Anshuman Singh

2017: Joined Juspay before India's fintech boom 2020: Tried everything PM at Razorpay 2023: Now, Building for scale at Paytm Navigating the world of product management has been a journey filled with learning and growth. From honing my tech, system thinking & abstraction skills at Juspay. To laying the foundation for product thinking, execution & GTM at Razorpay. To leading a high-performance team at Paytm. Each step has been an integral part of my career progression. While my path has seen its share of challenges, I have received the necessary support at each stage of my career and have not shied away from asking for help whenever required. On similar lines, when I wanted to upskill myself, I joined GrowthX®, and the learning has been invaluable. Putting effort is in your hands, so focus only on that with discipline. Key lessons? As Dhoni said, "Focus on the controllable." Huge thanks to the GrowthX community for their relentless support and knowledge sharing. It truly embodies the spirit of community-driven learning without expectations of monetary return. PS: the deadline to apply for the 4 Week Growth Program is Nov 30th. Join me at GrowthX with my link in the comments. 🌱

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Can technical founders become effective CEOs? Srinath Sridhar knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone when he founded Regie.ai four years ago. Now he and cofounder Matt Millen have raised more than $20 million and landed on G2’s list of fastest-growing software products of 2024. My full conversation with Sri is in the comments.

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Ever had that moment when your engineering team says a feature will take 3 months to build, and you're thinking "Really? 😅" Well, something wild happened yesterday - I and Pranay Gaddam⚡ built an entire YouTube-style platform for Product Management content in just 90 minutes! Not a mockup, not a prototype, but a working product. I know, I know... I couldn't believe it either! 🤯 Here's the fun part: We are not some 10x developers or coding wizard. We just paired up with Replit's AI Agent (think of it as having a super-smart coding buddy who actually listens to what you want 😉). We recorded the whole journey, showing exactly how it works, because let's be honest - as product folks, we need to understand this AI revolution beyond just the buzzwords. What you'll see: • Real-time problem-solving (including the head-scratching moments!) • How AI actually understands and implements product requirements • The future of rapid prototyping (spoiler: it's already here) • A peek into what's possible when AI meets product development The best part? No coding experience needed to follow along. We explain everything in product manager language - no tech jargon overload, promise! If you're a product person trying to navigate the AI landscape (aren't we all?), come geek out with me: [Link in comments] P.S. For all my PM friends who've ever wished for faster development cycles - this one's especially for you! 😊 ---------- 🎓 Learn Product Management - Link in bio #ProductManagement #AI #Innovation #RealTalk #ProductLeadership

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The Decision That Doomed a Dream 📽️ 🎬 What if your most hyped product idea became the reason your company collapsed? This is the untold story of a decision that sent a $2 billion startup spiraling. Priya: “Remember Quibi? The short-form streaming platform that raised $2 billion only to crash and burn in six months?” Amit: “How could I forget? But wasn’t their whole idea—quick bites of content on mobile—a good one? People are obsessed with short videos now.” Priya: “Exactly! The concept was solid, but the product decisions? Not so much. One of their biggest missteps was locking all their content behind a paywall with no free tier.” Amit: “Wait, they didn’t offer even a single free episode? Not even ads-supported content?” Priya: “Nope. They banked on the idea that people would pay $5–$8 a month upfront for content they’d never seen before from a brand they didn’t know. Add to that the fact they launched during the pandemic, when people were glued to their TVs—not mobile phones.” Amit: “Oof. That sounds like a classic case of not reading the room.” Priya: “It gets worse. Their product didn’t allow screenshots or sharing clips on social media. Imagine trying to launch a video platform in 2020 without virality built in.” Amit: “So, they made themselves invisible on the platforms where their audience hangs out. That’s a killer mistake. Did they try to fix it?” Priya: “Too little, too late. By the time they introduced features like TV support and extended free trials, their subscriber numbers had tanked. They shut down just six months after launch.” Amit: “Man, all that money and talent—and it was decisions, not the idea, that sank them. Makes you wonder how many product decisions are make-or-break moments in disguise.” Sometimes, the right product decisions aren’t about flashy features but about understanding your audience’s needs. #QuibiStory #ProductManagement #LessonsFromFailure #StartupJourney #InnovationGoneWrong #PMJourney Photo Credits: https://lnkd.in/gtg33zHu

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Thanks Bismah and Inc42 Media for the insightful coverage and deep dive into the vital role of operator VCs! Bismah's thoughtful analysis underscores the growing need for operator VCs in today's startup landscape. As an operator VC , I've witnessed firsthand how founders increasingly value more than just capital. They seek partners who bring operational expertise, strategic guidance, and an extensive network to the table. These elements are crucial for driving sustainable growth and navigating the complexities of scaling a business. At GrowthCap Ventures , we understand the unique challenges faced by early-stage startups, which is why we prioritize offering not just funding, but also hands-on support and access to our extensive network. Together, we're empowering founders to realize their vision and build transformative businesses. #OperatorVC #StartupEcosystem #Gratitude

