Now We Build

Ep 8 - Dhiraj Mukherjee - Building Shazam, how to build hypergrowth products and why Dhiraj now focuses on impact above all else.


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Dhiraj Mukherjee, co-founder of Shazam, shares the founding story of the music identification app and discusses the challenges and successes of building a tech startup. He emphasizes the importance of having a strong and defensible technology, as well as the perseverance and belief in the product during the early years. Dhiraj also talks about his role as an investor and the traits he looks for in founders, including a passion for technology and a vision for making a positive impact. He encourages corporates to collaborate with startups and learn from their innovative approaches. Dhiraj's focus on tech for good and his interest in climate action are highlighted, along with his advice for validating ideas and solving real-world problems.


Keywords


Shazam, startup, technology, investment, perseverance, innovation, tech for good, climate action


Takeaways


  • Building a successful startup requires a strong and defensible technology
  • Perseverance and belief in the product are crucial during the early years
  • Investors should look for founders with a passion for technology and a vision for making a positive impact
  • Collaboration between corporates and startups can lead to innovative solutions
  • Tech for good and climate action are important areas of focus for entrepreneurs
  • Validating ideas involves identifying real-world problems and working backwards to find solutions


Titles


  • Validating Ideas: Solving Real-World Problems
  • Investing in Tech for Good: Passion and Impact


Sound Bites


  • "We were basically a mockery crew of wannabe entrepreneurs without an idea."
  • "The technology was so advanced and we were lucky enough to protect it both with patents as well as fending off competitors in the market."
  • "Nothing happened for years and years and years. We worked so hard to talk about the service, acquire any kind of customer. We begged them not to leave."


Chapters


00:00 The Founding Story of Shazam

07:13 Challenges and Successes

11:52 The Importance of Technology

19:25 Investing in Tech for Good

22:21 Collaboration between Corporates and Startups

24:57 Tech for Good and Climate Action

30:16 Validating Ideas






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Now We BuildBy Sam Marchant