He Chose the Hard Thing. Twice.

Building for 15 years & then handing over the Baton

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Kathy Walkling, co-founder of Eco Femme, a social enterprise that pioneered washable cloth pads in India and reached 27 countries. Eco Femme created livelihoods for rural women, ran free education for girls, and proved that purpose and profit can coexist. Then, after 15 years, Kathy handed it over and moved back to Australia. We talk about why she believed in cloth pads, how she built without outside funding, what 15 years of slow growth does to a person, and what it felt like to let go. If you’re building something you hope outlives you, this one’s for you. Listen to Kathy Walkling on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com [https://chainet.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Your Ads Are Ignored for a Reason, let's see what

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Shivam K, founder of The Teaser Company, a creative shop that has worked with over 100 D2C brands. Shivam trained as a screenwriter at FTII and wrote ads for Honda and McDonald’s. He believes most founders are fixing the wrong problem. We talk about what kills an ad in three seconds, why high-production ads often fail, the five links in a creative chain, and whether AI excites or scares him. If you’re about to increase your ad budget without fixing the creative first, this one’s for you. Listen to Shivam K on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com [https://chainet.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

A Harvard Doctor, a Goat Farm, and the Most Unlikely Business Strategy is Kindness

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Dr Brent Ridge, co-founder of Beekman 1802, one of the world’s most recognised goat-milk skincare brands. No funding, no plan. Just an idea that kindness could be a business strategy. We talk about cold-walking into Henri Bendel with a bar of soap, why they bootstrapped for a decade, what happened on QVC, and what happens to a kindness brand when AI starts shopping for consumers. If you think kindness is soft, this one’s for you. Listen to Dr Brent Ridge on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com [https://chainet.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

What Needs to Happen for India to Build a ₹100 Cr Hemp Brand

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Sukrit Goel, founder of CannazoIndia, who took his brand to Shark Tank. We talk about why a ₹100 crore brand doesn’t exist yet, whether this is a demand or supply problem, what it takes to get a compliant product to market, how hemp brands acquire customers without paid ads, and whether AI can level the playing field. If you’re watching a category that should be bigger than it is, this one’s for you. Listen to Sukrit Goel on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com [https://chainet.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The New Indian Perfume Story Smells Different

On this episode of ChaiNet, we sit down with Ali Syed, founder of Ōkami Parfums, a made-in-India brand inspired by Japanese minimalism. Ali went from policy and development banking to building fragrance. We talk about why India supplies ingredients but not brands, whether young Indians treat perfume like sneakers, how you sell scent online, and where AI helped him build Ōkami. If you think Indian perfume is only attar and old-world luxury, this one’s for you. Listen to Ali Syed on ChaiNet now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chainet.substack.com [https://chainet.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]