The BarberShop with Shantanu

₹15 Cr in revenue.A crowded toy market. And a big ambition to build a brand that can go global.In this episode, Yash Thombare and Vedang Nalawade, Co-Founders of Clapstore Toys, join Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company) along with Aditya Sehgal (Founder, Asgard. world | Ex-President & COO, Reckitt) for a sharp conversation on building a fast-growing toy brand focused on affordable, mass-market products for Indian families.From vendor dependence and manufacturing choices to distribution and category expansion, the panel breaks down the real decisions founders face while growing a D2C brand.They also tackle a tough reality in categories like toys, where repeat purchases are limited, and competition is often generic. Also, for Clapstore, the path to competing globally lies in continuous product innovation. Problems we solve in this episode:1. What should founders prioritise to scale from ₹15 Cr to ₹50 Cr?2. In low-repeat categories, should founders focus on repeat purchases or customer acquisition?3. As a brand scales, should founders own manufacturing or outsource it?4. How to Design Products When Buyer and User Are Different?If you're building a D2C brand, consumer startup, or manufacturing-led business, this episode offers a practical look at the real decisions founders face while scaling!Navigate your way through these chapters00:00 Coming Up01:00 Introduction01:48 The Vision Behind Clapstore04:36 Scaling from ₹15Cr to ₹50Cr13:17 Repeat Purchases or Customer Acquisition?18:51 How Unique Design Language and Partnerships Drive Growth31:30 Own Manufacturing or Outsource?39:06 Innovation or Manufacturing: Clapstore’s Moat44:20 Designing Products When Buyers Aren’t Users48:55 Closing Thoughts

This episode explores the realities of building a modern apparel brand from zero.Sanya and Adit, founders of Cove & Lane, are building a modern, quiet luxury clothing brand for ambitious professionals. Timeless pieces designed for people moving from boardrooms to social evenings.They join experts, Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company), along with industry leaders Shiv Shivakumar (Operating Partner, Advent | Ex-SVP, Nokia | Ex-CEO (India), PepsiCo) and Toshan Tamhane (Ex-McKinsey Senior Partner | Global Chief Operating Officer, UPL) for a sharp conversation on what it really takes to build a consumer brand.From repeat purchases and referrals to customer psychology and status signalling, the panel breaks down how founders can identify what is actually working. They also unpack a critical founder dilemma:Should early startups prioritise growth or profitability?Problems we solve in this episode:• How do you measure product-market fit in a D2C fashion brand?• How should founders use data when the sample size is small?• When scaling a startup, how do you balance growth and profitability?If you're building a D2C brand, consumer startup, or fashion business, this conversation will sharpen how you think about scaling.Navigate through the chapters and watch till the end

This episode goes inside the real shift from founder hustle to founder design.Gopal built SOLARA by staying close to operations in the early years. Today, his role has shifted. He focuses on growth, while others run execution. But that transition is not automatic. As a founder, you are constantly switching between operator, shareholder, and long-term architect. The hard part is knowing when to step back and let specialists take over.He joins Shantanu Deshpande, along with Shiv Shivakumar, Operating Partner at Advent International, and Toshan Tamhane, COO at UPL Group, for a candid conversation on scaling in a changing consumer market.From bootstrapping decisions to the ₹500 crore acquisition question, from hiring senior leaders to building culture without bureaucracy, the discussion goes deep into how consumer brands must evolve.They also unpack a powerful external trend: the rise of the open kitchen. Appliances are no longer hidden utilities. They are visible, aesthetic, and part of lifestyle identity. Water purifiers, drinkware, and kitchen equipment have shifted from commodities to fashion. When the kitchen becomes open, the product must earn pride of place.Problems we solve in this episode:1. Should you bootstrap to ₹500 crores or raise capital to hit ₹1,000+ crores faster?2. Will a celebrity endorsement build trust, or are regional micro-influencers the smarter bet?3. When should you hire senior talent from outside without breaking your startup culture?4. Do experience stores make sense for a digital-first brand going offline?If you are building a consumer brand navigating scale, capital, and positioning in a more design-conscious India, this episode will sharpen your thinking.

