Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️

By Priya Ranjan MohantyBusiness Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️ episodes

July 10, 2023 ELI - 348 | Ashish Khandelwal (Managing Director of B.L. Agro Industries - Mustard oil and Agro)
About the spokesperson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkhandelwalblagro/
Ashish Khandelwal is the Managing Director of B.L. Agro Industries, a food processing company based in Bareilly.
The company was established in 1999 and specializes in edible oils and FMCG products.
Mustard oil is a significant product for B.L. Agro Industries, with a large market share in Northern India.
Ashish Khandelwal comes from a family involved in the oil trading business for several generations, and he was destined to entrepreneurship, eventually joining and expanding the family business.
Mustard oil is a staple food in Northern India, particularly in regions like NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir.
B.L. Agro Industries has become a major player in the mustard oil segment, despite its humble beginnings.
In 1992 or 1993, a turning point for the company occurred with the establishment of a mustard oil testing lab.
In 2007, B.L. Agro Industries installed a refining plant with a capacity of 750 metric tons per day.
The company expanded its production lines to include different bottle sizes, such as 400ml, 5 liters, and 2 liters.
B.L. Agro Industries faced challenges in food packaging, but overcame them by investing in machines from Italy and Japan.
The company offers around 75 food items and has excelled in manufacturing throughout its history.
Ashish Khandelwal joined the family business in 1996 and received training in food systems, eventually becoming a business leader.
33 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 347 | Arun Singhal (Founder of Source.One - Simplifying Polymer Distribution)
About the spokesperson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arunsinghal1/
Arun Singhal is the founder of Source.One, a petrochemical distribution company focused on solving the distribution challenges in the chemical industry in India.
Source.One aims to streamline the distribution of chemicals, specifically petrochemicals, which is a $30 billion industry in India and plays a crucial role in manufacturing and the country's GDP.
The traditional and fragmented distribution system in the industry affects manufacturing efficiency, and Source.One uses new-age technologies to address this problem.
Arun Singhal's background includes studying economics, working in the financial industry, and later transitioning to the trucking startup Dracula before entering the petrochemical industry.
Source.One conducted extensive research for nearly a year, discovering that smaller processors in the chemical industry struggled to procure materials efficiently, leading to their growth limitations. This finding led to a shift in focus towards solving both the consumption and supply side challenges.
Source.One's research revealed that the B2B procurement in the chemical industry was still largely relationship-driven, traditional, and lacked transparency. The trade was dominated by expensive trade credit and suffered from inefficiencies, affecting both buyers and stockists.
To address the challenges, Source.One pivoted its focus to become a two-sided platform, catering to both buyers and suppliers in the petrochemical distribution process. This shift enabled them to become the largest petrochemical distribution company in India.
The groundbreaking technology that powers Source.One is the use of WhatsApp Business as a transaction platform. Leveraging the widespread use of WhatsApp in India, Source.One found it to be an ideal tool for immediate and scalable communication with suppliers and buyers, facilitating real-time price quoting and consumption.
Currently, Source.One has a significant reach, engaging with around 12,000 processors twice a day, working with 20 to 23 industry players, and influencing the pricing decisions of 78 other businesses. They handle approximately 1,500 shipments per month, totaling 250,000 tons per year, offering just-in-time delivery across India.
Source.One's platform has brought cost savings, efficiency, and improved information flow to the petrochemical industry. By optimizing the distribution process and providing transparent pricing and communication, they have revolutionized the way business is conducted, benefiting both buyers and suppliers.
#PetrochemicalDistribution#ChemicalIndustry#B2BProcurement#SupplyChainManagement#Entrepreneurship#TechnologyInnovation#EfficiencySolutions#TransparentTrading#DistributionPlatform#BusinessTransformation
31 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 346 | Punit Sindhwani (Founder of Paxcom - Retail Intelligence Platform)
About the spokesperson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/punitsindhwani/
Punit Sindhwani is the founder of Paxcom, an omni-channel retail platform based in India.
He started his career as a software engineer and later ventured into entrepreneurship by starting Pixel Technologies in 2001.
In 2011, Sindhwani and his team pivoted to the retail and e-commerce industry, establishing Paxcom as an omni-channel retail platform with physical stores, a brand portal, and presence on Amazon and Flipkart.
In 2014, Paxcom further evolved its business model and became a software and services provider, focusing on simplifying e-commerce for brands and retailers by offering centralized order and inventory management systems and business intelligence.
Paxcom currently serves 150 brands in India and has expanded its operations globally, providing services in markets such as the United States, Australia, Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In 2019, Paxcom was acquired by another entity called Paymentus, which supported their growth in the North American market.
