

Founders Unfiltered
A Junior VC
Unscripted conversations with Indian founders about their story and the process of building a company. Hosted by Mazin and Aviral.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 24, 2023 • 1h 3min
Ep 88: Building Future of Mobility ft. Yulu
In this podcast, we hear from Amit Gupta, the Co-Founder & CEO of Yulu, discussing the future of mobility. They talk about the challenges and opportunities in the electric mobility space, creating a solution for traffic congestion and air pollution in India, and the importance of personal involvement and taking responsibility in startups.

Sep 10, 2023 • 51min
Ep 87: Creating the Future of Video with AI ft. VideoVerse
Vinayak Shrivastav, Co-Founder & CEO of VideoVerse, discusses topics including remote work, bootstrapping vs funded businesses, identifying media problems, opportunities and tools in the Indian video content market, and the future of video content with AI and machine learning.

Aug 27, 2023 • 38min
Ep 86: Putting India on the Global Fashion Map ft Ace Turtle
oin us as we talk to Nitin Chhabra, the CEO of Ace Turtle about his story.
In 1995, Nitin completed his B.Com. degree at the University of Delhi, followed by a master's in business and management in 1997 from the Apeejay School of Management.
He started his professional journey as a territory sales manager at Hindustan Unilever. He subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility, including the role of vice president at Arvind Brands, VF Corporation, and Reliance Brands Limited.
Nitin also served as CEO for Brooks Brothers India and Iconix Brand Group. In September 2013, he took on the position of CEO at Ace Turtle.
🏢 About Ace Turtle:
Ace Turtle, the forefront tech-native retail company of the new India, is pioneering the next phase of change in the retail sector.
With vertical integration spanning design, local manufacturing, and direct consumer outreach, it employs proprietary technology driven by data science. This ensures it consistently meets evolving consumer needs from design to fulfilment.

Aug 13, 2023 • 48min
EP 85: IIT Madras Prof to Entrepreneur ft. ePlane
Join us in our discussion with the Co-Founder of ePlane, Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy.
Prof. Satya Chakravarthy received his Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Madras in 1991 and went on to obtain his PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Following his academic pursuits, he returned to his alma mater, IIT Madras, in 1997 as a professor in Aerospace Engineering. At present, he leads the Centre of Propulsion Technology at IIT Madras and has also established and heads the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) within the institution.
Prof. Satya is very passionate about deep tech entrepreneurship to democratise technology. He holds the roles of Co-founder and Advisor in various companies, including AgniKul Cosmos, Aerostrovilos Energy, GalaxEye, TuTr Hyperloop, and X2Fuels. He also serves as an advisor for Avishkar Hyperloop and NewTrace.
In April 2018, Prof. Satya took the initiative and founded ePlane.ai.
🏢 About ePlane.ai:
ePlane is developing India’s first flying electric taxi for up to 10 times faster intra-city commutes and cargo transport.
As an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) startup, they aim to alleviate on-road traffic congestion in cities worldwide by offering safe, sustainable, and affordable flying experiences through their flagship product, The ePlane e200.
🌐 For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/

Aug 9, 2023 • 56min
Ep 84: Hobby to Sponsoring IPL ft. Upstox
Join us as we talk to Ravi Kumar, the Cofounder of Upstox about their story.
Ravi and his younger brother Raghu were born in Madhya Pradesh, India, then moved to France before settling in Canada for 8 years. Ravi completed his high schooling there and developed a strong interest in startups.
He later moved to California to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Information and Computer Science at UC Irvine, graduating in 2004.
In September 2006, the brothers relocated to Chicago and co-founded RK Trading Partnership, a successful HFT firm that earned them over a million dollars in just two years.
However, the 2008 crash forced them to return to India. In 2009, Ravi co-founded Upstox.
🏢 About Upstox:
Upstox is an online trading app for Demat Account, Share Market, MF, IPO with 1cr+ customers. Backed by Ratan Tata and venture capitalists such as Tiger Global, Upstox offers a best-in-class technology-enabled trading platform.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Upstox holds memberships with the NSE, BSE, MCX, and MCX-SX.
🌐 For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/
Playlists🎬:
🎙️Founders Unfiltered: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_1r_yCxtrkFtTqwgoKj8f66
🎥 AJVC BTS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_2SqAGAJ0_rS1--1u82jvfL
🦄 Start-up Chronicles: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_0ujPMygWRZQcJBK250BXbC
🔎 AJVC Insights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_00SpPyAU_zhicXdehoNuBd
🎯 Deep Dives: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_2BHzAOji1wBEKjXo-go7e6
📈 Founder Insights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_1L3HjHLvNUQgPWGrfcoc-q

Aug 6, 2023 • 1h 10min
Ep 83: Building India’s first $1Bn HR Tech ft. Darwinbox
Join us as we talk to Rohit Chennamaneni, the Co-founder of Darwinbox about their story.
Rohit Chennamaneni completed his Bachelor's degree in Technology from VIT Vellore and subsequently pursued his master's degree at IIM Lucknow.
Following his education, he gained professional experience at renowned organisations such as Google, Procter & Gamble, and McKinsey & Company. Ultimately, in November 2015, he co-founded Darwinbox.
🏢 About Darwinbox:
Darwinbox is a leading provider of cloud-based HR Management Software (HRMS). Their SaaS platform uses AI and ML to create a smarter and mobile-first HR experience.
Darwinbox serves over 750 organisations and 2 million employees across 100+ countries. Their clients include notable conglomerates and technology companies like Adani, Kopi Kenangan, MatchMove, Mahindra, Bank BTPN, TVS, Shakey's, JSW, Nivea, Swiggy, Tokopedia, JG Summit Group, NutriAsia, Indorama, and more.
🌐 For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/
Playlists🎬:
🎙️Founders Unfiltered: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_1r_yCxtrkFtTqwgoKj8f66
🎥 AJVC BTS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_2SqAGAJ0_rS1--1u82jvfL
🦄 Start-up Chronicles: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_0ujPMygWRZQcJBK250BXbC
🔎 AJVC Insights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_00SpPyAU_zhicXdehoNuBd
🎯 Deep Dives: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_2BHzAOji1wBEKjXo-go7e6
📈 Founder Insights: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZb75L7Qi_1L3HjHLvNUQgPWGrfcoc-q

Jul 2, 2023 • 58min
Ep 82: How KreditBee is Bringing Credit to 40 Cr Indians
🎙️Founders Unfiltered Ep-81:
Brought to you by the Founders Unfiltered podcast by A Junior VC - Unscripted conversations with Indian founders about their story and the process of building a company. Hosted by Aviral and Mazin.
Join us as we talk to Madhusudan Ekambaram, the CEO and Co-Founder of KreditBee about their story.
In 2004, Madhu completed his Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from NIT, Karnatka. He enrolled in the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto to pursue an MBA in 2010 but later dropped out in 2011.
Throughout his career, Madhu has worked with notable companies such as TCS and Krazybee. In 2020, Madhu co-founded the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE). Additionally, he serves as an angel investor in various companies, including Wint Wealth, OneCode, Jodo, and others. Finally, in 2018, he co-founded KreditBee.
He is also a proud recipient of "Rashtrpathi Puraskar" from K.R. Narayanan, President of India, and "Rajya Puraskar" from Khurshid Alam Khan, Governor of Karnataka State, India, for his contribution towards the Scout Movement.
🏢 About KreditBee:
KreditBee is a financial technology (FinTech) platform that enables professionals to obtain immediate personal loans based on their specific needs, with loan amounts of up to Rs. 4 lakh.
The platform has received funding in its Series-D round and is supported by reputable investors such as Advent International, Premji Invest, Motilal Oswal Alternates, TPG-NewQuest, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, ICICI Bank, and Mirae Asset Venture Investments.
Presently, the company serves a customer base of 10 million individuals throughout the country.
🌐 For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/

Jun 18, 2023 • 40min
Ep 81: Enabling 40M passenger | Founder of RailYatri and IntrCity SmartBus
🎙️Founders Unfiltered Ep-80:
Brought to you by the Founders Unfiltered podcast by A Junior VC - Unscripted conversations with Indian founders about their story and the process of building a company. Hosted by Aviral and Mazin.
Join us as we talk to Manish Rathi, the Co-founder & CEO of Rail Yatri and IntrCity about their story.
In 1992, Manish successfully earned his Bachelor's degree in Technology from the University of Mumbai. He continued his academic journey and obtained his Master's degree from Western Michigan University in 1997.
Following his graduation, Manish began his career as a research scientist at Telcordia Technologies. Subsequently, he gained valuable experience working in various roles with different companies, including Leapstone Systems, July Systems, and ultimately GlobalLogic.
In July 2011, Manish took on a new venture and co-founded Intrcity.
🏢 About Rail Yatri and IntrCity:
Intrcity RailYatri began its journey in 2011, and Intrcity SmartBus was introduced in early 2019.
Intrcity SmartBus consists of a group of buses with special branding, aiming to offer passengers a consistent, safe, secure, and comfortable bus travel experience. In early 2019, Intrcity SmartBus started operating in two cities, and now it connects over 100 cities across India.
The objective of RailYatri is to offer current and accurate information to the 25 million passengers who travel by train daily. Within its first year of launch, RailYatri's Android app has crossed 1 million downloads.
🌐 For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/

Jun 4, 2023 • 1h 10min
Ep 80: Farmer to Engineer to Founder | Jumbotail: 1,000 Cr Platform for India's Kiranas
Join us as we talk to Ashish Jhina, the Co-founder Jumbotail about their story.
In 2005, Ashish earned a dual degree in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from IIT Delhi. He later pursued an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an MS in Environment and Resources—Freshwater from Stanford University in 2011.
During his time at IIT Delhi, Ashish gained valuable experience interning at the Technical University of Denmark and the French National Institute of Agricultural Research. Subsequently, he worked with prominent companies such as Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Moutain Hazelnuts. In 2009, he co-founded a company named NextDrop before co-founding Jumbotail in 2015.
Ashish's dedication to excellence and his commitment to empowering retailers have resulted in Jumbotail being recognized as a transformative force within the industry. Apart from his contributions to Jumbotail, Ashish is highly regarded as a leading figure in the entrepreneurial community.
For more visit - https://ajuniorvc.com/podcast/

May 21, 2023 • 57min
Ep 79: Building UBER for Space ft. AgniKul Cosmos
Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder & CEO of AgniKul Cosmos, shares his remarkable journey from engineering to aerospace. He discusses the challenges of pitching a rocket company in India and the storytelling techniques he learned in film school. Srinath highlights the critical trade-offs in rocket science, revealing the complexities behind design decisions. He also explores the future of space transportation, emphasizing the rise of small satellite launches and the industry's evolving dynamics. Expect insights into the less glamorous side of space ventures!