This episode goes inside the realities of scaling a D2C brand.Yash Kalra, Founder of Goat Life, started his journey in Kota. Before crores in monthly revenue and national visibility, there were 80 plus offline events and constant product iteration.He joins Shantanu Deshpande and Aditya Sehgal, Founder, Asgard.world and Ex-President & COO, Reckitt, for a direct conversation on what it really takes to scale. They challenge assumptions, question positioning, and examine the shift from founder hustle to structured growth.Problems that we solve in this episode: - How should founders prioritise operations and capacity when demand spikes overnight?- As a content led brand scales, what must stay founder led to keep the voice authentic?- When does a niche brand know it has gone deep enough to expand wider into new categories?- If you are building a consumer brand and navigating growth decisions, this episode will sharpen your thinking.Navigate through the chapters and watch till the end00:00 Coming Up01:43 Introduction04:07 From GO OAT to Goat Life06:40 Products, Flavours & Packaging08:31 Sales Split Across Channels & AOV10:50 The “Ompi” Story × Shantanu12:14 Is GOAT LIFE Truly Just a Breakfast Company?13:42 SKU Mix: Assorted Packs vs. Singles14:57 Limited Drops Strategy19:16 How to Expand Your Product Range?22:01 Breakfast or Oats?23:39 The Growth Formula27:37 Go Wide or Go Deep?39:47 Why the Current Team Setup Is Breaking40:07 How to Build a Good Team and Culture?50:33 The 3-Bucket Org Structure (Brand, Sales, Product)01:01:19 Working Capital and Demand Shocks

This episode is a personal one. Kuldeep Jain, Founder and MD at CleanMax | Former Partner at McKinsey & Company, was Shantanu Deshpande’s senior at McKinsey. They share a close bond, and Kuldeep has also invested in Bombay Shaving Company. That trust makes this conversation unusually honest.Kuldeep talks about leaving the safe path, early mistakes, and the phase where he lost 80–90% of his savings. He explains how CleanMax found its direction, how he thinks about hiring and culture, and what the IPO journey really looks like, including roadshows and pricing.What you’ll get from this episode:- Early failure, fear, and staying in the game- Hiring principles and culture built on trust- IPO reality, roadshows, and how pricing worksThey break down the IPO process for what it is: rigorous, compliance heavy, and all about trust. Even pricing is part art.If you want to build something that lasts, this episode is a blueprint.Link to DRHP: https://www.sebi.gov.in/filings/public-issues/aug-2025/clean-max-enviro-energy-solutions-limited_96203.html00:00 Trailer01:30 Early days at McKinsey07:10 Why CleanMax was needed11:13 CleanMax turning point14:20 How to build a strong company culture19:58 What is Ashirvad Day?27:53 From McKinsey colleagues to founders32:47 How to take your company to an IPO36:30 When to decide your company is ready to go public43:34 Going public and who plans to buy the shares51:52 Closing thoughts

