Millionaire Mondays by Backstage with Millionaires

Backstage with Millionaires
undefined
8 snips
Jul 10, 2024 • 1h 5min

Millionaire Mondays - How Evolve Built an Inclusive Mental Health App from India for the World

In this episode of Millionaire Mondays, featured in Startup Spotlights, an initiative by Google Play, we sit down with Anshul Kamath and Rohan Arora, founders of Evolve, a mental health platform, with a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. Since its inception in 2017, Evolve has helped over 1 million people across the world, in the uplifting and well-being of their mental health. 00:00 Intro 03:51 Story of Anshul 08:47 Rohan's Story 12:36 How Both of them Met 17:32 Evolve's Early Days 21:28 Early Financing 23:20 First Fundraise 27:29 Recognition by The Google Play Store 29:36 Building for the World 31:39 Evolve's Business Model 35:24 Decision to build for LGBTQ+ community 45:55 Is Evolve B2B or B2C? 50:18 Future Roadmap 53:09 Looking Back 58:31 Founder's Future Ambitions 1:04:24 Outro When Anshul and Rohan initially started Evolve in 2017, it was a mental health app for everyone. However, in 2021, the team pivoted towards an LGBTQ+ first app after seeing some early signs of traction. The reason according to the founders is that “the LGBTQ+ community is one of the fastest growing user segments globally and research shows that members of the community are almost 4 times as likely to experience serious mental illness compared to the general population”. Evolve’s core team comprises people from diverse gender identities and sexual orientations and this helps them understand first-hand the struggles and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to mental health and wellness. What makes Evolve different from the other mental health apps in the market is its focus on community building. So while other apps focus primarily on virtual content, Evolve has a thriving community where users can discuss and share their experiences to normalise stressors. (Social Links Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/ Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google’s Global Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopers Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all Evolve’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolveinc/ Evolve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolveapp_/ Evolve’s X: https://x.com/evolveapp_ Anshul Kamath’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshulkamath/ Rohan Arora’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohan-arora5/ Anshul Kamath’s X: https://x.com/anshulkamath Anshul Kamath’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anshulkamath/ #mentalhealth #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play.]
undefined
16 snips
Jun 18, 2024 • 1h 7min

Millionaire Mondays - 40 Million+ Students, Bootstrapped & Highly Profitable! Journey of Programming Hub

In this episode of Millionaire Mondays, featured in Startup Spotlights, an initiative by Google Play, we sit down with Tito Aby Idicula and Nigel Crasto, founders of Programming Hub, one of the largest apps to learn programming. Since its inception in 2016, Programming Hub has taught coding to more than 40 Million people, reaching almost every single country in the world. 00:00 Introduction 03:41 Inception at L&T 04:34 Transitioning from Employment to Entrepreneurship 08:21 Financial Struggles and Creative Solutions 20:51 A Turning Point: Google Launchpad Accelerator 25:08 Understanding Userbase and Monetising them 34:32 Benefits of Bootstrapping 36:29 Project X 46:45 Insane Growth During Pandemic 54:05 AI: Boon or Bane? 1:04:29 Video Game Suggestions Tito Aby Idicula and Nigel Crasto started Programming Hub in 2016. The company was founded with the vision of addressing the growing demand for programming skills in an increasingly digital world. Recognising that traditional education systems often fall short in providing flexible, up-to-date, and comprehensive coding education, the founders set out to create a platform that would democratise access to high-quality programming instruction. At the heart of Programming Hub's appeal is its extensive library of courses, which covers a wide array of programming languages and technologies. From foundational languages like Python, Java, and C++ to specialized fields such as data science, machine learning, and mobile app development, Programming Hub caters to both beginners and advanced learners. Each course is meticulously designed to ensure a seamless learning experience, featuring interactive lessons, hands-on coding exercises, and real-world projects. The platform also offers courses in emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, ensuring that learners are well-prepared for the future of tech. Both Nigel and Tito see AI as the biggest advancement in tech till now and see it as a big opportunity for Programming Hub in the future. Among many things to take away from this podcast, their journey of building a bootstrapped profitable startup is something I am most impressed about. (Social Links) Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/ Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google’s Global Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopers Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all Programming Hub’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/programming-hub/ Programming Hub’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/programminghub.io/ Programming Hub’s X: https://x.com/Prghub Nigel Crasto’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-crasto-a2306547/ Tito Idicula’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titoaby/ Nigel Crasto’s X: https://x.com/Nigelcog Tito Idicula’s X: https://x.com/KillerCrosser Nigel Crasto’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigel_crasto Tito Idicula’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tito_aby #programminghub #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play]
undefined
Jun 4, 2024 • 60min

