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Published by Nikhil Kamath
"WTF is" is a podcast series where Nikhil Kamath hosts friends and industry experts and holds casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations. The podcast covers a broad range of topics of particular current relevance, including technology, social media, renewable energy, electric vehicles, philosophy, gaming, psychology and more.
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Access the full data and references used in this episode below. Please open this alongside the episode while watching. Open Reference Document I put Rajesh Magow, the chartered accountant who co-founded MakeMyTrip on a team where almost nobody knew travel, and Puneet Chhatwal, the Delhi boy who spent twenty-eight years running hotels in Europe before coming home to pull IHCL out of a decade of losses, into one room to explain the business of Indian travel from scratch, and what came out was far bigger than a lesson, from why boutique hotels are better built by outsiders and how a fifty crore partnership between their companies became twelve hundred, to what a hotel actually pays to sit on MakeMyTrip and why booking direct still isn't cheaper, why ChatGPT can't scrape its way into the travel funnel and where voice bookings are taking tier-three India, why Puneet thinks the answer for a 25-year-old isn't another app but a small, clean hotel, why only ten million foreigners visit a country with more than forty UNESCO sites, what went wrong in Goa and where the next thirty Goas should be, why tourism being a state subject is the real bottleneck, and the full playbook both of them would run to take India from ten million tourists to a hundred million. Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction 07:03 Getting to Know the Guests 14:30 How MakeMyTrip’s Hotel Partnerships Work 21:45 Booking Direct vs Travel Apps 28:26 Puneet Chhatwal’s Journey from Delhi to Europe 35:01 Building Villa Stays & Solo Travel Businesses 41:43 Will AI Change How We Book Travel? 48:40 Customer Data vs Personal Hospitality 55:43 Can Robots Replace Hotel Staff? 1:03:05 Bringing Small-Town India into Online Travel 1:09:52 Should Hotels Cut Out the Middleman? 1:16:37 India’s Mid-Range Hotel Opportunity 1:23:51 Marketing India & Fixing Tourism Taxes 1:30:46 Mass Tourism vs Luxury Tourism in Goa 1:38:26 Can Luxury Trains Attract Premium Tourists? 1:44:44 Civic Sense & the Tourist Experience 1:51:24 Making India’s Attractions Discoverable & Bookable 1:58:44 Alibaug’s Potential & the Homestay Business 2:05:56 Why Celebrations Are Driving Villa Bookings 2:13:42 What Travel Business Should a 25-Year-Old Start? 2:19:43 Handling Bad Experiences & Building Trust 2:27:16 Nandan Nilekani & the Shift to Hotel Branding 2:34:40 What It Takes to Run an Asset-Light Hotel Brand 2:41:13 The Wellness Hotel Opportunity 2:48:44 Building Travel Businesses for Gen Z 2:56:16 Travel Education & New Business Ideas 3:02:19 Unlocking Unexplored India 3:08:42 Building New Destinations & Event Tourism 3:15:38 Private Jet Economics & Closing Thoughts Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO, MakeMyTrip Limited LinkedIn: Rajesh Magow Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) LinkedIn: Puneet Chhatwal Nikhil Kamath — Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: Twitter Instagram: Instagram LinkedIn: LinkedIn Facebook: Facebook Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify Spotify #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
I put the two companies most Indian holidays run through into one room, Rajesh Magow who co-founded MakeMyTrip and Puneet Chhatwal who runs IHCL, the company behind Taj, and what began as friendly needling over whose business is bigger and more profitable turned into the one question I couldn't let go of, why a country with this much coastline, culture and history gets barely ten million foreign visitors a year and what it would actually take to make that a hundred million, which pulled us through OYO's pivot, whether India's problem is marketing or the product itself, why tourism gets half a percent of GDP when every rupee spent on it comes back three times over, where the next Goa is, and the line that stayed with me, that India has become a great country to travel from and not the best country to travel to. Full episode drops soon. Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th