What happens when two people realise India isn’t lacking luxury, but starving for togetherness?They walked away from stable careers and built a ₹120 CR hospitality brand that proves ‘luxury’ isn’t always required to succeed! In this episode of The Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Deven Parulekar (Founder of SaffronStays), who built his brand on one simple belief: where families bond. From a honeymoon dream many years ago to a reality in 2015, this vision has expanded into a network of 425 villas, each designed to bring people closer.But here’s the part that sets this story apart: SaffronStays refuses the ‘luxury’ tag. Its heart lies in homes that feel welcoming, with villas kept ready for every moment without anyone stepping in uninvited.An unexpected call about a 130-year-old heritage home changed everything, opening the door to a vision that would one day aim to become the Taj of homestays in India. And through the years, the brand has quietly reshaped how India thinks about travel, belonging, and human connection.What you’ll discover:- Why the brand refuses to be ‘the largest’, but strives to be ‘the finest’, with a mission to combat loneliness.- How human bonds spark real business growth- How hardships during COVID-19 opened the door to unexpected success- How one historic villa changed the company’s direction- The three values that build lasting brands.If you’ve ever experienced the joy of bonding with your people, watch how a villa brand reimagined Indian hospitality by focusing on bonds, over luxury. Navigate your way through the chapters00:00 Coming Up01:44 Introduction03:28 How Deven Built SaffronStays05:42 How Hospitality Has Changed08:27 What Makes Villa Stays Special12:27 Growing and Understanding Guests16:00 How SaffronStays Stands Out19:05 How Travel Trends Affect Hotels26:14 What SaffronStays Promises Guests31:18 Villas Today and Why “Luxury” Feels Overused35:26 The First Home and Brand Journey39:44 Where Most Bookings Come From41:48 Meeting Post-COVID Guest Needs47:57 The Philosophy Behind Caretaking50:25 Using Instagram to Connect53:11 “Where Families Bond” in Action55:19 Favourite Villas and Top Picks59:22 Do Guests Come Back?1:03:25 Making Marketing Meaningful1:08:27 Advice from Shantanu1:14:02 Why They Chose the Blue Ocean1:20:40 Understanding Valuation1:24:53 How Travel Is Changing1:26:45 Closing Thoughts

Men are breaking silently, and most people do not notice until it is too late.This Men’s Day conversation brings Shantanu together with Chirag Taneja and the GoKwik team to talk about the quiet struggles that shape a man’s life.Men live shorter, visit doctors less, hide pain behind work, and carry pressure they never learned to talk about.Many grow up without strong male role models. Many lose friendships after marriage.Many feel responsible for everyone but themselves.Most of this remains unspoken because men are taught to stay strong even when strength is slipping away.In this episode, they finally say the things men usually swallow.They talk about exhaustion that has no outlet, about feeling misunderstood in rooms full of people, about why therapy often misses what men cannot put into words.Watch this if you want to understand the men in your life. Or if you are a man who has been waiting for someone to understand you.Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up01:00 Introduction & Opening Discussion05:05 Male Health & Mental Wellness Statistics10:14 Society's Expectations on Men14:13 Legal Frameworks & Therapy Challenges19:02 Q&A: Stereotypes About Masculinity25:15 Balancing Ambition, Career & Self-Care31:03 Financial Responsibilities & Partner Expectations37:00 Leadership & Modern Men in the Workplace41:45 Shared Values & Relationship Manifestos44:08 Men's Starter Kit for the New Generation50:00 Closing Thoughts

Scared of interviews? Maybe you're following the wrong rulebook.In this episode, Shantanu sits with a group of students to break down what interviews actually are. Not tests. Not interrogations. But human conversations where trust, honesty and connection matter far more than memorised answers.Shantanu pulls apart the fear, the overthinking, the nervousness that students walk in with, and reveals the real strategy: show up as someone your interviewer will genuinely enjoy working with.From decoding the classic McKinsey-style interview model to understanding why fun, clarity and natural communication create the strongest impression, this conversation opens up the side of interviews no one teaches in college.What you’ll discover:• Why interviews are built on connection, not perfection• How trust, honesty and humility shape your first impression• The three-part structure interviewers use to evaluate candidates• How fun, flow and real conversation shift decisions• The difference between trying to impress someone and working with someone• What interviewers actually remember after you leave the roomCan staying relaxed, real and human be the biggest interview advantage?Tune in to see Shantanu decode the mindset that helps students walk into any interview with confidence, clarity and heart.Navigate your way through these chapters00:00 Coming Up00:40 Introduction01:31 How Consulting Interviews Really Work03:06 What Interviewers Actually Look For11:40 Students Rank Top Interview Qualities16:31 The Real Interview Filter19:10 Strategy to Crack Your Dream Interview23:07 What You Think Matters vs What Actually Matters25:41 Stop Impressing, Start Showing You Can Work With Them29:41 How Shantanu Interviews & What He Notices First32:06 Lessons From Anuj Paul33:47 Closing Thoughts

