Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️

In a world saturated with information, how does a brand or individual capture attention and build trust? The answer is perception. And the tool to build it is Public Relations.In this episode, we sit down with Upasna Dash, the founder of one of India's leading homegrown PR agencies, Jajabor PR. Starting from her parents' couch with no connections and zero investment, Upasna has built an empire by mastering the art of storytelling and perception.We dive deep into why PR has become the most valuable currency in the new world economy—driving opportunity, business, and wealth for everyone from startup founders to entire nations.In this conversation, we cover:🔹 Upasna's unorthodox journey from a small town to building a top PR firm.🔹 Why PR is less about "Public Relations" and more about "Perception Building."🔹 The secret sauce behind iconic brands like Apple and how they sell an emotion, not a product.🔹 The key ingredients for a successful PR campaign: authenticity, innovation, and taking calculated risks.🔹 Actionable, low-budget PR strategies for early-stage founders.🔹 The debate: Does negative PR work in the long run?🔹 How to measure the ROI of something as intangible as trust and credibility.This is a masterclass for any founder, marketer, or leader looking to understand how to build a powerful and lasting brand.Chapters(00:00) Introduction(00:43) Upasna's Unorthodox Journey & the Power of Storytelling(05:13) Starting a PR Agency with No Connections & No Investment(08:18) What is PR in the Modern World? (The Apple Case Study)(12:21) The "Art" of PR: Why Some Campaigns Work and Others Don't(15:31) Case Study: How the Movie 'Saiyaara' Cracked the PR Code(17:54) Does Negative PR Work? The "All PR is Good PR" Myth(20:43) The Fear Factor: Does Fear Sell Better Than Purpose?(22:50) The Expanding Universe of PR: Beyond Brands to Celebrities & Countries(26:05) Actionable PR Advice for Early-Stage Founders on a Budget(30:01) How Important is a Founder's Personal Brand?(32:20) The Million-Dollar Question: How Do You Measure the ROI of PR?(38:03) Conclusion

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Shyam Panda, a seasoned entrepreneur who has successfully built two distinct startups. Shyam shares his incredible journey, from his early days in a small town in Odisha, India, to studying at NIT Rourkela and XIMB, to working at Oracle's headquarters in Silicon Valley.Discover the story behind his first venture, DiLytics, a systems integration and solution partner focused on data analytics, and how it evolved from on-premise solutions to the forefront of cloud and AI-driven analytics.Shyam also unveils the genesis of his consumer app, Slash, a digital marketplace for home and living services. He discusses the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace, competing with established players, and his unique approach to dynamic pricing.Tune in to hear Shyam's invaluable insights on entrepreneurship, the future of data science in the age of AI, the cloud vs. on-premise debate, and the relentless pursuit of product-market fit. This is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the tech industry.Chapters:(00:03) - Introduction to Shyam Panda, Founder of DiLytics and Slash(01:02) - Shyam's Background: From a Small Town to a Career in Tech(03:15) - The "Trigger Point" for Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley(05:16) - Inception Story: Solving Problems for Oracle Customers with DiLytics(08:25) - Scaling Up: Hiring the First Team Members for DiLytics(11:57) - The Evolution of Data Analytics: From On-Premise to Cloud and AI(15:33) - How AI is Changing the Role of Data Scientists(18:38) - Cloud vs. On-Premise: "A Dead Debate"(22:04) - The Genesis of Slash: A Dream Before DiLytics(25:30) - Solving the Marketplace's "Chicken-and-Egg" Problem(27:25) - The Differentiator: How Slash Competes with Dynamic Pricing(30:45) - The Continuous Journey to Product-Market Fit(33:21) - The Biggest Lesson from a Decade of Entrepreneurship: Embrace Failure(35:09) - Conclusion

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Brijesh Patel, the CTO of SNDK Corp, a technology services company at the forefront of generative AI, IoT, and cloud computing.Brijesh shares his incredible journey from the US to becoming a CTO in India, driven by a passion for curiosity and solving business challenges with technology. We dive deep into how SNDK Corp has grown from a software development firm to a multi-faceted tech partner for businesses in manufacturing, retail, law, and construction.Join us as we discuss:The innovative "Election on Cloud" project that onboarded 50,000 users in just one week.Practical cybersecurity advice for small and medium-sized businesses.The "fusion of technology": Integrating IoT data with generative AI for predictive maintenance.The real ROI of implementing AI and IoT beyond just cost savings.The future of manufacturing and the rise of "dark factories."Key trends and security considerations in cloud computing with AWS.Will AI replace developers? Brijesh's take on how tech professionals can evolve.The underrated and overhyped aspects of the current AI boom.Actionable advice for entrepreneurs on how to build and lead in the age of AI.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(00:28) Brijesh's Journey to CTO(02:06) About SNDK Corp(03:46) How SNDK Finds Clients(05:54) The "Election on Cloud" Project(07:32) Work in Cyber Security(10:05) Cyber Security for Small Businesses(12:53) Fusion of Technology: IoT and Generative AI(16:00) ROI of IoT and Generative AI(17:50) The Future of Manufacturing: Dark Factories(20:24) Trends in Cloud Computing (AWS)(25:56) Common Mistakes Migrating to the Cloud(27:43) AI Replacing Developers(30:38) Shadow AI and Security(34:55) Overhyped and Underrated Aspects of AI(41:41) V-Coding: AI-Assisted Coding(44:36) Advice for Future Entrepreneurs(48:09) Outro

