Prime Venture Partners Podcast

Ameen Haque — Founder of Storywallahs and one of India’s leading storytelling coaches — joins Amit Somani for an eye-opening deep dive into the craft of storytelling in business.If you're a founder, operator, leader, or creator, this conversation will reshape the way you pitch, lead, persuade, and communicate.🔍 In this episode:• The real meaning of the “lion vs hunter” lesson• How Ratan Tata exemplifies storytelling through action• Why great leaders win trust through narrative• How to make customers the heroes of your story⏱ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Why humans think in stories, not facts02:23 – “We are all storytellers”03:18 – Why good work fails without a good story04:54 – The “lion vs hunter” mindset shift06:16 – Storytelling through action: The Ratan Tata example07:23 – Living your story vs. telling it14:39 – Why customers should be your storytellers15:23 – The hierarchy of difficulty:16:40 – Behavioural economics & persuasion38:03 – “Stories aren’t long or short — they’re good or bad”40:58 – Editing is the most underrated storytelling skill41:48 – Learning from masters: music, art & observationA must-watch for anyone building something meaningful.🎙️ Full episode now available on Prime Venture Partners Podcast.📌 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574450955885LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in#Storytelling #StartupMindset #LeadershipInsights #FounderWisdom #BusinessStrategy #CommunicationSkills #EntrepreneurJourney #PitchBetter #StartupLeadership #LearningToLead #AmeenHaque #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

Apple’s China story is more than a business case — it’s a mirror of globalization itself.In this eye-opening conversation, Patrick McGee, Financial Times journalist and author of Apple in China, sits down with Pankaj Agarwal to explore how Apple’s greatest triumph became its biggest challenge.💬 In this episode:How Apple helped build modern ChinaThe lessons India must learn as it becomes Apple’s next manufacturing hubThe trade-offs between innovation, control, and national interestsWhat this means for founders, investors, and policymakers shaping India’s tech future📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:11 – Why Patrick Wrote Apple in China03:33 – How Apple Ended Up in China06:25 – Researching the Untold Story08:21 – The Three Phases of Apple in China11:03 – Lessons for Founders on Supply Chains12:26 – The ‘Siren Song’ of China13:13 – Apple’s Moral Dilemmas and Trade-offs16:27 – Innovation, Arrogance & Plateau19:04 – The Economics of Dependence22:27 – What Can India Learn from China?23:53 – Why Does Apple Need India?25:45 – Are iPhones Made in India?26:55 – The Future of Globalization & Supply Chains31:31 – Why Should You Read Apple in China A conversation for those who think beyond valuations — about strategy, sovereignty, and the soul of global business.🎧 Full episode out now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.#PrimePodcasts #PatrickMcGee #AppleInChina #GlobalBusiness #IndiaStartups #Leadership #TechGeopolitics #Apple #China #PrimeVenturePartners

Madhav Sheth, - the driving force behind Realme, now the Founder of Ai+, opens up about the inside world of smartphone wars, the rise (and fall) of Indian brands, and his vision to rebuild from scratch.🔍 In this episode:• How Realme rewrote India’s smartphone playbook• Why most Indian brands couldn’t survive the global onslaught• The hidden monopoly controlling 60% of the market• The next revolution: AI-powered smartphones built for India• Lessons on leadership, innovation, and staying hungry after success📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction03:00 – Building Realme: From Idea to Global Brand04:15 – The White Space in India’s Smartphone Market06:20 – Understanding Indian Consumers: From Price to Value08:10 – Scaling Through Value, Not Volume10:00 – The Future: Hardware + Software + AI12:00 – Why India Missed the Smartphone Opportunity14:10 – Inside BBK Group: Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus & Realme16:55 – What Killed Indian Smartphone Brands19:05 – Inside the Smartphone Monopoly20:35 – Building NextQ: Madhav’s New Mission23:00 – Leadership Lessons & Founder Mindset25:30 – Advice for India’s Next-Gen Tech Founders🎧 Watch the full episode and discover what’s next for India’s tech future.#MadhavSheth #Realme #AI #IndiaTech #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Innovation #TechRevolution #MadeInIndia #Smartphones #FounderStories #ScaleUp #BusinessGrowth #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #DigitalIndia #FutureOfTech #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

