Indian Silicon Valley with Jivraj Singh Sachar

In this milestone episode, we sit down with Nithin Kamath, the founder and CEO of Zerodha, to uncover the untold secrets behind building India’s largest broking platform. Nithin shares his incredible journey of scaling Zerodha into a billion-dollar empire while remaining bootstrapped, customer-first, and uncompromising on values. From navigating personal challenges like a health scare earlier this year to reflecting on wealth, freedom, and long-term thinking, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of India’s most visionary entrepreneurs. Nithin opens up about his philosophy of "growth at what cost?", the role of luck in success, and how Zerodha disrupted the financial services industry with transparency and simplicity. We delve deep into how Nithin approaches: - Building a resilient team and culture without hiring from competitors. - Aligning incentives between customers and stakeholders. - Marketing through authenticity instead of flashy ads. - Betting on future trends, like climate change and health tech, through his Rainmatter fund. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor, or someone passionate about personal and professional growth, this episode is packed with timeless lessons and actionable insights that will leave you inspired and reflective. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:40 - Personal challenges Nithin Kamath faced this year 6:16 - Advice to his younger self 8:12 - Thoughts on the role of luck 12:35 - How to think long-term effectively 17:25 - Nithin’s key mental models 21:00 - Shifts in investing behavior 26:55 - Zerodha’s approach to understanding customers 31:30 - Aligning investor and customer incentives 41:15 - Insights on hiring and building a strong team 44:30 - Lessons learned from hiring experiences 47:00 - Thoughts on marketing and brand building 52:12 - Breaking down customer personas 55:45 - How he approaches social media 58:25 - What freedom means to him 1:02:35 - Wealth distribution in India and its impact 1:07:35 - Advice for those working on self-improvement 1:11:12 - Reflection, mental models, and decision-making 1:20:35 - Balancing ambition and personal freedom 1:23:55 - Predictions for climate-focused businesses in five years 1:26:15 - Companies that inspire Nithin Kamath 1:32:41 - Outro Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment. Your support helps us bring more inspiring stories to light. Follow JIvraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar #IndianSiliconValley #Zerodha #NithinKamath #Bootstrapped #Entrepreneurship #Startups #FinancialFreedom #Rainmatter #Leadership #LongTermThinking #InvestingInIndia

In this episode, we sit down with Sumit Joria, the co-founder and CEO of NewMe, one of India's fastest-growing fashion brands redefining how young Indian women shop. Sumit shares the untold story behind NewMe's success, revealing the bold decisions, innovative strategies, and consumer-first philosophy that have made the brand a household name among Gen Z shoppers. From humble beginnings to launching nine stores across seven cities, this conversation is a deep dive into what it takes to build a globally aspirational fashion brand out of India. We explore how NewMe disrupted the cluttered fashion market by prioritizing freshness, data-driven design, and an inventory-light supply chain. Sumit reflects on NewMe's foundational values, including the brand's unique approach to retail expansion, creating Instagram-worthy in-store experiences, and ensuring its DNA resonates with every customer interaction. He also sheds light on navigating funding challenges, building a resilient team, and the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. This episode is packed with practical insights and authentic reflections for anyone interested in fashion, entrepreneurship, or consumer brands. Whether you're a budding founder, a business leader, or a fashion enthusiast, you'll find immense value in Sumit's transparent storytelling. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:20 - How did they build NewMe? 4:12 - What observations did they make while building NewMe? 8:00 - What is the branding and marketing strategy of NewMe? 12:50 - What foundational aspects were they clear about? 17:10 - What should you know about the supply chain in the fashion industry? 22:58 - How does NewMe approach design? 28:35 - Key learnings from the pop-up in Guwahati 33:45 - What did NewMe founders observe in pop-ups? 39:55 - How do they view retail expansion? 47:10 - What is the customer experience like within the store? 52:00 - Where is consumption happening in India? 1:09:00 - How do they build confidence with investors? 1:16:50 - When things weren’t working out for NewMe 1:26:20 - Sumit’s life beyond NewMe 1:36:10 - How do Sumit’s friends describe him? 1:38:40 - How does Sumit view life? 1:48:56 - Outro Follow JIvraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with friends, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment. Your support helps us bring more such incredible stories to light. #IndianSiliconValley #NewMe #FashionEntrepreneurship #SumitJoria #GenZFashion #Startups #RetailExpansion #IndiaFashion #ConsumerBrands #Leadership

