadership and communication. Happy Listening and note taking!   

Tune in to the Galata Podcast as we unlock the fascinating story of Indian retail pioneer Kishore Biyani, through his insightful autobiography "This Happened in India." From humble beginnings to building retail empires like Pantaloons and Big Bazaar, Biyani's journey is a testament to innovation and understanding the Indian consumer.Whether you're interested in business, retail, or simply the story of an inspiring individual, this episode is for you! Tune in and be prepared to be captivated by the story of "This Happened in India."Bonus: Share your thoughts on the episode with us on social media! #GalataPodcast #KishoreBiyani #IndianRetailList of books mentioned: Want to buy paperbacks of them all? Here's Kishore Biyani's Book recommendation wish listIt Happened In India: The Story of Pantaloons, Big Bazaar, Central and the Great Indian Consumer“I have also read my fair share of autobiographies written by foreign and Indian entrepreneurs. But no book strikes me more than Verghese Kurien's autobiography, I Too Had a Dream. Kurien's story is of a genuine Indian folk hero. Sam Walton : Made In America“ I couldn't help but get inspired by Sam Walton, the iconic founder of the chain. I have learned some of the most enduring lessons of business from a heavily underlined and dog-eared copy of the classic Made in America.”“A book I would like to recommend to everyone is Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It provides a step-by-step framework for living and working, based on some fundamental principles or natural laws.”“Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingstone Seagull have inspired many of us within the organisation and helped us achieve what others thought impossible”“Another equally motivating book is Anthony Robbins' Awaken the Giant Within. It explores how every human being can live up to their true potential."Further recommended readings:“Among my favourites is Howard Schultz's Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time. Schultz proved that it is simplicity and passion coupled with a spirit of innovation that lies at the root of creating a great consumer experience. There are other equally fascinating books written on retailers like Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank's How a Couple of Regular Guys Grew The Home Depot from Nothing to $30 billion; lngvar Kamprad's Leading By Design: The IKEA Story;and Marvin Traub's Like No Other Store; The Bloomingdale's Legend and Revolution in American Marketing.”“Peters' books, A Passion for Excellence and Re-Imagine are both provocative and inspiring. The thought process with which we are today building our organisation is in fact quite similar to that of Tom Peters.”  

Explore his journey to becoming a content powerhouse, learn his unique creative process, conquer resistance, reflect powerfully, think actively, and embrace the daily grind. Uncover micromanagement secrets, leverage the power of constraints, and ignite your creative spark. Tune in now!

Hey, It’s Puneeth and Welcome to The Galata Podcast. In this episode we have a guest whose vision is reshaping the future of healthcare technology. This episode was recorded live on the vibrant campus of IIM Bangalore during Eximius 2023.As a Y Combinator alum from the Summer 2020 cohort, our guest is on a mission to democratize health insights for a billion people. Leading a dynamic team at MedPiper, he has unlocked the potential of custom Digital Health twins, providing precision health data to insurers, health plans, and digital platforms. With over 12 years of expertise, he spearheads pan-India, consumer-grade health assessments impacting over 10 lakh lives.But his journey goes beyond healthcare. A Startup Leadership Program lead and fellow, a member of the American Economic Association with certifications from Stanford and the London School of Economics.Before MedPiper, he showcased his entrepreneurial flair with a successful exit at Still Alive Media Solutions Private Limited, where he cashed in a whopping 85* Lakhs at the age of 24! Now, as we embark on this insightful conversation, get ready to hear from the visionary mind behind MedPiper Technologies, our guest today is none other than Nitthin Chandran Nair.Here’s Nitthin's journey, recorded live at IIM Bangalore's Eximius 2023, exclusively on The Galata Podcast!

In this episode we discuss the beauty in simplicity, meditating on Indian highways, the fascinating difference between the west and the east, visible scale vs hidden depth and so much more!

We are joined by someone who studied MBBS at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. He served in the Indian Army as a Doctor in multiple counterinsurgencies, high altitude and peace locations for seven years. He became a Major in 2013 but gave it all up..to become a prominent quizzer and quizmaster.As a quizzer, he has won and placed at prestigious open quizzes such as India's Biggest Open quiz, the Landmark Quiz and The Karnataka Quiz Association’s Mahaquizzer and Megawhats, He has been a Six-time winner of the World Quizzing Championship Kerala edition. He is a member of the Bangalore-based quizzing team CIDs From Kerala…He is also passionate about travelling, reading, and footballPlease enjoy Major Chandrakant Nair and my discussion.Contact Major Chandrakanth Nair:Twitter: @reduvid

Sometimes I walk down the aisle of a bookstore and stumble upon a book that draws me in…once I open it, I just can’t keep it back!Maybe it was the bearded gentleman on the cover with a welcoming smile or the outright audacious title or the index. Yes, it was the index that stirred something in me. I thought this man must be crazy! But that’s how I stumbled upon “Let me hijack your mind” at Sapna book house on a chilly Bangalore evening last winter.Very unusual…no? Oh! Wait, there’s more.The book was not easy to read because it made me feel so uncomfortable! Though I felt deeply inspired by Alyque Padamsee‘s extraordinary contributions in so many domains, especially advertising and theatre. The ideas, arguments and questions being asked to me in the book shook my intellectual foundation of everything all at once!Still, this ended up being my most highlighted, scribbled-on-the-margins, messy doodled book.Well, Life sent me a reward when I found out that Vandana Saxena Poria, the coauthor would be speaking in Bangalore so I made sure I attended it. She was a bundle of energy, welcoming and had so much to share. When I went up to her after the talk…we vibed instantly! I did this interview soon after and I am excited to share it with you. Please, enjoy our conversation.Check out the book “Let me hijack your mind: Restart Your Life with Freedom”: https://amzn.to/3TqQo1w Connect with Vandana:LinkedIn: Vandana Saxena PoriaWebsite: vandanasaxenaporia.com

Barkha Dutt speaks the changing voice of journalism, people-first news and her latest book in this short episode recorded at VIsra 2022 in IIM BangalorePlease enjoy the interaction.check out her latest book: To Hell and Back: Humans of COVID - https://amzn.to/3EogTz9PS: This link helps me to continue making Galata!

This is the second part of the solo episode where I share 3 things to do when you arrive at the venue, how to become a powerful super host, storing and recalling people's names, startups, and milestones.Resources mentioned:#55: 5 Powerful WhatsApp Hacks To 10X Your Productivity!: Where I share my methods to organize WhatsApp to work for your business and you, maintain relationships with 100's people, systems and scripts you can automate, a visual and memorable name-saving tip, wise texting tip, becoming a part of your audiences' daily routine and more!How to Develop a Super Power Memory by Harry Lorayne - https://amzn.to/3pqHSl9How to Remember Names and Faces: Master the Art of Memorizing Anyone's Name by Practicing w Over 500 Memory Training Exercises of People's Faces by Luis Angel Echeverria. - https://amzn.to/3QzzsDUFirst  Part of the solo episode: 3-time tested strategies before you go to a startup networking event!  This  outlines 3 powerful weapons you need in your social kit before you go to another event, how to find and make it to the right events, and creating a memorable visiting card that converts! How to get in a socialite mode. The 3-time tested strategies that networkers swear by!