Zero to Infinity

How should founders think about using offline channels for growth? Is phygital a real option or just a mirage? Rajinder Balaraman and Vikram Vaidyanathan double-click on the myths around phygital, bust them and share learnings for founders thinking of going phygital.  👉MYTH #1 Phygital has a higher CAC - It depends basis category, users and ticket size - Dezerv who employs a phygital model has a lower CAC than its competitors, whereas OneCard, operating purely online has a CAC that is 4-5x lower than SBI cards.  👉MYTH #2 Going offline slows you and makes it harder to scale - When you employ the right tech, scalability at speed becomes possible. Mamaearth’s online presence has spiked from 15% to at least 50% in 3 years. 👉MYTH #3 Customer experience journey is too complex in phygital - The journey is actually complex, but is an opportunity for founders to create an edge, and potentially a long-term moat.  👉 MYTH #4 Phygital is not relevant for all sectors - While there are sectors in the extreme who don’t need a phygital model, a significantly larger number benefit from creating a phygital experience. SaaS is an excellent example, where prima facie it looks like a purely digital model, but the sector spends much more on offline branding and events.  If you are a founder who is evaluating going phygital, this episode of Matrix Moments would help you make an informed choice.

PICKING THE PERFECT SaaS LAUNCHPAD - US or INDIA? For SaaS founders, the incorporation decision hinges on factors like business outlook, end goals, and access to capital markets. The US has often been the default choice for incorporation, but this is changing in recent years - India is increasingly considered a viable choice to start a SaaS company.  So what should founders do? Watch this episode of Matrix Moments. Dig deep into the incorporation dilemma - Harish Sekar, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, talks to Pranay Desai and Ashwin Pandian and they've got tips on:  1. Shattering Location Myths: India's burgeoning startup ecosystem is challenging US dominance with lower costs, faster setup, and abundant domestic capital. 2. Choosing Your Target Market: The optimal incorporation location depends on the target market, IPO aspirations, and founder location. 3. IPO vs. Acquisition: Strategise for both scenarios, including the United States' stringent IPO standards and India's more accessible path to local listings. 4. Transitioning from the US to India: Navigating the complexities of restructuring and the potential opportunities in Indian capital markets.

THE FOUNDER’S PLAYBOOK: INTERNAL FUNDING ROUNDS Internal or pre-emptive funding rounds are a major topic on founders' minds. Internal rounds refer to financing events where a company's existing investors, rather than external new investors, provide additional capital. They can signify confidence from current investors in the company's potential and can help maintain momentum without the complexities of bringing in new stakeholders.  If you’re a founder, Internal rounds can be a complex decision to make with several variables to consider. To help, Vikram Vaidyanathan & Rajinder Balaraman weigh up the pros & cons of internal or pre-emptive funding rounds on Matrix Moments.  👉Valuation-Dilution trade-offs are inevitable - Both the founders and investors make trade-offs during pre-emptive rounds, requiring nuanced decision making.  👉The stability of internal interest - An existing investor is likely to have the highest intent in terms of new investment commitment.  👉Efficiency of internal funding - It is the fastest process with the least capital dilution. 👉Price advantage of external funding - The wider discovery process can lead to higher price if there’s very high interest in the market. 👉Criticality of external validation - An external round is a crucial as a validation of TAM, quality of the team and the business model.  If you are a founder thinking through fund-raising choices, this episode of Matrix Moments is for you. 

Domain Alphas are founders whose edge lies in their domain knowledge, and their market-tested experience of solving problems for customers. Watch Rajinder Balaram & Vikram Vaidyanathan share their views on Domain Alpha founders, and trade great examples of how Domain Alpha founders build great businesses.  1. Getting to PMF Faster: How the experience of building the ICICI cards business helped the founders of OneCard launch slow, but get it right faster 2. Choose the Right Problems: How the founders of Country Delight didn’t rush, and spent a significant amount of time understanding the market problems before scaling  3. Know the Consumer Deeply: Why Ola Electric chose to build in two-wheeler EVs when everyone was betting on cars  Domain Alphas are able to turn their unfair advantage into real success. As a founder, you have it, or you have to acquire it. What do you do if you don’t have domain expertise?

