Escuchar #DamaniTalks

What happens when your startup loses 97% of its revenue overnight—and you still don’t shut down? Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO of LendenClub, returns to #DamaniTalks. But this time, it's not a victory lap. It’s a story of near-collapse and the bold reinvention that followed. After scaling to ₹1,000+ Cr in monthly disbursements, LendenClub ran headfirst into regulatory reforms that wiped out most of its business. What followed? A ₹16 Cr quarterly loss, a brutal product reset, and a team that refused to give up. Bhavin breaks down how they: 1. Navigated RBI’s toughest lending reforms 2. Rebuilt a high-trust, tech-first lending engine 3. Managed team morale in the middle of crisis 4. Turned every new product line into a breakeven playbook 5. Built one of India’s most disciplined fintech machines This is the story of staying in the game without shortcuts, vanity metrics, or VC crutches. It’s about building real value when the world isn’t watching. If you’re a fintech founder, investor, or someone riding the cycles of startup highs and lows; this episode is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction   03:21 - Growing up, sports, and early influences    05:16 – First venture in lending business    09:09 - Starting LenDenClub: The origin story    11:00 - Challenges in early fintech days    15:11- Regulations impact on P2P business  18:35 - Breaking through: profitability & scale    25:17 - Building a strong team & shared vision    28:01 - Shutting down the partnership model   32:54- Break-even & crisis mangement 101   35:07- Dancing your way to work- LenDen Club’s culture  38:06 - The ₹16 Crore loss & recovery strategy     47:02- How LenDen Club stayed ahead of it’s game  52:59- Hardik Pandya as brand ambassador  55:11 - Using AI to revolutionize lending    01:01:06- Bhavin's request to RBI  01:06:25 - Rapid fire   01:13:48 - Final reflections & vision for 2030      About Our Guest: Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO – LendenClub [https://www.lendenclub.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavinpatel2022/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavinpatel2022/] X: https://x.com/ptl_bhavin?lang=en [https://x.com/ptl_bhavin?lang=en] Follow Us for More Stories: Website: www.showmedamani.com [http://www.showmedamani.com/] Instagram: @showmedamani [https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani] LinkedIn: ShowMeDamani [https://www.linkedin.com/company/showmedamani] X: @showmedamani [https://www.x.com/showmedamani] WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2 [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2]

In this episode of #DamaniTalks, we speak with Simran Singh who is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at RNFI. It is one of India’s fastest-growing fintech companies which is now listed with a ₹700 Cr+ market cap. They didn’t raise VC money. They didn’t chase headlines. They just got to work. In his first-ever podcast appearance, Simran shares how RNFI was built into a profitable public company serving over 10 lakh customers a month, with a network of 1.7 lakh+ sahayaks across India. What You’ll Learn: 1. The unexpected origin story behind RNFI 2. Why losing money early helped shape the company 3. Building in rural India without cutting corners 4. How Simran tracks profitability every single day 5. The trust-first culture that turned 70 people into founders 6. Listing without raising a rupee in venture funding 7. Why he now reports to a CEO and loves it Why You Should Watch: If you're building quietly, thinking long-term, and wondering if scale without VC funding is still possible, this conversation is for you. Simran breaks down what it really takes to build something real, without buzzwords, burn, or a backup plan. This is not the story of disruption. It’s the story of showing up, every single day. 00:00:00- From small-time work to co-founder of RNFI   00:06:36- Building a PAN India financial distribution network  00:11:15- How does RNFI adapt its business model by location?   00:17:35- No funding, straight IPO!  00:22:47- RNFI's diverse business models  00:26:08- How can founders prep for an IPO  00:32:14- When does your business need a CEO?  00:35:03- RNFI Trust: A smarter way to build ownership?  00:38:17- How do you find a CEO?  00:43:49- What sets RNFI’s team culture apart?  00:46:47- Is 72-hour workweek really worth it?  00:55:27- Rapid Fire & Closing thoughts  About our guest, Simran Singh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-s-70002623b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-s-70002623b/] RNFI: https://www.rnfi.in [https://www.rnfi.in/] Follow our other channels for more exciting content: Website: www.showmedamani.com [https://www.showmedamani.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/ [https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani] WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2 [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2] X: https://www.x.com/showmedamani [https://www.x.com/showmedamani] #DamaniTalks #SimranSingh #RNFI #BootstrappedSuccess #FintechIndia #ListedNotFunded #ProfitabilityMatters #FounderStories #StartupExecution #ShowMeDamani #IndianStartups