For the first time ever, the Prime Venture Partners investment team — 1 Principal and 2 Vice Presidents — sit down to answer everything founders wish they could ask a VC face-to-face.This isn’t theory. This is the real inside view of how venture capital works in India:💸 How VCs actually pick the 5 startups that make it through📉 The real reason your pitch deck isn’t working💬 Why not every profitable business is “VC-fundable”💭 And the timeless debate: is venture success skill or luck?📊 Timestamps00:00 – Introduction05:51 – The VC funnel: 5,000 pitches → 5 investments07:09 – How to reach a VC (referrals vs. cold outreach)09:57 – Why not all great businesses are VC-fundable14:20 – Founder mistakes that kill deals18:20 – How much should you raise — and when25:17 – Analysts & Associates: the real champions of deals33:41 – The underrated power of monthly updates39:49 – How founders should think about valuation45:39 – How to pick your VC partner50:00 – ESOPs, angels & early-stage strategy56:00 – Skill vs. Luck — what really drives VC successIf you’re building a startup, fundraising, or even thinking about raising capital someday, this is your Fundraising Masterclass from inside the VC room.🎧 Watch till the end for honest takes, funny moments, and practical insights that can shape your next raise.#PrimeVenturesPartners #VentureCapital #StartupIndia #Founders #Fundraising #VCInsights #Entrepreneurship #StartupIndia #IndianStartups #RaisingCapital #PitchToVCs #StartupTips #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Prateek Jain (Principal Scientist & Director at Google DeepMind) for an unfiltered deep dive into:How AI research has evolved from handcrafted features → deep learning → transformers → generativeWhy safety and efficiency matter just as much as scaleIndia’s once-in-a-generation chance to lead in deep AI researchThe founder’s playbook: building sustainable AI-first companiesThe next big bottlenecks — and opportunities — in this spaceThis is more than a conversation. It’s a blueprint for the future of AI. 🚀📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 03:00 – How Prateek stumbled into AI research in college 07:00 – The AlexNet moment and why it mattered 14:30 – GPUs, TPUs & scaling AI 16:20 – The ChatGPT moment & mass adoption 21:40 – Long reinforcement learning: the biggest surprise 24:00 – Bottlenecks in AI: data, efficiency, alignment 26:49 – India’s deep AI research challenge 50:44 – Founder advice for building with AI👉 Watch the full episode now and subscribe for more thought leadership from India’s top founders and innovators.#ArtificialIntelligence #DeepLearning #GenerativeAI #MachineLearning #AIInnovation #TechTrends #FutureOfAI #AIForStartups #IndiaTech #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #GoogleDeepMind  #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, host Jerome Manuel sits down with Prof. Venkat Ramaswamy, Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business, and a globally recognized thought leader on innovation and co-creation.Prof. Venkat is the co-author of the seminal The Future of Competition with C.K. Prahalad and the new book, The Co-Intelligence Revolution.In this conversation, they discuss:Why the next decade will be shaped by co-intelligence — humans + AI co-creating valueHow experience innovation is transforming industries across the worldReal examples from Indian farmers to L’Oréal & SiemensWhat startups, founders, and enterprises must do to thrive in the AI era💡 A must-watch episode for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators building in the age of AI.Episode timestamps00:00 Introduction01:03 The origins of co-creation with C.K. Prahalad02:37 Humans vs AI - subjective experiences 04:24 Opportunities for entrepreneurs in co-intelligence05:32 Jugalbandi case: WhatsApp assistant for farmers using AI + government services17:36 L’Oréal’s AI in beauty 19:30 Porso example: AI transforming consumer beauty experiences25:31 The Intelligent Enterprise: AI transforming how businesses operate29:16 Siemens case: digital twins & industrial AI ecosystems30:00 Enterprises and ecosystems 39:00 Risk-managed value - how enterprises evaluate startups43:24 Power of prototyping for startups 45:00 AI’s role in startup speed & compressing time-to-value📕 Learn more about Prof. Venkat’s book The Co-Intelligence Revolution: https://www.penguin.co.in/book/the-co-intelligence-revolution/📌 Subscribe for more such content.#TheCoIntelligenceRevolution #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #CoCreation #ExperienceInnovation #FutureOfWork #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #Leadership #TechTrends #DigitalTransformation #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

