Entrepreneur Lounge of India (ELI)

In this insightful episode of the ELI Podcast, we sit down with Nitin Kochhar, the Chief Operating Officer & Chief Business Officer at Brick & Bolt. Nitin, a seasoned "Unicorn Builder" with a remarkable background in e-commerce (Flipkart, Shopclues), logistics (Rivigo), and EdTech (White Hat Jr., Embibe), shares his journey of venturing into the massive tech-enabled construction market.Discover how Brick & Bolt is transforming the residential and commercial construction landscape in India by addressing critical customer pain points:- Delays: Eliminating project delays with penalty-backed timelines.- Cost Overruns: Ensuring transparent pricing and no unexpected cost increases.- Money Security: Implementing an industry-changing EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) system for contractor accountability.- Transparency & Quality: Utilizing 16 proprietary apps and a "digital twin" concept for real-time monitoring and over 470 quality checks through QASCON, even for NRI customers abroad.Chapters[00:00] Introduction[00:46] Nitin Kochhar's Journey to Brick & Bolt (Flipkart, Shopclues, Rivigo, Hero Group, White Hat Jr., Embibe)[01:50] The "Unicorn" Success & Startup Mindset[02:29] Brick & Bolt: On Track to Become a Unicorn in India's $600 Billion Construction Market[03:35] The Core Problems Brick & Bolt is Solving in Construction (Delays, Cost Overruns, Money Security, Transparency)[05:59] Monitoring Experience: The 16 Apps & Digital Twin for Customers[09:03] Solving Financial Insecurity & Inconsistent Deliveries with EMD and Vetting Contractors[12:45] Penalty System for Delays & High On-Time Delivery Rates[13:52] Brick & Bolt's Pricing vs. Local Contractors: Transparent BOQ & Value Proposition[15:46] Nitin Kochhar's Day-to-Day Role as COO & CBO[17:30] Handling Volatilities in Construction (Material Costs, Weather) with Tech-Driven Scheduling[18:32] Customer Acquisition & Growth Strategy (Digital, Offline, Commercial)[20:58] Scaling to Different Cities: Addressing Regional Challenges & Bylaws[23:23] Future Expansion Plans for Brick & Bolt[24:14] Future Innovations: AI in Quality Control & 3D Printing in Construction[27:30] Entrepreneurial Learnings: Mental Strength, Learning Mindset & People Skills[29:15] Closing Remarks & Best Wishes

Pavan Kavad is the Managing Director of Prithvi Exchange, a publicly traded, RBI-authorized foreign exchange company in India. As a second-generation entrepreneur, he has scaled his family business from 15 to 31 branches, growing its turnover by over 4x to 4,100 crores.In this conversation, Priya and Pavan discuss the intricacies of the foreign exchange market, the challenges of navigating a regulated industry, and the digital transformation shaping the future of finance. Pavan shares his journey from making deliveries on day one to leading the company, offering profound insights on leadership, innovation, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to build a lasting legacy.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction0:48 - Pavan's Background & Prithvi Exchange's Growth2:58 - RBI's Foreign Exchange Categories Explained4:10 - Core Products: Currencies, Forex Cards, and Remittances6:05 - Pioneering Home Delivery in the Forex Industry8:15 - The Founder's Story: From CA to Forex Visionary12:45 - The Transition to a Digital-First Approach15:45 - How Fintech is Transforming Indian Finance19:15 - Adapting to a Rapidly Changing Global Market21:35 - Pavan’s 10-Year Training: Learning Every Facet of the Business25:08 - Challenges of a Second-Generation Entrepreneur27:30 - Vision for the Future: Tech, UPI, and Virtual Cards31:00 - Advice for Entrepreneurs: "Don't Take Baby Steps, Go Global"32:15 - The Golden Decade for India33:30 - A Walk Down Memory Lane

In this episode, we sit down with Vineet Agrawal, Co-founder of Jiraaf, to discuss his incredible journey from a small town in Orissa to the forefront of India's fintech revolution.Vineet shares his experiences working in corporate banking and private equity, the key insights that led him to identify a massive gap in the fixed-income market, and the story of how he built Jiraaf from the ground up during the COVID-19 pandemic.Tune in to learn about the structural barriers that kept retail investors out of the bond market, how Jiraaf is making high-yield, fixed-income opportunities accessible to everyone, and Vineet's hard-won lessons on resilience, building relationships, and long-term thinking in the world of entrepreneurship.Chapters(00:00) - Intro(00:27) - Vineet's Journey: From a Small Town to XIMB and Corporate Finance(03:43) - The "Aha!" Moment: Uncovering a Gap in the Investment Market(08:27) - The Leap of Faith: Starting Jiraaf During the Pandemic(11:10) - Why Were High-Yield Bonds Inaccessible to Regular Investors?(14:52) - Building a New Category: How Jiraaf Developed its Platform(18:53) - How Jiraaf Breaks Down Large Bonds for Retail Investors(21:34) - The Challenge of Educating a New Market(26:21) - Why Competition is a Good Thing for a New Industry(29:29) - Overcoming the Challenges of Building a Fintech Company(31:21) - The Story Behind the Name "Jiraaf"(34:15) - Key Lessons Learned on the Entrepreneurial Journey(36:48) - Outro