I went to Dalian with a selfish question. I run a fund that invests in energy transition, and I've come to think energy isn't the problem moving it and storing it is. So I sat down with Henning Rath, who runs EnerVenue out of Silicon Valley and is building his first gigafactory in Changzhou, and Tang Kun, who runs HiNa Battery, a sodium-ion company spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that's now ten years old with 600 people and a gigawatt line. I told them I don't know anything about batteries and asked them to teach me. We started at what a cell even is, went through why the entire industry standardised on LFP and what a thermal runaway actually does, and then Henning told me something I hadn't heard: the world had over 14,000 LFP fires last year alone. I asked whether I should start an electric car company or a battery company when I get home. Both said battery and Henning was blunt about it: don't build anything that needs rare earth. Fifty million dollars to start. We got into nickel-hydrogen at 30,000 cycles, sodium carbonate at a tenth of what lithium carbonate costs, why solid state is still at level four out of nine, and the idea I keep coming back to that your car sits idle 98% of the time with a battery and a stack of chips doing nothing, and there's a version of this where every parked car is a micro data center. 00:00 Introduction 06:45 China's bet on chemistries beyond lithium 12:14 Cell chemistry and the trade-offs it forces 17:15 Thermal runaway and the limits of LFP 22:44 Production quality and how long a battery lasts 27:07 Why China won the electric car 33:54 Decoupling a battery business from lithium and rare earths 38:50 Sodium's cost advantage and its energy density ceiling 43:51 Recycling nickel and renting the metal 48:17 Where generation, storage and demand should sit 54:05 Decentralization and the car as a grid battery 1:00:19 Three super cycles and AI's power demand 1:05:30 Automation, jobs and China's social contract Footage Courtesy: World Economic Forum (WEF) CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Source: https://www.weforum.org/videos/amnc26_summer_davos_highlights/ Henning Rath, Chief Executive Officer at EnerVenue LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henning-rath/ Kun Tang, Executive Chairman of HiNa Battery LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kun-tang-52a52327/ Nikhil Kamath-Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFareBatteries #EnerVenue #HiNaBattery #SummerDavos
I went into this wanting one answer, if I were starting something today, should it be an electric car company or a battery company and what I got back was narrower and more useful than I expected: don't build the thing that needs rare earth. We got into why sodium carbonate sits at roughly a tenth of what the equivalent lithium inputs cost, what $50 million actually buys you if you're starting this from scratch, why the world saw over 14,000 LFP fires last year alone and what that says about the chemistry everyone standardised on, and the part I keep coming back to that your car is parked 98% of the time in front of your house, and there's a version of this where that's not a dead asset but a micro data center. Every car a token factory. I didn't see that coming. Henning Rath, Chief Executive Officer at EnerVenue LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henning-rath/ Kun Tang, Executive Chairman of HiNa Battery LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kun-tang-52a52327/ Footage Source: BYD footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0oMa2jWXaM Tesla footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50PU-cQx7j0 Nikhil Kamath-Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFareBatteries #EnerVenue #HiNaBattery #SummerDavos
The street believes struggle makes the founder, so we removed the struggle — twenty-five strangers, a brand and four crores each, ninety days in one house in Alibaug and then sat down to ask the only question that scared us: does a head start make a founder, or unmake one? Nikhil Kamath, Kishore Biyani and Ronnie Screwvala audit the model, the equity split everyone questions, the two philosophies built into this house, and what the three of us will do if twenty brands don't sell. 00:00 Introduction 06:18 Is The Foundery a selfish bet? 12:29 Why building new beats the capitalist high 18:28 How the company-builder model formed 24:47 The new consumer categories driving the bets 30:41 What happens after Day 90 35:13 The equity split everyone questions: 25% vs 75% 43:11 Where the ideas come from, and how the gates work 50:56 Founder–idea fit and the flaws each founder owns 58:05 Why equity beats an endorsement fee 1:05:14 What happens if the brands fail 1:11:08 What actually drives Nikhil 1:17:46 Abundance vs scarcity in one house 1:23:54 Social mobility and India's bubbles 1:28:54 What the founders are unlearning 1:33:09 Twelve months out: what they'd change #NikhilKamath Co-Founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Twitter: @nikhilkamathcio on X Instagram: @nikhilkamathcio on Instagram LinkedIn: Nikhil Kamath LinkedIn Facebook: Nikhil Kamath Facebook The Foundery is a venture builder that forges entrepreneurs into co-founders and builds companies with them from the ground up. Website: The Foundery Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtJssM5FzLXSWIf5VWUmT2w Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointhefoundery/?hl=en Kishore Biyani – Founder & CEO of Future Group Ronnie Screwvala – Co-Founder & Chairperson of upGrad, Founder of UTV Group LinkedIn: Ronnie Screwvala LinkedIn Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify WTF is Podcast on Spotify Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify People by WTF Podcast on Spotify Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify WTF Online on Spotify #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
