Chandrasekhar Venugopal (CV)

Great advice on growing D2C. Also a powerful lesson on how an entrepreneur thinks as opposed to a 'founder'. Public market benchmarking on bottom line, not top line. Operating with a ten percent profit margin, you need 150 crores of Earnings, which requires 1500 crore of topline, to get to a valuation of ~5000 crore+ These are similar multiples to what I offer, because they're close to reality. Seeking a 15x+ multiple on your topline? I'm the wrong person to chat with #venturecapital #founder #startups #scaling #valuation

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Co-lead a workshop (with Sumathi my business partner and Komal lath of Tute Consult) on branding and communication and why/how its' strategic & important for the portfolio companies of an early stage growth focused PE fund in Mumbai this noon. very interactive session. lots of takeaways. one of the biggest benefits of doing such workshops with founders and CXOs of growth companies is that you get to first hand understand their pain points and priorities. which makes you realize there is a long road ahead laden with great opportunity for those in PR & comms if we take off our hats and look at it from their perspective.

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"For brands, pain is the proof of purpose." - Shashank Mehta sums up in one pithy sentence an entire discourse around building brands with purpose. Matrix Partners India's very own Vikram Vaidyanathan spoke to Shashank about Building Company Culture, on Matrix Moments. The chat goes deep into how he's led The Whole Truth Foods with purpose and that has helped build a strong company culture. This has not been without dilemmas, or enduring the consequences of their "clean ingredient" decisions. Shashank elaborates on a particular dilemma: The Whole Truth protein bars have zero preservatives. This means a shorter shelf life in retail, and higher returns: the Whole Truth has 20% returns from retail, whereas their closest competition has 2%. Shashank and team can extend the shelf life of their product by simply adding a drop of preservative, but they choose not to. And this is the pain that they are willing to endure, to stick to the company & the founder's purpose. Brand purpose isn't a marketing buzzword, it's a reason for your business to exist. Purpose percolates to all business decision making, from which problems you decide to solve, how you train your team, to how you create your product, to how your brand campaign looks. For founders, it comes down to: how willing are you to stay true to purpose, in the face of pain from the market. Wisdom for founders about building company culture on the latest episode of Matrix Moments: https://lnkd.in/d6K_UUZA #FoundersFirst #CompanyCulture #Purpose #BrandBuilding #StartUps #Founders

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From ₹1.2Cr. to ₹60Cr. ARR in less than 3 years! Big congratulations to Team Let's Try and Nitin Vinod Kalra on getting funded by Wipro Consumer Care Ventures and 100Unicorns in the recent round. Perfect example for early D2C founders, of how at an early stage: ✅ A frugal mindset with a clear and rigorous roadmap, ✅ An experienced, yet nimble team, ✅ Strong belief in the product and brand. ❌ No unnecessary marketing/celebrity overspends, ❌ No crazy discounts to fuel unsustainable topline growth, ❌ No straying into too many channels, SKUs and regions to change a winning formula too quickly. 🚀 Can help deliver solid result and help build a robust, profitable and sustainably growing business. Super excited to be part of the journey. Link to article: https://lnkd.in/dGzNyvw5 #EarlyStage #Startup #VentureCapital #D2C #Consumer #Investing #LatePost Anvit Baliga Rajesh Mane Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma Reshma Jhaveri Venture Catalysts++ | India's 1st Multi-Stage VC

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Announcing the next big conversation at the D2C Unlocked Delhi-NCR chapter 🗣️🎤 Join Arush Chopra, Co-Founder of Just Herbs, and Manu Chandra, Founder & Managing Partner of Sauce.vc, as they dive into the topic: 𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃2𝐂 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 Arush brings to the table his firsthand insights from steering Just Herbs through this pivotal chapter of the Marico partnership, meanwhile, Manu enriches discussions with a comprehensive understanding of the D2C ecosystem, drawing from Sauce VC's investments in pioneering brands like XYXX Crew and The Whole Truth Foods. The conversation, “IPO or Strategic Acquisition: The End Game for D2C Brands,” is more than just a debate—it’s an in-depth examination of what the future holds for D2C brands. What's the secret sauce for D2C brands to flourish in today's market? Is going public the ultimate goal, or are partnerships a smarter move? Inviting all D2C Founders/CXOs in Delhi-NCR to join us on April 25th, 2024, at 6 PM for an exchange of ideas that’s as thought-provoking as it is insightful. D2C Unlocked is presented by Simpl and powered by Affinidi, AdYogi, & Shipway. See you there—let’s fuel the buzz! Register : https://lnkd.in/gAabp73G

