The BarberShop with Shantanu S4E13: Building A ₹10,000 Cr Company In India Ft. MakeMyTrip Founder And Investor
Apr 19, 2025
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Founder's Investor Bond Begins
- Deep Kalra and Sanjeev Aggarwal met through Ashish Gupta and started their professional relationship in 2006 with Helion's Series B investment in MakeMyTrip.
- Sanjeev joined the MakeMyTrip board and became a dedicated venture partner during the company’s challenging early years.
IRCTC Changed Online Travel
- Pre-2005 was the toughest period for MakeMyTrip, characterized by little online transaction acceptance and financial hardship.
- IRCTC’s digitization of ticketing drastically changed consumer trust and adoption in India’s online travel market.
Near-Death Experience is Crucial
- Every successful company in their portfolio experienced a near-death crisis, which builds entrepreneurial muscle memory.
- Surviving these trials separates resilient founders who can pivot and persevere from those who falter.