So we ran an experiment. We call it The Foundery. Sixty days ago, twenty-five people we'd never met moved into a house in Alibaug — each one handed a new-age consumer brand, four crores, and ninety days to build a real business with us. Not a college, not an accelerator: a place where we become your co-founders and build the company alongside you. In this first conversation, Nikhil Kamath, Kishore Biyani and Ronnie Screwvala get into why we built it, what we're risking, and what happens if none of it works. #nikhilkamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ The Foundery is a venture builder that forges entrepreneurs into co-founders and builds companies with them from the ground up. Website: https://www.thefoundery.in/ Kishore Biyani – Founder & CEO of Future Group Ronnie Screwvala – Co-Founder & Chairperson of upGrad, Founder of UTV Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniescrewvala/ Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
I got two of the biggest names in Indian pharma into one room, Rajeev Juneja of Mankind and GV Prasad of Dr. Reddy's, who'd somehow never actually met before this, and what came out was part masterclass and part origin story, from why being relentlessly contrarian beat following the herd, to how a college dropout from Meerut turned everything he hated about a medical store into a pharma giant, to why a chemical engineer who says he owes his career to his marriage spent decades chasing one original molecule, and somewhere in between we got into why India makes the world's generics instead of discovering its own drugs, what it really takes in time and money to bring a single drug to market, why GV thinks the AI-will-cure-everything story is overstated, where GLP-1s go next, and the one thing they'd tell a 25-year-old trying to build in pharma. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:27 Rajeev Juneja's path from medical-store apprentice to building Mankind 10:11 Mankind's contrarian OTC and bottom-up market strategy 16:23 G.V. Prasad on science and the Dr. Reddy's lineage 23:06 Segmenting the industry and how generic drugs are made 29:15 Why drug purity standards are shared but enforcement differs 36:40 Why India is the pharmacy of the world by volume, not revenue 41:00 How margins are split across the pharma value chain 45:17 Whether online pharmacy and consumer brands are real openings 53:15 Whether hospital roll-up valuations are justified 59:10 Tariffs, Jan Aushadhi and drug price controls 1:03:21 How China built a pharma-innovation ecosystem in a decade 1:10:02 Long-horizon governance and removing entrepreneurial fear 1:15:40 China's incentives, talent and leverage over the US 1:22:01 Why the Ayush and wellness market outgrows pharma 1:25:05 The evidence, quality and standardisation debate around Ayurveda 1:35:13 The sexual-wellness opportunity and the stigma problem 1:40:26 The fertility, IVF and egg-freezing opportunity 1:43:45 The API narrative debate and how a drug is synthesised 1:50:54 Biologics, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines explained 1:55:57 Stem cells and peptides, separating therapy from hype 2:00:06 The semaglutide story and how GLP-1 works 2:05:01 Mankind's ethical-selling philosophy on GLP-1 2:08:06 Why India leads in small molecules but lags in biologics 2:15:07 Where a young founder can enter the GLP-1 wave 2:23:38 The yin and yang of innovators and generics 2:29:05 Diagnostics, CDMO and the China-plus-one opportunity 2:37:18 Applying AI to pharma and the expired-medicine problem 2:43:01 Why founders should never copy a set formula 2:45:30 Succession, home diagnostics and the microfluidics frontier #nikhilkamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Rajeev Juneja-Vice Chairman & Managing Director at Mankind Pharma Ltd LinkedIN- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeev-juneja-27882a24b/ G.V Prasad Reddy-MD & Co-Chairman at Dr. Reddy's Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvprasadster/ Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
I always assumed India was becoming the pharmacy of the world, until this conversation made me sit with the sharper truth that we're the generic pharmacy of the world, and from there we got into whether China really killed our API industry or whether Indians still quietly lead it, why a drug like semaglutide turns into a miracle and a problem the second everyone wants it, the side effects nobody wants to talk about, the ethics of running a prescription-driven business, whether the global enthusiasm around Indian hospitals is actually justified, and why fear might be the single biggest thing holding Indian entrepreneurship back. #nikhilkamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Rajeev Juneja-Vice Chairman & Managing Director at Mankind Pharma Ltd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeev-juneja-27882a24b/ G.V Prasad Reddy-MD & Co-Chairman at Dr. Reddy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvprasadster/ Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
