In this episode of the Startup Seekho Podcast, we sit down with Aakriti Rawal, co-founder of House of Chikankari — a D2C fashion brand that beautifully blends Indian tradition with modern aesthetics and has scaled into a multi-crore business.

From building an MVP alongside her mother to appearing on Shark Tank India and mastering content-led brand building, Aakriti shares her unfiltered entrepreneurial journey. She talks about identifying chikankari as a niche opportunity, choosing the D2C route early, and building deep customer trust through storytelling and founder-led content.

The conversation explores how House of Chikankari acquired its first customers, scaled from 100 to thousands of loyal buyers, differentiated itself in a crowded fashion market, and built strong brand recall through design innovation and strategic content creation. Aakriti also reveals how celebrity collaborations happened organically, what really changed after Shark Tank India, and the operational realities of managing CAC, returns, and inventory in fashion.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a D2C brand builder, or someone passionate about Indian textiles and culture, this episode offers practical insights into building a modern brand rooted in heritage — along with honest lessons on resilience, partnerships, and long-term growth.

00:00 Intro
01:04 Two phone calls that changed her life
03:27 Choosing D2C and discovering chikankari as a niche
11:05 Brand storytelling and founder-led content
15:48 Starting House of Chikankari — building the MVP
21:12 Deciding sizes in the early days
23:44 Getting the first 100 customers
31:15 Scaling from 100 to 3,000 customers
36:00 Differentiating from other fashion brands
38:31 Discovering new designs and managing inventory
48:55 In-house content vs agency — what works better
50:53 How celebrities started wearing the brand
55:02 Life after Shark Tank India
01:00:21 Aman vs Piyush — favorite shark
01:01:20 Tackling CAC, returns, and fashion industry challenges
01:04:08 Untapped fashion opportunities and advice for beginners
01:06:31 A special message for moms and co-founder journey
01:08:38 Moments when she felt like giving up
01:11:48 Managing roles and dynamics with her mother
01:13:28 Daily rituals and habits for productivity
01:14:20 Best advice she received as a founder
01:16:40 Outro

https://startupseekho.com/
https://topmate.io/startupseekho

#StartupSeekho #HouseOfChikankari #AakritiRawal #SharkTankIndia #IndianFashion #D2CBrands #FashionEntrepreneur #WomenEntrepreneurs #ContentMarketing #StartupPodcast #FounderStories #BuildInIndia

🎧 Stream Startup Seekho episodes on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1LxFmySQrnYZvD3x82BSNl

In this episode of the Startup Seekho Podcast, we sit down with Muskan, the creator behind the viral brand Muskanarrates, whose horror storytelling reels have captivated — and terrified — millions across India.

Beyond the jump scares and eerie storytelling lies a powerful content strategy. Muskan shares her complete creator journey for the first time — from uploading her early videos to achieving a reel with 58M+ views, building a loyal niche audience, and transforming content creation into a scalable personal brand and business.

This conversation dives deep into niche selection, viral content psychology, research frameworks, and practical growth strategies for YouTube and Instagram creators. Muskan also opens up about her 100-day content challenge, real-life horror experiences that inspired her stories, handling burnout, and launching her murder mystery business from scratch.

Whether you’re an aspiring creator, a horror content fan, or someone trying to understand how viral growth actually works, this episode delivers actionable insights, creator lessons, and behind-the-scenes realities of building a successful digital presence.

00:00 Intro
01:24 A horror story from a subscriber that even scared Muskan
12:52 Muskan’s content creation journey — how she started
17:05 The story behind her first reel hitting 58M views
21:30 Why Muskan chose horror as her niche
23:19 How she researches content and finds viral ideas
27:32 Beginner’s guide to content creation — Muskan’s playbook
31:57 How much capital she started with
33:05 The 100-day content posting challenge
35:15 How to get your first 1,000 subscribers
37:36 Post-production hacks and YouTube discovery tips
42:42 Content creation mistakes beginners should avoid
44:50 Is content creation too saturated in 2025?
47:23 Muskan’s real-life horror experiences
48:45 Has any of her content been demonetized?
51:07 YouTube and Instagram metrics she tracks
54:42 Team structure and workflow behind Muskanarrates
58:41 Most haunted places in India — Muskan’s list
01:02:01 Did she ever feel like quitting content creation?
01:05:01 Launching her murder mystery business
01:13:22 The best advice Muskan ever received
01:15:25 Funniest and most memorable moments from her journey
01:16:29 Outro

