As someone from Bangalore, I’ve been a bit bothered by how much flak we get, especially about traffic. So I set out to see if the criticism is fair, and what’s actually being done about it.In this episode, I spend the day with two of Bengaluru’s top police officers — B. Dayananda, IPS (Commissioner of Police) and M.N. Anucheth, IPS (Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic) — to understand what’s really happening in the city.We get to know how the police are using AI and other technology to manage ...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 28 min
This episode is a playbook for any curious 20-something in India dreaming of building the next big consumer electronics brand. Whether it’s smartphones, earbuds, AI-powered glasses or health wearables, we dig into what it really takes to break into, and survive, this highly competitive space. I sat down with three brilliant minds in the game who’ve actually done it: Carl Pei (Co-Founder, Nothing), Rahul Sharma (Co-Founder, Micromax), and Amit Khatri (Co-Founder, Noise). We tried to decode the wh...
Apr 26, 2025•2 hr 47 min
India has long been a tea-drinking nation, but in recent years, a new wave of craft beverage brands has started reshaping the way the country drinks. Specialty coffee, kombucha, and premium mixers are carving out space in an industry dominated by mass-produced options. While the demand for high-quality, homegrown beverages is growing, breaking into this space isn’t as easy as it looks. Import duties drive up costs, fragmented supply chains make scaling difficult, and price-sensitive consumers of...
Mar 03, 2025•3 hr 26 min
India’s craft beverage industry is on the rise, with brands redefining the way the country drinks. Specialty coffee, kombucha, and premium mixers are no longer just niche products—they’re part of a larger shift toward quality and innovation. As global trends in artisanal drinks take hold, Indian consumers are becoming more curious and willing to experiment. But building a brand in this space comes with unique challenges. In this episode, Nikhil Kamath sits down with Rahul Reddy (Subko), Matt Chi...
Mar 02, 2025•2 min
In this conversation, we seem to be headed towards more questions than answers.. but perhaps questions that need to be asked. Most importantly... Where is Health headed? In this episode of WTF is Podcast, we have Nithin, Prashanth, Jitendra, Seema and Bryan uncover many such questions/concerns, trying to determine what is next in this space of Heath & Longevity. As AI progresses, I wonder if tomorrow, an algorithm is built to tell us how to live our life the best... would we accept that inte...
Feb 02, 2025•3 hr 30 min
How far are we all willing to go for Good Health & Longevity? Is technology & AGI closer to figuring it all out? Can an algorithm tell us how to live our best life? Stay Tuned! #NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&u...
Jan 30, 2025•2 min
There seems to be a preconceived bias about the real estate ecosystem in India. With this episode, we aim to dive into the nuances that explain the complexities of the business. And who better to explain it than Irfan Razack from Prestige Group, Nirupa Shankar from Brigade Group, and Karan Virwani from WeWork & Embassy. We deep dive into family businesses, passion versus wealth, new-age real estate, and much more. For those who know me, I’m not the biggest fan of real estate (as an asset cla...
Oct 12, 2024•3 hr 16 min
Diving deep with India's real estate titans who collectively shape over 100 million sq. ft. of prime property. I probe Irfan, Nirupa, and Karan on navigating a $200 billion industry through economic shifts and tech disruptions. From innovative funding strategies to sustainability challenges, uncover the blueprints behind their empires in this candid discussion.
Oct 10, 2024•2 min
Psychology believes that you start telling yourself you’re passionate at something when you realise you’re better at that something - same logic for talent? How important is it to be talented but also be “relevant” in the industries that seem cool to be in? In this episode of ‘WTF is’ Podcast, we have Kriti Sanon, KL Rahul, & Badshah - who chose career paths which are quite offbeat. Is it sheer talent..? Is it discipline to achieve excellence despite the element of talent? or is it merely go...
Aug 23, 2024•2 hr 42 min
Psychology believes that you start telling yourself you’re passionate about something when you realize you’re better at that 'something'. This could be one of those episodes. Stay tuned to find out!
Aug 18, 2024•2 min
India has had a long, colourful, and mixed history with Liquor over the centuries, with ancient fermented drinks and traditional liquors like feni and toddy. India today, holds the third-largest market for alcoholic beverages globally, which is remarkable given the challenging business environment of red tape-ism, varying excise duties across states and much more. In episode #18 of “WTF is” Podcast, we have Founders of different sectors in the Liquor Industry of India. Abhishek Khaitan, MD of Ra...