Spent a few hours with young bright founders below the age of 25 from the 3rd WTFund cohort. WTFund is a non-dilutive ₹20 lakh grant. From over 3,000 applications, we shortlisted 8 startups. We spoke about what they’re building, but also about doubt, ambition, money, and the uncertainty that comes with starting early. Some clear ideas. Some unfinished thoughts. A conversation that felt more real than structured. https://www.allthingswtf.com/wtfund 00:00 - WTFund Bootcamp 02:02 - Intro 03:20 - Prava - AI-Led Transactions 10:22 - Astraeus Innovus - Preventive Cancer Screening 18:45 - Turocrates AI - AI-Driven Diagnostics 26:35 - AntiMattr - Voice-First Computing 32:12 - O3 security - Securing AI Systems 39:05 - Bloom Rehab - Tech-Enabled Recovery 42:00 - Journey to Building 46:22 - Philosophies of life 50:31 - Placestation - Automating PCB Assembly 55:32 - AEYI : AI-Powered CCTV Monitoring 57:50 - Q&A with Nikhil 01:04:14 - AI Girlfriend & Dating 01:05:35 - Schools of Psychology 01:08:26 - Nikhil's Birthday Plans 01:09:11 - Golden Hour 01:10:10 - Healthcare & Longevity 01:12:33 - Trading 01:16:32 - Advice for Young Founders #NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha, Gruhas Host of ‘WTF is’ & ‘People by WTF’ Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio WTFund India’s premiere non-dilutive grant fund for emerging entrepreneurs. Twitter: https://x.com/TheWTFund LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/wtfund Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewtfund O3 Security A security platform that stops software supply-chain attacks in real time — whether it’s AI-generated or human-written code to production. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o3_security/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeyi/ Aeyi Aeyi is a GENAI-powered system that turns normal CCTV cameras into real-time safety and monitoring tools. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aeyi_surve/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeyi/ Antimattr AI-powered earbuds for hands-free audio computing. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antimattr.one/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/antimattr/about/ BloomRehab Rehabilitation robots for neuro and ortho recovery. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomrehab/ Astraeus Innovus A ₹100 saliva test that screens for oral cancer in under 5 minutes. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astraeus-innovus/about/ PlaceStation A desktop system that automates PCB assembly for faster, accessible electronics manufacturing. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/placestation_/ Prava A payments infrastructure layer built specifically for AI shopping assistants and agents. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pravapayments/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prava-payments/ Turocrates Improving patient outcomes using a digital and AI-driven operating system for diagnostic labs. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/turocrates-ai/ #WTFund
I sat down with His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s youngest minister and the world’s first AI Minister, to unpack how modern governments think about the future and the role younger leaders play in shaping it. A last-minute conversation in Dubai that opened up a thoughtful discussion on youth in politics, leadership, and how AI is beginning to influence the way nations are governed. Big thanks to @IndiaGlobalForum for creating the space for conversations like this, and Manoj Ladwa, a dear friend and a rare connector between India and the rest of the world. People like him, through IGF are helping frame the ideas that will define this decade, and bring them to life 00:00 – Introduction 01:24 – Why AI Changes the Power Balance Between Countries 05:05 – Jobs, Intelligence, & What AI Takes Away From Humans 13:20 – Why This Conversation Happened at IGF 15:42 – Making of a Minister 22:18 – Why does anything matter? 24:42 – Machiavelli 30:23 – Fear or love? How are Leaders Remembered? 33:26 – UAE's Legacy & It's Perpetual Importance 38:04 – How UAE goes about it's diasporic Governance 48:13 – Taxes, Value Exchange, and What Citizens Expect 55:09 – Education, Work, and the Path to Government 1:12:19 – The Phone Call That Made Him AI Minister at 27 1:14:22 – Corruption, Incentives, and Power Structures 1:24:46 – AI & Governance 1:27:55 – Global Neutrality, Building Bridges & Restraint 1:37:49 – Blockchain, Discourse, and Closing Reflections #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast X: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAE Twitter - [ https://x.com/OmarSAlolama ] LinkedIn - [ https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae ] Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
Came for a conversation, Left with a shift in perspective. A solid case to prove that age isn’t the barrier we think it is. A big thank you to @IndiaGlobalForum for hosting this dialogue. And to Manoj Ladwa, for being the bridge that makes conversations like this happen. #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast X: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAE Twitter - [ https://x.com/OmarSAlolama](https://x.com/OmarSAlolama) LinkedIn - [ https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae) Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