🔗 Follow Muskan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muskanarrates/?hl=en
YouTube: @Muskanarrates
Book: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9358862076

https://startupseekho.com/
https://topmate.io/startupseekho

#StartupSeekho #Muskanarrates #HorrorContentCreator #ContentCreationTips #HowToGoViral #IndianYouTubers #InstagramGrowth #CreatorPodcast #DigitalCreators #ContentStrategy #StartupPodcast #CreatorJourney

🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Vipen Jain, the co-founder of Fitspire — one of India’s fastest-growing clean nutrition brands. Competing against giants like MuscleBlaze and Healthkart, Vipen shares the unfiltered story of how he turned a personal health scare into a wellness startup now trusted by thousands across India.From surviving two near-death experiences to scaling e-commerce and raising investment from singer Sukhbir Singh, this is a masterclass in building a D2C brand in India’s competitive nutrition market.We go deep into the real challenges of creating clean, plant-based supplements, how to read protein powder labels, finding your first 100 customers, building with your spouse, and even the daily habits that keep him grounded as a founder.Whether you’re building a wellness brand, into fitness, or just love startup journeys — this episode is packed with insights, practical tips, and untold moments from Fitspire’s growth story.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Teaser01:34 – How did Fitspire start? What inspired the journey?05:02 – How to read ingredients on a protein powder correctly11:16 – Why create Fitspire despite big players like MuscleBlaze?12:27 – 2 life-threatening incidents that changed Vipen’s perspective21:16 – How to know if you are protein deficient? Key signs22:37 – What was Fitspire’s MVP (Minimum Viable Product)?25:15 – Product development challenges & ensuring quality27:05 – How much capital did Vipen use to launch Fitspire?28:18 – How he found his first 100 customers & then 5000+30:32 – Launching on marketplaces (Amazon, Flipkart) & revenue split33:44 – Scaling their D2C e-commerce model36:20 – How Sukhbir Singh became an investor (full story)41:56 – What are the next big opportunities in the wellness industry?44:54 – Building a startup with your wife: Co-founder dynamics48:00 – Moments when Vipen wanted to give up49:11 – Daily habits that keep Vipen mentally and physically sharp50:39 – The role of family in his entrepreneurial journey52:06 – Advice to his younger self & the worst advice he received54:08 – Vipen’s feedback on the podcast conversation55:26 – Most fun memory from building Fitspire #VipenJain #Fitspire #CleanNutritionIndia #D2CStartup #HealthSupplements #WellnessStartups #IndianStartupStory #StartupIndia #ProteinPowderIndia #B2CIndia #SukhbirInvestor #PlantBasedIndia #HealthEntrepreneur #FounderJourney #StartupPodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Sahil Jain, the co-founder of Dineout — one of India’s most iconic dining-tech platforms that scaled across the country and was later acquired by Swiggy. From bootstrapping an MVP to going up against giants like Zomato and UberEats, Sahil shares the raw and real journey of building a B2B2C platform in India’s chaotic food ecosystem.Before the exits and headlines, Dineout faced it all — from struggling to convince restaurants, burning through early capital, surviving COVID when the entire dining industry paused, to making tough calls around hiring, tech, and growth. Sahil dives deep into how they found product-market fit, scaled nationally, tackled discounts, and made strategic bets like building Inresto in-house.We also get into the real startup stuff — building with friends, navigating co-founder dynamics, dealing with failure, deciding whether to copy global ideas, and how Sahil now approaches angel investing. Plus, the full inside story of how the Swiggy acquisition really happened.Whether you’re a tech founder, SaaS operator, or platform business enthusiast — this episode is packed with practical insights, untold stories, and no-fluff lessons from someone who’s done it.Tune in to learn how Sahil built Dineout from scratch, scaled it to a nationwide platform, and what he’s building next.Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with India’s top founders.TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro2:28 – How did the idea of Dineout come up?4:12 – Should Indian founders take inspiration from global startups?6:05 – What research did Sahil Jain do before launching Dineout?8:14 – What was Dineout’s MVP (Minimum Viable Product)?9:43 – How did they convince restaurants & customers to join early?17:08 – Where did the discounts come from? Was the model sustainable?18:34 – How did Dineout tackle competition like Zomato & UberEats?24:29 – How did they scale Dineout across India?31:20 – How did they hire and build the right team?36:28 – How did Times Internet acquire Dineout & what changed after?41:11 – Buy vs Build: The story behind inresto inside Dineout43:21 – Why failing is important: Sahil’s biggest mistakes & learnings45:45 – What were the biggest challenges during COVID?51:50 – Why UberEats, FoodPanda & JustEat failed in India (but Dineout didn’t)54:40 – What are the next big opportunities in the food-tech space?59:50 – Building platform businesses: Key lessons from Sahil Jain1:00:48 – Swiggy acquisition: How it happened & the real story1:07:44 – How to decide which startups to invest in (Angel investing advice)1:12:25 – What’s next for Sahil Jain after Dineout?1:14:39 – What did Sahil sacrifice to build Dineout? Role of family1:18:14 – Can childhood friends become co-founders? Navigating relationships1:23:28 – Habits that helped Sahil succeed as a founder1:25:57 – The best & worst advice Sahil has ever received1:28:14 – Feedback for the podcast & hosts1:30:38 – Funniest and most memorable moments from the Dineout journey#SwiggyVsZomato #DineoutStory #StartupIndia #FoodTechRevolution #SahilJain #DineoutCoupons #B2BStartup #PlatformBusiness #IndianStartupJourney #FromIdeaToExit #startupseekho

