The BarberShop with Shantanu

The BarberShop with Shantanu
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Welcome to The Barbershop with Shantanu a safe space for open, free-flowing, and insightful conversations. Shantanu, the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, brings his passion for mentorship and storytelling to this podcast, creating a platform where ideas can grow. Subscribe to stay tuned, and let’s grow together one hustle at a time.

  1. Shark Tank’s GOAT Life Gets a Reality Check on Its ₹1 Cr to ₹10 Cr Scale-Up Strategy Ft. Yash Kalra

    6H AGO

    Shark Tank’s GOAT Life Gets a Reality Check on Its ₹1 Cr to ₹10 Cr Scale-Up Strategy Ft. Yash Kalra

    This episode goes inside the realities of scaling a D2C brand. Yash Kalra, Founder of Goat Life, started his journey in Kota. Before crores in monthly revenue and national visibility, there were 80 plus offline events and constant product iteration. He joins Shantanu Deshpande and Aditya Sehgal, Founder, Asgard.world and Ex-President & COO, Reckitt, for a direct conversation on what it really takes to scale. They challenge assumptions, question positioning, and examine the shift from founder hustle to structured growth. Problems that we solve in this episode: - How should founders prioritise operations and capacity when demand spikes overnight? - As a content led brand scales, what must stay founder led to keep the voice authentic? - When does a niche brand know it has gone deep enough to expand wider into new categories? - If you are building a consumer brand and navigating growth decisions, this episode will sharpen your thinking. Navigate through the chapters and watch till the end 00:00 Coming Up 01:43 Introduction 04:07 From GO OAT to Goat Life 06:40 Products, Flavours & Packaging 08:31 Sales Split Across Channels & AOV 10:50 The “Ompi” Story × Shantanu 12:14 Is GOAT LIFE Truly Just a Breakfast Company? 13:42 SKU Mix: Assorted Packs vs. Singles 14:57 Limited Drops Strategy 19:16 How to Expand Your Product Range? 22:01 Breakfast or Oats? 23:39 The Growth Formula 27:37 Go Wide or Go Deep? 39:47 Why the Current Team Setup Is Breaking 40:07 How to Build a Good Team and Culture? 50:33 The 3-Bucket Org Structure (Brand, Sales, Product) 01:01:19 Working Capital and Demand Shocks

    1h 10m
  2. How a McKinsey Partner Lost 90% of His Savings & Turned Early Failures Into an IPO Dream | CleanMax

    4D AGO

    How a McKinsey Partner Lost 90% of His Savings & Turned Early Failures Into an IPO Dream | CleanMax

    This episode is a personal one. Kuldeep Jain, Founder and MD at CleanMax | Former Partner at McKinsey & Company, was Shantanu Deshpande’s senior at McKinsey. They share a close bond, and Kuldeep has also invested in Bombay Shaving Company. That trust makes this conversation unusually honest. Kuldeep talks about leaving the safe path, early mistakes, and the phase where he lost 80–90% of his savings. He explains how CleanMax found its direction, how he thinks about hiring and culture, and what the IPO journey really looks like, including roadshows and pricing. What you’ll get from this episode: - Early failure, fear, and staying in the game - Hiring principles and culture built on trust - IPO reality, roadshows, and how pricing works They break down the IPO process for what it is: rigorous, compliance heavy, and all about trust. Even pricing is part art. If you want to build something that lasts, this episode is a blueprint. Link to DRHP: https://www.sebi.gov.in/filings/public-issues/aug-2025/clean-max-enviro-energy-solutions-limited_96203.html 00:00 Trailer 01:30 Early days at McKinsey 07:10 Why CleanMax was needed 11:13 CleanMax turning point 14:20 How to build a strong company culture 19:58 What is Ashirvad Day? 27:53 From McKinsey colleagues to founders 32:47 How to take your company to an IPO 36:30 When to decide your company is ready to go public 43:34 Going public and who plans to buy the shares 51:52 Closing thoughts

    56 min
  3. How to Generate ₹120 Cr in Revenue Without Owning Villas | Ft. Deven Parulekar