Three founders leading India’s skincare wave – Bhakti Modi (Tira), Shantanu Deshpande (Bombay Shaving Company), and Diipa Khosla (Inde Wild) join me to share the highs and lows of building beauty and skincare brands and the trends shaping this booming industry. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:39 - Bhakti’s journey & love story 05:14 - Diipa’s road to Inde Wild 10:34 - Persona’s role in brand building 15:07 - How Shantanu started 20:48 - Valuations & industry secrets 27:30 - Decoding the salon industry 34:58 - How Inde Wild made Champi cool again 38:01 - Market size & shifting narratives 45:14 - Marketing quality & building a community 52:41 - Why fragrance is exploding 1:00:42 - Community’s role in branding 1:08:04 - Cracking the BPC industry 1:22:26 - Omnichannel: A must-have? 1:27:15 - Tariffs, growth & social selling 1:31:00 - Can Indian brands go global? 1:34:51 - Cracking influencer marketing 1:42:15 - Sampling, distribution & minis 1:48:07 - Sustainability: Do founders still care? 1:52:54 - What’s the next wave? 2:04:39 - How the world perceives India 2:09:48 - Tech’s role in customising 2:16:10 - Nikhil’s & Diipa’s tattoos 2:18:14 - Why founders need grit 2:19:47 - Bhakti & Tira’s origin story 2:34:10 - Inside Tira: From concept to customer 2:38:34 - Do celebrity brands work? 2:44:51 - Why Diipa started Inde Wild 2:48:25 - Mass, premium, prestige: Which segment is winning? 3:05:45 - Quick commerce & Tier 2 markets 3:11:11 - Ayurveda: Still a novelty? 3:14:43 - The making of Bombay Shaving Company 3:21:39 - From idea to product: Manufacturing & patents 3:30:14 - Advice to aspiring skincare founders #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: [ https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio] (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?even.. .) Bhakti Modi - CEO, Tira Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhaktim679/. .. LinkedIn: / bhakti-modi-98a32293 Diipa Khosla - Founder, Inde Wild Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diipakhosla. .. LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/diipa-khos.. .. Website: https://india.indewild.com/?utm_campa. .. Shantanu Deshpande - Founder, Bombay Shaving Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantanudes. .. LinkedIn: / shantanudeshpandebsc
In this unfiltered conversation, we discuss bad bets, overhyped markets, and where VCs should actually put their money. I sat down with Deedy Das (Principal, Menlo Ventures), Nikunj Kothari (Partner, FPV Ventures), and Niko Bonatsos (Early-Stage Venture Capitalist) to get their hot takes on industries. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Deedy’s journey & the Anthropic story 05:10 - Nikunj’s background 11:32 - Niko’s story 13:31 - Sectors to avoid as an investor 23:17 - Today’s hottest sectors 27:31 - Emerging AI trends 38:37 - Declining birth rates + AI’s role 48:19 - Abundance & capitalism 53:19 - Raising kids in an Instagram world 55:39 - No tech: the next big business? 1:00:55 - The future of dating apps 1:06:52 - Key predictions for the next frontier 1:10:14 - Will urbanisation continue? 1:13:51 - Longevity & wellness industry 1:16:01 - Which sector will boom by 2035? 1:25:59 - Rethinking senior living 1:32:52 - Content vs. product: what builds a brand? 1:43:50 - Individual vs. legacy brands 1:47:30 - EVs & mobility: the road ahead 1:58:03 - Opportunities in beauty & luxury 2:02:17 - Where live events are headed 2:06:14 - Climate tech & its impact 2:11:49 - Data centers: the best bet? 2:15:13 - Vices as an industry 2:24:18 - Wrapping it all together 2:29:02 - Legal AI: opportunities & challenges 2:32:29 - India in the global AI race #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: [ https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio ]( https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm9WZVh3cHVTX3JEeGptVjlOZ1R3cW5rVkZJUXxBQ3Jtc0tuekFjWnRXME9XUUVLcDNCTk9YcHd5OU1MV1NMamE0cWE1T25meGJ4VWRMa21OY3VYLWM2T05iOUJtYTNWbWRSLW5YUXNzTTRHUUpjOGdZSGJzNEYxMkt2Y2hmWVNUeU51Nk5MRFVieVNtSTJwMkFXZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g ) LinkedIN: []( https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGNsNjlxS2NyU3VxOUNIQU1VUmczaWNobmtJd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVmczaDdwdkpMZWlNaVdISk1mQUFfbmhZNVB2al9OU1hwbF9rYTFoMFJGN2FKRnFreXFEaXZhRGttd2xLRHBpQVhIS19XaW5wQTZ3UjB6bm5vazVmdUkwSEdsU0MxS1lXYmJvVnhlekVRczc0RmdTRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g ) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #DeedyDas - Principal, Menlo Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/deedydas LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debarghyadas/ #NikunjKothari - Partner, FPV Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/nikunj LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjk/ #NikoBonatsos - Early-Stage Venture Capitalist Twitter: https://x.com/bonatsos LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonatsos/