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Raised $26,000,000 with just an idea Lyskraft India Pvt Ltd - the latest kid in the block! So, Mukesh Bansal is back with another startup this time with Mohit Gupta, the former CEO of Zomato's food delivery arm. In July of last year, there were reports about Bansal and Gupta raising funds for a new venture. As per TechCrunch, both of them pitched a range of ideas to potential backers like a female-focused counterpart to Manyavar and "Infosys 2.0" a presumed upgrade to a multinational IT services and consulting firm. Now finally... The news is out and we know what they are building, Lyskraft: initially a women's only marketplace for premium brands mostly focusing on Gen-Z shoppers. Recently we have seen giant e-commerce platforms launching dedicated portals to attract GenZ shoppers, like SPOYL launched by Flipkart within its app, FWD by Myntra, also we are seeing the growth of new-age startups working in this space like Virgio(Mukesh Bansal is an investor in it), Newme(recently raised $4,500,000), Absolute Brands, Snitch, Styched and many more As per Inc42's Report, India's fashion and apparel sector is projected to reach a mouth-watering $112 Billion by 2030, which will be over a quarter of the country's $400 Billion e-commerce market!! Let's be honest, anyone will want a piece of this market. As we are already aware of how crowded this space is, let's see how Lyskraft differentiates itself from others. Mohit Gupts and Mukesh Bansal, in this crowded space building a community around your product, building digital IPs, and creating experiences through videos are the ways to elevate your brand to the next level. I the founder of Elevate would love to connect and assist Lyskraft in building a community, digital IPs and help create experiences through videos, if that sounds like something that interests you would love to connect and discuss!! sources of information : TechCrunch article 2021 - https://bit.ly/49UwkLI Inc42 article - https://bit.ly/3w0SDlb #mukeshbansal #myntra #fashion #startups #venturecapital #fundingwinter #norevenue #cultfit #community #communitymarketing #socialmediamarketing #india

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Another big ed-tech ‘Unacademy’ is up for sale, merger or bailout. Company fired 250 of their employees yesterday and is struggling with finances. It has approached the likes of Allen, PhysicsWallah, K12 Techno and others. It was also in talks with K12 Techno about the merger but looks like those talks are not advancing. Company has raised $877 million till date and company is searching for a respectable way out. Unacademy's situation highlights the potential turbulence within the EdTech sector. While the industry has seen immense growth, companies are now facing increased competition and the need for profitability. What are your views?

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Kaun Banega CTO?! Shocking insights via The Mint - Highly valued Indian startups are opting out of hiring new executives at exuberant packages to lead tech innovation. This comes when a persisting funding downturn has pushed them to put a lid on hiring and venturing into new growth verticals to control cash burn. - Several new-age companies, including Zomato and Healthify, that have relied on tech to drive disruption are now opting out of hiring replacements for the once-prized C-suite role. - Companies retaining their high-cost CTOs are pushing them to take on additional roles such as “IT management, product oversight, or broader organisational responsibilities", it said. Why? “Over the last year or so, there’s been a lot of focus on profitability and making the business viable. We are now emphasising the right mix of talent and cost, and honestly, titles don’t matter," Mota Moti: It seems the “overpaid, over-hyped, over-marketed, overvalued” CTO is coming back to becoming just another #dhandhekibaat row item :)) If you have views, please share?! My view: if you are a promoter that doesn't know Tech, then this is not an option. Article link in comments!

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Our vision at Niti AI is to empower the next billion (non) developers to build and ship products with AI! Whenever I reflect on ambitious goals like this, I'm reminded of the below quote from The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Hari Subramanian | Aravind R. | LoopX

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India’s Oyo, once valued at $10 billion, is finalizing new funding at a $2.5 billion valuation. This marks a steep decline from its $10 billion valuation in 2019. The startup, which has raised over $3 billion from backers like SoftBank, Peak XV Ventures, Lightspeed, Airbnb, and Microsoft, has struggled to attract institutional investors. In recent months, it has aggressively pitched to high-net-worth individuals after withdrawing its IPO application twice in the past four years. Once a red-hot Indian startup active in markets including the U.S. and Europe, Oyo has now scaled back its international presence. #venture #downround https://lnkd.in/gE2GjYnM