In this episode of the ELI podcast, host Priya chats with Nupur Khandelwal, the co-founder of CarePay. Nupur shares her journey as an entrepreneur, starting from her background as a chartered accountant to co-founding two ventures in the healthcare space. She delves into the challenges and insights that led to the creation of CarePay, a platform aimed at making healthcare treatments more affordable through innovative financing solutions. Nupur also discusses the role of AI in their technology, their future plans for expanding into the broader healthcare payments ecosystem, and her personal definition of entrepreneurship.Chapters:00:00: Nupur's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey.01:36: The Problem CarePay Solves.02:49: CarePay's Zero-Cost Financing and Merchant Benefits.03:51: Addressing Fraud and Risk with a Smart Scoring System.04:36: AI's Role in Improving Patient Onboarding and Experience.06:15: Future Plans: Expanding into Healthcare Payments.08:52: Advice on Entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we sit down with Sanjog Anand, the co-founder of Rostrum Education, a leading global admissions consultancy. Sanjog shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his school days to building a company that has helped over 5,000 students get into top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League schools.We dive deep into the booming industry of education consulting, the impact of AI on learning, and what the future holds for higher education. Sanjog offers invaluable insights for students and parents navigating the competitive landscape of international university admissions.Chapters0:00 - Introduction to Sanjog Anand, Co-founder of Rostrum Education0:55 - Sanjog's Journey: From Delhi to Singapore, the US, and Back2:51 - The Evolution of Rostrum: From Tutoring to University Counseling6:14 - Rostrum's Business Model and the Shift During COVID7:50 - The Booming Industry of Studying Abroad12:33 - The Emotional Drivers Behind Education Choices18:15 - The Impact of AI on the Value of Higher Education Degrees23:45 - The Future of Education: Skill Building vs. Traditional Learning

In this episode, we sit down with Deepak Narayan, the visionary founder of Practus, a leading business consulting firm. Deepak shares his incredible journey, from a childhood spent moving across six different states to becoming a Chartered Accountant and eventually, a pioneering entrepreneur.Discover the key traits—like mastering trade-offs, resilience learned from sports, and a rebellious spirit—that shaped his path. Deepak opens up about the evolution of his company, from its beginnings as WealthTree, pivoting to MyCFO, and finally transforming into the 360-degree consulting powerhouse that is Practus today.YouTube Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction to Deepak Narayan, Founder of Practus(00:21) - A Spiritual Perspective on "Past Lives"(01:40) - A Nomadic Childhood: Moving Across Six States(03:05) - The Pros and Cons of a Constantly Changing Environment(04:26) - The Journey to Becoming a Chartered Accountant(05:05) - The Origin Story: From WealthTree to MyCFO(05:47) - How a Nomadic Upbringing Shapes an Entrepreneur(08:02) - The Art of the Trade-Off: A Key Entrepreneurial Trait(10:11) - Learning to Break the Ice and Build Connections(11:30) - The Role of Sports in Building Resilience and Teamwork(12:43) - Why Trade-Offs are Crucial in Business and Life(14:15) - A Real-World Example: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic(16:45) - Gut Feeling vs. Logic: Making Tough Decisions(19:43) - The Intersection of Spirituality and Entrepreneurship(22:43) - The Genesis of Practus and the Family's Reaction(26:43) - Leaving a Secure Job for the Entrepreneurial Leap(31:13) - Overcoming the Initial Difficulties of Starting a Business(36:49) - The Strategic Pivot from WealthTree to MyCFO and Practus(39:18) - The Future of Consulting in the Age of AI(45:20) - Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Eklavya Podcast, we sit down with Rohit Sakunia, the Founder Director of ArtE Mediatech, a full-stack creative and technology agency.Rohit shares his incredible 40-year journey in a nutshell—from growing up in a business-oriented family in Rourkela and dreaming of filmmaking, to his time at ESPN and Google, to finally taking the entrepreneurial plunge. He opens up about his hits and misses, including his first venture, Glance Media, and the lessons that led him to build ArtE Mediatech from a one-room office to a 150-person powerhouse with a presence across India and plans for global expansion.We dive deep into the current state of the media and advertising industry and discuss the elephant in the room: AI. Is AI a threat or a tool? Rohit offers a compelling, optimistic perspective on how AI will enhance creativity and make the excellent magnificent, rather than replacing human storytellers.YouTube Chapters(00:00) - Intro: Meet Rohit Sakunia, Founder of ArtE Mediatech(00:26) - The Nuances of Running a Company from Home(01:29) - The Secret to Scaling: Hiring Great People(03:06) - A Founder's Life: Juggling Travel and Multiple Offices(04:41) - From a Small Town in Odisha to the World of Business(06:19) - The Entrepreneurial Bug & a Childhood Dream of Filmmaking(07:18) - Education, Early Career, and an MBA during the 2008 Recession(09:27) - Why He Left His Dream Job at ESPN(10:34) - The Life-Changing Call from Google(11:48) - First Startup Failure: The Story of Glance Media(13:09) - The Genesis of ArtE Mediatech with a College Friend(15:19) - Side Hustles with Impact: The 3min.life Initiative(18:33) - Building a Full-Stack Agency Through Acquisitions(21:27) - The USP: Why ArtE Mediatech Doesn't Outsource Work(22:35) - Is the Media Industry Being Disrupted by AI?(24:10) - "Tools Don't Build Brands, Stories Do"(26:10) - Can AI Replace a CMO?(29:01) - How ArtE Mediatech Uses 13+ AI Platforms Daily(30:24) - Are Clients Cutting Budgets Because of AI Tools?(33:17) - 5-10 Year Prediction for the Media Industry(35:35) - An Eternal Optimist's View on AI's Future(36:55) - Closing Remarks & Best Wishes for ArtE Mediatech

