Indian Silicon Valley with Jivraj Singh Sachar

Jivraj Singh Sachar
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The Indian Silicon Valley Podcast is a series of intricate conversations with Founders, Investors and Domain Experts from India's flourishing startup ecosystem, with the hope to decode the learnings from building legendary institutions. The mission of this Podcast is to democratise the knowledge to building a truly spectacular Company! Stay Tuned for an Episode each Sunday as your Host - Jivraj Singh Sachar brings to your some phenomenal conversations! Feel Free to Reach Out - jivrajsinghsachar@gmail.com Https://www.linkedin.com/in/jivrajsinghsachar Https://twitter.com/jivraj_sachar

  1. 06/29/2025

    E219 - How He Built a ₹1500 Cr Food Empire Without a Single Restaurant | Jaydeep Barman, Rebel Foods

    How do you build a ₹1500 crore food empire — with no restaurants, no chefs, and no legacy playbook?In this episode, we sit down with Jaydeep Barman, co-founder and CEO of Rebel Foods, to decode how one of India’s most ambitious startups is reimagining the entire food industry — from the cloud kitchen up.This isn’t a story about biryani and wraps. It’s about systems, second-order thinking, and why Rebel is closer to AWS than McDonald’s.We break down the flywheel that powers 45+ brands across 10 countries — from Beiruz to Faasos, from Oven Story to 500 Calorie Project. Jaydeep shares how they kill bad ideas early, how their chefs became "Chief Delight Officers", and how a supply chain obsession turned into global expansion.We also go deep into founder psychology — from how Jaydeep uses mountaineering to think clearly, to how he recruits, writes, and leads on an infinite canvas.This episode isn’t startup hype. It’s a masterclass in operational leverage, cultural scale, and building enduring businesses in the world’s most complex food market.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:50 – What are the key learnings from the food business?08:58 – How large is the entire group to begin with?14:35 – How has food in India evolved in the ecosystem?21:53 – How does Jaydeep respond to trends vs being forward-looking?29:15 – How does he want to shape a particular sector?33:02 – What does it mean to start a brand?40:20 – What does it mean to replicate success across brands?45:28 – What are the innovations happening in kitchens?56:40 – How does Jaydeep plan to take his business outside India?1:03:40 – Why are team members important for long-term success?1:20:07 – What surprises has Jaydeep encountered in his journey?1:25:28 – What would Jaydeep be doing if he weren’t at Rebel?1:27:35 – What motivates Jaydeep to keep building Rebel?1:33:40 – What are the key things Jaydeep has learned on his journey?1:38:11 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf this episode made you rethink scale, systems, or the future of food — share it with a founder, drop a comment, and subscribe. Your support helps us bring sharper stories to India's builders.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: @jivrajsinghsachar#IndianSiliconValley #RebelFoods #JaydeepBarman #CloudKitchens #StartupExecution #IndiaD2C #FoodTechIndia #ScaleWithSystems #FounderPlaybook #ISV #ConsumerInfra #InfiniteCanvas

    1h 41m

  2. 06/15/2025

    E218 - Swiggy’s Secret Revealed: How They Run 100 Cr Orders Without Falling Apart with Rohit Kapoor, Swiggy Food Delivery CEO

    How do you deliver 100 crore orders a year — without bloating, breaking, or burning out?In this episode, we sit down with Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Food Marketplaces at Swiggy, to break down what it really takes to scale India’s most complex consumer business — and still operate like a startup.From McKinsey to Max Healthcare, from OYO to Swiggy — Rohit has led high-stakes transitions across industries. But this isn’t a story about titles. It’s a deep dive into how relevance, clarity, and culture drive execution at scale.We talk about the real systems behind Swiggy’s growth — from how they keep a startup mindset inside a massive org, to how they reset internal bloat every year. Rohit shares his hiring philosophy, his obsession with field-level insight, and how AI is quietly reshaping how he leads.This episode isn’t startup theory. It’s the operating manual behind one of India’s most used apps — and a masterclass in staying sharp while the company, the industry, and the consumer keep evolving.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:10 – How Rohit challenges himself for personal and professional growth04:20 – His journey towards launching multiple startups08:30 – Rohit’s role in Swiggy’s growth and expansion15:50 – His approach to hiring the right people for business growth20:55 – How Indians adapted to online food services and Swiggy’s role in that shift27:15 – The first thing Rohit observes when he walks into a kitchen28:35 – Insights into regional food consumption trends across India33:30 – Rohit’s most frequently ordered food on Swiggy34:35 – How Rohit became a part of Swiggy’s journey37:55 – The moments when Rohit had to do things he didn’t want to39:38 – The role of institutions in shaping Rohit’s career45:20 – Rohit’s perspective on young entrepreneurs in India49:10 – How Rohit finds greatness even when it’s not immediately visible51:38 – What he would be pursuing if he hadn’t chosen this path52:13 – Where Rohit sees himself in the next five years (theoretically)52:50 – How Rohit is leveraging AI to scale Swiggy55:50 – What Rohit enjoys doing when he’s not working on Swiggy56:12 – What advice he would give to his younger self58:12 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf this episode helped you, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe — your support helps us reach more builders shaping India’s future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: @jivrajsinghsachar#IndianSiliconValley #Swiggy #RohitKapoor #FoodtechIndia #StartupExecution #ISV #MarketplaceOps #LeadershipIndia #ScaleWithoutBloat #ConsumerTech