In this episode, we sit down with Sikandar Ali, the founder of Wear Duds, a homegrown streetwear brand that has carved its space in India’s fashion scene. From starting with white-labelled products to building a culturally rooted label worn by creators and celebrities, Sikandar shares the gritty, real journey of building a fashion business in India without owning a factory.Before Wear Duds became a known name, Sikandar faced multiple failures, deadstock issues, team struggles, and the tough decision of going offline to online. He breaks down how he found product-market fit, grew a high-ROAS D2C brand, cracked marketplaces like Myntra, and why OTP verification and a video content system changed their game.We also talk about the behind-the-scenes hustle of the Namas’cray festival, government schemes for funding, avoiding common fashion startup mistakes, and the true size and potential of India’s streetwear market. Whether you're a fashion enthusiast, D2C founder, or just exploring business ideas — this episode is full of practical insights, relatable stories, and startup gold.Tune in to learn how Sikandar built a lean, creative team (with his brothers!), got celebrities to wear his brand, and managed to scale without burning out. If you’re thinking of launching a product brand in 2025 — this one’s a must-watch.Subscribe for more no-fluff founder journeys!TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:40 – The reality of white labelling no one tells you6:35 – How he found the product-market fit for Wear Duds11:30 – Why is the brand called Wear Duds?13:50 – How they proved the idea actually works (proof of concept)17:32 – How they finally got online after so many struggles23:20 – 1-day roadmap to start learning digital marketing29:20 – Why Wear Duds gets such high returns on ad spend (ROAS)31:11 – Crazy story behind the Namas’cray streetwear festival34:50 – When should you launch on Amazon, Myntra, etc.?39:35 – Don't make this mistake with your video content45:22 – Why OTP verification is super important for your store48:45 – How Wear Duds grew on online marketplaces step by step49:38 – How big is the streetwear industry & how much can you earn?53:28 – Government schemes that can help fund your business54:35 – Smart trick they use to prevent deadstock losses57:27 – The biggest mistake new fashion brands make58:53 – Can you start a fashion business without owning a factory?1:00:38 – New business ideas in the streetwear industry1:04:20 – Real sacrifices and problems he faced building the brand1:06:49 – How he built a strong team with his own brothers1:11:18 – Celebs and influencers who wore Wear Duds1:16:09 – Does luck matter in business success?1:17:47 – The best advice he’s ever received (and what he’d tell his younger self)1:20:44 – Final message to anyone building something big#WearDuds #StreetwearIndia #D2CStartup #FashionStartupIndia #StartupIndia #SharkTankIndia #BootstrappedSuccess #FounderJourney #MadeInIndia #DigitalMarketingTips #GovernmentFunding #CreatorsWearThis #MyntraLaunch #SideHustleToStartup #Marketplaces2025 #zakirkhan #faisu #ikka #king #zaralosses