In this PrimeVP Podcast episode, we go back to the roots of the internet with Sabeer Bhatia, the man who gave the world Hotmail. 📧From his Hotmail journey to his bold perspectives on today’s most pressing themes, Sabeer shares unfiltered insights on:1️⃣ How an email problem at work sparked the idea that changed global communication forever2️⃣ Why communication skills — not just capital — make or break founders3️⃣ Why health & discipline matter more than hustle in the long run4️⃣ Why India’s education system needs urgent reinvention to foster critical thinking5️⃣ Why AI today feels like the early days of the internet — and what it means for the future⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction02:50 – The serendipity behind Hotmail’s creation06:40 – Storytelling vs. features: what consumers really buy09:00 – The importance of thinking like a consumer12:30 – The $99 smartwatch that beats Apple Watch15:00 – Communication as a founder’s superpower17:37 – From supercars to bicycles: redefining success19:37 – Why AI will be bigger than the internet20:00 – Critical thinking as the #1 future skill24:30 – AI in medicine & education disruption38:37 – Health as the real wealth for entrepreneurs44:00 – Advice to young founders💡 Top Takeaways for Founders & Professionals:✔️ Simplicity + storytelling beats features every time✔️ Health & discipline > hustle culture✔️ Communication is the most underrated startup skill✔️ India must prioritise critical thinking to stay globally competitive✔️ AI’s impact will rival the internet revolution💡 A must-watch for founders, operators, and anyone curious about what it takes to build, scale, and stay relevant across decades.🎙 Hosted by Amit Somani#SabeerBhatia #Hotmail #PrimePodcast #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast #Entrepreneurship #IndianStartups #CriticalThinking #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #FutureOfWork #FounderMindset #CommunicationSkills #HealthAndWealth #Leadership

How do you pivot from an early idea that didn’t work ➝ to building a global SaaS leader trusted by 700+ enterprises?In this full episode of the Prime Podcast, Khadim Batti (Co-founder & CEO, Whatfix) reveals the raw founder journey:The pivot moment that sparked WhatfixHustling with 500 cold emails to close first customersLanding a Fortune 10 client at $25/month (and why logos matter more than price)Why product-market fit keeps evolvingScaling SaaS from India ➝ US with 85+ Fortune 500 clientsRaising $270M and turning investors into growth partnersHow AI is shaping the future of digital adoption📌 Hosted by Gaurav Ranjan, Principal at Prime Venture Partners📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 02:40 – Creating a Category Before It Existed 08:30 – PMF as a Moving Target 12:20 – 500 Emails & First Customers 15:50 – Why Focus on the US Market 18:40 – Fortune 10 Customer at $25 22:10 – Narrowing Down GTM 25:00 – Selling to Enterprises 30:00 – India vs US Sales Teams 37:00 – Fundraising Lessons 44:20 – How AI is Changing Digital Adoption 47:19 – Making Investors Work for You📺 Subscribe for more founder journeys #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #Whatfix #Founders #StartupJourney #VentureCapital #ScalingStartups #IndiaToGlobal #DigitalAdoption #Leadership #StartupEcosystem #FounderLessons #CategoryCreation #PrimeVenturePatnersPodcast

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Sanjay Swamy hosts Mahesh Joshi, Head of Asia Private Equity at BlueOrchard and author of H.I.T. Investing.He shares powerful insights on how companies across India and Asia are solving critical problems like:Financial inclusion for underserved Kirana storesGender equity in small business financeClimate resilience through tech and EV adoptionLeveraging UPI, DPI, and IndiaStack to scale affordable services📌 Key themes:- What HIT investing really means (High Impact + Tech)- Why India is the perfect testbed for scalable impact- How founders with deep domain knowledge are creating billion-dollar       outcomes- ESG vs HIT: The execution gap📣 Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or policy watcher — this is an essential conversation on the future of purposeful capitalism.🔔 Subscribe to our channel & hit the bell so you never miss an episode.📌 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574450955885LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in#ImpactInvesting #HITInvesting #StartupIndia #ClimateTech #TechForGood #FinancialInclusion #ESGInvesting #SocialImpact #FounderStories #MaheshJoshi #BlueOrchard #StartupPodcast #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

