Mandakini Ghai

🚀 Are you attending #SAASCON24 Bengaluru by SaaS Insider ? 🚀 If you're aiming to scale your SaaS to $10M ARR and beyond, don't miss out on my session on creating your "Event Marketing Playbook" 📅 When? Friday, 12 pm IST 📍 Where? Stage 2: Road to $10M I'll be sharing some of Whatfix's secret sauces for crafting a powerful Event Marketing Playbook. And also discuss some of the real-world ideas that we've tried and tested for driving our demand and brand awareness, turning events into a cornerstone of our growth engine. 👉 What’s in it for you? ✅ Proven strategies for event-led growth with real-world insights from Whatfix ✅ Event-led marketing playbook which you can apply directly ✅ Real-world insights from #Whatfix on how we grew our Field Marketing engine contributing multi-million dollar revenue YoY Register your interest now: https://lnkd.in/g5i4ADJS See ya there! #SaaS #MarketingStrategy #EventMarketing #Whatfix #GrowthMarketing #SaaSCon24

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To all the poker fans.... Learn what is common in poker and sales from Yash Reddy of MoEngage - from not winning all the hands to never leaving the table when you are losing. What a refreshing analogy for sellers out there! Yash shared great insights around people, culture and sales on SiftHub's Wintage Club Conversations! Link in comments for full episode

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SaaS companies (based on ARR) are shifting from product and pricing to sales and GTM strategy for high growth. Notably, in the case of Indian B2B SaaS companies in the growth stage, 80% have a burn multiple of less than 1.5X. Furthermore, fintechs and AI platform-based companies are making significant strides toward achieving a highly scalable growth stage. #saas #lending #fintechs #ai #platform #tech #gtm #sales #pricing #highgrowth

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I heard Sunil Neurgaonkar's(Marketing Head at Vieu) podcast with Anupam Rastogi’s (General Partner at Emergent Ventures) on cracking the US GTM. What I learned 👇 Note: Anupam's guidance on navigating the US GTM is rooted in his extensive work with multiple SaaS startups, offering you tried-and-true wisdom. 1. Common Mistakes in US GTM Setup: - Balancing Science and Art: Cracking the US market involves both repeatable strategies (science) and business-specific innovations (art). Science includes product-market fit, market discovery, sales and marketing, hiring, and fundraising. - Meta-Learning: Successful founders quickly adopt existing knowledge (science) and then expand upon it to create their own strategies (art). Identifying which parts to adopt and which to innovate is crucial. - Avoid Extremes: Some founders rely too heavily on established methods, while others try to reinvent everything. Both approaches can lead to failure. - Success Tip: Companies focused solely on the US market early on are more likely to succeed. 2. Timing for Moving to the US: - Market Discovery Phase: Initial market exploration can often be done remotely from India, with occasional visits to meet prospects. - Product Building & Initial GTM Phase: If there are two founders, the one focused on product and tech can stay in India, while the GTM-focused founder should travel to the US frequently. - Go to Market Build-Out Phase: During active sales and marketing efforts, founders should spend significant time in the US or move there to be more effective in closing deals, hiring, and working with investors. - Success Tip: Founders who move to the US early or spend a lot of time there tend to achieve better results. 3. Founder Networking in the US: - Maximize Learnings: Network with both Indian and non-Indian founders to gain diverse perspectives and insights. 4. Achieving PMF for the US: - Different Markets: Product-market fit (PMF) in India does not guarantee PMF in the US, especially for enterprise sales. - Competitive Landscape: Achieving PMF in a competitive US market is like competing in the Olympics for gold. - Analogy: Achieving PMF in India and then in the US is like winning an Olympic gold in badminton and then trying to win in tennis - the fundamentals differ significantly. - Mindset Shift: Transitioning from PMF in India to the US requires starting with a beginner's mindset. Founders must lead this effort personally, as it cannot be delegated. Lastly, consider giving Sunil's 'SaaS Sessions' podcast a listen. It's India's first SaaS-focused podcast, with over 110 episodes featuring insights from SaaS leaders and a global audience of 21,000 listeners." You can check it out here: https://saassessions.com/