In this episode, we sit down with Pankaj Vermani, the founder of Clovia, one of India’s leading D2C innerwear and personal care brands. A 3X founder with successful exits, Pankaj takes us through his incredible entrepreneurial journey—from building tech ventures to disrupting the intimate wear space in India.We unpack how Clovia started with deep customer research, cracked the supply chain, won trust in a taboo category, and scaled through marketplaces and influencer-led campaigns—including a major endorsement by Shraddha Kapoor. Pankaj also shares how Clovia raised funds from marquee investors and was later acquired by Reliance Retail.But it’s not just a success story. This episode gets real about the emotional toll of entrepreneurshi*, co-founder dynamics, near shutdown moments, and the behind-the-scenes of fundraising at just an idea stage. Whether you're building a D2C brand, exploring exits, or want to understand how to find product-market fit in a crowded space, this is a masterclass in resilience and strategy.We also explore advertising in Tier 2 & 3 cities, how to decide your hero product, why returns can kill D2C brands, and what Pankaj believes is the next big opportunity after innerwear.If you're an aspiring founder, brand builder, or someone obsessed with India’s startup ecosystem, this conversation is full of unfiltered insights and actionable takeaways. Don't miss it!Subscribe for more such conversations!TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:57 – How Clovia Was Born4:45 – The 9-Month Deep-Dive That Changed Everything8:35 – The Insight That Triggered a Disruptive Business10:50 – Building the Backbone: Cracking Supply Chain Early On18:26 – Research Like a Pro (Even Before Launch)20:00 – Raising Angel Funding With Just an Idea22:40 – What Their First MVP Looked Like26:50 – The Marketplace Launch Strategy28:23 – Earning Customer Trust in an Intimate Category31:00 – How They Found Product-Market Fit38:00 – Sales Stories That Will Blow Your Mind40:20 – Real Business Numbers in Innerwear D2C48:00 – Tier 1 vs Tier 2/3 Cities: Marketing Game Plan52:05 – Celeb Ads 101: The Shraddha Kapoor Campaign54:25 – Why Shraddha Kapoor Was the Perfect Fit57:20 – Did It Work? The Results of the Big Campaign58:52 – How Clovia Survived the Hardest Times1:03:50 – Solving the Return Problem in D2C1:06:40 – Discovering Their Hero Product1:10:50 – Innovation as a Habit at Clovia1:12:59 – Is Innerwear D2C Still a Good Business in 2025?1:17:26 – Best Marketplaces to Launch Your D2C Brand1:19:46 – How Much Do Celebs Like Shraddha Charge?1:20:20 – When Should You Think About Acquisition?1:24:31 – Daily Habits That Made the Founder Succeed1:28:10 – The Power of Family Behind a Founder’s Journey1:30:30 – 3 Times He Almost Gave Up on Clovia1:36:30 – Best & Most Life-Changing Advice1:40:20 – The Worst Advice He Ever Got1:41:31 – Outro#clovia #pankajvermani #startupseekho #entrepreneurship #1000crore #reliance #acquired #viralpodcast #mustwatch #startup #makemoney