In India, only 4% of the population is financially educated, leaving many vulnerable to unqualified advice and misselling. How can we change this?In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Krishan Mishra, CEO of FPSB India, the leading financial planning body that offers the globally recognized Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. Krishan breaks down the critical importance of professional financial planning, tracing its roots from Chanakya's Arthashastra to the modern era.We discuss everything from the problem of misselling in banks to how AI is shaping the future of financial advice. Krishan explains who the CFP certification is for, the career opportunities it unlocks, and why every Indian, regardless of their profession or income, needs a financial plan.Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:37) Krishan Mishra's Journey: From Army Brat to CEO(02:40) What is FPSB & the History of Financial Planning?(07:31) Who Can Pursue the CFP Certification?(09:28) The Evolution of Financial Advice in India(13:14) CFP Certification Recognition: From Regulators to Corporates(16:49) The "Advisor vs. Seller" Dilemma in Finance(20:02) Tackling Unqualified Advice & Misselling in Banks(24:02) Will AI Replace Financial Planners?(28:34) Career Paths & Use Cases for a CFP Professional(33:12) Final Message: Why Everyone Needs a Financial Plan(34:34) Outro

In this episode of ELI, we welcome Rahul Mehra, the co-founder of Roadcast, a SaaS platform specializing in fleet management and tracking. Rahul shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days as a marketer at Ogilvy to building a successful tech company. He discusses the evolution of Roadcast, its pivots, and its impact on various industries, including logistics, construction, and even law enforcement with the Delhi Police. Rahul also delves into the role of AI in their technology and their future vision of making Roadcast a household name.Chapters**00:00 – Introduction: Welcoming Rahul Mehra, Co-Founder of Roadcast**- Host introduces the format and today’s guest, Rahul Mehra, who cofounded Roadcast, a leading SaaS platform for fleet management and tracking.**00:35 – About Roadcast: The Tracking Company**- Rahul shares Roadcast’s core business concept, pivots, and its unwavering focus on tracking technology.**01:13 – Early Journey: From Delhi to Entrepreneurship**- Rahul talks about his upbringing in Delhi, his schooling, and initial career aspirations influenced by family expectations.**03:06 – Creative Passions and Early Ventures**- Balancing engineering with web design, music, and even DJing. How these creative skills contributed to his first business, First Look Media.**04:51 – Industry Experience: Digital Agencies & Ogilvy**- Rahul’s industry exposure starts with a digital agency internship, then a leap to Ogilvy as one of the youngest art directors, and facing the reality of formal education alongside work.**07:25 – Finishing Engineering & Career Dilemma**- Taking a sabbatical from Ogilvy to (miraculously) finish his engineering degree, and pondering future career steps.**08:03 – The Spark: Roadcast’s Origin Story**- How a casual call with his co-founders about solving group travel coordination led to creating the first version of Roadcast.**09:36 – The First Product: Social Location Tracking App**- Building an early real-time location sharing app (before WhatsApp had live location) and challenges of launching a social product from India.**10:12 – The First Pivot: From B2C to B2B**- Advice from early advisor Deepak Jain leads Roadcast to focus on logistics and delivery tracking for businesses instead of consumers.**11:22 – Building the Technology: In-house vs Outsourcing**- Decision between outsourcing the MVP and eventually building apps in-house, including structuring the founding team.**13:40 – First Customer and Initial Success**- Winning the first customer (Brookfield) in highway management, then rapid expansion into restaurant delivery logistics.**14:57 – The Restaurant Boom & Second Major Pivot**- Scaling fast with restaurant chains, but the industry shifts when Zomato/Swiggy take over deliveries. Roadcast pivots to hardware (IoT/vehicle) tracking.**16:50 – Tech Evolution: From GPS to AI Dashcams**- Advancements in tracking: modern sensors, dashcams, AI-based driver behavior monitoring, and expanding hardware capabilities.**18:05 – Use Cases & Industrial Adoption**- Overview of industry coverage, from logistics, construction, and EVs, to taxis—how their platform adapts across sectors.**21:02 – Business Model & Government Clients**- Subscription pricing, hardware/software model, and case study on long-term collaboration with Delhi Police.**23:08 – Real-World Impact: ROI for Clients**- Concrete examples of customer cost savings: route/fleet optimization, fuel theft reduction, safety benefits, quick payback periods for businesses.**24:44 – The Next Leap: Launching “Track What Matters” B2C Expansion**- Introducing a new consumer line (devices for pets, kids, personal safety), aiming for Roadcast to become a household name.**25:49 – Consumer Products: Safety Devices & Pet Trackers**- Details about the product range: kid-safe devices, pet GPS trackers, female safety gadgets, and dash cams.