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{New pod 🎤} "𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗠 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘆" Was super-fun to record this with Rohini Pandhi - Product Lead at Mercury and ex-Product Lead at Square/ Block. The first half of this episode covers best practices and frameworks used by best-in-class fintech companies like Square and Mercury to build products and drive go-to-market.  In the second half, we discuss insights and learnings for PM career planning in fintech, including ways to prepare for the potential impact of AI on product jobs. Some great learnings here for fintech product leaders, young PMs, and founders. Let me know what you think! Spotify - https://lnkd.in/dJQMM9sB Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/dyDaCDk7 An Operator's Blog - https://lnkd.in/dREtbx9n

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my thoughts on this: i think lightspeed's report was dumb because while the facts and numbers they pulled were true and great to know, their conclusion slide (slide 2 or 3) showed that ultimately they don't actually believe in the region's potential. it concluded "SEA companies should be regional since day 1" instead of "global since day 1". they simply overfit to the past decade's data, and have a subconscious inferiority complex that prevents them from believing any SEA founder/company can do better than the past decade's SEA unicorns and become a *globally* important startup with great unit economics. they forgot that VC is about what is possible first and foremost, then what is probable. that's how you benefit from the power law. lightspeed report is all about probability. so disheartening to see it, and more disheartening to see gojek cofounder signing off on it. the bitter truth: the SEA tech startups that are unicorns mostly rushed to copy US or Chinese unicorns within months of the US/Chinese companies' breakout days, without doing the first principle thinking on "does this create $X in value in SEA and can we capture Y% of X and do X and Y, 2 independent variables, look attractive?" in other words, first gen SEA tech unicorn are built by founders who are great doers but not great thinkers. Travis Kalanick of Uber is a great think and a great doer. pardon me but the founders of Grab/Gojek were just doers. im sure they are capable thinkers, but they haven't applied it yet to creating anything massively valuable and original from the ground up. sad but true. the Lightspeed report looks at this truth and concludes SEA will fail to ever have thinker/doers, because it failed to have billion dollar thinker/doers in the past decade. i think this will further push away the talent that is indeed billion dollar thinker/doer but just needs an environment that doesn't doubt it every day. for the record, i absolutely believe it's possible to build a global tech giant from SEA today. it does not defy the laws of physics. to say this is impossible is to say nobody here will ever be great enough. the truth is, people who think that are the ones who are not great enough.

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I would like to encourage Indian founders building software companies for the world to think significantly bigger and more aggressive both in terms of how large their business can become and how fast can they get there (y-o-y growth targets). Why? Because software TAMs and market growth rates are much larger than what our brains can imagine. Look at the growth rates of these public companies: 1. Shopify (Founded in Canada) is growing 21% at $8.2 Billion ARR. 2. Canva (Founded in Australia) is growing 40%+ at $2.4 Billion ARR. 3. Toast is growing 29% at $1.5 Billion ARR. 4. Monday (Founded in Israel) is growing 34% at $940Mn ARR. I am now encouraging my portfolio founders to think beyond the proverbial “Path to $100Mn ARR” slide and start strategizing a path to hit $1Bn ARR. It’s time we reset our internal narratives and think bigger and more aggressive as an ecosystem.

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🎉 The Clientell Family has some exciting news to share 🎉 We're thrilled to announce that Clientell has successfully raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Blume Ventures, with participations from our existing investors, including Chiratae Ventures, Artha Venture Fund and from Z5 Capital. https://lnkd.in/gZukPBUg This investment marks a significant milestone in our journey to redefine Revenue Operations. At Clientell, we envision a future where autonomous AI agents handle the entire spectrum of RevOps tasks. These AI-driven agents will serve as copilots, enhancing productivity and efficiency for RevOps teams everywhere. While our vision is expansive, the road ahead is filled with opportunities for innovation and growth. We are gearing up to dive deep into the development phase and are enthusiastic about the impact we as a team can create in this space. We're hiring! To realize our ambitious goals, we are expanding our team. We are looking for passionate, innovative minds ready to join us in shaping the future of RevOps through cutting-edge technology. If you are excited about AI and making a significant impact, we would love to hear from you. Career's page: https://lnkd.in/gwPXQhjZ A special thank you to Venkatesh Peddi from Chiratae Ventures for taking an early bets on us in our first round as well as being the pillar of strength and voice of reason across the pivots and hard decisions. Lastly, the only thing that I'm really proud about here is the stellar team we have who are building this company. It's a whirlwind ride it wouldn't have been possible if any one of them wasn't there. Since it's their company as well so won't say thank you, but I really appreciate the opportunity of building a company with each one of them: Aryan Trip. Ruthuparna K. Prathik Shetty Sayak Samaddar Shivraj N. Ayush Singh Chauhan Palak Jani Penchala Tharun 🚀 Kirti Bhatia Malaya Sahoo Ankit Deshwal To our investors, partners, and the entire Clientell community, thank you for your trust and support. It is an exciting journey and we look for to sharing the same with you all. #Clientell #FundingNews #RevOps #AI #StartUpLife #WeAreHiring #Innovation