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Brands that place the Indian consumer at the heart of their strategies hold the right to win going forward! Just had an insightful conversation with Sandeep Sinha, Co-CEO of Oister Global, on the latest episode of "Two GPs Walk Into A Bar." We delved into the dynamic Indian consumer market and the emerging trends shaping its future. Oister Global is at the forefront of investing in India’s premier private market funds, thereby driving forward the nation’s alternative investment landscape. Their mission is to elevate the innovative private market funds that believe in and contribute to Indian economy. At Sixth Sense Ventures, we share this belief and are committed to capitalizing on the evolving consumption patterns and demographics of the Indian consumer. Indian consumers have become more brand-conscious, environmentally aware, and seek customization and premium experiences. "While the consumers have moved, unfortunately (or fortunately!) the legacy brands have not. Legacy success can often be a baggage to disrupting your own business to make it future ready. As distribution channels get democratized, yesterday’s duopolies are finding it challenging to meet the needs of the consumer of today and tomorrow". The market is ripe for disruptors who dare to innovate products for the new Indian consumer and leverage the new distribution and marketing channels. Click on the link in the comments to watch the entire video📍 #consumption #sixthsense #oister #disrupt Nimisha Nagarsekar; Swati Mehra, CFA; Ketki Paranjpe; Kathan Shah; Akshat Jain; Harika Sabharwal; Rishita Wadher; Sohail Manjiramani; Yashveer Yadav

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Today marks an incredible milestone for us at Inflexor Ventures as we proudly announce the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 ₹350 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝. This isn't just a number—it's a symbol of our steadfast commitment to empowering founders who are ready to amplify their proven potential and take their vision to new heights. In my journey from being an entrepreneur to a VC, I've witnessed firsthand the critical juncture where vision meets opportunity. The Opportunities Fund is designed to be that bridge—supporting visionary founders who have already proven their potential and are ready to scale further and faster. To all the founders who trust us with their stories and growth, thank you for your resilience and ambition. You inspire us daily to be more than just investors; you motivate us to be partners who champion your vision and share in the challenges and triumphs of building something extraordinary. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to HDFC AMC Select AIF FoF I scheme and our other valued limited partners for their trust and belief in our mission. Your support fuels our drive to not just invest in ventures but to become true partners in the journey, championing innovation and resilience every step of the way. I also want to acknowledge my colleagues, whose dedication and expertise drive us forward, and the wider ecosystem that plays an essential role in making ventures thrive. This milestone wouldn’t be possible without each of you contributing to this vibrant network of progress. To the entrepreneurs who dare to dream, build, and inspire: your determination is why we do what we do. We are honored to walk alongside you in navigating the exhilarating journey of scale and impact. Here's to nurturing more stories of growth and innovation as we embark on this exciting chapter together. Venkat Vallabhaneni, Jatin Desai, Pratip Mazumdar, Murali Krishna Gunturu, Harsha Mundhada, Parmi Doshi, Aishwarya Kulkarni, Pratik Ahuja, Kirti Chaturvedi, Akhil Nehru, Minal Sequeira, CA Vijay Sundar A N https://lnkd.in/gJUHBZk6 #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #OpportunitiesFund #Innovation #Gratitude

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A uniquely Indian paradox: Even as the Indian consumer makes a move towards premiumization, and is increasingly willing to pay for quality across existing categories (health & wellness, home interiors) and new ones (gaming, pet care, astrology): As a consumer-facing company, you still have to invest in building an offline presence, call-centres and focus on building trust through physical and audio touch-points. A strong online presence and influencer marketing is not enough. Increasing incomes do not translate to increased trust.