    12/05/2025

    How to Generate ₹120 Cr in Revenue Without Owning Villas | Ft. Deven Parulekar

    What happens when two people realise India isn’t lacking luxury, but starving for togetherness? They walked away from stable careers and built a ₹120 CR hospitality brand that proves ‘luxury’ isn’t always required to succeed! In this episode of The Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Deven Parulekar (Founder of SaffronStays), who built his brand on one simple belief: where families bond. From a honeymoon dream many years ago to a reality in 2015, this vision has expanded into a network of 425 villas, each designed to bring people closer. But here’s the part that sets this story apart: SaffronStays refuses the ‘luxury’ tag. Its heart lies in homes that feel welcoming, with villas kept ready for every moment without anyone stepping in uninvited. An unexpected call about a 130-year-old heritage home changed everything, opening the door to a vision that would one day aim to become the Taj of homestays in India. And through the years, the brand has quietly reshaped how India thinks about travel, belonging, and human connection. What you’ll discover: - Why the brand refuses to be ‘the largest’, but strives to be ‘the finest’, with a mission to combat loneliness. - How human bonds spark real business growth - How hardships during COVID-19 opened the door to unexpected success - How one historic villa changed the company’s direction - The three values that build lasting brands. If you’ve ever experienced the joy of bonding with your people, watch how a villa brand reimagined Indian hospitality by focusing on bonds, over luxury. Navigate your way through the chapters 00:00 Coming Up 01:44 Introduction 03:28 How Deven Built SaffronStays 05:42 How Hospitality Has Changed 08:27 What Makes Villa Stays Special 12:27 Growing and Understanding Guests 16:00 How SaffronStays Stands Out 19:05 How Travel Trends Affect Hotels 26:14 What SaffronStays Promises Guests 31:18 Villas Today and Why “Luxury” Feels Overused 35:26 The First Home and Brand Journey 39:44 Where Most Bookings Come From 41:48 Meeting Post-COVID Guest Needs 47:57 The Philosophy Behind Caretaking 50:25 Using Instagram to Connect 53:11 “Where Families Bond” in Action 55:19 Favourite Villas and Top Picks 59:22 Do Guests Come Back? 1:03:25 Making Marketing Meaningful 1:08:27 Advice from Shantanu 1:14:02 Why They Chose the Blue Ocean 1:20:40 Understanding Valuation 1:24:53 How Travel Is Changing 1:26:45 Closing Thoughts

    1h 28m
  4. Modern-Day Masculinity: The Dark Truth of Being a Man in a Confusing World

    11/26/2025

    Modern-Day Masculinity: The Dark Truth of Being a Man in a Confusing World

    Men are breaking silently, and most people do not notice until it is too late. This Men’s Day conversation brings Shantanu together with Chirag Taneja and the GoKwik team to talk about the quiet struggles that shape a man’s life. Men live shorter, visit doctors less, hide pain behind work, and carry pressure they never learned to talk about. Many grow up without strong male role models. Many lose friendships after marriage. Many feel responsible for everyone but themselves. Most of this remains unspoken because men are taught to stay strong even when strength is slipping away. In this episode, they finally say the things men usually swallow. They talk about exhaustion that has no outlet, about feeling misunderstood in rooms full of people, about why therapy often misses what men cannot put into words. Watch this if you want to understand the men in your life. Or if you are a man who has been waiting for someone to understand you. Navigate your way through these chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 01:00 Introduction & Opening Discussion 05:05 Male Health & Mental Wellness Statistics 10:14 Society's Expectations on Men 14:13 Legal Frameworks & Therapy Challenges 19:02 Q&A: Stereotypes About Masculinity 25:15 Balancing Ambition, Career & Self-Care 31:03 Financial Responsibilities & Partner Expectations 37:00 Leadership & Modern Men in the Workplace 41:45 Shared Values & Relationship Manifestos 44:08 Men's Starter Kit for the New Generation 50:00 Closing Thoughts

    50 min
  5. How to Crack Interviews: Lessons from McKinsey, Questions and Framework and Common Mistakes to Avoid

    11/14/2025

    How to Crack Interviews: Lessons from McKinsey, Questions and Framework and Common Mistakes to Avoid

    Scared of interviews? Maybe you're following the wrong rulebook. In this episode, Shantanu sits with a group of students to break down what interviews actually are. Not tests. Not interrogations. But human conversations where trust, honesty and connection matter far more than memorised answers. Shantanu pulls apart the fear, the overthinking, the nervousness that students walk in with, and reveals the real strategy: show up as someone your interviewer will genuinely enjoy working with. From decoding the classic McKinsey-style interview model to understanding why fun, clarity and natural communication create the strongest impression, this conversation opens up the side of interviews no one teaches in college. What you’ll discover: • Why interviews are built on connection, not perfection • How trust, honesty and humility shape your first impression • The three-part structure interviewers use to evaluate candidates • How fun, flow and real conversation shift decisions • The difference between trying to impress someone and working with someone • What interviewers actually remember after you leave the room Can staying relaxed, real and human be the biggest interview advantage? Tune in to see Shantanu decode the mindset that helps students walk into any interview with confidence, clarity and heart. Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming Up 00:40 Introduction 01:31 How Consulting Interviews Really Work 03:06 What Interviewers Actually Look For 11:40 Students Rank Top Interview Qualities 16:31 The Real Interview Filter 19:10 Strategy to Crack Your Dream Interview 23:07 What You Think Matters vs What Actually Matters 25:41 Stop Impressing, Start Showing You Can Work With Them 29:41 How Shantanu Interviews & What He Notices First 32:06 Lessons From Anuj Paul 33:47 Closing Thoughts