In the chaos of laughter, how does a comedian think of conquering the unpredictable world of business?In this exciting episode of Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Kenny Sebastian, who is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship with his own perfume brand, The Stage. But the twist is he’s not just launching a fragrance, but is ready to challenge big players in the market with a daring entrepreneurial debut.Kenny, known for his sharp wit and stage presence, reveals how he’s blending his passion for comedy with the art of perfume-making. Mic Check and Spotlight, the two fragrances he’s launching, aren’t just scents; they’re his personal tribute to the stage that shaped him.And to make this vision a reality, Kenny had no one but the Bombay Shaving Company team by his side. From exploring perfume branding to choosing the right mood board, BSC’s expertise has been crucial in shaping the brand.What you’ll discover:- How the BSC team helped Kenny launch his own perfume brand from scratch.- The secret behind Mic Check and Spotlight, more than just names- Why Kenny’s perfume brand could compete in both the ₹3,000+ and ₹500 price ranges.- The challenges and triumphs of blending comedy with entrepreneurship.- Can a comedian make it in the business world?Tune in to find out how Kenny’s stage persona is influencing his new venture and why The Stage is set to disrupt India’s perfume market.Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming up00:33 Introduction02:21 How Kenny started The Stage with BSC’s support06:32 Kenny x BSC team09:29 How Rohit Taneja helped launch The Stage 13:17 Why did The Stage begin with two perfumes?18:28 Naming the perfumes and how stand-up influenced the brand27:31 The role of packaging and vendors29:12 Why pricing should reflect value, not just cost32:01 Ticket pricing lessons from stand-up34:32 Premium ≠ Price 41:04 Crafting The Stage’s launch strategy45:31 Why The Stage could be India’s next big perfume brand46:43 Showcasing Mic Check and Spotlight55:21 Closing thoughts

What’s it really like to work inside one of India’s most loved D2C brands?In this episode, Shantanu visits Ashoka University to talk to students about the journey of Bombay Shaving Company - how it started, why it was built, and the values that continue to guide its growth story.From startup stories and brand-building lessons to honest conversations about risk, purpose, and culture, it’s a peek into what goes behind building a D2C brand that people truly love.Two interns also share their experiences while working at Bombay Shaving Company, the learnings, surprises, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of a fast-growing D2C business. What’s the one skill you’d love to learn from the team at Bombay Shaving Company? Tell us in the commentsNavigate your way through these chapters00:00 Coming Up00:34 How Bombay Shaving Company Started02:43 Why They Chose to Build BSC06:32 Core Values That Drive the Brand08:16 An Intern’s Experience at BSC14:55 What to Expect Ahead

No matter where you are with money, this episode is for you.In this episode, Shantanu’s college best friend Anuj takes us through his journey - from the pressures of corporate banking and quarterly targets to building My Fundbox, a financial services platform helping people like us manage, invest, and grow our money smarter.Along the way, he’s experienced all the highs and lows, cleared the mutual fund distribution exam, and is now empowering people to take control of their finances.On the pod, they talk about corporate fraud, credit card traps, insurance, and how My Fund Box is solving real problems in financial services. Plus, Anuj shares his own and his 7-year-old Adwik’s personal experience with content creation, passive income as social media influencers, and what money really means in life to them.What’s the biggest financial lesson you’ve learned so far? Share it in the comments!Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00:00 Coming Up 00:01:46 Anuj’s Early Career 00:15:42 How My Fundbox Started 00:18:11 The Dark Side of Banks 00:22:05 Investments & Insurance Truths 00:28:28 How to manage Credit Cards & Debts 00:48:25 Life Lessons & My Fundbox Vision 01:07:55 Finance Advisory, MFDs & NFOs 01:13:44 Adwik’s Fitness & Social Media Journey 01:31:04 Anuj’s Social Media Story 01:36:45 Building Passive Income 01:54:24 Banter with Adwik & Closing Thoughts