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Is LinkedIn the new 1-800 for customers ? Very interesting article from The Economic Times Brand Equity. I have noticed this in my stint with financial institutions. A customer or friend reaches me thru linkedin to escalate an issue or unresolved complaint ... or a customer posts his issue on the linkedin page of the institution ...... or a more enterprising customer highlights his issue via a linkedin message directly to the CEO or senior management of the institution. This could be scenario in other industries too - ecommerce , telecom , consumer durables etc. Given that there is greater professional accountability in the linkedin ecosystem , the writer makes a case for linkedin becoming a preferred platform for complaints ..?

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He is the Leader behind a ₹167 Cr success! Amarjit Singh Batra is the managing director of Spotify India and has led several other large platforms like eBay, Olx and is now shaping one of the world’s largest music markets. A very interesting that we discussed was that if you have recognised that you are on the wrong journey then instead of switching it's always better to get back and start from scratch. We also talked about-  → How India consumes music  → The changes in the Indian economy  → What do international markets really offer → How you can become successful as an artist  → Split for a company to focus on music in India His journey from being a corporate leader to leading Spotify's expansion across India, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East can tell you so much about the music industry. You never know how his experiences can teach you something new about entrepreneurship and the constantly changing consumer landscape. (Link in the comments below) #entrepreneurship #musicindustry

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Everyone has heard of Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) but most people don't understand what it really is. In Ep17 of The India Opportunity Show we deep-dive into the use cases and adoption of ONDC across India with Anjani K. Jajodia, VP at ONDC. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gfj_4wJe We talk about: > What ONDC is > How companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Paytm and Ola have become adopters of ONDC as well as startups > 80% of transactions on ONDC are from small sellers, they do about 12Million transactions per month. All this in just the last 1.5 years since they started in Jan 2023. > India's investments into public digital infrastructure like Aadhar, UPI and now ONDC to disrupt the $300Billion Digital Commerce industry > How startups and companies can partner with ONDC and what are some of the benefits of doing so

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India is embracing the quick commerce wave! We’re witnessing a shift from unorganized retail directly into this dynamic channel, effectively bypassing modern retail. Initially focused on essentials like bread and milk, quick commerce is now catering to impulse purchases and even refills for staples. This shift is creating a scalable Go-to-Market channel, enabling insurgent food brands to achieve more than INR 100 crore in annual recurring revenue. We are excited to witness this growth firsthand with our portfolio company, Lo Foods, which is on a mission to introduce functional foods to over 100 million Indians. Their range of products—bread, flours, and snacks—are tailored for specific nutritional needs, including ultra-low carb, diabetic-friendly, high protein, and gluten-free options. Sudarshan Gangrade Jitesh Shah Mount Judi Ventures Entrust Family Office KP Balaraj Subramanian Ramadorai Gaurav Arora Ritesh Chandra Janet Kim Jolynn Swee Ravi Ravulaparthi #capitalcode #agrifood

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T-Hub congratulates Enmovil on securing pre-Series A funding, led by Caret Capital, Ev2 Ventures, JRG Holdings, and Anicut Capital LLP as Co-Investors. Founded by Ravi Bulusu, Nanda Kishore, and Venkat Moganty, Enmovil is an integrated Enterprise SaaS platform that optimizes multi-modal logistics and supply chain inefficiencies. Enmovil’s customer base includes industry giants such as Nestle, Bajaj Auto, Steamhouse, Nipro Medical, Grasim, Eicher, Maruti Suzuki, Vedanta, Hero, Hindware, Daimler, and Ashok Leyland. This has contributed to noticeable growth in India’s supply chain industry, with its value rising from $225 billion in 2020 to a projected $637 billion by 2025. T-Hub wishes Enmovil continued success as they revolutionize the logistics industry! #InnovationEcosystem #InnovatewithTHub #StartupSuccess #SaaS