From “Virat Kohli is the best preparer in the cricket world” to reminding startup leaders of the most important lesson - “Who I am and the results of what I do are different”, our podcast with Paddy Upton has it all!🎯 What you’ll take away in this full episode with Paddy (mental coach to India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team):✅ Why startup founders must evolve from individual contributors → captains → coaches✅ How to build “personal mastery” through unsexy fundamentals✅ The hidden costs of ego in leadership✅ Lessons from MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli✅ Why “success ≠ self-worth” — and how to emotionally detach from outcomes📌 Episode Timestamp00:00 – Introduction 01:46 – What startups & sports have in common03:46 – Leadership evolution: player → captain → coach05:46 – Mental fitness: sleep, nutrition & exercise08:16 – Separating identity from outcomes12:00 – How to review wins & losses15:20 – The danger of chasing shiny objects17:35 – Lessons from Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni🎧 Whether you’re building a startup, leading a team, or navigating your own mental game—this conversation is for you.Hosted by Amit Somani!#PaddyUpton #AmitSomani #Leadership #MentalFitness #Startups #Entrepreneurship #CricketLeadership #MSDhoni #ViratKohli #SelfWorth #PerformancePsychology #IndiaStartups #MindsetMatters #CoachingJourney #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast 

🎙️ Bala Parthasarathy - Chairman & Co-founder, Freo, Director at People+AI, Senior Adviser, EMK Capital (London) -  joins us for one of our most insightful episodes.In this full conversation, Bala discusses:🔹 Snapfish’s dotcom-era growth, crash, and acquisition by HP🔹 Building Aadhaar from the ground up with Nandan Nilekani🔹 The truth about raising and deploying venture capital🔹 What’s broken (and what’s working) in fintech🔹 The founder's mindset in the age of AIIf you're a founder, investor, or operator, this episode is packed with lessons, stories, and perspective.📌 Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Bala’s background & Snapfish origins03:00 – Dotcom boom, bust & Snapfish acquisition06:30 – Understanding VC: what founders often get wrong10:00 – Building Aadhaar at scale with Nandan Nilekani13:00 – Freo, fintech & operating in regulated markets16:00 – AI disruption & founder readiness23:00 – How every function is being reshaped by AI28:00 – Founder life: balance, energy & playing the long game📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in👇 Subscribe for more insights from top founders & investors.#BalaParthasarathy #Startups #AI #VentureCapital #Aadhaar #FintechIndia #Entrepreneurship  #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast 

What happens when a techie starts brewing in his garage and ends up building one of India’s most iconic craft beer brands?Just as refreshing as Geist’s beer, this episode has Narayan Manepally, CEO & Co-founder of Geist Brewing Co., chatting with Sanjay Swamy.  It has all the flavours and ingredients - from sharing his journey as an Intel engineer in the U.S. to innovating and succeeding as a beer entrepreneur.What you’ll learn:🍺 How one batch of California Golden Ale changed everything📜 Why Narayan brewed in Belgium and brought it back to India📦 The science of building a cold chain for beer🌳 How Geist Brewing Co.  turned adversity into an open-air beer garden📈 From 0 to 450+ locations without compromising on qualityTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction03:27 – Tech at Intel → Garage Brewing08:09 – First Brew = The Big Idea10:08 – “Now They Say: We Love Geist!”12:42 – What Makes a Beer ‘Craft’?15:00 – Brewing Abroad When India Said No18:04 – The 600K Month & Scaling B2B20:33 – COVID Pivot: Sell to Myself23:47 – Cold Chain & the Science of Fresh Beer34:03 – Advice for Founders📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in🔔 Subscribe for more founder-first content.#GeistBrewingCo. #CraftBeerMovement #StartupIndia #FounderInsights #EntrepreneurMindset #RegulatoryChallenges #B2BtoB2C #FoodAndBeverageIndustry #ConsumerBranding #ScalingStartups #BootstrappingStories #COVIDPivot #BusinessOfBeer #FounderPodcast #PrimeVenturesPartnersPodcast

