In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with Venkatesh Mudragalla, co-founder of Jeh Aerospace, to discuss the intricacies of the aerospace industry. The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the challenges Boeing faced, the impact of supply chain constraints, and the critical nature of manufacturing in the aerospace sector. Venkatesh shares his journey from working with Tata to starting J Aerospace in 2022, the importance of advanced manufacturing, and how...
Feb 25, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 252
In this episode of The Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with K. Ganesh, the serial entrepreneur behind BigBasket, Portea, Bluestone, and HomeLane. They delve into topics like staying relevant in the ever-changing startup ecosystem, the importance of focusing on large, core sectors, and the reality of embracing both failures and small successes in entrepreneurship. Ganesh shares his insights on potential sectors for future startups, including green energy, climate tech, and space tech, ...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 251
Join us for an intriguing episode of the Startup Operator Podcast as Roshan talks to Gokul, the founder of CynLr, a pioneering deep tech robotics startup. Discover how CynLr is transforming the way machines recognize and handle objects through advanced vision systems. Gokul shares the challenges of hardware manufacturability, innovation in automation, and insights into the future of robotics and human life. Learn about the journey of building a deep tech startup, fundraising intricacies, and fos...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 250
In this episode of The Startup Operator Podcast, host Roshan sits down with Divesh Dhawan, founder of Meyrahkee Advisors, to discuss the evolving landscape of hiring in startups. They delve into the importance of understanding Gen Z workers, the sectors currently in high demand, and valuable tips for candidates to get shortlisted. They also touch on the cultural aspects that influence hiring decisions and share some of the top startups known for their exceptional work environments. 00:00 Introdu...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 249
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan cover the latest and most impactful headlines from India's startup ecosystem. They start with Swiggy's second-largest IPO of the year, Zomato's innovations, Freshworks' recent layoffs and simultaneous stock buyback, and ISRO's new partnership with IIT Madras. They also discuss Elon Musk's Starlink seeking permission for satellite broadband in India and the closure of Stowa's alternate MBA program. Topics: 00:00 Introduction 00:44...
Nov 16, 2024•27 min
In this special episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, we venture out to meet the dynamic team behind SSS Defense, an emerging defense manufacturer in India specializing in small arms and ammunition. Join us for an in-depth conversation with co-founders Vivek and Dinesh as they share insights on building a defense company from the ground up, the challenges of operating in the defense sector, the intricacies of procurement, and their ambitious plans for the future. Topics: 00:00 Sneak Peak 00:4...
Oct 27, 2024•1 hr 44 min
In this roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into the evolving landscape of India's startup ecosystem. They honor the late Ratan Tata, reflecting on his monumental contributions and the lasting impact of the Tata brand. The conversation shifts to India's ambitious plans to become a global semiconductor hub by 2025. They then discuss Elon Musk's technological advancements, like Starship and autonomous cybercabs, and their implications for India's labor market. Concerns over India's technological lag ...
Oct 15, 2024•33 min
In this episode of the startup operator podcast, Roshan hosts co-founders Joy Saldanha and Ankita Tandon as they chronicle their journey with Infinyte Club, a groundbreaking platform for startup operators. This episode delves into their strategic expansion into comprehensive wealth management, stressing the importance of execution beyond ideas. They aim to empower startup professionals with robust tools for managing ESOPs and investments, adopting a 'compound startup' approach that marries techn...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 247
In this Roundup, hosts Roshan Cariappa and Gunjan Saha discuss the latest headlines in India's startup ecosystem, covering topics such as the Great Indian Shopping Festival on eCommerce apps, separation talks between Mensa Brands and Men's XP, and GoKwik's acquisition of Return Prime. The episode also highlights government initiatives to simplify processes for overseas startups shifting domicile back to India. Additionally, the conversation touches on India's plans to establish a self-sustained ...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 247
In this episode Roshan engages with Shashank Avdhani, Co-founder of Alyve Health, an insurtech startup. The conversation uncovers the intricacies of the Indian health insurance landscape, focusing on customer-centric products, under coverage issues, and the impact of COVID-19. Shashank discusses his transition from consulting to founding Alyve, emphasizing collaboration with incumbents and navigating regulatory complexities. The episode also examines the role of regulatory bodies like the IRDA, ...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 246
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan celebrate Startup Operator's top ranking on Chartable and discuss significant events and trends in India's startup ecosystem. They cover highlights from the Global FinTech Festival in Mumbai. Then they delve into Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in AI, the arrest of Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov, and Insurance Dekho's new SaaS platform. Additionally, they discuss upcoming IPOs in the FinTech sector, notable fundraisers by...