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I have been running a B2B business since last 5 years and started a D2C business 1 year ago. Key lessons learned are:- D2C business might seem attractive but generating a good cash flow is challenging Scaling products with AOV <1000 is very difficult in India. If you are planning to start a D2C-FMCG product business only think in long term. Anything big can be made in 10-20 year period only. Cheers ✌

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Traditional businesses run with rigour, discipline and frugality, when combined with new age technology can create wonders and rock-solid businesses. We are delivering not just FMCG but changing lives of the Indian Retail Network. Arun Arya

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🌿✨ Embracing AYUSH: Empowering Health Naturally! 🌟 Did you know? Recent data from the survey on AYUSH conducted by National Sample Survey Office, India reveals that 50% of Indians used AYUSH healthcare system in the last year! 🔹 AYUSH system of medicines refers to the use of one or more of the system(s) of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy 🔹 95% of rural and 96% of urban folks are aware of AYUSH traditions. 🔹 85% of rural and 86% of urban households practice Medicinal Plants/Home Remedies/Local Health Traditions. 🔹 Nearly half of rural (46%) and over half of urban (53%) individuals used AYUSH in the last year for health benefits. We at SaveIN work with several leading alternate medicine providers like Dr Batra’s Healthcare Jiva Ayurveda Madhavbaug Homeocare International among others, and are witnessing tremendous demand for alternate therapies, especially for chronic diseases and lifestyle disorders. Let's continue to explore the power of traditional wisdom in promoting holistic wellness alongside adopting the latest in healthcare! 🌱💪 #AYUSH #HolisticHealth #WellnessJourney #TraditionalMedicine #Healthcare #Lifestyle

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At eChai Ventures, we are collaborating with the Accel on the Accel Atoms program, along with many other good folks from the ecosystem. ..... Accel is back with the fourth cohort of their pre seed accelerator - Accel Atoms. Over the last 3 cohorts, they’ve funded 30+ startups who’ve collectively raised more than $200 Million. With their fourth cohort they’re looking to invest in founders building in two thriving sectors - AI & Bharat. What is the AI opportunity? 🤖 Microprocessors led the first tech revolution, which was followed by the internet. The third tech revolution is led by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a global opportunity for any Indian-origin founder to build AI applications for business cases or to building development/ foundational tools in the AI ecosystem. What is the Bharat opportunity? 🇮🇳 The top 20 per cent of the rural population has a higher monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) than about 50 per cent of the urban population. This highlights the substantial purchasing power & opportunity that is often overlooked in Bharat. Who should apply for Accel Atoms? 🫵🏻 Accel Atoms is looking ambitious founders with an ambitious idea in AI or Bharat. This includes startups at the pre-seed stage to startups in the idea-stage/ pre-product stage. Why should you apply for Accel Atoms? 🤔 When selected, you’ll receive up to $1 Million in funding, perks worth $5 Million & access to a community of 300+ founders. You will also get access to a dedicated learning track to set up your startup for long term success. Applications are open till the 17th Nov. You can learn more and apply for this program here: https://lnkd.in/dQwxHzQg

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🚀 Swiggy's IPO: A Game-Changer in the Food Delivery Industry? I just read the news that Swiggy has received the go-ahead from SEBI for its much-anticipated IPO, and it's set to be a big one - potentially raising around Rs 11,000 crore. With major backers like Prosus, SoftBank, and Accel, Swiggy’s clearly aiming high, but I can't help but wonder about the challenges ahead. It’s hard to ignore how competitive the food delivery market is, especially with Zomato already seeing massive growth post-IPO. Swiggy will need to prove its ability to turn a profit in a space that’s still burning cash and facing tough competition. Their use of the confidential filing route is interesting, as it helps protect sensitive info, but it also raises questions about what they might be holding back. With the November launch in sight, I’m curious to see how the market reacts and whether they can meet expectations. #Microcap #IPO #FoodDelivery #Swiggy #SEBI #Prosus #SoftBank #Accel #Zomato #StockMarket #Tech Read more: https://lnkd.in/dbB6yt-V

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