What does it take to build a category-defining D2C brand, scale it profitably, and execute a multi-crore exit in India’s evolving startup ecosystem? Deep Bajaj, Founder of Sirona, joins #DamaniTalks to share his journey of pioneering India’s first female urination device (Peebuddy) and disrupting female hygiene with capital-efficient growth. In this episode, Deep reveals how he took upon a 'taboo' and turned it into a highly successful business, and navigated the complexities of M&A to ensure a successful investor exit. He also breaks down funding myths, profitability strategies, and what truly matters in a startup acquisition.What You’ll Learn: -How Deep Bajaj built Peebuddy & Sirona into a category leader in female hygiene-Why profitability gave him leverage during fundraising & exit negotiations-The biggest M&A lessons for founders—what works & what to avoid-How D2C startups can scale without burning cash or chasing vanity metrics-Why early-stage angel investors matter and how they helped fuel Sirona’s growth-How Deep Bajaj structured a multi-crore exit while delivering 6X-20X investor returns-The fundamentals of Bootstrapping vs. VC funding for long-term success-How Deep Bajaj transitioned into one of India’s top angel investorsWhy You Should Watch: Deep Bajaj shares hard-hitting truths about building profitable businesses, navigating acquisitions, and creating real investor value. He debunks funding myths, explains how he exited on his own terms, and reveals what founders should focus on instead of chasing valuations. If you’re a founder, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with real-world insights on how to build, scale, and exit a business the right way.00:00 - Introduction02:36 - The hustle from door-to-door sales to entrepreneurship 08:34 - Breaking the cycle & studying abroad14:45 - Scaling an events company24:11 - Building a business with his life partner30:17- Does experience matter?39:03- Creating Sirona’s billion-dollar market from scratch50:45 - Cracking the first big sale56:00 - Profitability vs. funding debate1:00:51- Deep Bajaj's exit strategy 1:07:46 - How he selects startups to invest In1:11:55 - Rapid fire round & closing remarks Follow our other channels for more exciting content: Website: www.showmedamani.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2 X: https://www.x.com/showmedamaniLet's connect! - https://form.asana.com/?k=CAvV4CK0dURm8N-cYJU13A&d=1202621714690185Learn about our guest, Deep Bajaj:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepbajaj/X: https://x.com/DeepBajajInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bajaj.deep/?hl=enSirona: https://www.thesirona.com/