Sep 10, 2024•49 min
In this episode, Roshan talks to Devendra Agrawal, Founder of Dexter Capital. Having dedicated over five years to investments and two years in a senior corporate finance position, Devendra embraced the entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Dexter Capital, a boutique investment bank. The conversation encompasses the various factors that shaped today's outlook into startup investing. Tune in for a deep-dive into -- 00:00 - Introduction 1:13 - Recent Developments in startup Investing 11:27 - St...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 245
In this episode Roshan talks to Prashant Sachan, co-founder of Apps for Bharat, to explore the dynamic landscape of India's consumer market and his successful journey with the Srimandir app. With over 3 crore downloads and 3 million monthly users, Prashanth discusses the art of building engaging app-led businesses, the role of monetization, and delivering unique user experiences. The conversation delves into user engagement, iterative experimentation, and scaling challenges, particularly amidst ...
Aug 24, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 244
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into key developments in India's vibrant startup ecosystem. They discuss the significance of freedom for startups, the technological advancements in India's digital infrastructure, and the promising updates in UPI's payment system. Highlights include Sarvam AI's innovation in Indian language models, Krafton's plans for an R&D center in India, and significant fundraises by Ather Energy, Fresh Bus, and Skydo. In this week's t...
Aug 19, 2024•26 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss major headlines in India's startup ecosystem. Key topics include a U.S. federal judge's ruling against Google for antitrust violations, X's (formerly Twitter) legal battle with advertisers, and an innovative SIP-like approach to startup investing introduced by Infinite Club. They also cover Andhra Pradesh's new YouTube Academy announcement, significant IPOs, and various funding news. Topics00:00 Introduction 00:27 Headlin...
Aug 13, 2024•40 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan break down significant updates from India's startup ecosystem, including Karnataka's new job reservation bill, the union budget's key highlights, and notable trends on Twitter. The discussion covers the impact of CrowdStrike's software glitch, and Ola's competitive move against Google Maps. The episode concludes with insights on the importance of education and skilling, the controversial angel tax, and recent fundraising activiti...
Jul 30, 2024•55 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into major headlines in India's startup ecosystem. They discuss BlackBuck's filing of its DHRP papers for a 550 crore rupees IPO with SEBI, and IdeaForge's acquisition of a stake in space tech startup Galaxeye space. The episode also touches on the ongoing Twitter feud between Elon Musk and the European Commission over free speech. 00:00 Introduction01:23 Attempt on Trump's life06:12 BlackBuck's IPO Filing10:26 IdeaForge's ...
Jul 17, 2024•33 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss significant developments in India's startup ecosystem. Topics include SEBI's new regulations affecting brokerage firms, the launch of Narayana Health's game changing insurance product, and the shutdown of the Koo app after failed acquisition talks. The hosts also touch on Reliance Retail's relaunch of the Chinese brand Shein, Swiggy's new feature for food recommendations, and Peak XV Ventures' focus on AI startups. Topics...
Jul 09, 2024•41 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into significant headlines shaping India's startup ecosystem. They start with a discussion on Micromax Venture's fund performance and key insights from the Figma Config conference. The hosts also explore Zomato's new Restaurant Service Hub, the rise of regional content with Stage's growth, and OYO's withdrawal of its IPO papers. They touch on Foxconn's alleged hiring discrimination and provide a roundup of notable startup f...
Jul 03, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan talks to Nivas, a seasoned SaaS marketer, to discuss his journey and insights into SaaS marketing. Nivas shares his accidental entry into the SaaS world, joining Freshworks (then Freshdesk) post-acquisition of his startup in 2015. The conversation highlights the importance of building a world-class product, visionary leadership from Freshworks CEO Girish, and the challenges of educating the market about SaaS in its early days. Nivas also de...