    34 min
  6. How Kenny and Shantanu Plan to Compete with Davidoff and Chanel with their Perfume | BSC X Kenny

    11/07/2025

    How Kenny and Shantanu Plan to Compete with Davidoff and Chanel with their Perfume | BSC X Kenny

    In the chaos of laughter, how does a comedian think of conquering the unpredictable world of business? In this exciting episode of Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Kenny Sebastian, who is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship with his own perfume brand, The Stage. But the twist is he’s not just launching a fragrance, but is ready to challenge big players in the market with a daring entrepreneurial debut. Kenny, known for his sharp wit and stage presence, reveals how he’s blending his passion for comedy with the art of perfume-making. Mic Check and Spotlight, the two fragrances he’s launching, aren’t just scents; they’re his personal tribute to the stage that shaped him. And to make this vision a reality, Kenny had no one but the Bombay Shaving Company team by his side. From exploring perfume branding to choosing the right mood board, BSC’s expertise has been crucial in shaping the brand. What you’ll discover: - How the BSC team helped Kenny launch his own perfume brand from scratch. - The secret behind Mic Check and Spotlight, more than just names - Why Kenny’s perfume brand could compete in both the ₹3,000+ and ₹500 price ranges. - The challenges and triumphs of blending comedy with entrepreneurship. - Can a comedian make it in the business world? Tune in to find out how Kenny’s stage persona is influencing his new venture and why The Stage is set to disrupt India’s perfume market. Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming up 00:33 Introduction 02:21 How Kenny started The Stage with BSC’s support 06:32 Kenny x BSC team 09:29 How Rohit Taneja helped launch The Stage 13:17 Why did The Stage begin with two perfumes? 18:28 Naming the perfumes and how stand-up influenced the brand 27:31 The role of packaging and vendors 29:12 Why pricing should reflect value, not just cost 32:01 Ticket pricing lessons from stand-up 34:32 Premium ≠ Price 41:04 Crafting The Stage’s launch strategy 45:31 Why The Stage could be India’s next big perfume brand 46:43 Showcasing Mic Check and Spotlight 55:21 Closing thoughts

    57 min
  7. Interns. ESOPs. And What Working at Bombay Shaving Company Really Feels Like

    10/31/2025

    Interns. ESOPs. And What Working at Bombay Shaving Company Really Feels Like

    What’s it really like to work inside one of India’s most loved D2C brands? In this episode, Shantanu visits Ashoka University to talk to students about the journey of Bombay Shaving Company - how it started, why it was built, and the values that continue to guide its growth story. From startup stories and brand-building lessons to honest conversations about risk, purpose, and culture, it’s a peek into what goes behind building a D2C brand that people truly love. Two interns also share their experiences while working at Bombay Shaving Company, the learnings, surprises, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of a fast-growing D2C business. What’s the one skill you’d love to learn from the team at Bombay Shaving Company? Tell us in the comments Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming Up 00:34 How Bombay Shaving Company Started 02:43 Why They Chose to Build BSC 06:32 Core Values That Drive the Brand 08:16 An Intern’s Experience at BSC 14:55 What to Expect Ahead

    16 min
  8. Content Creator “Money Hacks” vs Reality: Mutual Funds, Insurance Traps & What You’re Not Taught

    10/26/2025

    Content Creator “Money Hacks” vs Reality: Mutual Funds, Insurance Traps & What You’re Not Taught

    No matter where you are with money, this episode is for you. In this episode, Shantanu’s college best friend Anuj takes us through his journey - from the pressures of corporate banking and quarterly targets to building My Fundbox, a financial services platform helping people like us manage, invest, and grow our money smarter. Along the way, he’s experienced all the highs and lows, cleared the mutual fund distribution exam, and is now empowering people to take control of their finances. On the pod, they talk about corporate fraud, credit card traps, insurance, and how My Fund Box is solving real problems in financial services. Plus, Anuj shares his own and his 7-year-old Adwik’s personal experience with content creation, passive income as social media influencers, and what money really means in life to them. What’s the biggest financial lesson you’ve learned so far? Share it in the comments! Navigate your way through these chapters: 00:00:00 Coming Up 00:01:46 Anuj’s Early Career 00:15:42 How My Fundbox Started 00:18:11 The Dark Side of Banks 00:22:05 Investments & Insurance Truths 00:28:28 How to manage Credit Cards & Debts 00:48:25 Life Lessons & My Fundbox Vision 01:07:55 Finance Advisory, MFDs & NFOs 01:13:44 Adwik’s Fitness & Social Media Journey 01:31:04 Anuj’s Social Media Story 01:36:45 Building Passive Income 01:54:24 Banter with Adwik & Closing Thoughts

    2 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Barbershop with Shantanu a safe space for open, free-flowing, and insightful conversations. Shantanu, the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, brings his passion for mentorship and storytelling to this podcast, creating a platform where ideas can grow. Subscribe to stay tuned, and let’s grow together one hustle at a time.

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