Millionaire Mondays - How FanCode Is Changing Sports Consumption in India

Today's episode of Millionaire Mondays is extra special - because it's also the first episode being featured in #StartupSpotlights, a Google Play initiative, where inspiring startup founders share their untold growth stories. In today's episode, we're in conversation with Yannick Colaço, co-founder of FanCode, a one-stop destination for sports fans in India. FanCode has more than 100M lifetime users, making it one of the largest sports streaming platforms in the country. 00:00 - Introduction 04:08 - Career Beginnings and NBA Experience 11:23 - The Inspiration behind FanCode 17:15 - Starting FanCode 25:22 - Team and Culture at FanCode 38:11 - Navigating the Pandemic 42:28 - Growth and Expansion Post-Pandemic 45:52 - Monetization and Revenue Strategies 48:45 - Merchandise and New Ventures 56:28 - Future Plans and Innovations 58:33 - Outro Yannick Colaço and Prasana Krishnan started FanCode in 2019. The company has positioned itself as a comprehensive destination for sports fans, offering a variety of services including live streaming, non-live content, sports statistics, and merchandise. Yannick Colaço previously worked with NBA India as managing director, while Prasana Krishnan was a former executive at sports pay-television broadcasters Sony Pictures Networks and Neo Sports. FanCode raised $50 Million in May 2021. One of FanCode’s significant strengths lies in its comprehensive sports coverage. The platform offers live streaming of matches, which includes not just major leagues and tournaments but also smaller, regional, and even grassroots events. This has democratised access to sports content, enabling fans to follow their favourite sports and teams regardless of their geographic location. FanCode also provides detailed sports statistics and real-time data, enhancing the viewing experience for sports enthusiasts who crave in-depth insights. Expanding beyond digital content, FanCode also offers sports merchandise, allowing fans to purchase official team gear. During the ICC World Cup 2023, FanCode was the official partner for Indian team jerseys. Social Links Google India’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/googleindia/?hl=en Google India’s X: https://x.com/GoogleIndia https://x.com/googledevsin?lang=en Google India’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoogleDevelopersIndia https://www.youtube.com/GoogleIndia Google India’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleplaybiz/posts/?feedView=all FanCode’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fancode/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true FanCode’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancode/?hl=en FanCode’s X: https://x.com/FanCode Yannick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-colaco-237aab11/ Yannick's X: https://x.com/yansports [This podcast is sponsored by Google Play.] #FanCode #StartupSpotlights #GooglePlay
undefined
31 snips
Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 1min

Millionaire Mondays - Abhinav Das, Orangewood Labs

Abhinav Das, the entrepreneur behind Evomo - Evolving Mobility, shares his journey from failed ventures to founding Orangewood Labs. He discusses challenges in furniture manufacturing, transitioning to robotics, financial struggles, unveiling their robot project, testing prototypes in a factory setting, and advancements in robot technology and market dynamics.
undefined
39 snips
Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 17min

India Is #1 in EV Two Wheelers. Tarun Mehta Explains Why.

Tarun Mehta, Co-founder of Ather Energy, discusses building Ather S340 and 450, Indian EVs vs Chinese EVs, India becoming the biggest EV exporter, struggles of building an EV company, hardware wave, taking feedback, asteroid mining, and the future of the energy industry.
undefined
Oct 9, 2023 • 26min

Millionaire Mondays - Pallav Nadhani, FusionCharts

Pallav Nadhani, founder of FusionCharts, built a multi-million dollar company from his bedroom. He shares the challenges of hiring in an early startup ecosystem, the near-death experiences he faced, and the milestones achieved along the way.
undefined
Oct 2, 2023 • 55min