Paxcom offers a subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, where customers pay for the intelligence and insights they want to track in e-commerce, such as inventory levels, pricing, and product promotions.
The company's monetization model is profitable, and they also provide additional services to customers based on the insights generated by their tools, including content optimization for e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
Paxcom has expanded its client base globally and serves markets beyond India, including the United States, Australia, Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The acquisition of Paxcom by Paymentus in 2019 provided logistical and financial support, enabling accelerated growth and entry into the North American market.
Paxcom's future trajectory involves leveraging machine learning and AI technologies to further enhance their platform's capabilities, including predictive analytics for inventory optimization and targeted promotion strategies.
#EntrepreneurshipInspiration #RetailIntelligencePlatform #PaxcomFounder #OmniChannelRetail #ECommerceEvolution #SimplifyingECommerce #GlobalExpansion #AIandMachineLearning #SubscriptionBasedModel #BusinessIntelligence
27 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 345 | Vineet Khanna (Co-founder of Supertails - pet parent community & platform)
About the spokesperson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetkhanna1985/
Vineet Khanna is the co-founder of Supertails, a digital pet care platform.
Supertails offers expert-led healthcare services and products for pet parents.
Vineet Khanna has a background in engineering and worked with the Tata group before joining startups.
The idea for Supertails came from the observation of increased pet adoption and the need for pet care during the pandemic.
Supertails aims to solve the challenges faced by first-time pet parents in India through an integrated platform that provides supplies, healthcare, and behavior training services.
The pet industry in India is primarily driven by Gen Z and millennials adopting more pets.
Supertails focuses on addressing the specific needs of first-time pet parents in India, who make up the majority of pet owners.
The Super Tails platform aims to make pet parenthood enjoyable and prevent abandonment by providing comprehensive solutions during the challenging initial phase.
The business model of Supertails is unique, combining products and services to offer a holistic approach to pet care.
Digital channels such as Google, social media platforms, and online communities play a crucial role in helping pet owners discover Supertails and find solutions to their pet-related queries.
#PetCare#DigitalPetCare#FirstTimePetParents#IntegratedPetCare#PetParentCommunity
30 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 344 | Anand Kumar Bajaj (Founder of PayNearby - India’s leading branchless banking network)
About the spokesperson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandkumarbajajpaynearby/
Anand Kumar Bajaj is the founder of PayNearby, India's leading branchless banking and digital payments network.
PayNearby aims to digitize and universalize services available in urban areas to reach rural areas in India.
Anand Kumar Bajaj has a background in banking and worked at ICICI and Yes Bank before starting PayNearby.
PayNearby operates through a digital network of physical shops and women entrepreneurs, serving as banking correspondent agents.
PayNearby has been recognized as a DPIIT-certified (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) company under the Startup India program.
PayNearby has a large-scale operation, reaching nearly 50 lakh (5 million) micropreneurs across 20,000 PIN codes in India.
The future plan for PayNearby is to continue expanding its network of connected entrepreneurs, known as "Digital Pradhan," who act as the last distribution point for services.
PayNearby's goal is to bridge the digital divide by providing access to digital services and financial inclusion to underserved areas in India.
The company has received investment from Roha Group and collaborates with partner banks, NBFCs, and other organizations to offer a range of services including banking, digital payments, insurance, travel distribution, and more.
PayNearby's mission is to bring high-end technology and digital solutions to the bottom of the pyramid, empowering people in rural areas and enabling them to participate in the digital economy.
#PayNearby #DigitalPayments #FinancialInclusion #BranchlessBanking #DigitalPradhan #StartupIndia #DPIIT #RuralEmpowerment #DigitalDivide #Expansion #Microentrepreneurs
24 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 343 | Cheolwon Charlie Lee (Founder of Balance Hero - Fintech Venture)
About the speaker: https://kr.linkedin.com/in/cheolwon-charlie-lee-5b110b2
Charlie Lee is the founder of Balance Hero, a fintech startup in India and Korea.
Charlie Lee explains his background and journey in India, starting from providing services to Airtel to founding his own ventures.
True Balance, the financial application developed by Balance Hero, provides payment, loan, and other financial services to the unbanked and underserved population in India.
True Balance focuses on prepaid mobile balance checking and recharge as a gateway to other payment services and financial products.
The company utilizes data analysis and AI-based underwriting models to provide credit and financial services to users without traditional credit scores.
True Balance aims to serve the next billion Indian people who are currently unbanked or underserved, providing them with access to financial services.
The company leverages smartphone technology and data collection to analyze user behavior and provide credit and financial solutions to those without credit scores.
True Balance utilizes AI and machine learning models, including bank score, alternative credit scoring, and SMS score, to evaluate and underwrite users for financial services.
