The BarberShop with Shantanu

MakeMyTrip’s Investor Sanjeev & Founder Deep Talk About Building ₹10000 Cr Travel Company

Apr 19, 2025
Join Deep Kalra, the visionary Founder of MakeMyTrip, and Sanjeev Aggarwal, an early backer with deep insights into the startup scene. They reveal the rollercoaster story of building a ₹10,000 Cr travel empire, discussing the tough times before 2005 and the bond between founders and investors. Discover how strategic board dynamics shape IPO strategies and the importance of quality governance. Kalra shares valuable lessons on resilience in entrepreneurship and the significance of product thinking—and even touches on personal grooming's unexpected role in confidence.
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ANECDOTE

Founders Meet Investor Journey

  • Deep Kalra and Sanjeev Aggarwal met through investor Ashish Kupta in 2006 during MakeMyTrip's Series B round.
  • Sanjeev joined their board and became a dedicated investor and mentor throughout their IPO journey.
INSIGHT

IRCTC Ignited Online Travel

  • IRCTC’s digital ticketing solved a big pain point that boosted online travel adoption in India post-2005.
  • This shift made domestic Indian customers comfortable buying travel products online, growing MakeMyTrip’s local market.
ANECDOTE

Daksh’s Near-Death Experience

  • Sanjeev Aggarwal shared Daksh’s near-death experience when a critical Amazon season almost cost them their contract.
  • The crisis taught them invaluable lessons on operational reliability and customer service excellence.
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