S1E11: Millionaire Mondays - Pravesh Pandey, Byg Brewski

Pravesh Pandey, a renowned figure in India's Hotel and Restaurant Industry, discusses his journey from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur. Topics include his successful ventures like Byg Brewski Brewing Company and Bissi Bissi Oota, challenges faced in opening a second location, the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in the hospitality industry, and the creation of Roxy, a glamorous and feminine restaurant inspired by a charismatic woman. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the success of a brew pub, future plans for expansion, and a request for guest recommendations.
undefined
Sep 25, 2023 • 1h 5min

S1E10: Millionaire Mondays - Candice Lock &Sameer Mirchandani, Chinita

Candice Lock, with her diverse cultural background, shares her journey of embracing her passion for Mexican cuisine. From starting a Mexican food business in India to overcoming challenges and expanding, she discusses the impact of a blog post, the transition from firefighting to building SOPs, and the importance of financial stability for restaurant owners.
undefined
9 snips
Sep 18, 2023 • 57min

S1E9: Millionaire Mondays - Anubhav Dubey, Chai Sutta Bar

Anubhav Dubey, an entrepreneur who started his business venture as a kid by flipping phones, talks about his journey of starting Chai Sutta Bar. From selling chai near a girl's hostel to expanding to 500 locations across 300 cities, including 3 stores in Dubai, they share their challenges of naming the shop, targeting students, and dealing with franchisee troubles. They also discuss the concept of creating a third space for customers and their unique marketing strategies.
undefined
Sep 11, 2023 • 1h 24min

S1E8: Millionaire Mondays - Nicolas Grossemy, Paris Panini

Explorex’s website: https://explorex.co/ When Nicolas moved to India from France for an internship, he was struck by nostalgia for the sandwiches from his homeland. And so, he embarked on a culinary journey. In 2015, he took a bold step and launched a food truck called Paris Panini in Bengaluru, with the aim of introducing gourmet French street food to the city.Paris Panini was among the pioneering food trucks in Bangalore, housed within a converted old-school van. Its weekly route quickly gained a following, with customers tracking its whereabouts through social media and forming long queues upon its arrival.Introducing a novel product to the Indian market posed its challenges, but Nicolas was determined to refine the menu to cater to local tastes while preserving the authenticity of French cuisine.One of Nicolas's key objectives was to change the prevailing perception of Indian street food as being predominantly unhealthy and unhygienic. To achieve this, the food truck was designed with an open counter, allowing customers to witness the panini preparation process, and fostering trust through a professional and hygienic live kitchen experience on wheels.Initially, the menu was quite limited, featuring approximately ten items. The primary focus was on delivering high-quality products crafted from fresh ingredients. Every item was painstakingly made from scratch, including the hand-cut and double-fried French fries that have since become iconic, reflecting the preparation methods in Nicolas's hometown of Arras, in northern France.Nicolas's unwavering passion and dedication catapulted Paris Panini into the limelight. The food truck gained immense popularity, leading to invitations to cater for major festivals, birthday parties, and weddings throughout the city.However, the food truck scene in Bangalore was marked by unpredictability, primarily due to the absence of regulation. At one point, the city's notorious traffic congestion even led to a temporary ban on food trucks. As Paris Panini's popularity continued to soar, Nicolas faced the challenge of scaling up his operations.This pivotal moment arrived when Nicolas crossed paths with AB and Nikhil from The Pizza Bakery, who shared his vision of transitioning Paris Panini from a food truck concept to a brick-and-mortar casual dining restaurant. They remained committed to maintaining the brand's core values while developing an extensive menu that would provide customers with an authentic Parisian cafe experience.In November 2019, Paris Panini opened its doors on the bustling 12th Main Road in Indiranagar, Bangalore. The restaurant's walls were adorned with hand-drawn Parisian street scenes, effectively transporting patrons to a Parisian cafe ambiance. The menu showcased gourmet panini, signature French fries, freshly brewed coffee, and delectable crepes, offering an authentic culinary journey.Today, Paris Panini boasts a rapidly expanding fan base, with the brand establishing itself in ten locations across Bangalore. It has quickly risen to become the city's leading purveyor of gourmet sandwiches, serving as a testament to Nicolas's dedication and commitment to bringing a taste of authentic French cuisine to the heart of India.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app