The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikKuldeep: Co-Founder, @Last9 Chapters00:00 Trailer01:04 Intro & welcome, Kuldeep Dhankar!03:58 Early CleverTap: painful demos, priceless feedback04:20 Customer Success ≠ Sales09:38 Shantanu’s new board-meeting framework13:33 India’s consumption story is finally evolving21:03 Can you build a $150M SaaS business selling in India?30:12 India ACVs are rising: Swiggy, Zepto, Eternal30:55 Where did the SaaS startups go?35:12 Why aren’t VCs investing in SaaS?37:32 Freshworks’ CAC payback & key lessons45:18 Do VCs want SaaS companies to sell in the US?48:26 The 99.5% reliability opportunity49:50 Software: buy vs. build?1:02:52 The rise of forward-deployed engineers1:12:59 Airports, infra, and India’s compounding optimismFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikChapters00:00 Trailer 00:57 Introduction 01:52 Meesho’s 4-Sided Marketplace Flywheel 05:50 Why Meesho Deliberately Reduces AOV 11:58 IPO Math: Who Actually Makes Money 19:49 Opportunity for Lenskart? 21:58 Meesho’s Unit Economics 24:00 Shopee vs. Meesho 29:50 How Selection Helps Meesho Creators 34:02 The Operating Lever That Makes Low AOV Work 41:12 Meesho’s Design Choices 43:31 Merchant-First Thinking 47:09 Concluding ThoughtsCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xXcB9DidsIAQJ-4wT2heYksQqFsPp0Ti/view?usp=sharingFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikChapters00:00 Trailer00:58 Intro & Happy Birthday to the ASYMMETRIC Podcast01:42 Wave 3 in IPOs is coming05:03 The TRMG RainGauge Index is now beating the Nifty5005:46 Drought in Series C funding08:36 The shift in investor sentiment and market opportunities12:21 The rise of secondary funds18:59 The future of startup funding and IPOs23:50 The liquidity flywheel has started28:36 Traditional sectors vs. startup IPO sizes30:57 Commodities vs. Nifty33:27 AI infrastructure capex and the U.S. growth narrative38:48 How Shantanu asks the right questions without going too deep44:09 Shantanu guesses RB and CT’s personalitiesCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SA2UAE4yfPK-ABQTYeq4DGguPKtLXj0b/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik00:00 Trailer01:04 Introduction02:02 A Mercedes every 6 minutes?02:22 Where’s the slowdown under the hood consumption03:47 Long tail D2C compounding faster than FMCG incumbents10:19 Bumper festive signals categories driving growth12:08 Navratri automobile surge 34% YoY growth14:56 Category wise growth numbers17:11 Credit led consumption on the rise20:38 Why brand dot com works in the US not China or SEA26:04 Hiring reality why 15 year veterans struggle unlearning32:06 Entrepreneurship needs a beginner’s mindset37:19 Build institutions bottom up train for culture40:48 SD’s brand archetype42:08 Gen Z’s edge in critical brand thinking52:47 GPT’s engagement KPIs54:15 Bitcoin crashCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SA2UAE4yfPK-ABQTYeq4DGguPKtLXj0b/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik0:00 Coming up0:47 Intro2:31 10th foundation day is rare for a startup8:48 Shantanu’s takeaways from a 10-year journey14:07 Founder resilience17:01 Near-death moments in a startup22:45 Story follows data27:03 Creator trust vs. ads28:06 No more ads: what it means for brands?37:47 Will branding metrics change?45:05 True love for creators doesn’t exist47:40 The rise of house of brands52:00 New YouTube Premium prices in IndiaFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikUtsav Somani: Founder, Offline; Partner at Galaxy & iSeed0:55 Intro & Welcome to Utsav Somani!2:04 Utsav’s Current Work4:13 Revant’s Angel Investing Journey12:55 How Angel Investing Has Changed Post COVID18:34 Will IPO Money Flow Back to Startups?24:01 IRRs from Angel Investments30:31 The Math Behind Angel Investments36:46 From Angels to Fund Managers40:10 The Problem with Domestic Capital Pools43:35 What’s Worked in the US44:40 Startup IPOs - Recycling into Angel Fuel46:38 Types of Angel Investors51:39 How to Classify Investors53:46 The