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Vivek Tandon, a serial entrepreneur and the visionary founder behind revalyu (formerly known as perPETual Technologies), a groundbreaking company transforming the future of plastic recycling.Join us as Dr. Tandon shares his incredible journey, from being born in Uganda and attending school as a refugee to founding multiple successful technology companies in the environmental and renewable energy sectors, such as Aloe Private Equity and Greenko Group PLC. He discusses his earliest entrepreneurial ventures, born out of necessity, and the educational path that led him from a BSc in Physics at Imperial College to a PhD in Engineering.Dr. Tandon delves deep into the story of revalyu and its mission to tackle the global plastic waste problem. Learn about the innovative chemical recycling technology (glycolysis) that allows revalyu to convert used PET bottles and polyester back into high-quality material—a concept he calls "minds above ground."We explore the logistical challenges of recycling over 9 billion bottles, the state of the recycling industry in India (a world leader in collection), and the evolution of brand adoption from a marketing "gimmick" to a core business strategy.This is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, and anyone interested in how technology and determination can create a sustainable impact on our planet.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder of revalyu00:55 - From Uganda to India: Dr. Tandon's Early Life and First Entrepreneurial Steps03:05 - University Ventures and Early Success in Telecoms05:21 - The Genesis of revalyu: The Concept of "Minds Above Ground"08:44 - The Science: How revalyu's Technology Chemically Recycles PET Plastic11:55 - Why Focus on Bottles? Understanding Different Types of Plastic13:56 - The Logistics Behind Recycling 40 Million Bottles a Day in India16:21 - The Biggest Challenges: From Investor Skepticism to Market Volatility20:33 - Beyond the Gimmick: How Brands Are Genuinely Embracing Sustainability22:24 - India's Role as a Global Leader in Plastic Recycling25:13 - The Future for revalyu: Scaling to Meet a Global Problem27:35 - A Message for Entrepreneurs: The Mega Trend of Recycling30:12 - Closing Remarks

In this episode of ELI - Entrepreneur's Live Interviews, we sit down with Kashiish A Nenwani, Director at Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals. Kashiish shares her inspiring journey from a background in finance to becoming a leader in the manufacturing sector.In this interview, Kashiish discusses:* Her personal and professional journey.* The evolution of Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd from a modest start-up to a global exporter.* The company's digital transformation with SAP.* Building a people-first organization and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.* The challenges and strengths of being a woman in a male-dominated industry.* The concept of Green Finance and Shivtek's commitment to sustainability.* Her definition of impactful leadership and advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs.Join us for an insightful conversation with a leader who is making a significant impact in the industrial world.**Chapters:**(0:00) Introduction(0:27) Kashiish A Nenwani's Background and Journey to Shivtek(02:00) The Evolution of Shivtek Spechemi Industries Ltd(03:30) Shaping the Company's Vision with a Finance Background(04:40) Driving Digital Transformation with SAP(06:21) Building a Future-Ready and People-First Organization(07:47) Challenges and Strengths as a Woman in Manufacturing(09:40) Championing Diversity and Inclusion at Shivtek(12:50) Understanding Green Finance and Sustainable Growth(19:15) Defining Impactful Leadership(20:43) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Women Leaders