The BarberShop with Shantanu How A CEO Built Puma, Left It, And Raised 600 Cr Seed To Build Puma’s Biggest Threat From India
Jan 17, 2025
A former CEO shares his remarkable journey from building Puma into a market leader in India to founding Agilitas with a massive 600 Cr seed fund. The discussion delves into the challenges of establishing a global premium sports brand from India, innovative strategies for talent attraction, and the evolution of sportswear. There's a focus on the tension between authenticity and sensationalism in branding, the dynamics of startup culture, and the need for sustainable practices in fashion. Insights on navigating India's footwear manufacturing landscape complete this engaging conversation.
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Finding His Footing
- Abhishek, coming from a small town, felt out of place at IIM Lucknow initially, struggling with academics.
- However, he found his footing through extracurriculars like Index, where practical scenarios helped him thrive.
Puma's Early Days
- Abhishek joined Puma India in 2005 as a founding team member when the brand was largely unknown.
- He faced challenges like convincing landlords to lease store space and paying higher salaries to attract talent.
Puma's Firsts
- Puma India differentiated itself by focusing on firsts, like using social media marketing early on (2009) and launching a direct-to-web store.
- It also embraced e-commerce platforms like Myntra and Flipkart early on, viewing them as opportunities, not competition.