Bad Side of Angel Investing 58:07 Startups & the Media Hype1:02:00 Building Good Faith in the Ecosystem1:08:25 Angel Investing as a CEO1:13:43 Managing Competition Risk1:16:27 Consumer vs Platform Businesses1:19:06 The Need for a Positive Sum GameCharts referred to in the episode:https://gamma.app/docs/Angel-Investment-Portfolio-Strategy-unv0lvzfc90d1iqFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik02:18 H-1B Landscape02:39 Consumer Behavior and E-Commerce Trends06:03 Impact of H-1B Changes on the Indian IT Industry10:35 Impact on the U.S.11:45 Lessons from China12:34 Education Loan Concentration and NPA Risk26:55 The Mathematics of Remittances33:36 Chaos Around GST36:08 GST’s Impact on Consumption41:46 How India’s D2C Sector Responded to GST Cuts45:30 Quick Commerce Thesis: Amazon/Flipkart56:57 Interesting!1:01:44 Sovereign Funds on the Cap Table1:06:03 Compounding Machines: VC Time HorizonsCharts referred to in the episode:https://gamma.app/docs/H-1B-Landscape-xm3m7j45c9nlc0v?mode=docFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikAvnish Bajaj: Founder & Investor Z470:00 Coming Up1:10 Intro2:30 Lenskart 3:20 On Urban Company’s IPO7:01 On MobiKwik10:20 The 4 Ps of IPOs in India14:45 Is Every IPO Unique?19:03 Behind Urban Company’s IPO Success31:27 On China’s Narrative Violation38:29 On China’s DeepTech39:25 On The United States of AI48:42 India’s Path Ahead: AI or Manufacturing?Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik0:00 Coming Up1:12 Intro2:47 The North India Name Matrix4:28 Fragrances in India: Trends7:20 Perfume Wardrobing9:49 The Rise of Dupe Fragrances11:37 Why Mass Perfumes Are Booming14:22 Fragrances Are Now Fashion17:28 Global Deo Trends19:39 Slices of Luxury for GenZ23:21 Startup Founder Challenges28:33 Thoughts on Org Planning & Target Setting36:17 On Leadership Styles & Personalities39:21 On Hiring Challenges40:26 On Creating Clarity43:35 On Process Dependence47:18 On Org-Level Processes51:27 On CEO Philosophy for People Management53:48 On Evaluating Hiring PracticesCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KMa-I0N-BbCCnQaxKhynYlmoid-c7lXm/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik0:00 Coming Up1:13 Intro2:31 The Rise of Plagiarism3:39 Honasa’s FY25 Annual Report6:42 Re-Evaluating the Omni-Channel Strategy9:41 Nykaa & Purplle: Challenging the Offline Thesis?11:50 Where Are The Offline Success Stories?15:52 Accounting for Customer Behaviour21:07 Offline Offers Faster Feedback Cycles?24:22 Ensuring Brand Presence in Offline Spaces29:53 The Rise of Private Labels33:56 Private Labels: The Cost Advantage35:58 Category-Wise Penetration of Private Labels41:40 Why Are Q-Comm Players Exploring Private Labels Now?44:28 High Brand Differentiation & Private Labels48:10 Private Labels in Modern Trade55:04 Synthesising the Debate58:23 The Pentagon Pizza IndexCharts referred to in the episode-https://gamma.app/docs/Private-Label-Analysis-Pentagon-Pizza-Ban-tajolnl6qxa1afr?mode=docFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Tushar Behl: Principal at Glade Brook Capital0:00 Coming Up1:16 Intro3:55 On Real-Money Gaming9:41 Why the RMG Ban?15:44 On Trump and Tariffs17:07 The Shift in Investor Perspective on EBOs23:24 AOV Impact on Online/Offline Sales30:50 Manufacturing Capabilities of Lenskart, Wakefit and Bluestone34:55 Should Mokobara Open a Factory? Integrating Online & Offline44:45 Retailer + Brand Voice - A Timeless Principle50:04 Sales & Marketing vs Rent51:40 Inventory Turns & Gross Margins Matter57:27 Bluestone’s Growth Story63:12 Moving Away From Franchises67:03 The Opportunity Cost of Offline74:17 What Could Happen? Lenskart, Bluestone, Wakefit81:48 Lenskart Convenience FeesCharts referred to in the episode-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A2i7JV7Rh3qzHqhuoyQ1d_QduXGaZG3S/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik0:00 Coming Up1:06 Intro3:06 Platform Convenience Fees9:19 India’s Consumption Appetite13:28 The Global Picture: Comparisons with US and China16:48 The