Millionaire Mondays by Backstage with Millionaires

In this episode of Millionaire Mondays, featured in Startup Spotlights, an initiative by Google Play, we sit down with Anshul Kamath and Rohan Arora, founders of Evolve, a mental health platform, with a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. Since its inception in 2017, Evolve has helped over 1 million people across the world, in the uplifting and well-being of their mental health. 00:00 Intro 03:51 Story of Anshul 08:47 Rohan's Story 12:36 How Both of them Met 17:32 Evolve's Early Days 21:28 Early Financing 23:20 First Fundraise 27:29 Recognition by The Google Play Store 29:36 Building for the World 31:39 Evolve's Business Model 35:24 Decision to build for LGBTQ+ community 45:55 Is Evolve B2B or B2C? 50:18 Future Roadmap 53:09 Looking Back 58:31 Founder's Future Ambitions 1:04:24 Outro When Anshul and Rohan initially started Evolve in 2017, it was a mental health app for everyone. However, in 2021, the team pivoted towards an LGBTQ+ first app after seeing some early signs of traction. The reason according to the founders is that “the LGBTQ+ community is one of the fastest growing user segments globally and research shows that members of the community are almost 4 times as likely to experience serious mental illness compared to the general population”. Evolve’s core team comprises people from diverse gender identities and sexual orientations and this helps them understand first-hand the struggles and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to mental health and wellness. What makes Evolve different from the other mental health apps in the market is its focus on community building. So while other apps focus primarily on virtual content, Evolve has a thriving community where users can discuss and share their experiences to normalise stressors. (Social Links Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/ Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google’s Global Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopers Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all Evolve’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolveinc/ Evolve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolveapp_/ Evolve’s X: https://x.com/evolveapp_ Anshul Kamath’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshulkamath/ Rohan Arora’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohan-arora5/ Anshul Kamath’s X: https://x.com/anshulkamath Anshul Kamath’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anshulkamath/ #mentalhealth #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play.]

In this episode of Millionaire Mondays, featured in Startup Spotlights, an initiative by Google Play, we sit down with Tito Aby Idicula and Nigel Crasto, founders of Programming Hub, one of the largest apps to learn programming. Since its inception in 2016, Programming Hub has taught coding to more than 40 Million people, reaching almost every single country in the world. 00:00 Introduction 03:41 Inception at L&T 04:34 Transitioning from Employment to Entrepreneurship 08:21 Financial Struggles and Creative Solutions 20:51 A Turning Point: Google Launchpad Accelerator 25:08 Understanding Userbase and Monetising them 34:32 Benefits of Bootstrapping 36:29 Project X 46:45 Insane Growth During Pandemic 54:05 AI: Boon or Bane? 1:04:29 Video Game Suggestions Tito Aby Idicula and Nigel Crasto started Programming Hub in 2016. The company was founded with the vision of addressing the growing demand for programming skills in an increasingly digital world. Recognising that traditional education systems often fall short in providing flexible, up-to-date, and comprehensive coding education, the founders set out to create a platform that would democratise access to high-quality programming instruction. At the heart of Programming Hub's appeal is its extensive library of courses, which covers a wide array of programming languages and technologies. From foundational languages like Python, Java, and C++ to specialized fields such as data science, machine learning, and mobile app development, Programming Hub caters to both beginners and advanced learners. Each course is meticulously designed to ensure a seamless learning experience, featuring interactive lessons, hands-on coding exercises, and real-world projects. The platform also offers courses in emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, ensuring that learners are well-prepared for the future of tech. Both Nigel and Tito see AI as the biggest advancement in tech till now and see it as a big opportunity for Programming Hub in the future. Among many things to take away from this podcast, their journey of building a bootstrapped profitable startup is something I am most impressed about. (Social Links) Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/ Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google’s Global Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopers Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all Programming Hub’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/programming-hub/ Programming Hub’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/programminghub.io/ Programming Hub’s X: https://x.com/Prghub Nigel Crasto’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-crasto-a2306547/ Tito Idicula’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titoaby/ Nigel Crasto’s X: https://x.com/Nigelcog Tito Idicula’s X: https://x.com/KillerCrosser Nigel Crasto’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigel_crasto Tito Idicula’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tito_aby #programminghub #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play]