🎧 Stream Startup Seekho episodes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LxFmySQrnYZvD3x82BSNlIn this episode, we sit down with Dhruv Madhok, the co-founder of Arata, a clean personal care brand that has taken the Indian market by storm. From starting with zero industry knowledge to building a brand that has earned funding from Shark Tank India, L’Oréal, and Unilever Ventures, Dhruv shares the raw, behind-the-scenes journey of what it takes to build a sustainable D2C brand in a crowded market.Before Arata, Dhruv had already launched two other startups, and this episode dives deep into what he learned from those experiences. He opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of getting acquired, handling co-founder dynamics, and how he tested Arata’s first product batch. Whether you're an aspiring founder or building your own brand, this conversation is packed with practical insights on pricing, scaling, fundraising, product-market fit, and time management.We also bust common hair care myths, explore Dhruv’s appearance on Shark Tank India, and hear how life changed after the show. Dhruv’s story is a goldmine for anyone who wants to start a business today, without quitting their job immediately. Tune in for an inspiring and brutally honest look into the Indian startup ecosystem.Subscribe for more such conversations!TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:15 What is Arata all about?2:16 The origin story of Snacket5:25 Why he agreed to Snacket’s acquisition8:29 The idea behind starting Arata11:41 Succeeding in an overcrowded market14:10 Getting started with manufacturing and packaging21:00 How they tested their product23:25 How to price your product effectively26:30 Selling the first 1,500 units35:35 Scaling Arata and getting funded41:00 How to raise money for your startup53:00 Arata’s expenses and revenue breakdown1:02:08 Launching on marketplaces1:03:17 Business ideas you can start today1:05:45 From idea to product: The Arata process1:07:55 Struggles faced while building Arata1:10:02 Is Shark Tank scripted? How life changed after the show1:14:47 His experience as a judge on a business reality show1:16:35 Navigating a co-founder relationship1:18:45 Should you quit your job to start a business?1:22:18 How he manages his time as an entrepreneur1:24:24 The role of family in an entrepreneur’s journey1:26:55 Busting hair care myths and expert advice1:30:10 The best advice he received—and what he wants to give1:34:49 Outro#DhruvMadhok #Arata #SharkTankIndia #IndianStartups #D2CBrands #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #SkincareStartup #HaircareBrand #LorealInvests #UnileverVentures #PodcastIndia #FounderStories #BusinessMotivation #StartupJourney #ViralPodcast #SmallBusinessTips #BuildingABrand #PodcastWithFounders #StartupSeekho #haircare #haircareroutine #haircareproducts

In this episode, we’re joined by Shrey Sardana, Co-founder and CEO of Grest, a rising startup in the iPhone repair and refurbishment space. Grest is reimagining how second-hand smartphones are repaired, restored, and made reliable for the Indian market.We dive into how Shrey transitioned from a corporate job to starting up, how a 28-day retreat in Rishikesh helped him gain clarity, and what it really takes to build in a hardware-heavy, trust-deficient industry like phone refurbishment.From breaking down the four key pillars of this industry to sharing practical steps for anyone looking to enter the space, Shrey offers a clear roadmap for aspiring founders. He also opens up about the mental and emotional side of entrepreneurship—burnout, self-doubt, and the role his family played in his journey.Whether you're curious about refurbished tech, hardware startups, or building a business from scratch in India, this episode is filled with honest insights and real-world learnings.Subscribe for more such conversations!TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Introduction2:15 – How did Shrey come up with the idea to start a phone repair and refurbishment company?6:46 – How did he validate his idea?9:06 – Transition from corporate life to becoming a founder12:05 – Experience of a 28-day retreat in Rishikesh14:00 – One piece of advice for those who want to start a startup15:18 – How did they get their first B2B order and scale to 40,000 phones?21:05 – Challenges and pivots during COVID23:54 – How did they convince distributors to place orders?29:24 – The four key pillars to solve in this industry32:30 – Market size of the refurbishment industry34:53 – Do refurbished phones have defective parts?39:40 – Other business opportunities in the repair and refurbishment industry47:45 – What is the USP of Grest?52:10 – Roadmap to starting a company in the refurbishment industry54:50 – Gross margins and profit expectations in this industry1:02:10 – Do you need prior knowledge to enter this industry?1:07:56 – Struggles faced while building Grest1:17:42 – Future plans for Grest1:19:30 – Advice for future entrepreneurs1:21:27 – Advice to Shrey’s younger self1:24:02 – How does he maintain his energy and avoid burnout?1:29:00 – Role of parents in his journey1:32:49 – Outro#ZeroToOneFounder #DisruptingTheMarket #HiddenStartupGems #HardwareIsHard #iPhoneStartupStory #BootstrappedSuccess #HighTrustMarket #RealFounderTalk #BuildSomethingReal#startupseekho #iphone #refurbishediphone

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Charu Sharma, founder of Cosma Health, a fast-growing medtech company valued at over $10 million, focused on non-hormonal and minimally invasive solutions for women’s health. She’s also the co-founder of **AyuScholar**, an edtech platform with over ₹10 crore in revenue.We dive into what it takes to build medical products in India, how Cosma is solving real problems in fertility care beyond just IVF and IUI, and why women’s health needs way more attention from founders and investors.Dr. Charu shares her personal journey from a small town to medical college to becoming a healthcare entrepreneur—plus the surprising challenges of building in the fertility space and raising money.Whether you're interested in medtech, women’s health, IVF, or building a startup in India — this episode offers real insights and practical takeaways.