Future of Platform/Convenience Fees22:30 NPCI Data on UPI Payments28:00 Indian Content by Language Share 30:45 South Indian Languages 36:14 State-Wise GDP & Purchasing Power39:57 Opportunities vis a vis Regional Content 43:29 Brand Insights & Success Stories for Vernacular Content47:09 Reading vs Speaking Vernacular Language49:48 OTT & Regional ContentCharts referred to in the episode-Platform fee: https://gamma.app/docs/Convenience-Platform-Fee-Analysis-Asymmetric-j3yt4mlgtpk19k4?mode=docRise of Regional Content: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iNKXGBkqXeHauCVN6qdQSGDlgx_Mh6XY/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant Bhate: CEO, Mosaic WellnessChirag Taneja: Founder, GoKwikDarshit Vora: GP, Sparrow CapitalChapters00:00 Coming Up01:10 Intro & Welcome, Darshit02:28 Paytm Financials (Q1 FY 2026)07:14 Soundbox Scale & CAC Payback09:20 Pine Labs vs Soundbox: Subscription vs MDR Economics13:27 How Fintechs Can Scale Without Risk21:21 Retention Is Key Going Forward25:26 Why CRED Lending Works So Well28:29 Paytm vs PhonePe vs Google Pay vs BharatPe34:17 Bluestone IPO Journey39:01 Omnichannel Works in Jewelry42:30 Gold vs Diamond Jewelry: Market & Gross Margin47:47 Lab-Grown Diamonds & Consumer Psyche54:11 Bluestone Unit Economics: Store Throughput, SSSG57:56 July MF Inflows & Risk-On TiltPaytm analysis:https://gamma.app/docs/Paytm-Analysis-Asymmetric-e4rigwq2uzkpnzg?mode=present#card-h0s04ivkgcb0hgc
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikSandeep: Co-Founder, Dezerv00:00 Coming up01:12 Intro and welcome, Sandeep02:05 Bengaluru vs. NCR, IPO clusters & real-estate prices05:12 ESOP value creation: Public vs. Private markets12:13 Longevity in wealth creation17:42 ESOPs are liquidity-driven21:24 Salary vs. Salary + ESOPs31:28 ESOPs aren’t free money for the company37:42 Wealth can be created in the later stages of a company40:41 Not all ESOP policies are equal48:28 Founder’s mental model for ESOP allocation55:06 ESOP wealth isn’t just for the earliest joiners1:04:01 Flipkart created wealth, then created wealth creators1:07:01 Concluding thoughts
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik00:00 Coming Up00:57 Introduction02:21 TCS Layoffs and Industry Implications04:32 Challenges in IT Services11:36 Congratulations to Shailesh Jejurikar13:45 Leaders Have to Generate Followership18:54 Emotional Regulation for Founders & Leaders25:53 Leadership Dynamics in Growing Companies32:50 How to Minimize Politics in Your Company (Ben Horowitz)40:54 Thoughts on Leadership Coaching52:38 The Shift from Offline to Online Shopping58:31 India Has More Instagram Users Than WhatsApp1:03:57 Concluding ThoughtsCharts referred in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Z0tULM1CD8qTTN3G5A2xOO46bZ9tL3M/view?usp=drive_linkHow to Minimize Politics in Your Company (Ben Horowitz):https://a16z.com/how-to-minimize-politics-in-your-company/Nobody Cares (Ben Horowitz):https://a16z.com/nobody-cares/
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Arjun Purkayastha: SVP & Managing Director - Greater China & North Asia at Reckitt00:00 Coming Up00:58 Intro and Welcome, Arjun :)01:58 Consumer Attention and Brand Building07:46 Moats Must Evolve10:51 From Art to Algorithm: Brand Survival15:21 Where Is the Consumer Headed?19:56 Live Commerce and China’s Influence28:03 Lessons for Indian Brands from China35:00 Quick Commerce Is India’s Live Commerce47:49 Does the Rule of 40 Apply to Consumer Brands?56:37 Founder-Led vs. CEO-Led Businesses1:02:36 The IPO–CEO Conundrum1:13:34 Concluding ThoughtsFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrewClips channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ASYMMETRICPodcastClips