The core data sets analyzed include mobile application usage, handset model, location information, social behavior, and financial data obtained from SMS transactions.
In a crowded fintech sector in India, True Balance stands out by focusing on its target users, offering a gateway from prepaid mobile balance checking to a wide range of financial services, and utilizing data-driven underwriting to serve the underserved population.
#FintechStartup #BalanceHero #TrueBalance #FinancialInclusion #UnbankedPopulation #DataDrivenFinance #AIUnderwriting #NextBillionUsers #PrepaidMobileServices #FinancialServicesForAll
29 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 342 | Prasad Sreeram (Founder of Cogos - intra-city logistics platform)
About the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasad-sreeram-00a5a82/
Prasad Sreeram is the founder of Cogos, India's fastest growing intra-city logistics platform.
Cogos operates in over 450+ cities across 24 to 26 states in India, providing B2B logistics services.
Prasad's interest in building things began during his college years, where he and his friends developed projects involving unmanned railway gates and alarm systems.
He later pursued a career in technology, working with mobile chipset companies and display technology.
Prasad's entrepreneurial journey began when he realized the need for digital transformation in the logistics industry, leading to the founding of Cogos and a shift towards an enterprise-focused B2B solution.
Prasad's passion for creating maximum impact on the ground level led him to focus on agriculture, construction, and transport sectors within the logistics industry.
He recognized the gap in service levels and connectivity for entrepreneurs in logistics, particularly in tier one to tier three towns.
Cogos initially explored a shared economy model but pivoted to an enterprise solution catering to B2B logistics, which proved to be more scalable and valuable for both enterprises and truckers.
Selling the idea of entrepreneurship and convincing himself and his family required determination and support from loved ones, including his wife and co-founder, who provided economic backup.
While reaching out to large enterprises initially posed a challenge, Cogos succeeded by demonstrating their understanding of market pain points and a willingness to help in specific locations where the enterprises faced challenges.
#IntraCityLogistics #LogisticsPlatform #B2BLogistics #EntrepreneurshipInspiration #DigitalTransformation #MaximizingImpact #EnterpriseSolution #Tier3Towns #MarketPainPoints #FamilySupport
30 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 341 | Nisith Naik (Founder of Centra Hub CRM - SaaS platform)
About the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisithnaik/
Centra Hub CRM focuses on solving customer and employee journey problems within organizations.
The platform integrates CRM, Business Process Management, and Human Capital Management.
Their solutions aim to manage customer journeys, improve customer retention, and enhance employee journeys.
Centra Hub CRM caters to various industries, including real estate, automotive, education, and project management, with customers in multiple countries.
#CRM #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #CustomerJourney #EmployeeJourney #BusinessProcessManagement #HumanCapitalManagement #RealEstate #Automotive #Education #ProjectManagement #SmallBusiness #SMB #Technology #Startup #DigitalTransformation
29 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 340 | Vikas Garg (Co-founder of Paytail - offline commerce with paperless EMI)
About the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikasgarg123/
Vikas Garg is the co-founder of Paytail, a company revolutionizing offline commerce by offering paperless EMIs to customers.
Paytail targets small retailers in tier two and tier three cities, providing them with a tech stack to facilitate trade financing and enable consumer financing for purchases.
They have partnerships with large corporates like Voltas, Samsung, and Hero Cycles, covering approximately 70% of the market in India.
Paytail has built a four-layered tech stack, including integration with enterprise partners, a merchant application for onboarding and managing sales, real-time integrations with banks and NBFCs, and a consumer application for product selection and EMI access.
Vikas Garg's entrepreneurial journey started with a background in a small business family, and he recognized the importance of understanding large corporates before building a large institution.
28 min
July 10, 2023 ELI - 339 | Ankur Joshi (Founder of Nuclei - digital banking and customer engagement platform)
About the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1ankurjoshi/
Ankur Joshi is the founder and CEO of Nuclei, a fintech company based in Bangalore that offers digital banking and customer engagement solutions.
Nuclei integrates its products with various banks across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East to help them engage with their customers more effectively.
The company has launched a product for SME customers and is going live with 12 banks across different markets. They plan to enter the European and African markets soon.
Nuclei's platform enables banks to customize their offerings based on the preferences of their customers, allowing for personalized digital experiences.
The company also offers CardStack, which aggregates various SaaS tools and links them to a bank's commercial card, providing SME customers with discounted access to these tools and simplifying their payment process.
#Fintech #DigitalBanking #CustomerEngagement #SMEsolutions #FinancialTechnology
27 min

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Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️

Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️ episodes

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