In this episode, we sit down with Prashant Desai, a seasoned business leader, investor, and health influencer, to uncover why Indians are sicker than ever before and how to fix it. With over three decades of experience in business and investing—including his role as Managing Director at Everstone—Prashant brings a unique perspective to the health challenges facing India today. Beyond his corporate journey, he has become a prominent voice in health and wellness, creating content that educates millions on fitness, sleep, and lifestyle changes. We delve deep into the systemic issues plaguing India's healthcare system, including the alarming rise in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Prashant shares his personal motivation behind his mission to make India healthier, reflecting on his own family's experiences with health challenges. He debunks common health misconceptions, discusses the impact of quick commerce on eating habits, and offers practical solutions for individuals to take control of their health. Additionally, Prashant combines his business acumen with his passion for wellness to explore opportunities within India's health and fitness market. He provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs on building trust, scaling, and distribution in their brands, and shares his views on the future of organic and health-focused products in India. This episode is packed with actionable advice and profound reflections, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in health, entrepreneurship, and the socio-economic factors affecting well-being in India. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:31 - What matters most to Prashant Desai? 5:59 - What’s wrong with India’s healthcare system? 19:59 - How can we prevent diabetes, obesity, and being overweight? 26:55 - What are some common health misconceptions? 47:29 - Opportunities in India’s health and fitness market 54:49 - What have nutrition companies achieved in India? 1:02:17 - How is India’s protein market evolving? 1:07:39 - What should you check when buying groceries? 1:11:59 - If Prashant built a health company, what would it look like? 1:15:19 - What’s Prashant’s view on organic brands? 1:18:23 - Tips for building trust, scaling, and distribution in a brand 1:20:49 - How does quick commerce affect eating habits? 1:25:18 - Is longevity only for the privileged? 1:31:09 - What does Prashant think about Kolkata? 1:46:41 - How does Prashant excel in everything he does? 1:49:32 - Outro Instagram of Jivraj: instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar #indiansiliconvalley #ISV #PrashantDesai #HealthInIndia #Wellness #Entrepreneurship #Startups #HealthTech #Fitness #Longevity

In this monumental 100K episode of the Indian Silicon Valley podcast, we welcome back Pratham Mittal, Co-founder of Masters’ Union and TETR, to explore his vision for the future of education. Pratham shares the incredible journey of launching TETR, a groundbreaking undergraduate program that blends global travel with experiential learning. (Watch here: YouTube Link) We dive into how Pratham is rethinking education with a focus on real-world problem-solving, interdisciplinary, and the transformative power of AI in the classroom. The conversation explores his unique approach to scaling institutions without sacrificing quality, building a global-first mindset from India, and his bold ambition to challenge the world’s top universities. Pratham also discusses the practical challenges of education in India, such as the mismatch between job creation and college graduates, and how MSMEs, not startups, hold the key to bridging this gap. From hiring strategies to insights on process-building and work-life balance, Pratham offers candid reflections on what it takes to build world-class institutions in a rapidly evolving landscape. This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and technology—and how India is poised to lead the way. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:10 - What is TETR? 6:38 - What did Pratham get right the first time? 16:18 - How is ambition scaling for Pratham? 19:19 - How is Pratham expanding? 22:58 - Pratham's 5-10 year plan 26:18 - What’s missing in education? 38:08 - How does Pratham bridge education access? 45:08 - How does Pratham hire? 50:48 - How does Pratham manage his days? 53:19 - How far ahead is India? 59:33 - What is Pratham predicting for the future? 1:01:33 - Outro Follow us for updates: Instagram: www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar #IndianSiliconValley #ISV #PrathamMittal #MastersUnion #TETR #EducationInnovation #EdTech #Entrepreneurship #India

In this episode, we sit down with Rohit Gupta, Co-founder and COO of College Vidya, to discuss how he is tackling India’s broken education market. Rohit shares the journey of building College Vidya, an ed-tech platform that simplifies and democratizes access to online education, catering to millions of students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. (College Vidya Website link - https://cvadm.com/HaXvQo) We dive deep into the foundational phase of College Vidya, exploring how they built trust in a market filled with skepticism, the role of data-driven consumer patterns, and how they are utilising AI to scale. Rohit discusses the challenges of marketing in the education sector, his vision for the future of College Vidya, and the importance of being adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape. Rohit also reflects on the personal side of his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the toughest moments of building the company and the lessons he would impart to his younger self. This episode is packed with insights for aspiring founders, educators, and anyone interested in the future of education in India. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:27 - Problem of education and access 6:57 - What was the 0-1 phase of College Vidya 10:57 - How much usage is driven by consumer patterns 13:52 - How Rohit plans to build additional features 16:42 - How College Vidya built trust 18:17 - Education marketing/brand building 22:22 - How to move from B to C to D 24:26 - Usage data split in education 29:52 - Positive aspects in education 34:27 - How College Vidya used AI 37:32 - Daily priorities for College Vidya 41:07 - College Vidya's goal setting 43:07 - How Rohit’s friends would describe him 43:57 - Challenges in building College Vidya 46:47 - What Rohit would tell his younger self 48:53 - Outro Instagram of Jivraj: www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar #indiansiliconvalley #ISV #RohitGupta #CollegeVidya #EducationReform #EdTech #Startups #Entrepreneurship