
The BarberShop with Shantanu
Hi, thanks for stopping by!
My name is Shantanu and I am the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae. My company has scaled to 1500+ Cr value (if this metric means anything haha), but more importantly, is a loved personal care brand which has scaled to 50L households and 1L stores in 5 years.
The BarberShop was started with a clear thesis - India needs to create approximately a million jobs a month, currently, we create almost two hundred thousand. Our ‘Funda’ is to simplify entrepreneurship and make it accessible to everyone in the country so we inculcate an enterprising habit in the 23-24 year old of today.
After the love received by S1, we have decided to go beyond conversations on our podcast to tangible help. With the help of our sponsors at BSC and Bombae we have put together a season which brings together a corpus of 50+ equity seekers looking to support 20+ start-ups in their growth and success.
Latest episodes

45 snips
Mar 15, 2024 • 2h 58min
Mamaearth Founders REVEAL How They Built Multiple Brands & A Personal Care Empire | TBWS
Founders of a personal care empire share insights on building a brand from scratch, financial success, and challenges faced amidst COVID-19. They discuss navigating the world of entrepreneurship, advocating for essential products, and adapting business strategies during challenging times. The conversation also delves into innovations in sustainability, transitioning to offline retail, and maintaining a positive entrepreneurial mindset.

23 snips
Mar 8, 2024 • 1h 13min
How Is This Business Challenging The BIG Players in India's Alcohol Market? | Raiser's Edge
Embark on a spirited and captivating journey with Shivam Ginglani, the visionary founder of Woodsmen, as we revisit the aftermath of his Raiser's Edge episode. In this exclusive follow-up, join Shantanu Deshpande and esteemed guests Pradeep 'Beer' Gidwani (Ex-MD, Fosters, Redbull Asia & Carlsberg India) and Suhasini Sampath (Co-founder, Yoga Bar) as they delve into the current landscape of Woodsmen. Explore the intriguing dynamics of the alcohol industry, gain valuable insights into the business's evolution since its last appearance, and witness a spirited conversation with seasoned experts. It's an episode filled with industry wisdom, entrepreneurial tales, and the unique charm of the Barbershop! 🥃🎙️✨

Mar 2, 2024 • 1h 48min
The Story of NOISE: From Selling Phone Covers to Competing with Apple, Samsung, Working with Bose
Dive into the dynamic world of NOISE with founders Gaurav and Amit Khatri as they unravel their journey, starting from selling phone covers to emerging as formidable competitors against tech giants like APPLE and Samsung. Discover the secrets behind their success and how strategic collaborations, including one with Bose, have propelled NOISE to the forefront of the wearable gadgets market. Shantanu explores the entrepreneurial saga that transformed NOISE into a leading player in the industry in this captivating episode.

90 snips
Feb 16, 2024 • 1h 49min
Shark Anupam Mittal REVEALS the Past, Present & Future of Investing in India
Join Anupam Mittal, the discerning judge on Shark Tank India, as he unveils the intriguing chapters of his life. From early milestones to investing in early-stage start-ups in India, Anupam shares profound perspectives on the dynamics of business and investing. Explore his childhood adventures, entrepreneurial beginnings, and the impact of packaging on consumer preferences. Delve into the future of entrepreneurship in India and the impact of social media addiction. This compelling episode is a treasure trove of insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone curious about the world of innovation.

Jan 19, 2024 • 1h 46min
Founder of SBNRI On Building Community-First Businesses, Gaining Consumer Trust & More|Raiser's Edge
In this enlightening episode of Raiser's Edge, join Shantanu as he sits down with the visionary entrepreneur Mudit Vijayvergiya, the brain behind the success stories of Curofy and SBNRI. A graduate from IIT Delhi's 2013 batch, Mudit shares the riveting tale of his entrepreneurial journey, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and victories that come with founding and selling a startup at the age of 28. As the conversation unfolds, delve into the intricate details of Mudit's innovative ideas that have powered his businesses, gaining invaluable insights into the strategies and philosophies that drive successful ventures. The discussion goes beyond the entrepreneurial realm, touching upon the significant role of NRIs in India and the unique solutions offered by SBNRI, catering to a myriad of needs, from banking and taxation to investment and real estate. This episode promises a captivating exploration of entrepreneurship, filled with anecdotes, lessons, and the vibrant spirit that fuels Mudit's ventures. Join us for an enriching dialogue that spans across industries, unveiling the fascinating stories behind the creation and growth of impactful startups.