Jul 04, 2024•3 hr 13 min
India holds the third-largest market for alcoholic beverages globally. Despite it being such a big market, it is said to be one of the tougher industries to enter and sustain, given the complexities. There is also this misconception that making a lot of money in the liquor industry is easy, but what seems to be less apparent is the red tape-ism.. varying excise duties, distribution challenges across states, and more… which is true in some form while entering any industry. In this episode, we h...
Jul 04, 2024•2 min
Data suggest that young folks under the age of 30 are spending a lot more time on social media and gaming and less time on TV and physical sports. In this episode, we have the CEO of Nazara Technologies,Krafton India and Lila Games, leaders in the Indian gaming space. We also have Animesh Agarwal (8bit Thug), a protagonist of the Indian gaming Industry,turning gaming into a full time career in india Given that gaming for young kids today is what cricket was for Indians back in the day, we explor...
Apr 21, 2024•2 hr 42 min
Virtues required to build a business today seem to have become a cliché. What often gets lost in the cracks are the subtle nuances that actually make or break a business. The importance of risk-taking and the power of a contrarian mindset in running a successful venture requires far more than mere intellect. Founders of OYO, Mama Earth, and Rare Rabbit open up about what makes them tick, from the impact of their upbringing on their ambition to the drive towards financial independence. Their expe...
Mar 06, 2024•4 hr 15 min
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have surged from 290 ppm in the 1870s to 421 ppm in 2022, exceeding the safe limit of 350 ppm and reaching the highest levels in millions of years. Featuring insights from experts like Sunita Narain, Mirik Gogri, Bhumi Pednekar, and Navroz K Dubash, we explore the impacts of climate change and the implications of a dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels, as well as the looming threat of a 3-degree temperature rise. We also discuss the opportunities a...
Feb 08, 2024•2 hr 58 min
Building an EV company isn’t easy. For context, assembling battery packs requires companies to adhere to manufacturing standards even higher than 6 Sigma. But that's not all; it also involves sourcing resources like lithium and cobalt, developing charging infrastructure, addressing range anxiety, and much more. In this episode, we delve into the world of electric vehicles with industry pioneer Chetan Maini from Sun Mobility, whose inspiration came from his university days racing an EV across Aus...
Dec 10, 2023•3 hr 9 min
India is in the early stages of EV adoption. The adoption of two-wheelers is below 10%, whereas it's significantly higher for three-wheelers. For a market as large as India, there are significant opportunities. This episode is a deep dive into the EV ecosystem in India. Apart from building an EV, we also explore the ancillary opportunities in this ecosystem, from battery recycling and building out charging networks to offering battery swapping as a service and other micro-sectors. Tune in to hea...
Dec 08, 2023•2 min
A few years ago, who could've guessed where we'd be with algorithms, platforms, or the explosion of short-form content? Today, we've got some of the top content creators to help you navigate the ever-changing world of content creation. In this one, Tanmay Bhat returns to the podcast for the 3rd time! He's worn many hats over his long journey, from a TV writer to a comedian to an ad maker, integrating all those skills across his social media platforms. Ranveer Allahbadia, aka BeerBiceps, started ...
Nov 20, 2023•3 hr 9 min
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a professional, or an aspiring full-time content creator, building an influence is of utmost relevance today. And in the world of content creation, there's no fixed formula. We see Ranveer covering topics like spirituality, politics, and mythologies, Tanmay’s videos are light-hearted and comedic, Prajakta making ordinary tasks and events extremely entertaining, Nas did daily one-minute videos and I dive deep into industries with 2 hour-long podcasts. In this epis...
Nov 17, 2023•2 min
It’s easier to set up an arms factory than to sell a sandwich or a drink. This reflects the hidden complexity the restaurant world possesses. As Indians we are culturally inclined to want options when it comes to our food, we go to multicuisine restaurants with our families, cafés with our work friends, fine dining for our dates, and pubs with our friends! We judge the AC temperature, the music, the food, the waiter, the cutlery, and everything in between. This involves not only recipe building ...