How to become a great salesperson?Confidence? Product knowledge? Or the courage to face rejection again and again?In this final episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu dives deep into the art of selling, live at Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune.From breaking the ice to breaking records, this one is packed with hustle, wit, and raw energy.And in classic Shantanu style, it all comes down to action. A 45-minute campus challenge where students sell trimmers, face rejections, crack pitches, and learn on the go.The message is clear: real learning begins when theory meets the street.5 days left, plenty of time to jump in from zero and show what you’ve got ;)Prizes you can still win:1. Top Seller → KTM 390 Duke2. Next 6 Champions → KTM 160 Duke each3. Internship at Bombay Shaving Company4. A feature on The BarberShop with ShantanuHow to make your final push:1. Register → https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf2. Sell trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard before midnight and ride away in styleWatch the episode and see how Symbiosis students turned every “no” into their next big win. Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up00:46 Introduction02:11 Kicking Things Off with Fun04:02 Real Questions from Future Sellers06:38 The Secret Behind Great Selling13:03 Why Omni Blade collaborated with KTM Duke20:35 The Most Overlooked Sales Hack23:18 Student Sales Hacks That Worked27:08 Student Bags Interview at BSC

What if a simple idea could start a trend? What if one spark could change the way people live, shop, and even groom themselves?In this episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu takes us on a journey through the last decade of Indian entrepreneurship at Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune. He exhibit how investing in different brands transformed sellers, shaped trends, and set the stage for India’s future.He shares the story of how the beard trend took over India, and why that sparked the idea to start Bombay Shaving Company. Then, in classic Shantanu style, he turns theory into action: A 45 minute sales challenge. Students hit the campus selling trimmers, facing rejections, cracking pitches, learning on the go. This season, the pitch you make could land you the bike of your dreams!Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher!Prizes this season:1. Sell the most → KTM 390 Duke2. Next 6 sellers → KTM 160 Duke3. An internship at Bombay Shaving Company4. Get invited for an episode on The BarberShop with ShantanuHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → [https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf]2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming Up 00:47 Introduction02:02 How to Identify Product Market Fit? 05:24 Why selling is important for Entrepreneurship11:05 Omni Blade X KTM Duke 13:01 How to participate in this challenge16:20 How Britannia Campaign inspired BSC19:00 Student shaves his beard to win the KTM Duke 20:33 Winning Tips and Tricks

Every career is built on selling. Especially an entrepreneur’s! That’s what Shantanu and Ankush (Co-Founder and CEO at Rebel Foods) suggested at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai, and we couldn’t agree more.In this episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu teams up with Ankush to bring the hustle as well as their friendship alive on campus. They kick off with a power-packed masterclass on the art of selling, showing why sales isn’t just for salespeople, but the backbone of every profession.The challenge? Students step out to sell as much as they can. Some pitches work, some get turned down, but every attempt comes with a lesson. Between all the action, Shantanu and Ankush rewind to their younger days , laughing about the bikes they used to ride and love, emphasising on the fact that today’s Razorpreneurs have a chance to win their dream bikes while perfecting the art of selling! This season, the pitch you make could win you the bike of your dreams.Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher:1. Sell the most → KTM 390 Duke2. Next 6 sellers → KTM 160 Duke3. An internship at Bombay Shaving Company4. Get invited for an episode on The BarberShop with ShantanuHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → [https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf]2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming Up00:49 Introduction00:56 Shantanu & Ankush's college bikes story02:10 Shantanu on acquiring market gap03:26 Ankush's journey in cloud kitchens05:54 Shantanu on effective selling strategies09:16 Introduction to Razorpreneur10:13 KTM x Razorpreneur 3.0 collaboration10:50 Steps to become a Razorpreneur11:06 Prize announcement for winners13:33 How to crack D2C? 14:06 Students selling in action17:00 Razorpreneur winners from NMIMS 18:16 Shantanu wraps up the session