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving CompanyChirag: Founder, GoKwikAditya Sehgal: Founder, Asgard.world & Ex-President & COO, ReckittChapters00:00 Coming Up01:17 Intro and Welcome Back, Adi :)03:35 China’s Energy Strategy09:12 AI’s Impact on Power Consumption11:30 Introduction to Entity AI14:23 The Concept of Presence17:14 AI’s Role in Shaping Human Relationships23:02 Shantanu Bot27:31 Challenges in AI Adoption31:42 Creating a Digital Twin42:05 Business Needs to Be Reimagined53:08 AI Job‑Risk Framework56:04 AI Use Cases for Business57:10 The ASYMMETRIC Song!57:55 Swarm of Agents01:02:36 The $1T India AI Opportunity01:11:25 Building AI‑First Companies01:15:10 AI Workflows for Marketing01:20:24 Reviewing the BSC Amazon Page01:30:02 Creating Efficient Workflows with AI01:35:18 What Is Adi Building with AI?01:38:47 The Swarming Framework01:43:31 Concluding ThoughtsCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1If25P2KZn6XYivg29Qb6cxzjP09SpT6S/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew2
The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: Founder, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder, Bombay Shaving CompanyChirag: Founder, GoKwikAditya Sehgal: Founder, Asgard.world & Ex-President & COO, Reckitt00:00 Coming up01:13 Intro03:24 Building an incentive system06:18 Lessons from China08:49 China post-liberalization11:20 Understanding the S-curve17:10 China: A capitalist nation in disguise?21:04 China’s 9-9-6 work culture25:55 China's mindset change post COVID32:16 China’s rise to manufacturing powerhouse37:04 US-China trade imbalance40:46 The shift to tech economy45:32 What we can learn from Chinese startup culture?01:00:27 Quality vs. price in consumer products01:09:19 Inside China’s manufacturing excellence01:12:07 Adapting to local needs01:15:17 Is India ready for live commerce?01:18:53 KPIs that define sales & marketing success01:23:55 The 5-Pillared stack of Chinese Brand Dominance01:28:57 Roasting BSC’s pitch deck with GPT01:32:59 Adi’s thoughts on Wealth vs Status Games01:37:16 How to stay self-aware in leadership01:41:39 The art of balancing speed and quality01:45:30 Pivoting to high ownership in high growth01:55:24 How to ensure a performance-oriented cultureCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u3x7dtoNmbXqGoUodCf97wRH0Wprxn6o/view?usp=drive_link
In this episode of The Asymmetric Podcast, we’re joined by Vaibhav Porwal, Co-founder of Dezerv, as we dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of big IPOs and capital markets in India. With ₹13,000 crore in fund management, Vaibhav brings a wealth of knowledge on the dynamics shaping India’s capital markets.Vaibhav shares his expert insights on the booming IPO landscape, the emerging trends in investment, and the key factors influencing the future of Indian capital markets. Whether you're an investor, a startup founder, or simply curious about India’s financial growth, this episode is full of valuable insights.The ASYMMETRIC Crew today: Revant: Founder, Mosaic Wellness Mosaic WellnessChirag: Founder, GoKwik GoKwik Shantanu: Founder, Bombay Shaving company Vaibhav Porwal: Co-founder, Dezerv
In this episode of The Asymmetric Podcast, we’re joined by Anand Datta, Partner at Nexus Venture Partners, as we dive deep into the dynamic world of Fintech and IPOs in the Indian market. From the rise of digital payments to the evolving landscape of initial public offerings (IPOs), Anand breaks down the current trends and future potential of India’s Fintech sector.Anand offers his expert insights on the shifting tides of Indian IPOs, the regulatory environment, and the role of venture capital in driving innovation. Whether you're an investor, a startup founder, or someone interested in the ever-changing landscape of India’s financial markets, this episode is packed with valuable insights.The ASYMMETRIC Crew today: Revant: Founder, Mosaic Wellness Chirag: Founder, GoKwik Anand Datta, Nexus Venture PartnersChapters 2:30 - Should you register Company in India, US or Cayman Islands? 21:58 - YC investments in India over the years 23:40 - Silicon Valley culture 28:40 - IPOs filing in confidential mode 35:00 - Groww listing? 43:30 - How can AI be leveraged in Fintech? 56:00 - BNPL business history in India 1:06:30 - UPI Autopay: Boon or Bane? 1:35:00 - Closing!