ASYMMETRIC

Vinay Singh, a seasoned consumer investor and founding partner at Fireside Ventures, alongside Nandika Pradeep, director of strategy, explore the future of Indian consumers. They discuss the evolving consumer landscape leading up to 2030, emphasizing the importance of sharp consumer segmentation and channel strategy. The duo highlights the shift towards entrepreneurship, the rising power of Gen Z across different regions, and how brands can thrive by focusing on depth over breadth. They also analyze the potential for significant market growth in India, likening it to China's trajectory.

Dive into the captivating journey of Physics Wallah, from YouTube sensation to IPO success. Explore the power of superstar teachers in shaping education and the revolutionary Bharat-first pricing strategy. The discussion highlights the potential of AI tutors and the dynamic transition from free content to paid subscriptions. Delve into the economics of online education and the challenges of offline expansion. Discover how strong branding and a focus on customer satisfaction drive success in this competitive landscape.

The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant Bhate: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu Deshpande: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag Taneja: Founder, GoKwikAnand Lunia: Founding Partner, IndiaQuotientChapters0:00 Trailer1:07 Intro & welcome, Anand!1:56 Congratulations to Shantanu on the fundraise!2:40 Kuku FM's 1 Cr paying users4:14 Bharat UX reality & the role of AI9:44 When founders age out of their own users13:37 India is becoming homogeneous16:58 Understanding Gen Z & Gen Alpha21:15 Senior-living gated communities24:03 70% of millennials say they are pro-socialist29:18 Can Bharat subscriptions be cheaper?35:49 AI adoption for Bharat40:00 New-age IPOs, Lenskart & legacy media43:50 Founders should control the narrative before the IPO48:40 The status game54:57 Founders' 2-hour wealth management taxFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/

The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwikKuldeep: Co-Founder, @Last9 Chapters00:00 Trailer01:04 Intro & welcome, Kuldeep Dhankar!03:58 Early CleverTap: painful demos, priceless feedback04:20 Customer Success ≠ Sales09:38 Shantanu’s new board-meeting framework13:33 India’s consumption story is finally evolving21:03 Can you build a $150M SaaS business selling in India?30:12 India ACVs are rising: Swiggy, Zepto, Eternal30:55 Where did the SaaS startups go?35:12 Why aren’t VCs investing in SaaS?37:32 Freshworks’ CAC payback & key lessons45:18 Do VCs want SaaS companies to sell in the US?48:26 The 99.5% reliability opportunity49:50 Software: buy vs. build?1:02:52 The rise of forward-deployed engineers1:12:59 Airports, infra, and India’s compounding optimismFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/

Explore the unique four-sided marketplace model of Meesho, where consumers, sellers, logistics partners, and creators all play a crucial role. Learn why targeting low average order value is a strategy for growth in Bharat. Discover how creators enhance engagement and drive sales, and the importance of innovation in logistics to reduce costs. The discussion also dives into Meesho’s plans for the IPO, potential for branded commerce, and the implications for investors. Finally, insights on the marketplace's cultural moat and future opportunities are unveiled.

The hosts celebrate the podcast's birthday while diving into India's upcoming IPO wave, suggesting that 2025 could mirror the impressive activity of 2021. They discuss the challenges facing Series C funding and how domestic capital may fill gaps for late-stage investments. As secondary funds rise due to IPO certainty, they analyze the dynamics of late-stage investing and the impact of liquidity on venture returns. The conversation also touches on the interplay between emerging AI infrastructure and global capital allocations.

The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik00:00 Trailer01:04 Introduction02:02 A Mercedes every 6 minutes?02:22 Where’s the slowdown under the hood consumption03:47 Long tail D2C compounding faster than FMCG incumbents10:19 Bumper festive signals categories driving growth12:08 Navratri automobile surge 34% YoY growth14:56 Category wise growth numbers17:11 Credit led consumption on the rise20:38 Why brand dot com works in the US not China or SEA26:04 Hiring reality why 15 year veterans struggle unlearning32:06 Entrepreneurship needs a beginner’s mindset37:19 Build institutions bottom up train for culture40:48 SD’s brand archetype42:08 Gen Z’s edge in critical brand thinking52:47 GPT’s engagement KPIs54:15 Bitcoin crashCharts referred to in the episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SA2UAE4yfPK-ABQTYeq4DGguPKtLXj0b/view?usp=drive_linkFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/

The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik0:00 Coming up0:47 Intro2:31 10th foundation day is rare for a startup8:48 Shantanu’s takeaways from a 10-year journey14:07 Founder resilience17:01 Near-death moments in a startup22:45 Story follows data27:03 Creator trust vs. ads28:06 No more ads: what it means for brands?37:47 Will branding metrics change?45:05 True love for creators doesn’t exist47:40 The rise of house of brands52:00 New YouTube Premium prices in IndiaFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/

Utsav Somani, a prominent angel investor and former head of AngelList India, shares insights on the evolving landscape of angel investing. He discusses the shift from hands-on approaches to transactional investing post-COVID and the need for deeper engagement among angels. Utsav explains the significance of IRRs in portfolio success, highlighting how a few standout investments can drive overall returns. He also classifies types of angel investors and warns about the pitfalls of media hype, emphasizing the importance of transparency in founder-investor relationships.

The ASYMMETRIC Crew today:Revant: CEO, Mosaic WellnessShantanu: Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company Chirag: Founder, GoKwik02:18 H-1B Landscape02:39 Consumer Behavior and E-Commerce Trends06:03 Impact of H-1B Changes on the Indian IT Industry10:35 Impact on the U.S.11:45 Lessons from China12:34 Education Loan Concentration and NPA Risk26:55 The Mathematics of Remittances33:36 Chaos Around GST36:08 GST’s Impact on Consumption41:46 How India’s D2C Sector Responded to GST Cuts45:30 Quick Commerce Thesis: Amazon/Flipkart56:57 Interesting!1:01:44 Sovereign Funds on the Cap Table1:06:03 Compounding Machines: VC Time HorizonsCharts referred to in the episode:https://gamma.app/docs/H-1B-Landscape-xm3m7j45c9nlc0v?mode=docFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasymmetriccrew/X: https://x.com/ASYMMETRICCREWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theasymmetriccrew/