Oct 29, 2023•3 hr 24 min
Opening a restaurant or a cafe is no less than a gamble. Roughly 60% of them shut down in the first year. This podcast is here to help dissect the food industry with the owners of Le15, SOCIAL, Farzi Cafe, Masala Library, Smoke House Deli, BOSS Burgers, Pa Pa Ya, and more. Stay tuned for an episode where Riyaaz Amlani, who made cafe culture big in Mumbai, Zorawar Kalra, who put Indian food on the global map, and Pooja Dhingra, the Indian macaroon queen unveil what really goes on behind this mass...
Oct 26, 2023•2 min
It's easy to start in India but very difficult to scale in India. This 3.5-hour podcast will cover everything you need to know about scaling a fashion, beauty, or home brand from zero to the first 20 crores, and then to 100 crores and beyond. We have the most requested podcast guest - Kishore Biyani BACK to drop some knowledge bombs. We also have Raj, who took the route of "digital-first" for his business expansion, and Ananth, who decoded e-commerce and marketplaces first. They delve deep into ...
Oct 07, 2023•3 hr 24 min
Failure to understand the aspirations, behaviors, and values of the target market can be detrimental to the long-term success of brands. Kishore Biyani, Ananth Narayanan, and Raj Shamani will shed light on how brands bridge the gap from conversation to conversion successfully in their own ways. Anyone building a brand in the fashion, home, and beauty industry, here’s a guide that you will keep coming back to, and for the rest this is one of those episodes that will have you glued with insights f...
Oct 07, 2023•2 min
Roughly 60% of the Indian population is under the age of 30 and hence the coolness funnel tends to be top-down. This is the segment that everyone will be building for. The consumption trends and behavioral patterns we hear here from these 4 accomplished people will likely remain relevant over the next decade. We have Navya - who's an unlikely grounded person one usually wouldn't assume, the precocious Zepto Brothers - where what stands out more than everything else is the bond 2 guys who met in ...
Sep 20, 2023•2 hr 37 min
Roughly 60% of India's population is under the age of 30. To cater to the next generation, we brought together these four young high achievers - Navya Naveli, Zepto Brothers, and Tara Sutaria to provide nuanced insights into the future trends and the impact of a top-down approach to influence. For those seeking to develop solutions or build products for India's emerging demographic, this episode will give you a comprehensive overview of this generation's mindset. #NikhilKamath: Co-founder of Zer...
Sep 20, 2023•2 min
In this episode, we bring marquee investors, the OGs of the venture world. Learn what venture capital is, what works and what doesn't, and their learnings from many decades of funding the startup ecosystem in India. I am sure it will be as insightful as an entire college semester for many. So do feel free to grab your notepad to soak up all the knowledge. This is, by far, the most in-depth episode we have done and this will give you insights not only into funding but also into the ongoing macro ...
Sep 02, 2023•2 hr 30 min
In this episode, we bring in marquee investors, the OGs of the venture world. Learn what venture capital is, what works and what doesn't, and their learnings from many decades of funding the startup ecosystem in India. #NikhilKamath: Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and Gruhas Follow Nikhil here: Twitter https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Linkedin https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Koo ...
Sep 02, 2023•1 min
Whether you're creating content, avidly consuming it, or believe you're untouched by its influence - you have a tremendous impact on the content industry. With this erudite episode, dive into the dynamic world of entertainment. It was a pleasure to sit with the three masterminds operating behind the curtains of the streaming, multiplex and talent industry. They share not only their journeys but also their data-driven viewpoints. Decode the expanse of this market, the strategies and the upcoming ...
Aug 14, 2023•2 hr 14 min
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the brilliant founder of Biocon and a true trailblazer in the biotech industry. We talked for two hours straight, diving into her 40-year journey in biotech and her life beyond business. In my eyes, she is a testament to woman entrepreneurs in India; no one else comes close. Kiran is not just an inspiration to me professionally but also a dear friend and neighbour. Our bond has grown over the years, and I can't help but look up to her in so many ways. Her passion for transfo...
Jul 24, 2023•2 hr
From modest beginnings to an industry trailblazer, Kiran demonstrates her unfiltered, raw, bold self and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the difficulties she encountered while establishing a ground-breaking biotech company in India. She reveals honest entrepreneurial thoughts and tales that she has never divulged before. They go in-depth on Kiran's journey, her triumphs and setbacks, what she thinks would have made a difference, her personal life, and the key to her resiliency. This episode g...
Jul 20, 2023•1 min