What happens when a founder builds and exits four companies, including a multi-million-dollar edtech company, before India even started talking about startups?In this episode, K. Ganesh (Author & Partner at Growth Story) - the man behind BigBasket, Portea, Bluestone, and more breaks down the hard truths, lucky accidents, and pivots that shaped his journey.🎙️ Hosted by Sanjay Swamy | Prime Venture Partners📘 Featuring: Mastering Disruption by K. Ganesh🧠 What you’ll learn:How he went from engineer to entrepreneur by accidentThe pivots that saved his companies during the dotcom crashThe GrowthStory model vs. traditional venture capitalHis take on AI, relevance after 60, and learning to reinvent yourself👉 Don’t just listen - learn, reflect, and share. This is founder wisdom in its purest form.📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in🔔 Subscribe for more founder-centric content from Prime.#SerialEntrepreneur #KGanesh #StartupIndia #FounderStories #MasteringDisruption #BuildInIndia #BusinessWisdom #ConsumerTech #VCIndia #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

What if your product manager, designer, developer, AND CEO were all AI?In this game-changing conversation, Xiaoyin Qu, Founder of HeyBoss, joins Pankaj Agarwal (VP @PrimeVP_in) to share how she’s building a startup where software is shipped in minutes, led entirely by AI agents.Before founding HeyBoss, Xiaoyin was a Product Manager at Facebook and Instagram. Today, she’s scaling her company with support from the OpenAI Startup Fund.What you’ll learn:🤖 How HeyBoss evolved from a kids' gaming idea to an AI development agency👩‍💼 Why Xiaoyin stepped away from day-to-day operations and let “Astra”, their internal AI, lead the team🧱 The infrastructure behind AI agents that ship full products from a single sentence📊 Lessons in product design, QA, and customer feedback loops — all powered by AI🧠 Why “taste,” strategy, and human intuition still matter (and always will)⏱ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:00 – From Stanford MBA dropout to COVID-era startup success04:30 – Building the first AI-run dev agency06:40 – Meet Astra: The AI CEO08:46 – How AI manages product, design, dev & delivery14:53 – Prioritising quality over speed in an AI world21:49 – Humans vs. AI: What still needs us?33:19 – The one human skill AI can’t replace💡 Key Takeaways:How to structure teams of AI agents to deliver finished outcomesWhy non-technical founders are a massive unlock for AI-driven productsWhat the future of work looks like when humans and agents collaborateTactical lessons for founders exploring AI-powered SaaSThis is not just a conversation - it’s a first-hand look at where the future is already headed.📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in🔔 Subscribe for more founder-led conversations on tech, innovation & startups.#HeyBossAI #XiaoyinQu #AIStartups #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupLeadership #TechInnovation #AIxProduct #AIAgents #PrimePodcast #IndiaStartups #VCInsights #WomenInTech #PrimeVenturePartners

AI is no longer experimental—it's foundational.In this explosive episode, PrimeVP Founder & Partner Shripati Acharya and Principal Gaurav Ranjan unpack how AI is reshaping B2B software—and what that means for evaluating and investing in early-stage startups.What you’ll learn:⚙️ The rise of Enterprise AI and its real-world applications📈 Prime’s investment thesis in AI-first SaaS startups🧠 What separates hype from defensible value in AI🚀 Advice for founders building in vertical SaaS, AI agents, and moreTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:00 – AI’s impact on startup scaling and team size03:20 – Faster sales cycles with enterprise AI07:26 – Will AI unlock India’s SaaS market?13:36 – Has AI neutralised India’s cost advantage?20:19 – Models vs APIs: Where’s the real business?25:52 – Why UI still wins in enterprise software27:27 – Building moats through workflow depth34:38 – How to price AI products right39:43 – Prime’s investment themes in enterprise AI44:58 – Final thoughts💡 Key Takeaways:Where AI is driving real enterprise value todayPrime's active investment thesis in AI + SaaSThe rise of function-specific AI agents across verticalsShifts in software buying behaviour—from IT to HR budgetsThis is your tactical guide to the next generation of enterprise innovation.📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in🔔 Subscribe for more founder-centric content from Prime#AIRevolution #EnterpriseAI #SaaSInnovation #FutureOfWork #AIEcosystem #StartupGrowth #FoundersFirst #VCInsights #TechLeadership #AIInvesting #B2BInnovation #IndiaStartups #AIxSaaS #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