Jan 16, 2024 • 58min
Sticking Out Early Stage Storms, Building from the Ground Up: Akhil Gupta, VP, Treebo | Uncut Gems
Welcome to The Barbershop's newest series, Uncut Gems! 🌟 In our premiere episode, we sit down with Akhil Gupta, VP at Treebo as well as Sidharth Gupta, CEO & Co-founder at Treebo to dive into the untold stories of startup heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Discover Akhil's incredible journey, his pivotal role in building Treebo from the ground up, and the lessons he has to impart about resilience and leadership during challenging times.

Dec 22, 2023 • 1h 32min
How Did this HOMEGROWN Brand Scale to 600 CR Annual Revenue? | Sunil Agarwal | JOY Personal Care
In this week’s episode of Barbershop, Sunil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of RSH Global, Parent Company of JOY Personal Care, shares his insights on the dynamic landscape of Indian Businesses!In this episode, we unravel the secrets of sustaining a legacy business in India, explore the evolving landscape of direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, and delve into why India stands at the brink of an innovation explosion.Sunil Agarwal shares insights on navigating the nuances of FMCG businesses, the challenges and opportunities presented by modern trade, and his perspectives on why the quick commerce trend might not be the golden ticket for everyone.From FMCG insights to the perils of quick commerce, this conversation is a deep dive into the future of the industry. Don't miss out on this enlightening dialogue!Coming Up! 0:00:00 - 0:01:23Introduction and Sunil’s First Business and Introducing Skin Care products 0:01:24 - 0:12:30Growing a Business in 80’s-90’s 0:12:31 - 0:15:35Sunil’s Learnings from Risks and Failures 0:15:36 - 0:18:43D2C revolutionising Skin Care products in Indian Market 0:18:44 - 0:23:15Distribution Difficulties and Retailer Economics 0:23:16 - 0:29:45JOY’s Growth 2004 onwards 0:29:46 - 0:32:57Identifying Categories and Bottom Boxing Technique 0:32:58 - 0:37:26Importance of Focus in Growing a Business 0:37:27 - 0:41:33Homegrown Professional Business and Working with family 0:41:34 - 0:43:57JOY’s Online Trade and Maximum Profit during Covid-19 0:43:58 - 0:51:09General Trade v/s Modern Trade v/s Online Trade 0:51:10 - 0:53:40Will Quick Commerce survive in India? 0:53:41 - 0:58:25Sunil’s Spirituality Journey and Vision for JOY 0:58:26 - 1:11:00Diversification of Assets 1:11:01 - 1:18:25What’s next for JOY? 1:18:26 - 1:24:10Sunil’s Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs 1:24:11 - 1:31:32

Dec 15, 2023 • 1h 25min
From Selling Momos to a Running a Startup with Over $50 Million Annual Revenue | Venky B, CEO Plivo
In today’s episode of Barbershop, we're excited to have a conversation with Venky Balasubramanian, Co-Founder and CEO at Plivo, who is a tech wizard and serial entrepreneur, who a remarkable individual with a journey that encompasses everything from coding as a teenager to entrepreneurship in various fields.He share his unique experiences of building and selling AMIBO robots, running a momo business, working in telecom businesses across the globe, and the challenges and triumphs of starting and turning their own SaaS company, Plivo, profitable with $50 Million+ annual revenue in under four years.Join us as we explore these diverse and inspiring stories, filled with personal anecdotes, professional insights, and plenty of laughter.Here's how the conversation unfolds :Coming Up!: 0:00:0 - 0:01:17Introduction and back to Venky’s teenage life: 0:01:18 - 0:06:04Venky’s first Start Up: 0:06:05 - 0:13:43Venky’s college life and founding “Robonence”: 0:13:44 - 0:17:52Venky’s introduction to Corporate life and Startup culture: 0:17:53 - 0:19:41Starting a Momo outlet and Clout Kitchen: 0:19:42 0:27:15Why did Venky quit his job?: 0:27:16 - 0:29:42Moving to “Huawei” and teachings from Chinese Corporate Culture: 0:29:43 - 0:39:14Freelancing, Consulting and meeting Michael(co-founder of Plivo): 0:39:15 - 0:51:16Plivo’s Business Story SIMPLIFIED!: 0:51:17 - 1:04:09The principle of Reticular Activation: 1:04:10 - 1:05:56Fund raising for Plivo: 1:05:57 - 1:15:21Building values and culture at Plivo: 1:15:22 - 1:20:16Venky’s vision for Plivo: 1:20:17 - 1:23:22Venky’s advice for budding Entrepreneurs: 1:23:23 - 1:25:35