In this episode, we sit down with Sriram P H, the Co-Founder & CEO of DaveAI, a groundbreaking AI-driven sales augmentation platform. Sriram shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, starting from his childhood in a tea estate to his early ventures, including an omni-channel pet store, and the pivotal moments that led to the creation of DaveAI.We dive deep into the technology behind DaveAI, exploring their patented "Empathetic AI," the powerful GRYD platform, and how they leverage Small Language Models (SLMs) to create hyper-personalized sales experiences. Sriram discusses their go-to-market strategy, focusing on the automotive, retail, and BFSI sectors, and shares insights from working with major brands like Maruti Suzuki and Karnataka Bank.Finally, Sriram offers his perspective on the rapid pace of innovation in the AI industry and provides invaluable advice for new-age entrepreneurs.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction(00:36) - Sriram's Background & Early Career(02:29) - The Spark of Entrepreneurship(04:42) - First Venture: The Omni-Channel Pet Store(05:56) - The Genesis of SocioGraph(09:35) - The Pivot to DaveAI(12:44) - The Premise Behind DaveAI(17:24) - Target Industries & Use Cases(19:48) - The Patented AI Stack & "GRYD" Platform(26:04) - Keeping Up with the Pace of AI Innovation(30:34) - The Future of DaveAI: Deep Dive into Mobility(35:41) - The Power of Small Language Models (SLMs)(40:34) - Advice for New-Age Entrepreneurs(44:51) - Final Thoughts

In this episode of ELI, we sit down with Richa Jaggi, the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Awshad, a pioneering Indian brand making waves in the medical cannabis and wellness space.Richa shares her deeply personal and emotional journey from a high-flying corporate career at Times Internet to launching Awshad. It's a story driven by love, loss, and the desire to provide relief, which began with her pet, Champ, who battled cancer.We dive deep into the world of CBD and medical cannabis in India. Richa demystifies the science behind cannabinoids, explains the "entourage effect," and discusses the vast therapeutic use cases—from managing chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia to aiding cancer patients.Richa also breaks down the complex legal landscape of cannabis in India, clarifying the difference between recreational use and the legal, prescription-based medical market. She shares the unique and significant challenges of marketing a cannabis brand, from ad restrictions on major platforms to the crucial role of education in overcoming social stigma.Tune in to discover how Richa is leveraging her extensive marketing expertise to build a trusted brand in a controversial industry, her strategy for navigating the supply chain, and her vision for the future of wellness in India.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Richa Jaggi & Awshad01:18 - Richa's Personal Story: From Corporate Life to a Mission-Driven Entrepreneur02:33 - The Heartbreaking Story of Champ and the Discovery of CBD04:31 - The Science of Medical Cannabis: CBD, THC, and Cannabinoids Explained06:19 - The Controversial Past and Present of Cannabis in India08:26 - The Surprising Use Cases of Medical Cannabis: From Fibromyalgia to Insomnia10:30 - The Difference Between Wellness Products and Prescription Medicine11:44 - How the Prescription Model Works for a D2C Brand13:07 - Marketing a Cannabis Brand: Overcoming Bans and Stigma14:07 - The Supply Chain: How Medical Cannabis is Sourced in India15:34 - What is the "Entourage Effect"?16:35 - Leveraging Corporate Experience in a Startup World19:07 - The #1 Challenge: Why Keywords like "Cannabis" and "CBD" Are Banned in Ads20:39 - The Power of Education and Content Marketing22:30 - The Future of Awshad: New Products, Funding, and a Vision for Wellness24:16 - Final Thoughts