What’s next in fintech? In this high-signal episode, Sheel Mohnot (GP at @ Better Tomorrow Ventures) shares deep insight into the future of financial services, AI’s impact on SaaS, and how VC is evolving in 2025.🔍 In Sheel’s candid chat with Sanjay Swamy, You’ll learn: • What US fintech can learn from India’s public infrastructure (UPI, DEPA, account aggregation) • Why SaaS isn’t dead—but must evolve beyond subscription revenue • How Sheel evaluates founder-market fit, velocity, and tenacity • The co-lending revolution in India—and why it’s a structural shift • Why BTV is betting big on hands-on accelerators and early-stage velocity📌Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:30 – Sheel’s journey from Pittsburgh to VC 08:15 – U.S. vs India: Fintech regulation  15:30 – Is SaaS dead? The AI disruption 20:15 – India Stack vs U.S. payments 27:30 – Can Indian fintech go global? 30:00 – IPO readiness: India vs U.S. 34:00 – Will BTV invest in India? 45:00 – Red flags & founder filters 50:00 – What gets a “yes” from Sheel 54:00 – Fintech outlook for 2025 57:10 – Clubhouse, Bieber & Taco Bell wedding🔑 Key Takeaways:✔️ Vertical SaaS is fintech in disguise – and it’s how modern software will scale revenue✔️ AI is not just augmenting work—it’s replacing it in areas like accounting and underwriting✔️ Regulation ≠ obstacle – In the U.S., a patchwork system creates an edge for savvy startups✔️ Early-stage investing is about founder-market fit, and spotting overlooked “superpowers”📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in#Fintech #SaaS #AI #Startups #VentureCapital #IndiaStack #SheelMohnot #BetterTomorrowVentures #DigitalTransformation #FounderInsights #InvestorInsights #FutureOfFinance #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

What happens when creativity meets sharp market insight?In this episode, Raffic Aslam (ex-Creative Director at Zoho) breaks down the 3 campaigns that defined Zoho’s global marketing playbook:1️⃣UAE VAT Campaign – A masterclass in cultural targeting that unlocked a new market via a single character: Kutty, the Malayali accountant.2️⃣ Made in India for the World – A bold declaration of Indian innovation for a global SaaS audience.3️⃣Super Bowl Ads – Frugal but fierce, this campaign helped Zoho stand out in a sea of enterprise giants.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction02:15 – The birth of the Zoho logo06:30 – Why simplicity & color made the logo unforgettable08:37 – Branding vs. Performance Marketing14:25 – Campaign 1: UAE VAT Campaign – Meet “Kutty”20:45 – Lessons from targeting expat accountants23:02 – Campaign 2: Made in India, Made for the World27:00 – Building pride in Indian-built software30:55 – Campaign 3: Zoho’s Super Bowl Ad Strategy35:10 – How Zoho kept it frugal but memorable38:00 – Branding advice for SaaS founders41:20 – Final takeaways for startup marketers💡 Top Takeaways for Founders & Marketers:✔️ Go deep, not broad: Hyperlocal targeting can unlock massive markets✔️ Your logo is a strategy: Visual identity drives brand recall & lowers CAC✔️ Brand building ≠ media spend: Authentic storytelling beats big budgets🔔 Subscribe to Prime Podcasts for more insights🎙 Hosted by Jerome Manuel, Head of Community at PrimeVP📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in#Zoho #SaaSMarketing #StartupBranding #IndianStartups #MarketingStrategy #B2BMarketing #MadeInIndia #SuperBowlAds #FrugalMarketing #GrowthMindset #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

How do you scale a product to 70M+ users without spending a dime on marketing?Deepak Joy Cheenath (Co-founder of Quizizz) reveals:✅ The moment Quizizz found its viral growth loop✅ How teacher-driven adoption fueled massive organic scale✅ The mistakes they made along the way—and what they learned✅ Why they held off on monetisation for years (and why it paid off)Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:15 – The early days of Quizizz & WizenWorld05:40 – The teacher-driven insight that changed everything09:10 – Scaling to 70M+ users with zero marketing12:30 – Why Quizizz delayed monetisation 20:20 – The lean team behind a global product28:30 – Key challenges & lessons from scaling36:50 – Competing with larger EdTech players45:15 – The power of community & word-of-mouth growth49:30 – Key insights & takeaways for foundersPrime  Venture Partners backed Quizizz early, helping them scale from a startup to a global EdTech leader.🎙 Key Takeaways from This Episode:📌 Growth isn’t always about paid marketing—sometimes, organic adoption wins.📌 The right users can be your biggest growth engine.📌 Delaying monetisation can lead to long-term success.📌 Simplicity scales—more features don’t always mean better engagement.💡 What’s the biggest lesson from Quizizz’s journey that applies to your business? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇🎙 This episode is packed with insights for founders, product leaders, and anyone scaling a startup. Don’t miss it—watch or listen now! 🚀👇Follow Prime Venture Partners:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Primevp_in #Quizizz #EdTech #StartupGrowth #ZeroMarketing #ProductLedGrowth #FounderLessons #ScalingStartups #TeacherDriven #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStory #UserAdoption #MarketingStrategy #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