    1 hr

  3. 05/25/2025

    E217 - He’s Building a Battery Empire to Challenge China | Devansh Jain, InoxGFL Group

    What does it take to challenge China in energy, batteries, and manufacturing—without being a tech founder? And how is one Indian group quietly building a ₹1.5 lakh crore empire across India’s most strategic industries?In this episode, we sit down with Devansh Jain, Executive Director of the InoxGFL Group, one of India’s most ambitious conglomerates operating at the intersection of chemicals, renewables, and infrastructure.From building India’s largest battery chemical plant outside China to manufacturing wind turbines, solar modules, and fluoropolymers, Devansh is not chasing valuation — he’s building real industrial power. This is a rare deep dive into the mindset, systems, and scale thinking behind one of India's most important (and under-discussed) business empires.We explore how Inox is playing the long game on energy transition, how Devansh allocates capital across 5+ companies, and why the group is allergic to debt but addicted to scale.This episode isn’t startup hype. It’s what it looks like to build India's future energy backbone.We explore:•⁠ ⁠Why India needs 75 GW of renewable energy added every year•⁠ ⁠How Devansh is building a battery chemicals empire to challenge China•⁠ ⁠Why he believes manufacturing should stop crying about subsidies•⁠ ⁠How he allocates ₹1000s of crores across solar, wind, and EV chemicals•⁠ ⁠What it takes to build multiple companies with multiple CEOs at once•⁠ ⁠Why he doesn’t care about “startup metrics” and bets on capex instead•⁠ ⁠How he hires leadership, retains control, and stays paranoid•⁠ ⁠The untold economics behind EVs, grid storage, and industrial dominance•⁠ ⁠How he rebuilt Inox Wind after losing ₹500 Cr/year for 5 years•⁠ ⁠The real psychology of building at scale without losing your edgeWhether you’re a founder thinking about India’s energy future, an operator learning how to build at scale, or a policy nerd trying to understand what's really powering India’s economy — this episode will challenge what you think success looks like.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Intro02:27 — What have you done in business over the past 15 years?04:01 — What is the Inox GFL Group and what industries do they operate in?10:22 — How has his father influenced his life?14:13 — What’s your inspiration?18:14 — Energy trends and key opportunities20:00 — What is the government targeting?23:49 — India vs China: Ecosystem growth and efficiency26:55 — How much is being invested in solar, and what powers it at scale?32:22 — How do you manage it all?35:15 — How do you spend your time daily?42:22 — Where do new opportunities lie for entrepreneurs?47:06 — What does it take to close a B2B deal at scale?50:00 — What does it take to close deals with capital allocators at scale?55:44 — Lessons learned building business at scale01:00:04 — What’s happening beyond the daily work?01:02:14 — How would his friends describe him?01:03:26 — If GFL didn’t exist, what would you be doing?01:04:00 — What advice would he give his younger self at graduation?01:07:05 — Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf this episode helped you, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe—your support helps us reach more builders shaping India’s future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#IndianSiliconValley #DevanshJain #InoxGFL #ManufacturingIndia #EVIndia #BatterySupplyChain #IndiaVsChina #EnergyTransition #StartupIndia #DeeptechIndia #ISV #IndustrialScale #India2030

    1h 7m

  4. 05/11/2025

    E216 - How Lahori Zeera Built a ₹500 Cr Beverage Brand Taking On Coca-Cola | Saurabh Munjal