What does it take to build a ₹5,500 crore venture fund with a uniquely Indian approach using a model inspired by Ivy League endowments? Vikram Gupta, Founder & Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures, who shares his incredible journey on #DamaniTalks— from launching multiple startups to leading one of India’s largest homegrown VC firms. In this episode, Vikram breaks down the ABCs of investing. He reveals how he raised capital from 75,000+ IIT alumni, pioneered India’s first endowment-linked VC fund, and successfully exited companies like Purplle, Clovia, and BlueStone. He also talks about the importance of capital efficiency, the art of exits, and what founders need to prepare for in today’s fast-changing startup ecosystem. This episode is packed with insights and if you're a founder, investor, or someone curious about how venture capital truly works, this episode is a must-watch! In this episode, you’ll learn: - How IvyCap Ventures pioneered India’s first endowment-backed VC fund - Why exits are a process, not just a milestone, and how to plan for them from Day 1 - How IvyCap Ventures was built with an IIT endowment-style model - The founder traits and business models that Vikram looks for in a pitch - Why attracting domestic capital is key for India’s startup ecosystem - The fundamentals of valuation every investor must understand - What mistakes early-stage startups must avoid - How to scale efficiently while staying capital-disciplined Why You Should Watch: Vikram shares hard-hitting truths about fundraising, valuations, and exits, revealing why most founders get venture capital wrong and what investors really look for. He also breaks down fundamentals, capital efficiency, and a lot more about the VC ecosystem in India. Whether you're a startup founder, an investor, or just someone fascinated by how capital fuels innovation, don't miss this episode. Vikram's IIT Delhi Endowment Fund Song [https://youtu.be/pdcy4fbLwuc] Teacher's Day Song by Vikram Gupta [https://youtu.be/cxICbgi_HH4] Follow our other channels for more exciting content: - Website [www.showmedamani.com] - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/] - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani] - WhatsApp [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H⁠] - Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xtO07c4PfYHX6RhJ1IkA2] - X [https://www.x.com/showmedamani] (Twitter) Learn about our guest, Vikram Gupta: - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikramgupta2/] - X [https://x.com/vikramgupta70⁠] (Twitter) - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/vikramgupta70/⁠] - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@vikramguptaa] - IvyCap Ventures [https://ivycapventures.com/]

We're kicking off the new season of #DamaniTalks with a bang, featuring Ashish Tulsian, the founder of Posist, now Restoworks! From selling SMS services while sitting on a horse at his wedding to bootstrapping a global SaaS company, Ashish’s journey is nothing short of legendary. This episode is packed with insights on scaling without VC funding, the art of enterprise sales, pricing strategies, learnings from his first-ever business mistake, and the psychology behind business decisions. With over 25,000 restaurants across 52 countries using Resto Works today, Ashish breaks down how he built a multi-million-dollar business while saying NO to funding pressures. We also discuss navigating the startup ecosystem, handling stress as a founder, and why most entrepreneurs unknowingly resist scaling. Despite having met only 5 or 6 times, this conversation with my brother from another mother is raw, unfiltered, really fun and packed with lessons for every founder! In This Episode, You'll Learn: - The biggest mistake founders make with funding decisions - Why scaling feels "boring" and how to push through it- The real truth behind bootstrapping vs. raising VC money - How to price your product right and attract the best customers - Mastering enterprise sales and handling big-ticket clients- The difference between real demand and vanity metrics - The truth about work-life balance as a founder - How to balance long-term vision with short-term survival Why You Should Watch: Ashish Tulsian built a global SaaS company with just one funding round, proving that bootstrapping can be a winning strategy. He breaks down the real truth behind scaling without VC money, mastering enterprise sales, and closing big-ticket clients. Learn how pricing psychology impacts growth and why founders often struggle to balance long-term vision with short-term survival. Check out our previous episode with Ashish Tulsian - #DamaniTalks Episode 17 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eTug4i1y0OjMd9tmETtvJ?si=G7L7fLeFSWSvLfx1meY9qw] David Ogilvy - Confessions of an Advertising Man [https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Confessions_of_an_Advertising_Man.html?id=iQF_PwAACAAJ] Glengarry Glen Ross [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/] The Restaurant Times Blog [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL732xPGv94F7K2Z68GmX8kVhtNJMDGc-D&si=NlvveqIZaoPBuUWH] Follow our other channels for more exciting content: - Website [www.showmedamani.com] - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@showmedamani] - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/showmedamani/] - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/showmedamani] - WhatsApp Channel [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValxvDNChq6Rd5AbUQ3H] - X (formerly Twitter) [https://www.x.com/showmedamani] Learn more about our guest, Ashish Tulsian: - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishtulsian/] - X [https://x.com/atulsian/] - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/atulsian/] - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ashish.tulsian] - Restroworks [https://www.restroworks.com/]