Sumit Chhazed is a serial entrepreneur, who figured out his first startup as soon as he graduated from IIT Bombay. OTO is the fourth company that he has founded, employing a business model that combined commerce and finance to disrupt the two-wheeler purchase landscape in India. OTO has already sold over 1lakh two-wheelers through their online marketplace and apps.  On this episode of Matrix Moments, Sumit delves into the levers behind the success of OTO, sharing his approach with Rajinder Balaraman and Anish Patil. Here are the key takeaways about building a disruptive business model:  1.⁠ ⁠OTO is betting big on India’s 2-wheelers: with over 60% of new purchases coming from 18-25 year olds, living outside the metros.  2.⁠ ⁠Two-wheeler financing is a big opportunity: OTO has built a full-stack financing business that allows consumers to lower their 2-wheeler loan EMIs by 30%.  3.⁠ ⁠A phygital experience brings the buyers to the yard: This space is ripe for disruption as new-age audiences are not keen on going to multiple dealerships and scouring the market for financing. OTO’s partnerships with payment apps and OEM partners is driving their reach with young consumers. 4.⁠ ⁠EVs are the future of 2-wheelers: the younger buyer is more keen on EV 2-wheelers than 4-wheelers. OTO is helping brands like Ola Electric penetrate deeper into India.  If you’re a founder who is seeking to build a disruptive strategy and business model, watch the episode and gain insights into how OTO charted their road to 100000+ 2-wheelers sold, while changing the two-wheeler play in India.

The Whole Truth Foods founder Shashank Mehta is a rare breed of a CEO who is also a creator. 🌟 A lifelong student of the content & community game, Shashank’s content journey started as a stand-up coming on YouTube, long before he became the face of The Whole Truth.  On this episode of Matrix Moments, Shashank goes deep on content & community, sharing with candour in a deep chat with Vikram Vaidyanathan. Here are 4 big takeaways around building brands through content & community for founders: 1.⁠ ⁠Founders must be clear on the WHAT of their content marketing, the HOW is easier with modern tools & AI. 💡 2.⁠ ⁠Transparency is the biggest tool in the content marketer’s arsenal. Consumers are the best bullshit detectors in today’s hyper-connected world. 👀 3.⁠ ⁠Brand communities are more about GIVING than TAKING. 🤝 4.⁠ ⁠ROI from Content Marketing shouldn’t have a hard linkage to Sales: Founders must leverage content as an editorial lever, and not tactically link it to sales. 💼 If you’re a founder who wants to level up your brand’s content & community marketing game, watch this episode as Shashank & Vikram’s easy camaraderie uncovers the Whole Truth. 

If you're a founder seeking advice on how to build great teams, this episode of Matrix Moments is for you. Vikram Vaidyanathan hosts The Whole Truth Foods Founder & CEO, Shashank Mehta and they share their wisdom around building great company cultures.  🌟  Shashank sent The Whole Truth Foods' culture document, titled Why We Exist, before he met Vikram Vaidyanathan for the first time. The document outlines the company's mission about the Whole Truth.  💼💡Shashank's conviction in his company’s mission is unparalleled, with a clear vision of positive societal impact and the ability to inspire others to make it a reality, so much so that the team at The Whole Truth Foods has imbibed the founder's mission, made it their own, and keep him accountable. 👷‍♀️ The Whole Truth's manufacturing is run by women - Shashank shares the challenges they faced in doing this, and shares a story about how the company's culture & mission have been received on the factory floors. 

Ashish Kashyap needs no introduction. The first country head for Google in India, before he turned entrepreneur, Ashish is a serial founder. He's founded and scaled marquee Indian internet startups RedBus, PayU, GoIbibo, before starting his most recent FinTech venture, the super app, INDMoney.     Ashish was a guest on Matrix Moments People First with Rupali, where shared startup and team-building learnings from his journey across the companies he's built.

Revant Bhate on #PeopleFirst by Matrix Moments! Passionate about building a people-centric culture, Revant takes on dual roles at Mosaic Wellness as both CEO and CHRO. In a conversation with Rupali Sharma on our latest episode, Revant delves into the intricacies of building his startup from scratch, emphasising the pivotal role of human capital. Key takeaways from the episode: 1️⃣ Fundamental Team Building Principles: Revant shares insights on leveraging his network of seasoned operators who trust his vision, a crucial asset in the volatile startup landscape. His core team comprises individuals who have previously collaborated with him, highlighting the importance of building trust from the onset. 🔎 Strategic Recruiting: Transparent communication about challenges and expectations is paramount during the hiring process. Revant's clarity from day one ensured that team members joined with the right mindset and expectations. 🧲 Aligning Incentives: Revant stresses the significance of employees understanding the startup's growth trajec

The podcast discusses India's growth trajectory towards becoming a $10 trillion economy by 2035, and the sectors expected to drive long-term growth. It also explores market dynamics, investment strategies, and predicts the rise of experienced founders and digital industrialists. Additionally, the podcast examines the positive outlook for India's public markets, the mismatch in the venture market, and investment opportunities in emerging sub-sectors such as gaming and EV supply chains.