Founder Thesis

Aalesh Avlani challenges conventional labels by branding his company as a lending firm rather than a fintech. He draws nuanced distinctions between the two, highlighting the emphasis on loan collection that sets Credit Wise Capital apart. In this episode, he shares his perspective on the challenges of digitizing loan collections in India and why he advocates for a focused approach, building fewer products but penetrating deeply into the market, rather than spreading resources thin.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Credit Wise Capital:-1.Fintech lenders utilize technology and local partnerships to reach customers in smaller towns of India2.Fintech Lending: The Path to Creating Financial Inclusion in India

Explore the intricate layers of venture debt, a unique blend of venture capital investing and private credit, where loans are tailored for VC-funded startups. Apoorva shares how venture debt transcends traditional lending by supporting loss-making companies, with returns stemming from interest payments and equity appreciation. This discussion offers both a bird's-eye view and a nuanced exploration of the venture debt business model.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Stride Ventures:-1.Why the venture debt market is bubbling2.India’s venture debt market crosses billion-dollar mark in 2023; Consumer durables and Fintech get major attraction3.India’s venture debt growth hinges on uptick in VC round: Stride Ventures

Dive into the evolving landscape of mergers and acquisitions in this episode. Maneesh talks about GrowthPal's journey of disrupting the business of buying and selling companies with its premium discovery service, featuring a unique blend of subscription and commission charges. He shares the driving forces behind company acquisitions and discusses buyer-seller relationship dynamics. From debunking myths to drawing parallels with dating apps, walk into the intriguing world of M&A trends and strategies with Maneesh.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about GrowthPal:-1.Startup Mantra: M&A made easy with GrowthPal2.Startup to Scaleup: Spotlight on GrowthPal that aims to reinvent M&A deal sourcing3.Lending dominated fintech M&As in 2023 amid increased regulatory scrutiny: GrowthPal study

As one of India’s earliest venture capitalists, Rahul's journey spans from Flipkart's early days to backing successful ventures like Simplilearn, BigBasket, and Livspace, and eventually founding Stellaris. In our conversation, he shares insights on the importance of listening to both customers and founders, his approaches to identifying promising startups in a crowded market and seizing opportunities in consumer products, edtech, and gaming sectors. Rahul also discusses the key traits he looks for in founders, the changing landscape for traditional businesses, and how investing during tough times can lead to resilient ventures.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Stellaris Venture Partners:-1.In good times or bad, Stellaris Venture Partners has a steady startup investment strategy2.Cos have to answer more difficult and important questions for late-stage funding today, says Stellaris Venture’s Chowdhuri3.Early Partners of Fearless Founders With Audacious Goals4.Gen AI will compel companies to rethink their value propostion: Alok Goyal Stellaris Venture Partners5.We do not suffer from FOMO: Stellaris Venture Partners6.Stellaris Venture Partners' chosen path: Make contrarian bets, but with deep conviction

From humble beginnings as a college contractor to navigating the startup world, Amit Bansal's story speaks of resilience and reinvention. In this episode, learn how he found his niche and established India’s foremost asset-light interior fit-out company, 91Squarefeet. He talks about how this innovative company is changing the way workspaces are designed by using independent contractors. Explore the nuances of finding product-market fit, achieving unit economic profitability, mastering the art of B2B sales, and implementing best practices for product development.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about 91Squarefeet:-1.91Squarefeet to transform the future of work with 500 high-tech, sustainable offices2.How office space can contribute to economic development of country, explains Amit Bansal, CEO and Co-Founder 91Squarefeet3.This start-up uses tech to help brands build their brick-and-mortar network4.Using AI, this retail store development startup is helping offline brands accelerate expansion

Ritesh Kumar had worked for a couple of years in investment banking after graduating from IIT Kharagpur when he decided to build his enterprise, and just like any truly great founder story, there were many twists and turns before they truly achieved their product market fit and started the journey of scale.Ritesh is the founder of TranZact, which is helping Indian SMEs to be more effective and efficient through software that is built for them. In a way, Transzact is powering the dream of ‘Make in India’ and helping us compete with Chinese manufacturing.In this episode, Ritesh talks to Akshay Datt about Identifying the right problem to solve as a founder The journey of getting your pricing right as a SaaS founder ‘Less is more’ approach of product building - focus on what really matters to your customersGet notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about TranZact here:- TranZact raises $7 million from Tribe Capital and others

With over 2 decades of entrepreneurial experience, Raju's journey from bootstrapped beginnings with Way2sms to pioneering the hyperlocal news platform Way2News showcases his remarkable resilience and vision. Gain unique insights and lessons learned as Raju discusses conceiving business models, organic growth strategies, leveraging vernacular content, and capitalizing on events to drive engagement. Tune in for an insightful exploration of how Raju continues to disrupt and redefine the landscape of Indian news consumption.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Way2News:-1.Way2News taps into rising demand for vernacular content with local flavour2.Way2News founder-CEO Raju Vanapala on serving hyperlocal news for Bharat3.Why short news app Way2News positions itself as the ‘go-to’ platform for hyperlocal campaigns in South India4.Today news isn't a matter of language, but rather how quickly it is available5. How Way2News transformed the hyper- local news ecosystem in India

Uncover a slice of India's startup history as we delve into the journey of Amit Singh, a former Jabong employee turned entrepreneur. Discover how he identified a market opportunity within the transportation sector, leading to the creation of Shuttl, a company aimed at revolutionising daily office commutes. With over $120 million in funding, they were on the brink of transforming the industry before the pandemic shifted their trajectory, ultimately culminating in their acquisition by travel-tech unicorn Chalo.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Shuttl:-1.Profitability is a moving goal post, says Shuttl CEO2.Chalo acquires office bus service Shuttl3.My first year at work: Most of the fun we had was after work, says Amit Singh, Co-founder, Shuttl4.Shuttl propagates smart urban mobility through technology

We are a constantly evolving species, from discovering fire to inventing the wheel to now inventing AI - humanity is on a relentless path of progress.And while each new technology may have a different flavour to it, the one broad outcome that remains constant is that we are constantly reducing barriers to access. Be it access to education or access to jobs or access to investment opportunities.Today, thanks to platforms like hbits, you can access a real estate asset worth hundreds of millions  of rupees through fractional ownership.In this deep dive into the new era of real estate investing, your host Akshay Datt speaks to Shiv Parekh - the founder and CEO of hBits.Stay tuned for a knowledge filled episode of the founder thesis podcast to understand how the business of real estate investments is getting disrupted by nimble tech-enabled startups.

Discover why microchips are essential for the AI economy and how they've propelled Nvidia to become the world's third most valuable company. Shashwath is the founder of one of India’s top microchip companies and in this episode, he goes deep into the semiconductor business. Gain insights into the importance of microchips for AI and their impact in shaping India's technological self-reliance.Get notified about the latest releases and bonus content by subscribing to our newsletter at www.founderthesis.comRead more about Mindgrove:-1.Designed-in-India chips for the World2. Mindgrove Technologies’ Shashwath TR on Making India’s Most Secure Chip3.Redefining Chip Design: Mindgrove’s Tailored Approach to Innovation4.When the chips were down, they opted to stand up