“Sell like your life depends upon it.”We can’t agree more with Kiran Shah! In the second episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu teams up with Kiran Shah, Razorpreneur and founder of Go Zero. From his early days at Apsara Ice Creams to building Go Zero, Kiran shows how every big idea begins with the art of selling.At Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, the challenge heats up. Shantanu announces a one-hour contest, and students step out to sell trimmers, while Shantanu and Kiran take on the same test themselves. The campus buzzes with pitches, rejections, lessons, and wins.This season, the pitch you make could win you the bike of your dreams! Now, it’s your turn.Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher:- Top Seller → KTM 390 Duke- Next 6 Champions → KTM 160 Duke each- 3 Lucky Buyers → KTM 160 Duke eachHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → [https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf]2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up01:36 Introduction02:44 How can you become an entrepreneur03:47 What is Razorpreneur07:30 Team Shantanu V/S Team Kiran11:20 Winners From Vidyalankar13:56 Omni Blade X KTM

Some journeys begin at home.For the first episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, mine does too. This time, I don’t bring a founder, VC, or CEO. I bring my mom – the best salesperson I know!In this episode shot in Pune, Aai visits her everyday kirana shops and steps into the world of sales for the first time. From friendly local stores to the chaos of FC Road, she convinces complete strangers to try the Omni Blade instead of the trimmers they usually buy. She has no sales experience, feels nervous, and faces rejection. But with every “no,” she learns, discovers the power of connecting with people, and sees that energy and storytelling can turn strangers into customers.Watching Aai’s pitches get braver with every try and seeing her enjoy each small win reminded me what entrepreneurship is really about. The courage, the no-excuse attitude, the determination. Now, it’s your turn.Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher:- Top Seller → KTM 390 Duke- Next 6 Champions → KTM 160 Duke each- 3 Lucky Buyers → KTM 160 Duke eachHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win the KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up 01:00 What is Razorprenuer? 01:42 How to Register? 06:20 Aai selling at Shop 109:13 What can you learn from Shop 109:44 Aai is selling Omni Blade to Abhinav 11:07 Aai selling at Shop 213:05 Learnings from Shop 2 13:48 Aai is selling Omni Blade to Adwik 15:12 Shantanu’s first rejection16:20 Aai selling at Shop 317:35 Learnings from Shop 3 17:47 Aai selling at Shop 418:39 Learnings from Shop 4 19:09 Aai’s easiest sales 20:20 Selling on FC road 22:32 Learnings from FC Road

Can you scale fast without falling into legal traps?In this episode of The BarberShop with Shantanu, we are joined by Archana Rajaram (Managing Partner, River Law) and Anup Agarwal (Co-Founder & CEO, Mintifi) to decode a side of entrepreneurship that’s often left behind and what really happens when capital, compliance, and chaos collide.From helping founders steer clear of costly mistakes to making sense of India’s tricky legal systems, Archana breaks down how "good lawyering should never come in the way of business". And Anup shares how Mintifi is not just simplifying credit for distributors but doing it while keeping unit economics and risk in check.This episode is basically a founder survival guide on what to fight for, what to let go, and how to not get distracted by vanity clauses.Key Takeaways from the episode:Why not hiring a lawyer early could cost you crores.The dos and don’ts of equity dilution, term sheets, and board control.How Mintifi is solving working capital at scale using tech-first lending.When you should fight a clause and when to just move on.If you're a founder, investor, or just someone trying to make sense of startup chaos, this episode will make you think and maybe double-check your SHA.Let us know in the comments what’s one legal or financial misstep you wish someone had warned you about.