In this episode of Eli, we sit down with Masaharu Morita, a 20-year veteran of FUJIFILM and the Program Director at Nura, a pioneering AI-powered health screening center.Join us as we explore Mr. Morita's incredible journey, from starting in FUJIFILM's healthcare division in Japan to expanding the business tenfold in the Middle East and Africa. Discover the fascinating story of how FUJIFILM, a company synonymous with photography, secretly became a healthcare giant over the last 80 years, starting with X-ray films.Mr. Morita shares the inspiration behind Nura—to bring Japan's culture of preventive health to developing nations. We dive deep into:Nura's Mission: How AI-powered, full-body scans can detect cancers and lifestyle diseases at their earliest stages.The Technology: How AI and doctors collaborate to visualize your organs in 3D and deliver comprehensive reports in just 120 minutes.Global Vision: Nura's ambitious plans to expand from India to the UAE, South Africa, the Philippines, and beyond, with a goal of 100 centers by 2030.Entrepreneurial Advice: Mr. Morita's key insights for entrepreneurs looking to solve big problems in the healthcare space.This is a masterclass in corporate innovation, global strategy, and the future of preventive medicine.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(00:30) Masaharu Morita's 20-Year Journey at FUJIFILM(02:10) The 80-Year History of FUJIFILM's Healthcare Division(04:20) The Power of Digital Imaging in Global Healthcare(06:35) The Origin Story of Nura: Bridging the Preventive Care Gap(09:00) Nura's Ambitious Global Expansion Strategy(09:55) How AI is Transforming Early Detection of Cancer(12:10) The 120-Minute Report: How AI & Cloud Technology Deliver Instant Results(13:45) Building a Culture of Preventive Healthcare in India(15:25) Nura Express: Making Health Screening Accessible with Mobile Clinics(17:00) Ensuring Data Privacy and Security with Japanese Standards(19:20) The Future of Nura: A Goal of 100 Centers by 2030(20:35) Building a Strong Partner Ecosystem for Patient Care(22:45) Mr. Morita's Advice for Aspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurs(24:10) Outro

In this episode, we sit down with Sunil Kharbanda and Haresh Calcuttawala, the Founders of Trezix Software, a SaaS platform for import and export businesses. With over 25 years of experience in the tech and ERP space, Sunil and Haresh share their entrepreneurial journey, from their corporate careers at companies like SAP and Oracle to identifying a critical gap in the global trade management market.Discover how Trezix is leveraging AI to tackle the complexities of cross-border trade, offering a unified platform that enhances visibility, ensures compliance, and boosts efficiency for businesses across various industries. Sunil and Haresh dive deep into the specific pain points they are solving—from documentation and customs filing to providing a single source of truth for all stakeholders. They also share their insights on the future of global trade, the impact of geopolitical tensions, and how India is poised to become a leading exporter.Tune in for an inspiring conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of global logistics.Key Topics Covered:- The founders' journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship- The challenges and opportunities in the import-export industry- How Trezix is using AI to bring efficiency and visibility to global trade- The importance of a unified platform for all stakeholders- Predictions for the future of global trade and India's role as an exporterChapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Founders of Trezix00:45 - Sunil Kharbanda's Journey into Entrepreneurship05:41 - Haresh Calcuttawala's Background and Path to Trezix09:20 - Understanding Trezix: Target Customers and Pain Points15:15 - Building an AI-Native Platform for Global Trade19:45 - The Role of Blockchain in Global Logistics22:50 - Unifying Stakeholders on a Single Platform24:55 - Tailoring the Platform for Different Industries and Markets32:15 - Integrating with Government Platforms like ULIP34:35 - The Future of Global Logistics and the Impact of AI39:20 - How Agility Helps in Acquiring New Business41:15 - The India Story: Becoming a Net Exporter45:10 - A Message for Entrepreneurs in the Import-Export Space

In this episode of ELI, we welcome Anantharam Varayur, the co-founder of Manasum Senior Living. Anantharam shares his remarkable three-decade entrepreneurial journey, from starting a pioneering IT networking company in the '80s to following his true passion: creating vibrant, premium communities for seniors.Discover the powerful story of how a single conversation pushed him and his wife to close a successful business and pursue their dream. Anantharam details the extensive research across the US and India that shaped their unique "courtyard concept" and premium service model. He also offers a transparent look at the economics of senior living, the operational challenges of running a multi-faceted service, and the heartwarming stories that make it all worthwhile.Finally, Anantharam shares invaluable advice for all entrepreneurs: focus on solving a problem with a strong purpose, and success will follow.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction to Anantharam Varayur, Co-Founder of Manasum Senior Living(00:52) An Accidental Entrepreneur: Starting in IT at Age 23(03:44) Building a Successful IT Networking Business(05:17) The Spark of Passion: Identifying the Need for Senior Care(06:31) The BNI Connection: Finding a Mentor in Senior Living(08:11) The Bold Decision: Closing a Thriving Business to Follow a Passion(11:19) Researching the Market: Learning from Senior Living in the US & India(15:47) Redefining Senior Living in India: Beyond the "Old Age Home"(19:11) The Economics of Premium Senior Living(24:34) Operational Challenges: Running Hospitality, Healthcare, and Facility Management(28:00) Heartwarming Success Stories from Manasum Residents(30:20) The Future of Senior Living & Manasum's Growth Strategy(36:33) Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs: The Power of Purpose Over Money(42:46) The Manasum Vision: Transforming Lives into Butterflies