    Why do most Indian beverage startups die in Tier 1 cities? And how did a bootstrapped brand from Chandigarh crack ₹500 crore selling ₹10 drinks across India?In this episode, we sit down with Saurabh Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Lahori Zeera—one of India’s most remarkable mass-market brand stories.What started as a kitchen recipe is now a household name, with 50 lakh bottles sold every day, 3 lakh+ retail touchpoints, and a product lineup built entirely for Indian taste buds. And all of it—manufacturing, distribution, brand recall—was built from the ground up, without celebrity endorsements or early VC money.We explore the exact systems Saurabh used to win in kirana stores, beat incumbents on taste and trust, and build a truly scalable consumer brand—not for South Bombay, but for Bharat.This episode isn’t startup theory. It’s the real story of building a ₹500 Cr business from scratch.We explore:•⁠ ⁠Why mass India is the most under-served (and profitable) audience•⁠ ⁠How Lahori Zeera won on taste, price, and distribution•⁠ ⁠Why Saurav refused to raise funding for years•⁠ ⁠How he convinced retailers, distributors, and his first 50 employees•⁠ ⁠The pricing framework that makes ₹10 profitable•⁠ ⁠How Lahori creates viral recall without ads or influencers•⁠ ⁠What health-focused brands get wrong about Indian consumers•⁠ ⁠Why most D2C founders don’t understand general trade•⁠ ⁠The moment he knew Lahori had product-market fit•⁠ ⁠What he would do differently—now that he’s scaled past ₹500 CrWhether you're a D2C founder trying to break into kiranas, a brand operator wondering how to scale in India, or just someone curious about what it takes to build a mass cult product—this episode will shift how you think about brand-building.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introduction2:00 – How Saurabh views his customer base4:55 – How he serves diverse consumers across India11:40 – His long-term vision for the brand14:50 – What sets his business apart from local competitors17:35 – What Day 0 looked like for him21:25 – What makes Lahori Zeera truly unique24:35 – His approach to new product development31:17 – How he navigated the early days of building the business37:40 – How he figured out the right pricing strategy43:15 – How he built strong brand recall49:30 – Key learnings on scaling in the wholesale market53:40 – Why distributors choose to stay loyal to him55:50 – His journey as a bootstrapped founder1:01:01 – How he convinced his first 50 hires1:05:00 – Did he ever imagine this scale of success?1:09:10 – How he reflects on his life today1:12:05 – His perspective on setbacks and failures1:17:26 – Why he believes in building for mass India1:22:02 – The moment he knew he was on the right path1:25:49 – His views on health-focused beverages1:29:16 – Skills he developed along the way1:33:00 – Who would Saurabh be without Lahori Zeera?1:35:26 – What he would tell his Day 1 self1:40:59 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf this episode helped you, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe—your support helps us reach more builders shaping India’s future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#IndianSiliconValley #LahoriZeera #MassIndia #FMCGIndia #D2CIndia #ConsumerStartups #SauravMunjal #FounderPlaybook #BootstrappedStartups #BharatBrands #ISV #BrandBuildingIndia #StartupIndia

    1h 42m

  5. 05/04/2025

    E215 - The Truth About Building Hardware in India | Suraj Aiar, QWR on DeepTech, Grit & Growth

    What if India leads the next computing revolution?Suraj Aiar, founder of QWR, is betting on it—by building XR headsets from the ground up. No VCs. No shortcuts. Just a relentless pursuit of redefining how India builds hardware. In this episode, we sit down with Suraj Aiar, Founder & CEO of QWR—one of India’s only companies building XR (Extended Reality) hardware from scratch. He walks us through the 7-year grind: from cracking precision manufacturing and disrupting supply chains, to scaling a profitable enterprise XR business—all without chasing the D2C hype.A blueprint for what it actually takes to build deeptech in India.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introduction1:58 – What is Extended Reality, and where are we today?6:48 – What can’t mobile devices do yet, that headsets can?10:28 – Where does Suraj fit in the XR ecosystem?15:07 – What does Suraj’s ideal customer look like?19:21 – Does Suraj own the software they build?20:14 – How does Suraj approach the hardware challenge?26:05 – Suraj’s advice for newcomers in the field.28:28 – Is the stereotype true that India lacks deep tech companies?30:48 – What’s Suraj doing to ensure timely delivery?35:40 – What’s proprietary in Suraj’s manufacturing chain?38:09 – A breakdown of the company’s journey so far.41:18 – Are tech skills and creativity mutually exclusive?45:22 – What skills does Suraj value when hiring?53:38 – Why did Suraj choose to bootstrap?59:26 – What does the next 5 years look like?1:02:28 – What might Jivraj do with a headset in 2030?1:05:53 – How would Suraj’s friends describe him?1:07:21 – How did becoming a father change Suraj?1:09:01 – Key lessons Suraj learned from life and business.1:12:53 – Is Suraj guided by any philosophy or principle?1:14:37 – What would Suraj do in an alternate world?1:15:38 – Advice Suraj would give his younger self.1:19:37 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf you found this episode valuable, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe—your support helps us spotlight more underrepresented builders reshaping India’s future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#QWR #XR #SurajAiar #VRinIndia