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"Is Zomato about to redefine how we spend our weekends?" Their new app, #District, sure seems to think so. Movies, dining, events - all in one place. It’s ambitious, no doubt. But to really stand out in a crowded market, they’ll need to nail the details. Take the premium cinema seats idea. 🍿 Start with big cities, offer better seats for best viewing experience, or maybe bundle it with snacks. Make it an #experience, not just another ticketing platform. For B2B, they’ve already got restaurant partnerships. Why not tap into corporate outings and team events? 🎉 It’s low-hanging fruit if done right. And here’s my favorite - connecting small venues and indie artists. 🎙️ Imagine giving local talent a platform to reach bigger audiences. That’s still an unorganized niche waiting to be tapped. Next, even while having Klook, there’s still a huge opportunity. 🧳 With Zomato's better understanding of the Indian market, District could explore curated travel experiences - weekend getaways, local sightseeing, or rentals. Maybe start with niche offerings and avoid a head-on clash with giants like MakeMyTrip. The key is to roll things out gradually. Use the Zomato ecosystem to cross-promote. Most importantly, listen to users and adapt fast, which I believe Deepinder Goyal and his team at Zomato are always good at. If they get this right, District could become the go-to app for everything “going-out.” 🎭🍽️🎬 At the end of the day, people don’t remember what they bought - they remember how it made them feel. 'Experience' is a game changer. 🏆 What do you think? Does District have what it takes to disrupt the scene? #ProductStrategy #Zomato #CustomerExperience #Innovation #StartupLessons #ProductManagement #SeeYouThere #goingout

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For anyone that follows me-- I love giving sales gyaan. sometimes more often than required :) I love to break it down into psychology,philosophy,human nature and then the tech/product/value part of it. But I want to be better at it. Most of the sales gyaan that i have written or i have seen amazing sales leaders put on linkedin is " this is how i nailed it" around the few wins amongst a lot of shots all of us have taken. I want to do something better than that. I want to do something more objective. I am involved in multiple things at Simpl- GTM, biz dev, partnerships, podcasts, communities, and of course sales❤️ at Simpl. A part of it is reviewed in our Weekly business reviews where all the leaders gather and figure out weekly steps that needs to be taken to grow the company stronger. and each step is then marked red or green based on weekly progress ( Faiz removed yellow recently 😋 ) I want to expand the universe of people I show my ducks, my average innings or centuries. I want to be publicly red or green rather than showing "all is well" all the time. The first part of the idea is selfish: I want to make myself more accountable. The second element is to dissect it, write about it, learn myself, make my team learn and make others learn through the process. The third and one of the most important elements would stay to be making sales folks and leaders more aware of the goods/bads/uglys of all that one does on a daily basis. I would take the liberty to keep it as transparent as possible. I will also keep a few things discrete wherever required. make efforts, struggle, fail ,win in the public domain. excited about building in public. p.s. Thanks Sandeep Swamy for prodding me about the lack of giving gyaan in the last 30 days. on it :)

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Dunzo's financial woes continue as its funding faces roadblocks Dunzo, the once-promising Indian delivery startup, continues to grapple with financial struggles as it faces delays in funding and ongoing challenges with unpaid employee dues. This situation is a reminder of the importance of financial resilience and the need for transparent communication in times of uncertainty. #Dunzo #StartupChallenges #Funding #EmployeeRelations #BusinessNews #StartupLife #FinancialManagement https://lnkd.in/ghAxiKXb

New Report Alert: Decoding the Online Ticket Business in India & Zomato - Paytm Deal! (Zomato to buy Paytm's entertainment ticketing business for Rs 2,048 crore The acquisition of Paytm Insider, approved by Zomato's board, will allow the food delivery giant to foray into the entertainment ticketing sector, complementing its existing dining and food delivery services.) I'm excited to share that I've recently completed a comprehensive report on the dynamics of the online ticketing industry in India, with a particular focus on the strategic acquisition deal between Zomato and Paytm for Paytm's ticketing business. This report dives deep into the evolving landscape of online ticketing, highlighting the key factors driving growth and the challenges faced by industry players. I also explored the strategic implications of Zomato's acquisition of Paytm's ticketing arm, examining how this move aligns with Zomato's broader business objectives. To provide a well-rounded perspective, I included detailed financial analysis of both Zomato and Paytm, shedding light on the financial rationale behind the deal and its potential impact on both companies. If you're interested in understanding more about this significant development in the Indian tech ecosystem, feel free to reach out! Zomato Paytm Parth Verma The Valuation School #OnlineTicketing #Zomato #Paytm #MergersAndAcquisitions #IndiaTech #FinancialAnalysis

