Saswat Nanda

Sujith Nair, Beckn's WhatsApp-averse, badminton-loving chief mover and shaker, gave us a peek into the world's first # e-commerce protocol. Imagine if Colgate wanted to sell a lot of toothpaste, would it open separate exclusive stores on every street? NO! Instead, it ensures its products are available in all stores where people come to shop, and not just toothpaste. Similarly, Beckn is a way for an online business to make its products and services available on other stores (popular daily-use consumer apps) instead of setting up its own store (its own consumer app) and waiting for customers to come in droves! The Beckn Protocol underpins Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) and is a universal translator for e-commerce platforms. We would normally call it the Rosetta Stone for digital services, but now we have BHASHINI 😉 . It allows disparate systems to "speak" to each other seamlessly. The Beckn Protocol has become a verb in the tech world. "Just Beckn it!" has become a common phrase among developers when discussing open-source solutions for digital commerce. In fact, we like it so much that we are using Beckn use cases as our episode artwork (instead of our normal groovy cover art) to spread the word in our own little way. Some may even argue that the yellow and black in the artwork denote open mobility networks (read taxis) 😀. The even more nerdy might catch the movie reference in the title 🎬. So, is it an app? Is it an aggregator? Is it a platform? No. It is a Super Capability - #decentralised and #open. Listen, learn and use. sujith nair | Pramod Varma | Sanjay Purohit | Shankar Maruwada | Shireesh Joshi | T Koshy | Namma Yatri | FIDE | Antler | Bingepods (Ideabrew Studios) | OpenExO | Thinkers360 | IBM Alumni | Microsoft Alumni Network | The RSA (The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) | World Economic Forum | Digital India Corporation | nasscom | Abhishek Singh | Nilesh | Sheetal https://lnkd.in/dydrjnbU

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This post from Vaibhav Domkundwar beautifully shows how surviving long enough can position a startup to take advantage of an eventual tailwind. When we invested in Yulu, no one had a clue that Quick Commerce will become the next commerce phenomenon in the country after payments. Because Yulu intelligently survived, kept improving the product and is capital-efficient enough to be agile to market needs, it’s now befitting from QC tailwinds. Reminds me of what the Rippling founder once said - as a startup, just survive 10 years and the odds are that you will end up succeeding.

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Whoa…… from $22B to zero. And before this, in February, once the world’s most valuable Edtech startup was valued at $250m post money. Chilling. Any thoughts on why this is happening and insights for founders, Edtech and beyond? #startup #fundraising #valuation #chasingthebubble #fundamentals

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Next steps in India Mobility are continuing to show progress - one of the top investments that continues to show IndiaFirst #ProudInvestor #ProudVC #IndiaFirst #BestLPs

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The One That We Had To Back. It is rare in venture to find a team so complete. As the former leadership team of NDTV, an iconic Indian media powerhouse - Suparna Singh Arijit Chatterjee and Kawaljit Singh Bedi have been battle-tested in ways that most of us can't even imagine. With over 3 decades of experience in digital media, broadcasting and media tech - the team has seeded ventures, scaled them, and navigated a publicly listed company from turnaround to profitability (stock price went up 27x and was voted Asia's Best Media Company under Suparna's leadership). Miraculously, they have the hunger and drive to do it all over again. As a VC, it is rare to come across complete teams at the seed stage with the perfect blend of business acumen, domain expertise and technical prowess.Those tend to get built over time. Compounded by unanimous positive feedback on leadership ability + startup drive and hustle - that's the rarest of the rare. We simply had to back them. Frammer AI is building on a thesis that we have long harboured. The world of media is changing so fast, eyeballs are moving digital and most importantly to social media. Formats are becoming shorter but yet brands, publishers, enterprises were using the same ol' means of content creation and targeting. Manual, tedious and imprecise. Frammer AI makes the entire process of short form video creation faster, cheaper and most importantly monetisable. And unlike other prosumer solutions - Frammer's AI is trained on some of the smartest and premium data sets available in the world - news content which is complex, dense, multi-faceted as opposed to low quality Youtube shorts. In a span of 8 months since launch, they are already integrated with several large global clients from the US, Europe, and MENA with leading domestic clients like India Today, ZEE, Acko and several others. Big Tech is already talking to them to collaborate on enterprise projects. Given the demand for the round globally, it's a privilege to be part of their journey. Lumikai Fund We can't wait for what lies ahead. Onwards and upwards! 🚀 🚀 🚀