    1h 20m

  6. 04/27/2025

    E214 - Why 90% of Indian Brands Never Cross ₹100 Crore – and How to Succeed | Vivek Gambhir, Lightspeed India

    Why do 90% of Indian brands never cross ₹100 crore? And what separates the few that do?In this episode, we sit down with Vivek Gambhir—former CEO of Godrej Consumer Products, boAt, and board member at Mamaearth—to decode what it really takes to build a high-scale brand in India.This isn’t theory. It’s the actual playbook behind India’s biggest consumer breakouts.Vivek has been at the helm of ₹1000+ crore brands, worked with founders like Aman Gupta and Varun Alagh, and now advises startups as a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. From quick commerce to omni-channel to ATL strategy—he’s seen what works, what stalls, and what silently kills scale.We explore:•⁠ ⁠Why most brands in India plateau below ₹100 crore•⁠ ⁠How boAt scaled to ₹1500 crore without going offline for years•⁠ ⁠What Mamaearth got right about trust, quality, and pricing•⁠ ⁠The brutal economics of brand-building in India•⁠ ⁠Why performance marketing alone will never get you scale•⁠ ⁠How to think about quick commerce (and who actually wins on it)•⁠ ⁠What founders get wrong about ATL, retail, and celebrity endorsements•⁠ ⁠The difference between CM1, CM2, and EBITDA—and when each matters•⁠ ⁠Why the next big brands will come from India’s premium and sachet markets•⁠ ⁠How Vivek made high-stakes career transitions across consulting, CEO roles, and VCWhether you’re a D2C founder stuck at ₹30 crore, an operator figuring out omni-channel strategy, or an investor betting on India’s consumer story—this episode is your blueprint for scale.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introduction2:29 – What does scaling a brand really mean?5:16 – Why are so many new brands emerging?9:47 – Evolution of Indian e-commerce15:24 – Key retail knowledge you must have22:54 – How to build a brand with long-term thinking28:38 – Why quick commerce thrives in India38:04 – How can brands enter quick commerce?44:27 – Lessons from quick commerce players47:44 – How customer channels have evolved57:24 – How Vivek thinks about long-term bets at scale1:00:44 – Understanding unit economics for brands1:06:54 – How Vivek approached his career1:14:29 – How Vivek keeps learning on his journey1:18:34 – What sets Mamaearth & boAt founders apart1:22:37 – Indian consumer landscape in the next 5 years1:25:58 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf you found this episode valuable, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe—your support helps us reach more builders shaping India's future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#IndianSiliconValley #BrandBuilding #ConsumerStartups #boAt #Mamaearth #QuickCommerce #VivekGambhir #FounderPlaybook #ISV #BuildForIndia #D2CIndia #BrandStrategy #StartupIndia

    1h 26m

  7. 04/13/2025

    E213 - This Indian Founder Broke Every Rule And Built a Global Luxury Brand | Gautam Sinha, Nappa Dori