Dec 15, 2023 • 1h 49min
Billions of Dollars in Valuation & Defining an ENTIRE Market: The OfBusiness Success Story
Dive into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship in this exclusive conversation at the Bombae Pad. Shantanu Deshpande engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Ruchi Kalra, co-founder of highly successful ventures OfBusiness & Oxyzo. Shantanu and Ruchi discuss working at McKinsey, Ruchi's journey into the startup world, running a business with a partner and many other things! There's a highly interesting audience QnA as well! Gain valuable insights into Ruchi's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges she navigated, and the strategies that propelled her businesses to success. This interview offers a glimpse into the real-world experiences of scaling and managing thriving enterprises. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the nuances of startup life. Here’s how the conversation unfolds : Coming Up!: 0:00:00 - 0:01:25Introduction: 0:01:26 - 0:03:20Ruchi Kalra's journey at Oxyzo: 0:03:21 - 0:05:34Building "Company first" value: 0:05:35 - 0:09:11Sharing success with Employees: 0:09:12 - 0:16:12The baggage of success and fear of failure: 0:16:13 - 0:21:14Ruchi's way of dealing with self-doubt: 0:21:15 - 0:25:00Ruchi's working dynamics with life partner: 0:25:01 - 0:31:00Most humbling moment for Ruchi Kalra at Oxyzo: 0:31:01 - 0:36:56Self-learning and finding mentors: 0:36:57 - 0:43:18Being vulnerable about problems and turning a hardship into a learning: 0:43:19 - 0:50:19Culture, communication and vision at Oxyzo: 0:50:20 - 0:55:09Building a business and achieving milestones: 0:55:10 - 1:00:35Ruchi Kalra's Words of Wisdom: 1:00:36 - 1:06:55How to shift from "Advisory" to "Execution"?: 1:06:56 - 1:11:54Advice for budding entrepreneurs: 1:11:55 - 1:16:50Difference between traditional business and startup: 1:16:51 - 1:21:27B2B v/s B2C: 1:21:28 - 1:23:43 Importance of Consultancy in businesses: 1:23:44 - 1:27:28Challenges faced by Ruchi Kalra: 1:27:29 - 1:30:44Technology integration in business: 1:30:45 - 1:36:39Prioritizing tasks on daily basis: 1:36:40 - 1:39:46Building brands without experience: 1:39:47 - 1:43:35Conflicts-Resolutions as Co-founders and Life Partners: 1:43:36 - 1:46:22Growing a Startup: 1:46:23 - 1:50:10

Dec 15, 2023 • 1h 36min
Shark REVEALS How Indians Are LOSING Their Money to Zomato, Swiggy | Radhika Gupta, CEO Edelweiss
Embark on an insightful journey with Shantanu and Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds! Leading a financial services giant with a staggering 1.2 Lakh Crore AUM, Radhika delves into the intricacies of managing public capital and reveals insights about how Indians spend their money. Her narrative unfolds with remarkable moments, from pioneering achievements like selling her first hedge fund at 24 to seamlessly balancing the demands of being CEO with the joys of motherhood. This episode is a panoramic view of Radhika's exceptional career, touching upon milestones, challenges, and the nuances of being a woman at the helm. Join us for a captivating conversation that captures the essence of leadership, resilience, and the unique journey of a trailblazing CEO.Here’s how the conversation unfolds: Introduction: 00:00 - 01:48 Radhika's favourite podcaster: 01:49 - 04:17 Two Indias: 04:18 - 11:07 Middle Class around the world: 11:08 - 13:01 The transition of India's economy: 13:01 - 19:01 How Indian youngsters are managing money and building brands: 19:02 - 41:23Radhika’s investment process: 41:24 - 56:30The importance of investment!: 56:31 - 1:01:57Radhika's journey as a mother and a CEO: 1:01:58 - 1:11:30Being a woman in the corporate world: 1:11:31 - 1:24:05The art of being a CEO: 1:24:06 - 1:33:10Radhika's advice for viewers: 1:33:11 - 1:35:32
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