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The e-commerce startup Meesho has raised $275 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation to approximately $3.9 billion. This funding, part of a larger round expected to exceed $500 million, includes secondary transactions. Notable investors like WestBridge Capital and Norwest Venture Partners are participating in this round, joining Meesho's impressive list of backers, including Meta, Fidelity, Peak XV, Prosus Ventures, B Capital, and SoftBank. However, Meesho faces increasing competition, with Amazon India recently launching Bazaar, a special store featuring affordable fashion and lifestyle products. Despite this, Meesho's focus on an asset-light model and lower fulfillment charges has helped it capture nearly half of India’s annual 3PL e-logistics shipment. For the latest secondary coverage and trading SaxonWeber | ShareWell #secondaries #saxonweber

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Gen Z comprises 377 million individuals in India today. They’re not just the future; they’re the now, reshaping the consumer landscape and demanding brands to catch up! In case you missed the Gen Z report by Snap and BCG (where were you yesterday??), here are the cliff notes (I reccomend you read the actual report too!) 🌟 Gen Z currently drives $860 billion in consumer spending in India, with projections soaring to $2 trillion by 2035. 💡 With 75% emphasizing authenticity, keep it real, or you might find yourself ghosted! 🛍️ They engage in “shopcializing,” sharing experiences and seeking advice from their inner circle. About 66% say their friends influence their purchasing decisions! 🎨 Nearly 80% of Gen Z is glued to visual content. Brands must step up with eye-popping, immersive visuals— preference is for short, engaging videos. 🌍 They are 1.6 times more likely than millennials to rally behind causes they care about. Over 60% actively participate in social justice campaigns and community efforts! 🎉 Gen Z flows seamlessly between online and offline shopping. They expect a truly omni-channel experience, with 70% wanting brands to provide consistent messaging across platforms. 🔍 Gen Z is the Sherlock Holmes of shopping, spending 1.5 times more effort researching products before they buy. They value reviews, ratings, and user-generated content, making them savvy consumers. 👩‍🎤 Influencers are Gen Z’s guiding stars. About 70% check out creators’ pages for product recommendations. Brands that collaborate with relatable influencers can capture their attention effectively. 💖 This generation is open about mental health—75% feel positive about discussing it. Brands that support mental health initiatives will win their hearts like a puppy video on a bad day!a 🌱 With 67% of Gen Z willing to pay extra for sustainable products, brands need to get their eco-friendly game on. They prefer brands with transparent supply chains and ethical practices. 🌈 Gen Z values representation. Brands that celebrate diversity will connect more effectively. 83% of Gen Z believes that brands should take a stand on social issues and reflect diverse perspectives in their advertising. ☕ Personalized Experiences FTW! 79% of Gen Z prefers brands that know their favorite coffee order. They value customized marketing messages and tailored recommendations. 💻 Gen Z expects brands to incorporate technology into their shopping experiences. They’re fans of AR/VR for trying products before buying, with 50% expressing interest in immersive shopping experiences. ⚡ While Gen Z can be brand loyal, they will bolt if their needs aren’t met. 60% are willing to switch brands if they find a better fit, highlighting the need for continuous engagement and innovation. 🤑Building for Gen Z is a massive value unlock—are you ready to ride the Gen Z wave? 🌊 Ajit Mohan Abheek Singhi 🙌🏼🙌🏼 Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/g4NRF_ki

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Given the changing paradigms in technology and media, we know that the next 10 years will look nothing like the last 10 years. Thanks to The Economic Times for capturing our interactive media thesis for the years ahead. As we crystal ball gaze into the future, there has been no better time to invest in India. In the last few years, we have seen the market mature across key vectors - propensity to pay, quality of talent, capital inflows, and exits. This represents meaningful upside for founders and investors in this space over the coming decade. With the incredible shifts in tech, media and gaming, there are some exciting times ahead! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/gTfYa3Kw