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The joy of paying it forward There was a point in time a few years ago when my previous startup was not getting anywhere. Having done several product round tables prior to that, I would often hear from Avinash Raghava about doing more of those. My confidence was at an all time low, and I was even more uncomfortable meeting people to share my experience as the impostor syndrome reared fully in my head. Then I reluctantly pulled myself into the 2019 SaaSBoomi Annual where it was inspiring to see several hundred founders slugging it out in their own worlds and journeys. People were just very comfortable sharing stories of struggle, success, vulnerabilities and doggedness. This was a moment in time when I realised that irrespective of the outcomes from my own journey, it’s the journey experience that holds lessons for others. While pivoting to B2Brain 🧠 , these interactions were inspiration for me to keep at it, and looking back I’d like to think I’ve become a lot more conscious, aware and confident of pursuing the path. Since then, I’ve become more comfortable sharing my own story, experiences and points of view with other founders - irrespective of whether they “conform” or not. And it’s a joy to truly be able to open up, share and not hold back while trying to be “nice” (on that note, have been reading up on being “nice” vs being “kind”). Recently, Anupama Panchal asked a question “if someone had to take advice from you, what areas can they take advice on” The areas of company building where I possibly have adequate experiences to share will span the spectrum of how do you think about the Product, the ICP for that product and the GTM for that ICP. A framework I have found helpful is to visualise the Product, ICP and GTM as the three sides of a PMF triangle - it demonstrates the strong linkage between these three, and the impact of changing one on the other two. If you’re a founder who is looking for a sparring partner or want to clarify your thoughts, I’d strongly encourage tapping into another founder’s experience and use that as leverage. Happy #payitforward weekend!

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Summer is just around the corner so founders have started hearing about bad times to fundraise. Let me extend on this common advice and give my own... Whenever you go out, you should plan for a 3-month process with no interruptions, so look for a time window within the following trouble zones: • Jun thru August - this is the summer slow down. vacations with family keep VCs out of pocket and hard to reach • Sept - Labor day and back to school so this is a hectic month for VCs • Oct - Halloween and parent teacher conferences mess up october. No one will take your fundraise seriously when thinking about how to dress themselves or kids up in costumes • Nov thru Dec - this is the dreaded Thanksgiving to Christmas to NYE Bermuda Triangle of holiday fundraising. Start raising here at your own peril • Jan thru Feb - holiday hangover and ski season for VCs make this a no go ⛷️ • March - spring break ❌ • April - April is pretty clear • May - end of the school year, final exams make this a stressful time for investors with kids. VCs without families are already mentally checking out prepping for the summer If you just avoid these, you should be good to go Hope that clears things up for everyone 🙏🤪

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🚀 Swiggy's IPO DRHP is a gold mine of data 📊 Average Order Value (AOV): Swiggy Food Delivery: ₹428 Instamart: ₹460 Dineout: ₹3,129 📈 User Growth & Engagement: 112.73 million users have transacted on Swiggy's platform as of June 30, 2024. Monthly Transacting Users (MTUs) for Food Delivery and Quick Commerce continue to rise, hitting 15.99 million in Q1 FY25 Swiggy One membership (5.7 million members) shows an impressive 7.4x order frequency, nearly double the platform average of 4.5x. 💼 Operational Scale: Swiggy works with 223,671 monthly transacting restaurant partners and 457,249 monthly transacting delivery partners, reflecting its massive operational scale and reach. Active Dark Stores increased to 557, supporting the Quick Commerce business and ensuring rapid deliveries.

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myHQ by ANAROCK offsite- after 4 years: Team size grown 4X, Spread across 8 cities- We dearly needed it (it was only a question of when can we afford it). The team had promised a stellar Q4 of last FY, which made us profitable and honestly made this ask- very tough to refuse. And Goa was finally happening! We wrapped the offsite last week and loved every bit of it. Whether it was a game of tug of war, some impromptu dance performances or just a fun gala night- connecting with everyone on a personal level outside work was worth every second spent. 🎊 My 4 learnings:- - Zoom /Hangout/virtual can never replace in person- would have had 100 hours of calls with the person, but in person is just different. - Play more games/activities & less sessions (Specially for hybrid/spread out teams- bonding happens only over games, activities) - Outsource liquor arrangements to the Hotel/Organizer- not worth the hassle + whatever you arrange will never be enough! 🥂 - This idiotic, yet addictive game- "Ek machli pani me gayi, chappak" (Must play with friends: 4+ group) Looking forward to a much grander offsite in 2025 as the team targets another 3-4X jump this year. Onwards and upwards! 😃🙌

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