Today's episode of Millionaire Mondays is extra special - because it's also the first episode being featured in #StartupSpotlights, a Google Play initiative, where inspiring startup founders share their untold growth stories. In today's episode, we're in conversation with Yannick Colaço, co-founder of FanCode, a one-stop destination for sports fans in India. FanCode has more than 100M lifetime users, making it one of the largest sports streaming platforms in the country. 00:00 - Introduction 04:08 - Career Beginnings and NBA Experience 11:23 - The Inspiration behind FanCode 17:15 - Starting FanCode 25:22 - Team and Culture at FanCode 38:11 - Navigating the Pandemic 42:28 - Growth and Expansion Post-Pandemic 45:52 - Monetization and Revenue Strategies 48:45 - Merchandise and New Ventures 56:28 - Future Plans and Innovations 58:33 - Outro Yannick Colaço and Prasana Krishnan started FanCode in 2019. The company has positioned itself as a comprehensive destination for sports fans, offering a variety of services including live streaming, non-live content, sports statistics, and merchandise. Yannick Colaço previously worked with NBA India as managing director, while Prasana Krishnan was a former executive at sports pay-television broadcasters Sony Pictures Networks and Neo Sports. FanCode raised $50 Million in May 2021. One of FanCode’s significant strengths lies in its comprehensive sports coverage. The platform offers live streaming of matches, which includes not just major leagues and tournaments but also smaller, regional, and even grassroots events. This has democratised access to sports content, enabling fans to follow their favourite sports and teams regardless of their geographic location. FanCode also provides detailed sports statistics and real-time data, enhancing the viewing experience for sports enthusiasts who crave in-depth insights. Expanding beyond digital content, FanCode also offers sports merchandise, allowing fans to purchase official team gear. During the ICC World Cup 2023, FanCode was the official partner for Indian team jerseys. Social Links Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/?hl=en Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all FanCode’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fancode/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true FanCode’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancode/?hl=en FanCode’s X: https://x.com/FanCode Yannick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-colaco-237aab11/ Yannick's X: https://x.com/yansports [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play.] #FanCode #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay

It all began in late 2008, amidst Abhinav Das' GATE exam. In a pivotal moment of realization, he abandoned the exam midway, recognizing that pursuing a master's degree wasn't his true calling. Instead, he crafted a business plan on the spot, birthing the concept of 'Evomo - Evolving Mobility'. The objective behind Evomo was straightforward: to replace the ubiquitous jugaad vehicles prevalent in rural India with Rural Utility Vehicles (RUVs). These RUVs were envisioned to be cost-effective, modular, and specially designed for rough terrains. However, Abhinav Das encountered a significant obstacle – funding. He required approximately 2.3 crore rupees, equivalent to about 383,000 dollars at the time, to kickstart his vision. Despite seven years of dedicated efforts and the creation of an impressive prototype, Evomo failed to generate any revenue. Abhinav Das attempted to secure venture capital to obtain certifications and commence manufacturing, but his endeavors only yielded a fraction of the required funds – a mere 12 lakh rupees, or 18,000 dollars at the time. Facing limited options, Abhinav Das took a daring leap and applied for Y Combinator in 2015. Despite being accepted for an online interview, he fell short of securing a spot after the in-person interview in California. The setback was a crushing blow, leading Abhinav Das to shutter Evomo, depart from Ahmedabad, and return to his parents' home in Delhi. He grappled with a profound sense of purposelessness, battling bouts of depression characterized by prolonged sleep and difficulty in getting out of bed. Yet, amidst the darkness, Abhinav Das resolved to reclaim his passion for entrepreneurship. He embarked on a journey to resurrect his dreams, eventually founding Orangewood Labs alongside his co-founders, determined to make a lasting impact in the world of robotics. Abhinav Das and his fellow co-founders at Orangewood Labs are on a mission to revolutionize the robotics industry. Their focus? Building robotic arms that are not only affordable but also incredibly easy to program, thanks to their innovative AI-powered software named RoboGPT.

00:00 Intro 02:52 Building Ather S340 and 450 09:15 Indian EVs vs Chinese EVs 19:29 Can India become the biggest electric vehicle exporter? 28:10 Indian EV industry (wave 1) 33:30 Struggles of building an EV company 40:40 How Ather almost shut down 52:09 The hardware wave 58:10 How to take feedback 1:04:48 Asteroid mining is the future 1:09:59 The future of the energy industry 1:15:45 Outro