💡 How do you scale a SaaS company from SMB customers to billion-dollar enterprise deals?In this Prime Venture Partners Podcast episode, we sit down with Praerit Garg, President of Product & Innovation at Smartsheet, to uncover the secrets of scaling SaaS, AI’s role in work management, and the game-changing lessons from Smartsheet’s journey.⏳ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Praerit Garg’s Career Journey: From Microsoft → AWS → Smartsheet04:46 - What is Smartsheet? How It Serves SMBs & Enterprises07:11 - The Land & Expand Strategy: How Smartsheet Scaled Enterprise Deals10:27 - Finding the "Magic Metric" That Drives SaaS Growth 12:55 - Smartsheet’s IPO Journey & Why It Later Went Private Again15:37 - AI’s Role in Work Automation & How Smartsheet Uses It 21:03 - The Enterprise AI Trust Challenge – Why Big Companies Are Cautious24:58 - What VCs Look for in AI SaaS Startups 🚀36:30 - Why Learning from Non-Customers Unlocks New Market Opportunities43:00 - Closing Thoughts 🔥 Inside This Episode:✅ How Smartsheet transitioned from PLG to enterprise sales✅ The pricing strategy that maximized SaaS revenue✅ Why AI is transforming work management & automation✅ The #1 mistake SaaS founders make when scaling✅ How learning from non-customers can drive new product innovation✅ What VCs look for when investing in AI-driven SaaS startups📢 This isn’t just a SaaS success story—it’s a must-listen masterclass on scaling, pricing, AI, and product innovation.🔔 Subscribe & Turn on Notifications for more expert insights!Follow Prime Venture Partners:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Primevp_in #SaaS #ScalingSaaS #Smartsheet #StartupGrowth #AI #TechInnovation #EnterpriseTech #VentureCapital #FounderMindset #Entrepreneurship #B2BTech #SaaSStartups #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

💡 What does it take to build 2 multi-billion-dollar companies?In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, we sit down with Dheeraj Pandey, Co-Founder of Nutanix & DevRev, to unpack the real challenges, pivotal decisions, and insights behind building and scaling a successful enterprise tech company.00:00 - Introduction00:52 - Dheeraj’s Early Life04:15 - Leaving IIT & Taking a Second Shot07:40 - Studying Computer Science at IIT Kanpur10:55 - Early Career: Oracle, UT Austin & Trilogy Software14:20 - The Entrepreneurial Itch & Starting Nutanix19:30 - Scaling Challenges & Near-Failure Moments26:35 - The “Tightrope Mentality” for Founders 🎯33:05 - Going Public: Nutanix IPO & Key Lessons39:40 - AI’s Role in Enterprise Software 🤖43:10 - The Shift to DevRev & His New Vision46:05 - Advice for Founders Scaling SaaS from India49:00 - Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways🎙 What’s Inside This Episode?🔥 Why he left IIT after 2.5 months and came back stronger🔥 How he built Nutanix into a multi-billion-dollar company🔥 The risks, near-failure moments, and biggest lessons he learned🔥 Why AI is reshaping enterprise software & what’s next🔥 His take on scaling a startup, hiring, and finding product-market fit🔥 How DevRev is redefining enterprise software with an AI-first approach📢 This is not just a startup success story—it’s a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and leadership.With DevRev, Experience conversational AI at work. Startups can get $10K in credits (12 months free) to accelerate their AI-first journey. Apply now - https://devrev.ai/startups/apply🔔 Subscribe & Turn on Notifications for more game-changing insights!#StartupJourney #SuccessMindset #BuildSomethingGreat #TechFounder #Startups #Nutanix #DevRev #Entrepreneurship #TechInnovation #SaaS #AI #VentureCapital #Leadership #FounderMindset #EnterpriseTech #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast