The BarberShop with Shantanu

What if playing it safe is the real courage in entrepreneurship? In Barbershop’s latest episode, Shantanu sits down with Alok Sama (Writer & Investor) to explore what truly makes a CEO great. It’s not just about flashy risks, but staying humble and adapting as things change.How Alok brought his first book ‘The Money Trap’ to life, and how getting a degree in Master of Fine Arts, from NYU at 58 proves that growth has no age. Key Takeaways:- Leadership is as much about humility and adaptability as bold risks.- AI and disruptive tech are shaking things up, but also raise questions on creativity and originality.- India’s startup scene faces unique socio-economic challenges alongside fresh growth chances.- How and why to go back to school if you feel a passion strongly. So, Alok’s story exhibits that sometimes fortune favours the unexpected. Join us, and maybe you will see your professional path a little more differently in the aftermath. Also, if you’d like to join our next conversation as live audience, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode 00:00 Coming Up01: 17 Introduction2:30 Top CEOs in Alok’s views7:44 Comparing CEOs' operating styles: global vs Indian leaders11:14 Billionaire behaviour: insecurity or personal quirk?14:40 How do visionary CEOs adapt and grow?17:30 From Instagram to ChatGPT: Alok on AI24:44 Top CEO behaviours: founder vs manager?31:11 Alok on Indian founders and tech evolution42:53 Alok’s take on the tariff situation44:00 Indian conglomerates in US: capital drives disruption?49:31 India’s middle class: unemployment and consumption issues53:35 Risk-taking: entrepreneur or investor, Alok?58:27 Alok on MFA, writing, and nonfiction passion1:03:06 Money Trap duration and AI’s originality threat/His Book journey length and AI vs originality1:07:48 Living and investing: Alok’s India perspective1:18:14 Closing Thoughts

What if you could build your epic career without the fear of failing?In a world chasing speed, Warikoo advises people to try everything, experience it all, until the path becomes clear.In Barbershop’s latest episode, Shantanu chats with Ankur Warikoo (Entrepreneur and Bestselling Author), who deeply talks about personal growth and mindset shifts on career development.He shares his journey about scaling a 70 Cr education empire, ‘WebVeda’, with 100% refundable courses, and yet, it’s thriving effortlessly. In this episode, Warikoo explains that content isn’t just about reach, it’s about the trust you build over time. So, if he, being a well-known social media personality, gives content half a day a week and crushes it, why can’t you find your survival options? There’s no fluff at all in this conversation, just very actionable steps and real talk about life, purpose and bootstrapping your dreams. Key Takeaways:- What resilience and long-term thinking look like in business.- How AI is quietly transforming course dubbing and content clean-up.- What fuels his three income engines: content, community, and investing- What if playing it smart could also be playing it bold? Tune in, and maybe you will see your path a little differently.Hope this episode inspires you to go “all in” with your idea! And if you’d like to join our next conversation live, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode 00:00 Coming Up1:07 Introduction2:03 The source of inspiration behind Ankur Warikoo’s content4:51 Using knowledge and optionality to assess risk in career decisions08:57 The power of consistent content and its role in trust-distributed perspectives.16:01 How evolving content helps trust to shape consumer behaviour in low-trust societies21:09 Understanding market dynamics and changing views on careers, income, and investments.32:21 Easy loans, less accountability, AI cutting productivity and rising consumption across all layers.41:00 Older Folks on money stress and Impact of AI on knowledge workers47:50 Quick commerce vs. Offline profit: Ideal time strategic sales choices57:27 Warikoo's views on commercial real estate in prime areas surged59:16 Exploring Warikoo’s authorship path and the growth of his Ed-tech initiative1:08:38 The role of AI in content creation and WebVeda’s setup1:13:44 Warikoo's investment propaganda and vision1:15:21 Role of Warikoo Crew and Warikoo Partner in zero-tech project management1:21:19 Warikoo’s solo entrepreneurial story and strategic investment tips1:29:27 A chat on books Shantanu and Ankur have read and key takeaways from Ankur’s 4th book.1:42:08 Closing Thoughts

In this engaging discussion, Manish Taneja, CEO and MD of Purplle.com, shares his journey from humble beginnings in Faridabad to leading a ₹10,000 Cr beauty empire. He emphasizes the importance of building with purpose rather than chasing trends and reveals common pitfalls for founders in the beauty space. Taneja highlights how AI is reshaping brand building and the significance of long-term strategies over quick wins. His insights on strategic acquisitions and market adaptation underline his commitment to redefining beauty in India.

If there’s no existential doubt, it’s not an early-stage business.Because you're just figuring it out, one bold risk at a time.In this episode Shantanu is joined by Vedang Patel (Co-Founder of The Souled Store) and Yogesh Kabra, (Founder of XYXX Apparels) for a raw and honest conversation on what it really takes to start up.As a bootstrapped company, Vedang started with just ₹5 lakhs and a big dream. On the other hand, Yogesh started up in a 250 sq. ft. room in Surat. But Now? These founders have built a 1000Cr empire. Key Takeaways from the episode: •⁠ ⁠How a customer-first mindset shapes everything, from product to brand.•⁠ ⁠What should you know before building a clothing brand for women?•⁠ ⁠Why “mental freedom” from your investor can often be more powerful than just financial backing.This is a story of building something of your own with the right people by your side.Tell us in the comments: What’s the wildest risk you’ve taken to build your dream? And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode00:00 – Coming Up01:10 – What Are Business Models and Market Trends?04:13 – Why Being Honest About Business Numbers is Important07:01 – Problems in the Clothing Industry09:59 – How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market13:08 – What Customer Retention and Acquisition Costs Really Mean16:02 – How Good Products Keep Customers Coming Back19:08 – How Fashion Trends Change and How to Keep Up22:16 – A New Look at the Underwear Market25:16 – Wrapping Things Up and Looking Ahead26:49 – Why Average Order Value (AOV) is Important for Sales29:20 – How to Market Your Brand and Keep People Interested32:09 – The Problems with Quick Commerce in Clothing industry35:14 – Why Consumers Return Stuff in Online Shopping38:18 – How to Build and Market Your Brand Creatively41:55 – Is Business Success About Luck or Strategy?49:22 – Moving Your Business from Offline to Online52:17 – How Luck and Your Attitude Impact Success54:00 – Finding the Right Investors and Why They Matter59:22 – How We Think About Money01:03:03 – The Mindset of Thriving vs. Just Getting By01:07:16 – The Excitement of Growing Your Business01:14:01 – Closing thoughts

Join Deep Kalra, the visionary Founder of MakeMyTrip, and Sanjeev Aggarwal, an early backer with deep insights into the startup scene. They reveal the rollercoaster story of building a ₹10,000 Cr travel empire, discussing the tough times before 2005 and the bond between founders and investors. Discover how strategic board dynamics shape IPO strategies and the importance of quality governance. Kalra shares valuable lessons on resilience in entrepreneurship and the significance of product thinking—and even touches on personal grooming's unexpected role in confidence.

Some companies almost don’t make it, until they do.MakeMyTrip could’ve been one of them.In this episode, Shantanu Deshpande is joined by Deep Kalra (Founder and Chairman of MakeMyTrip Limited) and Sanjeev Aggarwal (Co-Founder, Fundamentum, Helion and Daksh), one of MMT’s early investors. Kalra and Aggarwal uncover the real behind-the-scenes of building one of India’s most iconic travel companies.This Investor-Founder bond isn’t just about travel. It’s about the courage to stick around when the road gets rough.Let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest phase your startup has survived and how? And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98

Saurabh Pandey, Founder and CEO of Eloelo, shares his inspiring journey from Flipkart to launching India's largest Live Social Entertainment App. He discusses how Eloelo grew rapidly during the pandemic, tackling loneliness and fostering community through interactive features. Saurabh explains the unique monetization strategies that empower creators and reveals the importance of transparency in the startup world. He also reflects on navigating the challenges of securing funding and building a business during uncertain times.

In this engaging conversation, Kapil Chopra, founder of EazyDiner and The Postcard Hotel, teams up with his longtime friend and investor, Deepak Shahdadpuri of DSG Consumer Partners. They share their unique journey of turning a friendship into a successful business partnership. The duo discusses the qualities that make a strong founder-investor dynamic, market identification tactics, and the evolution of consumer brands in India. Their stories encapsulate the mentorship and cultural alignment vital for entrepreneurial success.

Not every founder finds the right investor. Not every investor bets on the right founder. In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome a BarberShop veteran, Kapil Chopra (Founder - EazyDiner and The Postcard Hotel). But this time, he is not alone. Joining him is his first ever investor and his very good friend, Deepak Shahdadpuri (Managing Director, DSG Consumer Partners). Why did Kapil and Deepak take 8 years to finally start a business together? Find out in this episode. This isn’t just an entrepreneurial conversation. It’s about trust, conviction, and the kind of friendship that every investor-founder must share, for businesses to thrive even when the going gets tough. Takeaways from this episode:- What do investors look for in a founder during a pitch?- Why did Deepak NOT invest in Bombay Shaving Company?- How to identify your Product Market fit in a crowed market.Kapil and Deepak’s story is a great reminder of why it matters who you surround yourself with. Who is that friend in your life you’d love to build a business with? Drop your thoughts in the comments! And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here :- https://forms.gle/5rVezQtDnYm1rqZJANavigate the episode 00:00 Coming up01:00 Introduction06:37 Founder-Investor Friendship11:53 How did Kapil Identify Market Opportunities14:46 The Evolution of Consumer Brands in India17:21 Founding story of Sula23:13 The Future of Consumer Brands in India27:37 Veeba Funding Story29:55 Why did Deepak Invest in EazyDiner33:00 Finding the Right Investor-Founder Dynamics38:00 How to Navigate Challenges53:53 Evolution of Investment in India01:05:41 Maturity of Family Offices in India01:17:28 The Art and Commerce of Consumer Brands01:41:40 Importance of Aligning Incentives for Long-Term Success02:01:33 Challenges in the Startup Ecosystem and Corporate Governance02:05:46 How to Find the Right Fit in Teams02:06:17 The Importance of Cultural Fit02:10:15 Opportunities in Travel and Hospitality02:17:09 Culinary Diversity and Innovation in India02:21:16 Closing Thoughts

Sangeet Agrawal, founder of Mokobara, and Navin Parwal, co-founder and CMO, share their inspiring journey of overcoming 33 rejections to build a thriving luggage brand. They discuss facing scrutiny for premium pricing and their bold marketing comeback with a special discount code. Joined by investor Manu Chandra, they explore the challenges of brand building in India, emphasize the importance of creating high-quality products, and reveal an exciting upcoming collaboration. Their story highlights resilience, innovation, and the drive to redefine travel for India.