Some episodes are personal.This one is family.I had the privilege of sitting down with two people who’ve shaped the way I think, live, and lead: Dr. Pravin Bhagwat (Founder of 14 Trees Foundation) and my father, Kiran Deshpande (Former CEO, Tech Mahindra. Founder, Mojo Networks. Board Member, 14Trees Foundation) two entrepreneurial men I've had the privilege of learning from since I was a child.They built a company together. Exited it with grace. And then, Pravin uncle did something most people wouldn’t, he walked away from the tech world to plant trees and build forests. Literally.He started the 14 Trees Foundation, a community-led movement that’s quietly restoring India’s green cover and here’s why he did it:While reading a 6th-grade textbook on photosynthesis with his daughter, Pravin Uncle had an eye-opening realization: that the carbon we emit can be neutralized simply by planting trees. In fact, it takes exactly 14 trees to neutralize the carbon footprint of one person over a lifetime.This simple, measurable, and relatable insight inspired him to act. It clicked with me instantly, and it’s become the core of what 14 Trees stands for, bringing nature back, one tree at a time.And his conversation isn’t about funding rounds or exits.It’s about friendship, purpose, legacy, and trees, making the world better:Some things you’ll take away from this episode:How my dad and Pravin uncle met, and the values they shared while building Mojo Networks.Why they left it all to work with their hands in the soil.What reforestation looks like and how you and I can help.Why building quietly can still leave a loud legacy.If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What comes after success?” this episode might offer a few answers.And here’s a way you can be part of it:If this conversation resonates with you, share the video on any social media platform along with your own takeaway (no generic reposts or AI summaries), and send it to me via DM or email shantanu@bombayshavingcompany.com and CC deepti@bombayshavingcompany.com.I’ll personally plant one tree in your name at 14 Trees.And if you go a step further and plant one yourself, maybe for a parent, mentor, pet, or friend, I’ll plant two more trees for you.That’s three trees. One simple act. No deadline.Let’s grow something together.

Is the healthcare system in India broken, or just evolving? In the latest episode of Barbershop, Shantanu is joined by Viren Shetty, Vice Chairperson of Narayana Health (NH), to explore how the pandemic reshaped global healthcare and how, despite the changes, NH is committed to staying true to its values while introducing its new inpatient care services. Viren proudly reflects on the incredible legacy of his father, Dr. Devi Shetty, one of India’s most renowned cardiac surgeons. He shares how Narayana Health has emerged as a leading healthcare provider in the country. The organisation has set a new benchmark in the industry by offering health insurance at just ₹10,000 per year for a family of four. This move, he explains, represents a major shift toward making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and focused on quality for all. Viren also reveals the intense pressure of being a second-gen entrepreneur and constantly proving himself while leading a firm rooted in his father’s vision. What you’ll discover: 1. The importance of prioritising health over everything else in the global economy. 2. Devi Shetty’s revolutionary approach to accessible patient care. 3. The contrast between the past and present generations' views on diagnosis. 4. What would Viren change in India’s healthcare system if he were in charge? 5. Can AI replace the human touch in healthcare? The conversation gets candid about leadership, healthcare investment, and the journey to building a massive organisation with a purpose. Watch now and discover the hard truths behind healthcare and entrepreneurship.

Is mental health just a buzzword for Gen Z or is it a genuine crisis?In this episode of The Bridge, Shantanu leads a candid, cross-generational debate on one of the most misunderstood workplace questions today: Is mental health struggle real for Gen Z? One side, the seasoned professionals, Revant Bhate (Co-Founder & CEO at Mosaic Wellness) and Kaushik Mukherjee (Co-founder & COO at SUGAR Cosmetics), question if the regular hustle is being mistaken for crisis.While the Gen Z voices Vidit Dugar (Chief of Staff at Bombay Shaving Company) and Gauri Bansal (Strategy Manager, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa at Spotify) talk about the demand of a workplace built on empathy, trust, and emotional safety.Together, they dive into:Do Gen Z employees expect too much emotional support at work?How much responsibility should founders bear to safeguard mental well-being?Do Western Startups “Do It Better”?And most critically: How real is stress today?Both generations agree on one thing: behind every “tough boss” is a founder terrified of losing their team.Watch now to hear both sides unpack what’s valid, what’s exaggerated, and how workplaces need to adapt.Tell us in the comments: Does your workplace really see you, beyond deadlines and deliverables?