As someone from Bangalore, I’ve been a bit bothered by how much flak we get, especially about traffic. So I set out to see if the criticism is fair, and what’s actually being done about it.In this episode, I spend the day with two of Bengaluru’s top police officers — B. Dayananda, IPS (Commissioner of Police) and M.N. Anucheth, IPS (Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic) — to understand what’s really happening in the city.We get to know how the police are using AI and other technology to manage traffic more effectively, and what’s the future of urban transport. But this episode isn’t just about traffic. We delve into the reality of being a police officer, how they’re portrayed in movies, and the push-pull between politics and policing. We also discuss the rise in cybercrime and how you can protect yourself online.If you’ve ever complained about traffic, considered joining the force, or just want a closer look at how the system works, this episode is for you.Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & visit to the Office of the Commissioner of Police 2:31 - Tracking calls at the Integrated Command & Control Centre 5:57 - What police medals & uniforms represent 07:07 - Police hierarchy & recruitment exams 12:36 - Why is Bengaluru criticised & what’s the future of transport? 15:40 - Are traffic fines a deterrent or government revenue? 17:41 - How does Bengaluru use AI & data to improve traffic flow? 23:13 - How cameras catch traffic violations 26:41 - Combating bribery 29:35 - Exploring the traffic police museum 31:26 - The push-pull between politicians & police 33:00 - B. Dayananda’s journey to policing 35:28 - Should VIPs be above traffic rules? 38:47 - Challenges & rewards of becoming a policeman 43:45 - How MN Anucheth decided to enter the force 45:41 - The sacrifices of policing & balancing family 48:32 - How policemen cope with retirement 51:23 - Kannadiga representation in government 53:48 - Can policemen transition to politics? 55:39 - Skills & talents of a good policeman 57:19 - So low budgets force police to accept bribes? 58:31 - Is there a solution to Bengaluru’s traffic problem? 1:02:22 - What needs to change in India? 1:06:57 - Nikhil's focus on building an Indian-first brand ecosystem 1:07:56 - How accurately do movies depict police realities? 1:10:40 - B. Dayananda’s love for bike rides: redefining the policeman’s image 1:14:05 - Bangalore police’s growing social media presence 1:15:00 - Advice for youth considering a career in policing 1:17:16 - The rise of cybercrimes 1:21:35 - Final thoughts: A message to aspiring policemen #NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIN: / nikhilkamathcio Instagram: / nikhilkamathcio Facebook: / nikhilkamathcio Bengaluru City PoliceTwitter: https://x.com/BlrCityPolice Facebook: / blrcitypolice Instagram: / blrcitypolice YouTube: / @bengalurucitypolice3253 LinkedIN: / blrcitypolice Bengaluru Traffic PoliceTwitter: https://x.com/blrcitytraffic Facebook: / bangaloretrafficpolice Instagram: / bengalurutrafficpolice YouTube: / @bengalurutrafficpolice LinkedIN: / bengalurutrafficpolice #wtfiswithnikhilkamath
This episode is a playbook for any curious 20-something in India dreaming of building the next big consumer electronics brand. Whether it’s smartphones, earbuds, AI-powered glasses or health wearables, we dig into what it really takes to break into, and survive, this highly competitive space. I sat down with three brilliant minds in the game who’ve actually done it: Carl Pei (Co-Founder, Nothing), Rahul Sharma (Co-Founder, Micromax), and Amit Khatri (Co-Founder, Noise). We tried to decode the what, how, and WTF of this industry—from regulations and the fairness of trade tariffs, to startup realities and what disruption might look like next. You might just spot the next big idea as they share some untapped opportunities waiting to be built in this sector. Resource Document: https://iridescent-party-a15.notion.site/Consumer-Electronics-Resource-Document-1e1aef3ec3e980f29b86dd9bae34410d Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - How Apple sparked Carl’s love for tech 05:05 - The reason for Y Combinator’s success 07:28 - Carl’s ‘lazy genius’ approach towards his career 15:05 - How Nothing differentiated itself 16:36 - US tariff’s impact on China, India & the industry (Note: Since this episode was recorded before recent changes to global trade & tariff policies, some views may not reflect current regulations.) 22:10 - Carl’s philosophical views on life 24:23 - Rahul’s journey & the roots of his entrepreneurial spirit 29:30 - Micromax’s early days: From payphones to GSM innovation 38:23 - How traveling to villages led to Micromax’s success 50:47 - Competing with China & Micomax’s manufacturing pivot 1:00:00 - Apple’s vertical integration strategy: Lessons for companies & governments 1:05:00 - Learnings from Rahul’s risk-taking & resilience 1:09:00 - Amit’s journey from education to building Noise 1:23:34 - Roadmap for 20-somethings entering the electronics industry 01:41:47 - Identifying gaps in the commodity market 1:48:02 - Disruption in smartphones through design and AI opportunities 1:57:40 - Today’s youth vs. yesterday’s corporations 2:01:13 - Building India’s supply chain & unlocking its market opportunity 2:07:21 - An electronics launchpad for young entrepreneurs 2:16:45 - India’s semiconductor push & restarting efforts 2:22:26 - Future of TV: One UI for all streaming apps? 2:25:41 - Can India build a global ecosystem in electronics? 