Jun 28, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 243
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss the significant drop in placements and employment of IIT graduates in the country, financial troubles at ThirdWave Coffee and Reshamandi, and the launch of Safe Superintelligence Inc. by Ilya Sutskever. The hosts also touch on notable fundraising rounds for Zepto, Alyve Health, and Bira91, and conclude with an analysis of interesting tweets and market trends. Topics:00:00 Introduction00:28 Topics of the week01:40 Weekly H...
Jun 24, 2024•35 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, host Roshan welcomes Varun from Bounce. Varun shares insights into Bounce’s progression from its origins as Wicked Rides, a bike rental company, to becoming a prominent player in the electric mobility market. He discusses the significant milestones such as the launch of Bounce Infinity, the introduction of the E1 and E1 Plus models, and their burgeoning B2B operations, including a collaboration with Sun Mobility to supply 30,000 bikes. Varun delve...
Jun 17, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 242
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss major headlines impacting India's startup ecosystem. Key topics include the newly elected Indian government and its potential impact on the startup environment, particularly in electric vehicles and funding policies. The hosts highlight the inclusion of ten Indian startups, like Pixel and Niramai, in the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers list. The episode wraps up with discussions on recent funding news and trend...
Jun 10, 2024•39 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan discuss Agnikul Cosmos launching Agniban, the world's first 3D-printed rocket engine. The Indian government proposing a Digital Competition Bill to limit the dominance of tech giants such as Google, Amazon, and Apple. Meanwhile, Fintech company Paytm plans significant layoffs to counter its financial losses, and payment processor Stripe goes invite-only in India due to regulatory changes. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:20 Space...
Jun 04, 2024•20 min
In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan and Gunjan delve into the hottest headlines from India's burgeoning startup ecosystem. They cover a variety of topics including a feud between Ola and Microsoft, highlights from Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference, and Google’s potential acquisition of HubSpot. The show features insightful views on the strategies and implications of these developments, along with some engaging cricket commentary and industry gossip. 00:00 Introduction00:...
May 28, 2024•33 min
India's Startup Ecosystem and Global Tech Innovations: A Comprehensive Roundup In this episode of the Startup Operator Roundup, Roshan Cariappa and Gunjan Saha dive into the latest highlights of India's startup scene and global tech developments. They discuss the intriguing capabilities of GPT 4o, Girish Matrubhutam stepping down as CEO of Freshworks. The discussion wraps with an optimistic outlook on India's potential in brand building and luxury goods on the global stage, suggesting a signific...
May 21, 2024•34 min
In the latest episode of The Startup Operator Roundup, Gunjan and Roshan makes sense of the ongoing dispute between WhatsApp and GoI over the new IT rules, Razorpay’s newly launched UPI Switch and its promise for bettering UPI, RBI’s notice to Kotak Mahindra Bank, and much more. If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Remember to subscribe to the podcast for regular updates from India’s growing startup ecosystem. ——————————— Conne...
Apr 29, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Divanshu Kumar co-founder and CEO of Solinas, talks about the story of a robotics startup evolving from an education-focused non-profit to tackling water and sanitation challenges in India, highlighting the intricacies of operating a hardware startup, manufacturing strategies, and the significance of B2B and B2G relationships. The discussion further encompasses strategic growth, detailing a technology firm's expansion from India to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, emphasizing cost-ef...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 240
This episode of the Startup Operator Roundup delves into recent developments within the Indian startup ecosystem, covering topics like GoI's plans to purchase Nvidia GPUs to rent and sublet for Indian startups to use, India SaaS report, Flipkart's attempt to buy Zepto and more! Topic:00:00 Intro05:00 India planning to sign deal with NVIDIA11:17 India's SaaS report 20:33 Flipkart's failed plans to buy Zepto26:00 building UPI-like platform for EV users 30:20 Fundraises of the week 32:30 Talk of th...
Apr 22, 2024•36 min
This Podcast features deep dives into the burgeoning field of Generative AI (Gen AI), with a particular focus on its application in media and entertainment. The conversation with Subho, a co-founder of Neural Garage, explores the transformative potential of advanced AI technologies, such as attention mechanisms and large language models. It addresses the predictions, capabilities, and limitations of Gen AI, underscoring the journey from domain-specific to generalized models and the critical role...
Apr 19, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 239
