Atomberg
Description
Atomberg Technologies, popular for their energy efficient fans, is one of the few D2C-first brands in India focused on bringing real value to the masses by being tech and product-first and manufacturing inhouse in India. They do this through smart energy savings technology (eg. BLDC motors) and modern design, innovating in a largely ignored small home appliances business (eg. ceiling fans). It recently hit INR 1000 Cr ARR, a big milestone and one few new-age companies have achieved so far. Forcomparative benchmarks, Mamaearth is at ~1900 cr and boAt at ~3000 cr.
The company was seeded in IIT Bombay's Society forInnovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE). Cofounders, Manoj Meena and Shibam Das are technologists at heart, who dabbled with multiple business models and pivoteda number of times before hitting their Aha! moment, and seeing an opportunity to revolutionalize the $60bn home appliances industry. Early on, they were joined by Arindam Paul, currently the Chief Business Officer, who has been instrumental in cracking distribution for the team. He is a marketing guru sharing who share real deal x Nofluff lessons to help others professionals andupcoming startups.
In this episode, we discuss how they first focused on B2B and then moved B2C, the background of the founders and the company's founding story, its products and BLDC technology and key marketing actions that have helped them disrupt a competitive and fragmented small home appliances industry. We also share our take on the way forward for the company with two potential path forwards: 1) Likely will be acquired by one of the industrystalwarts like Crompton or Orient. Like Minimalist by HUL; 2) Build on an Indian opportunity to be truly insurgent and innovative like a Dyson for the masses. The latter is the more exciting one. And, the one we are rooting for.
Key topics discussed along with timestamps:
00:00 – 03:00 : Introduction and Setting Context
03:00 – 07:00 : Early Product Experience and Brand Penetration
10:00 – 13:00 : Discovery of BLDC Fans and Product-Market Fit
52:00 – end: Marketing & Brand Building