    India’s startup playbook worships speed, scale, and funding. But what if you rejected all of it—and still won?In this episode, we sit down with Gautam Sinha, founder and creative director of Nappa Dori, who built a global luxury brand from India by going against every startup norm.No VC. No MBA. No blitz-scaling.Just instinct, craftsmanship, and relentless belief in design.Gautam didn’t just build a brand—he built a market that didn’t exist. He priced products on taste, not cost. He opened stores in London and Dubai while staying bootstrapped. And he turned a scooter garage into one of India’s most admired design-first businesses.We explore:•⁠ ⁠Why most Indian brands stay stuck in the “supplier mindset”•⁠ ⁠How Gautam built trust and pricing power in a discount-driven market•⁠ ⁠What startup myths he broke by staying bootstrapped for 15+ years•⁠ ⁠Why Indian factories refused to work with Indian brands•⁠ ⁠The playbook behind international expansion—without funding•⁠ ⁠How to scale creative taste without losing soul•⁠ ⁠What Gautam believes MBAs and B-schools get completely wrong•⁠ ⁠How Cafédori, Dori Living, and in-store design became strategic brand extensions•⁠ ⁠What founders should know about instinct, doubt, and long-term thinkingWhether you're a founder tired of chasing funding, a creative fighting to retain your voice, or someone curious about how global Indian brands are actually built—this episode is a refreshing rebellion against the system.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Introduction02:49 – What’s your approach to building luxury products from India?04:38 – After 15 years, how does it feel looking back?07:20 – How did you shape your brand’s foundation and aesthetic?12:43 – How did you grow while staying bootstrapped?16:10 – How did you learn business on the go? Any advice?19:35 – How does a creative mindset help in business?23:03 – How did you scale your creative vision across the team?25:41 – How are you handling the challenge of scaling?26:31 – What do you want customers to feel in a Nappa Dori store?31:57 – How do you decide which products to launch?35:45 – In moments of doubt, what keeps you going?41:16 – What’s the reality of launching internationally?46:38 – What’s the product creation process and team size?51:37 – How do you balance growth and quality?01:04:35 – What would you tell your younger self?01:06:37 - Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf you found this episode valuable, share it with a founder, leave a comment, and subscribe—your support helps us spotlight more underrepresented builders reshaping India’s future.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#IndianSiliconValley #FounderStories #NoVC #GlobalFromIndia #LuxuryStartups #BootstrappedSuccess #DesignBrands #NappaDori #CreativeBusiness #ISV #BuildForIndia #GautamSinha #CreativeEntrepreneurs

    1h 7m

  8. 03/30/2025

    E212 - He Built a ₹11,000 Cr Company by Finding Customers EVERYONE Ignored | Sandeep Menon of Vastu Finance

    India’s lending ecosystem is crowded with banks, NBFCs, and fintechs—but very few have managed to build institutions with scale, discipline, and long-term trust.In this episode, we sit down with Sandeep Menon, Founder & CEO of Vastu Housing Finance, one of India’s largest and most respected affordable housing finance companies. With a ₹11,000 Cr+ loan book and a customer base most banks wouldn’t touch, Sandeep has quietly built a lending giant by playing the long game—and doing things very differently from the typical startup playbook.We explore:•⁠ ⁠What most people misunderstand about the Indian housing finance landscape•⁠ ⁠How Sandeep bet on self-employed customers that banks refused to serve•⁠ ⁠The distribution engine Vastu built—without relying on ads or CAC•⁠ ⁠Why they’ve rebuilt their tech stack multiple times over the last decade•⁠ ⁠How they scaled without shortcuts, hype, or valuation games•⁠ ⁠Sandeep’s unconventional hiring and leadership philosophies•⁠ ⁠What governance really looks like when you treat your company like it’s already public•⁠ ⁠Deep reflections on trust, reinvention, institutional thinking, and building a financial machine that lastsWhether you’re building a lending company, scaling operations, or just curious about how to win in the most ignored markets—this is an unfiltered masterclass in how real institutions get built in India.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Introduction2:22 – What a housing finance company does8:32 – Broad role of Vastu12:28 – Sandeep’s customer journey16:49 – The overall process18:22 – How Sandeep builds trust20:38 – How on-ground touchpoints are defined23:24 – External factors impacting internal operations26:58 – Policy change or initiative that impacted business30:06 – What feels counterintuitive to Sandeep32:56 – Sandeep’s view on talent36:24 – His ownership mindset41:35 – How he built and executed it44:57 – What good governance means to him53:22 – Evolution of his leadership style55:40 – How friends describe Sandeep57:40 – How he stays tuned to people1:03:43 – Advice to his younger self1:06:30 – Outro🔗 Support the PodcastIf you enjoyed this episode, share it, subscribe, and drop a comment—your support helps us bring more underrepresented founder stories to light.📲 Follow Jivraj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivrajsinghsachar/#IndianSiliconValley #VastuHousingFinance #SandeepMenon #FintechIndia #Lending #FounderStories #ISV #BuildForIndia

    1h 7m
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The Indian Silicon Valley Podcast is a series of intricate conversations with Founders, Investors and Domain Experts from India's flourishing startup ecosystem, with the hope to decode the learnings from building legendary institutions. The mission of this Podcast is to democratise the knowledge to building a truly spectacular Company! Stay Tuned for an Episode each Sunday as your Host - Jivraj Singh Sachar brings to your some phenomenal conversations! Feel Free to Reach Out - jivrajsinghsachar@gmail.com Https://www.linkedin.com/in/jivrajsinghsachar Https://twitter.com/jivraj_sachar

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