2:35:58 - Health wearables & EdTech opportunities 2:42:44 - Advice for 20-somethings who want to break into this industry #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #CarlPei - CEO & Co-Founder, Nothing Twitter: https://x.com/getpeid LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getpeid/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getpeid/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getpeid/ #RahulSharma - Co-Founder, Micromax Twitter: https://x.com/rahulsharma LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-sharma-83038634a/ #AmitKhatri - Co-Founder, Noise Twitter: https://x.com/iamamitkhatri LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamamitkhatri/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsamitkhatri/
India has long been a tea-drinking nation, but in recent years, a new wave of craft beverage brands has started reshaping the way the country drinks. Specialty coffee, kombucha, and premium mixers are carving out space in an industry dominated by mass-produced options. While the demand for high-quality, homegrown beverages is growing, breaking into this space isn’t as easy as it looks. Import duties drive up costs, fragmented supply chains make scaling difficult, and price-sensitive consumers often hesitate to pay a premium. Unlike mass-market beverages, where marketing muscle can drive sales, craft brands have to build awareness, educate consumers, and create demand from scratch. In episode #22 of “WTF Is” Podcast, Nikhil Kamath sits down with some of the biggest names in India’s craft beverage industry—Rahul Reddy (Subko), Matt Chitharanjan (Blue Tokai), Aneesh Bhasin (Svami), and Adithya Kidambi (Mossant). They share their journey of navigating regulations, shifting consumer habits, and competing with legacy brands to bring high-quality, locally made beverages to the mainstream. Resource doc: https://www.notion.so/Resource-Craft-Beverages-19d26a5adf3180b68f1adbbbd2eea2f5#NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and GruhasTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcioInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcioFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio#MattChitharanjan Co-founder of Blue Tokai LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/mchitharanjan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_chit #AdithyaKidambi Co-founder of Mossant Fermentary LinkedIN - https://in.linkedin.com/in/adithya-kidambi-8866b1269 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kidambiadithya/ #AneeshBhasin Co-founder of Svami Twitter: https://x.com/aneeshb LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneesh-bhasin-252b661/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aneeshb/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gentlemenlisten/ #RahulReddy Co-founder of Subko Coffee Twitter - https://x.com/rahulreddysc LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulgreddy/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raah_hool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rahul.gurram.reddy/ Time stamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:48 - Matt’s Intro | Childhood & Family 00:05:13 - Starting Blue Tokai & Career Journey 00:07:29 - Adithya’s Intro 00:14:13 - Building Mossant 00:17:54 - Challenges in the Industry 00:20:05 - How big is Blue Tokai?00:21:39 - Aneesh’s Intro 00:25:36 - Starting Career Path leading to Beverage Industry 00:27:38 - Rahul’s Intro00:39:26 - Building Subko 00:42:40 - How are Subko & Blue Tokai different?00:47:54 - Hacks for a 25 year old to Compete with Subko & Blue Tokai00:50:30 - Cafe Offerings of both Coffee & Food00:58:09 - Waves of Coffee - Shift to Coffee01:04:27 - How Big is the Craft Industry in India01:10:21 - How to Influence the Crowd at a Coffee Shop 01:12:31 - Difference between Good & Bad Coffees 01:18:13 - Difference in Coffee Culture of India and USA 01:24:11 - Opportunities in Tier-2 Cities01:28:59 - Recent Consumption Trends01:33:21 - What’s Kombucha?01:41:28 - Difference of Flavour Palette in India and Abroad01:44:01 - Consumption Patterns in India 01:49:24 - Awareness of Kombucha as a Product01:58:21 - Craft Beverage Taxation Policies02:05:47 - Mossant’s Journey 02:09:27 - East Asian Beverage Markets02:10:12 - Building a Global Indian Beverage Brand 02:19:12 - How to Compete as a New F&B Brand 02:21:57 - Svami’s Journey 02:30:20 - Differentiating as a Tonic & Non-Alcoholic Brand 02:31:59 - Is Quick Commerce Sustainable in India? 02:41:12 - Svami, Mossant vs Schweppes 02:47:32 - Effects of Coffee as a Commodity02:49:13 - Steps to Starting a Cafe 02:58:07 - Learning from Abroad Beverage Markets 03:01:12 - Favourite Coffee Shops, Kombucha Brands, Non-Alcoholic Beverages 03:14:59 - Beverage Industry as an Investor #WTFiswithnikhilkamath