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Raised $26,000,000 with just an idea Lyskraft India Pvt Ltd - the latest kid in the block! So, Mukesh Bansal is back with another startup this time with Mohit Gupta, the former CEO of Zomato's food delivery arm. In July of last year, there were reports about Bansal and Gupta raising funds for a new venture. As per TechCrunch, both of them pitched a range of ideas to potential backers like a female-focused counterpart to Manyavar and "Infosys 2.0" a presumed upgrade to a multinational IT services and consulting firm. Now finally... The news is out and we know what they are building, Lyskraft: initially a women's only marketplace for premium brands mostly focusing on Gen-Z shoppers. Recently we have seen giant e-commerce platforms launching dedicated portals to attract GenZ shoppers, like SPOYL launched by Flipkart within its app, FWD by Myntra, also we are seeing the growth of new-age startups working in this space like Virgio(Mukesh Bansal is an investor in it), Newme(recently raised $4,500,000), Absolute Brands, Snitch, Styched and many more As per Inc42's Report, India's fashion and apparel sector is projected to reach a mouth-watering $112 Billion by 2030, which will be over a quarter of the country's $400 Billion e-commerce market!! Let's be honest, anyone will want a piece of this market. As we are already aware of how crowded this space is, let's see how Lyskraft differentiates itself from others. Mohit Gupts and Mukesh Bansal, in this crowded space building a community around your product, building digital IPs, and creating experiences through videos are the ways to elevate your brand to the next level. I the founder of Elevate would love to connect and assist Lyskraft in building a community, digital IPs and help create experiences through videos, if that sounds like something that interests you would love to connect and discuss!! sources of information : TechCrunch article 2021 - https://bit.ly/49UwkLI Inc42 article - https://bit.ly/3w0SDlb #mukeshbansal #myntra #fashion #startups #venturecapital #fundingwinter #norevenue #cultfit #community #communitymarketing #socialmediamarketing #india

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Can technical founders become effective CEOs? Srinath Sridhar knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone when he founded Regie.ai four years ago. Now he and cofounder Matt Millen have raised more than $20 million and landed on G2’s list of fastest-growing software products of 2024. My full conversation with Sri is in the comments.

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Quick-Commerce is killing it in India — but couldn’t scale in RICH MARKETS Super-fast 15-minute deliveries = just don’t fit into the culture of rich countries like the US. India:  - Our middle-class & dual-income households are increasing (Maruti Alto sales dropping is a big sign, people are moving up in the chain)  - Life is fast-moving & people are busy chasing money & dreams.  - Labour is still cheap (though it's becoming expensive in metros now) West:  - Labour is very expensive. - Supermarket Culture is BIG, & it's massive in other mature markets too. People love their Costco runs - grabbing stuff for the week/month & making a day out of it. [Pricing is cheaper too].  - People plan their purchases for the week ahead & stock up accordingly. The India Consumption Story is a wild ride –– post-independence, India sprinted through its consumption evolution….& we moved directly from General Trade Consumption to ECommerce Checkouts. Unlike the West – which saw a massive modern trade revolution with sprawling supermarkets….we missed the modern trade/supermarket revolution…..Ofc, we have RelianceRetail, More, DMart & a bunch of others - but their contribution as a % is a joke. We moved from Kirana Shops to > Amazon Flipkart BigBasket all the way to > Zepto Blinkit Instamart We Indians love convenience & have accepted the fact that convenience comes at an added cost (we’re still ordering inspite of delivery & platform charges increasing). PS: I’m on average of ~5 quick-commerce orders/week. I know folks who’re at 2 OPD (Orders/Day) 😂 PPS: I feel ‘Fashion’ is the next category — where speed will change the way business is done. #Ecommerce #India #Superfast #10minuteDelivery

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$3 Million Can Buy You… a 4BHK in Gurgaon or a Penthouse in NYC? Management consultant Gurjot Ahluwalia’s post is sparking debates on X (formerly Twitter): What does $3 million (around ₹25 crore) really get you in real estate? When you realize $3 million (about ₹25 crore) could get you either: ➡️ A spacious 4BHK in Gurgaon with premium amenities (pool, gym, green spaces) OR ➡️ A six-room penthouse in NYC with iconic Manhattan views ...you have to ask: Is Indian real estate in a league of its own, or just a league of its own kind? Gurgaon pricing almost feels like buying beachfront in Manhattan—minus the beach, and, well, minus Manhattan! One user joked, "For that budget, I could own a villa in Dubai or a bungalow in Washington D.C." It’s almost as if India’s real estate market is hinting, “Why pay for logical pricing when you can pay for luxury… and then some?” Thoughts? Would you put $3M into a penthouse in NYC or a luxury flat in Gurgaon? #RealEstate #GurgaonVsNYC #Investment

