Founding GROFERS & BLINKIT, Building ZOMATO and Reaching IIT DELHI From Tier 3 India | FULL EPISODE
Feb 13, 2023
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Albinder Dhindsa, Founder of Blinkit, fka Grofers, talks about the challenges and successes of building a 10-minute delivery business, the Zomato acquisition, changing consumer habits, the importance of culture in operations, and unexpected products and consumer insights.
Efficient supply chains are crucial for densely populated areas
10-minute delivery is changing consumer behavior and product discovery
Listening to the organization and cultivating trust in the team are essential for success as an entrepreneur
Deep dives
The Journey from Grofers to Blinkit
The speaker discusses their transition from Grofers to Blinkit and the challenges faced during the last 8-9 years. They highlight the importance of urbanization and the need for more efficient supply chains in densely populated areas. They also emphasize the shift in consumer behavior towards 10-minute delivery and the impact it has on product discovery and access. The speaker mentions the growth opportunity for emerging brands and the need to provide a platform for them. They touch on the potential of generating insights and the role of data science in supporting the growth of the company.
The Importance of Supply in Meeting Consumer Demand
The speaker emphasizes the relevance of increasing supply in response to growing consumer demands. They discuss the concentration of urbanization in large cities and the need for efficient infrastructure and platforms to support emerging brands. The speaker also highlights the potential for premiumization in various consumer categories and the impact of technology in facilitating access and choice for consumers. They mention their experience with restaurants, silent stores, and the evolving preferences of younger consumers.
The Journey of Growth, Overconfidence, and Learning from Mistakes
The speaker reflects on their experience as an entrepreneur and the challenges encountered along the way. They acknowledge the negative impact of overconfidence and fear-driven decision-making, which led to poor choices and a top-down culture. They mention the importance of listening to the organization and cultivating trust in the team. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about the importance of empathy and understanding different perspectives. They discuss the gradual understanding of the market and the realization that there are still numerous opportunities waiting to be explored.
Capital Raising Journey and Lessons Learned
The speaker shares their capital-raising journey, which happened organically as opportunities presented themselves. They highlight the challenges of managing capital and the hindsight wisdom of raising the same amount again. They acknowledge the difficulty of being efficient with capital and the impact of unflinching beliefs in quick ROI. The speaker emphasizes the need to balance access to capital with prudent decision-making and the importance of learning from mistakes. They conclude that, given the circumstances, they would likely make the same choices again.
Rebranding from Gropers to Belenka
The decision to rebrand from Gropers to Belenka was driven by the change in the business model and target clientele. Gropers was associated with a different kind of service and customer base, while the shift to a 10-minute delivery model required a new brand identity. The goal was to change people's mindset about the company and establish a 10-minute first approach. The rebranding process was relatively quick, taking only one week to complete.
Insights from Consumer Behavior and Unexpected Market Niches
The podcast episode touches on various interesting insights related to consumer behavior and niche markets. One notable example is the discovery of gold coins as a popular item for online purchase. Initially suggested by a partner store, the inclusion of gold coins on the platform was a resounding success. Another surprising discovery was the demand for cow dung cakes used in religious ceremonies. These insights highlight the importance of listening to the needs and preferences of consumers, even in seemingly unconventional product categories.
You’re listening to #TheBarbershopWithShantanuS2: #RaisersEdge. In today's episode, we have a one-on-one conversation with Albinder Dhindsa, founder of Blinkit, fka Grofers. Stay tuned till the end of the episode to know how he came up with the idea of 10-minute deliveries, and how it became a category-defining business, the Zomato acquisition, how Blinkit has changed habits for thousands of Indians, and much more!
We are looking for early stage stage companies with: - Amazing Founders - Operating in large markets - Are post revenue - TBWS will put in the first or second institutional cheque!
My name is Shantanu and I am the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae. I LOVE entrepreneurship. Personally, I would rate myself as an average (at best) entrepreneur, but I love great ones. The BarberShop with Shantanu S2: Raiser’s Edge goes beyond our conversations from S1 on our podcast to tangible help. With the help of our sponsors at BSC and Bombae we have put together a season which brings together a corpus of 50+ equity seekers looking to support 20+ start-ups in their growth and success. We will be releasing an episode every Friday at 9 pm. Tune in and hope you enjoy. :)