India’s craft beverage industry is on the rise, with brands redefining the way the country drinks. Specialty coffee, kombucha, and premium mixers are no longer just niche products—they’re part of a larger shift toward quality and innovation. As global trends in artisanal drinks take hold, Indian consumers are becoming more curious and willing to experiment. But building a brand in this space comes with unique challenges. In this episode, Nikhil Kamath sits down with Rahul Reddy (Subko), Matt Chitharanjan (Blue Tokai), Aneesh Bhasin (Svami), and Adithya Kidambi (Mossant) to explore the challenges and opportunities in India’s evolving beverage space.From sourcing the best beans to disrupting the beverage industry, they break down the art of brand-building, competition in this industry, and what lies next for craft beverages in India. #NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and GruhasTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcioInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcioFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio#MattChitharanjan Co-founder of Blue Tokai LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/mchitharanjan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_chit #AdithyaKidambi Co-founder of Mossant Fermentary LinkedIN - https://in.linkedin.com/in/adithya-kidambi-8866b1269 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kidambiadithya/ #AneeshBhasin Co-founder of Svami Twitter: https://x.com/aneeshb LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneesh-bhasin-252b661/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aneeshb/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gentlemenlisten/ #RahulReddy Co-founder of Subko Coffee Twitter - https://x.com/rahulreddysc LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulgreddy/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raah_hool Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rahul.gurram.reddy/
In this conversation, we seem to be headed towards more questions than answers.. but perhaps questions that need to be asked. Most importantly... Where is Health headed? In this episode of WTF is Podcast, we have Nithin, Prashanth, Jitendra, Seema and Bryan uncover many such questions/concerns, trying to determine what is next in this space of Heath & Longevity. As AI progresses, I wonder if tomorrow, an algorithm is built to tell us how to live our life the best... would we accept that integration? How far are we willing to go to live longer or perhaps "forever"? #NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #NithinKamath - Founder, CEO Zerodha, RainmatterInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/nithinkamath/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nithin.kamath/Twitter - https://x.com/Nithin0dhaLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nithin-kamath #BryanJohnson - Founder & CEO of BlueprintInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/bryanjohnson_/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089952947799Twitter - https://x.com/bryan_johnsonLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanrjohnson/ #PrashanthPrakash - Founding Partner of Accel India, Founder BioPeak & Longevity India Twitter - https://x.com/prashanthpLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakashprashanth #JitendraChouksey - Founder, FITTR Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fittrwithjc/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jitendra.chouksey.7/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jitendrachouksey/ Special Appearance - #SeemaKamath, Director at Zerodha 00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - Air Quality & Blue Zones 5:39 - Bryan’s Lifestyle 09:20 - Roundtable Introductions 12:14 - Future of Medical Innovations 16:25 - Understanding Bio Transformations, Enzymatic Reactions 19:03 - Bryan’s Early Days 27:20 - Bryan’s journey into understanding Longevity 32:18 - Understanding Health Supplements 43:10 - Thought experiment 1: the algorithm 46:13 - Thought experiment 2: the 25th century 54:30 - Thought experiment 3: enabling an intelligence 1:03:00 - WTF is ‘Don’t Die’? 1:20:28 - Testing & Supplementation 1:26:50 - Business Opps in Testing & Supplementation 1:35:17 - 10 years from now, what’s Bryan's goal? 1:38:37 - Food Break! 1:39:35 - Air Quality Index (AQI) - Massive Opportunities 1:46:05 - Lifestyle Management Opps | Fittr 1:50:00 - Consumer Diagnostics Opps | BioPeak 1:59:16 - Building India Focused Datasets 2:13:33 - Influencers in the Longevity space 2:20:53 - Cancer Recurrence Detection 2:34:12 - Health Gadgets 2:39:40 - Longevity Supplements Opps & Growth Hormones 3:06:55 - Regenerative Medicine 3:10:30 - Where’s the next big opportunity? 3:15:13 - Bonus Round: Women’s Reproductive Health 3:21:28 - If men live forever and women can't give birth beyond 35 - Where's the future? #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF
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