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OYO Hits Pause on IPO Again, Eyes Private Funding Amidst 75% Valuation Drop OYO Hotels & Homes has withdrawn its IPO application for the second time, opting instead for private funding. This decision comes as the company's valuation has plummeted by nearly 75% from its peak, now seeking funds at a valuation between $2.3 billion and $3 billion. Despite significant backing from SoftBank, OYO's ongoing financial challenges and a chilly market for tech IPOs have prompted this strategic pivot. CEO Ritesh Agarwal is personally involved in securing up to $90 million in new investments, aiming to stabilize the company's finances and operations. #OYO #StartupNews #IPOWithdrawal #PrivateFunding #Valuation

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The Indian Gen AI prosumer, consumer landscape still remains early – Companies have hit power users but are subscale OR have low % of paying users  • Companies do not have enough cohort level data to indicate product love  • Most cos who have managed to cross few hundred thousand users (MAU) are building their US GTM machine  • They have a rudimentary hallucination check AND a rudimentary RLHF in place We at Chiratae ventures are keen to look at – 1) Vernacular AI assistants - Sarvam, Krutrim are foundational model (Sarvam – OpenHathi) based general intelligence assistants very similar to Anthromorphic or Poe, but contextualized to India. They have raised significant capital, but the space remains open still. 2) Vernacular AI search – We do not have a Perplexity, Liner for the Indian vernacular. This is a potential whitespace. We will look for a solid team, with a solid product roadmap. Product risk mitigation playbooks are being built out by investors as we speak  Some companies like Two.ai are building both assistants as well as AI enabled search platforms. 3) Co-pilots for Professional services with pre-existing spend pools which can be delivered digitally – AI generated influencers, AI based gaming, digital professionals/copilots - legal professionals, counsellors/therapists, accountants Please write in to [email protected] if you feel there is something you would like to discuss. If there are products or companies we should look at, please tag them in the chat below Chiratae Ventures Sudhir Sethi TCM Sundaram Ranjith Menon Venkatesh Peddi Anoop N Mandeep Julka, CFA Kailashnath M S, CFA Tanvi Dubey #GenerativeAI #Consumer #SaaS #Technology

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{New pod 🎤} "𝐆𝐓𝐌 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐒-𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐁2𝐁 𝐒𝐚𝐚𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬" This episode explores GTM strategies and learnings for US-India B2B SaaS startups. We cover everything from finding design partners in the US, scoping MVPs, figuring out what ICP to focus on, navigating the unique challenges of early PMF, GTM hiring in the US, and finally, working towards creating M&A exit options. Joining me for this discussion is Satya Ganni, an experienced SaaS founder and operator who has successfully built and sold five companies and led two acquisitions as a buyer. He is currently serving as CEO of Beamer and Userflow. Beamer is developing a cutting-edge product-led growth toolkit tailored to product leaders at SaaS and digital-first companies. They recently acquired Userflow to augment the business. TIME STAMPS: (01:15) Satya’s journey as a repeat US-India SaaS founder and operator (04:38) [Case Study: 0-to-1] Finding US design partners (11:09) Scoping B2B SaaS MVPs (15:42) [Case Study: $10k-100k ARR] Identifying which ICP to focus on - SMB vs mid-market vs enterprise (22:23) [Case Study: $100k-$1Mn ARR] Navigating the unique challenges of early PMF (27:18) [Case Study: $1-5Mn ARR] Building a US leadership team post-PMF (34:33) [Case Study: $5-20Mn ARR] Working towards creating M&A exit options  (38:46) Learning to become a proactive relationship builder YouTube - https://lnkd.in/guGQeBwA Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gAg7XeF4 Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gkYEDpED An Operator's Blog - https://lnkd.in/ggGbzSKY

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