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Diwali long weekend is getting over and there are high chances that clients might ghost you Use these 3 email templates that bring replies and keeps you informed about the deal. 1. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Our previous conversation, [Name] Hey [Name], Last time we chatted your top priority was [X]. We shared the same goal of finding a path to partnership and starting implementation. But maybe things have changed since I haven’t heard back in a bit. If that’s the case, let me know, and absolutely no worries at all. Regards [Name] P.S. If you got busy and plan on reaching back out later that’s ok too. 2. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Do you plan to move ahead,[Name]? Hi [Name], I haven't heard back from you since our previous conversation. Is it safe to assume priorities have shifted? Our Onboarding Team is ready to start scoping out the project, so if something has changed on your end I would like to let them know so they can shift their focus elsewhere. Regards [Name] 3. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Where do we stand [Name]? Hi [Name], We have been unable to connect for a few weeks now, and that usually means one of the three things: 1. This is not a priority for you and your company at the moment. 2. You are working on something else hence could not reply. 3. You have already moved on with some other partner. If it's point number 2, I can completely understand. If that's not the case, I would love to hear from you. Regards [Name] #sales #email #template #followup #ghosting #sdr #AE

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#SaaSeries2: Freshworks Q2 FY24 Results. Here are the key highlights: - Total customers in Q2 FY24 grew by 4% to 68.8K YOY. - Customers with ARR >USD 5K grew by 14% YOY, accounting for 90% of the ARR. - Customers with ARR > USD 50K grew by 30% YOY, making up 50% of the ARR. In terms of key metrics: - Revenue saw a 20% growth to 174 Mn in Q2 FY24, with the US market contributing 45%. The growth was also driven by acquisition of Device42 signaling the saturation in US market for key offerings. - Net Dollar Retention stands at 106%. - #ACV is at #USD10K, while the gross margin remains high at 85%. - #FCF USD 32.8 Mn in Q2 FY 24 Few observations: 1) The #Enterprise segment is the fastest-growing, maintaining its trend QoQ. 2) The #SMB segment, constituting ~10%, is critical for expansion despite being the least growing segment. Special focus areas include #GenAI solutions like #Freddycopilot and #Freshchat, with a 40% attachment rate, aimed at enhancing #agentproductivity. #SaaS #GenAI #Freshworks #SaaSUnicorn #AIagents #AIAssistants #conversationintelligence #venturecapital #privateequity #investments

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I know VPs and AVPs who are getting paid 20LPA and I also know AEs in high-growing SaaS getting paid 30LPA+ In HSR Bengaluru a friend of mine works as AVP at 12LPA and they have 11 AVPs for a company size of 30 😅 In today's startup-driven world, designations don't hold much value. Yet, we often seek social validation and waste energy in unnecessary battles with HRs and Hiring Managers. Work, Bargain, and Negotiate for what TRULY matters -Salary (For your Bills, EMIs, and Savings) -ESOPs (For future wealth creation) And do your due diligence in understanding -Manager (A supportive and practical human) -Culture (You need peace and happiness to thrive) -Learning (To master your skills) Don't get blindsided by an 8-9% hike for a heavy title that will live on LinkedIn for NOT MORE than 24 hours. #sales #salary #designation #hike #saas #b2b

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Selling SaaS in India is really hard 🇮🇳 Over the last 6 months at Rippling I have been focussed solely on the India market and it has been an eye opener. The challenges to sell in India deserves a post of its own, but this affirmed my belief that it is easier to earn a Dollar than it is to earn a Rupee. This is the reason most Indian companies sell to western markets. This has generated a lot of interest in hiring sales teams internationally. There are obvious advantages to this - they are in market and local, understand the cultural nuances better and can meet prospects in person - it is proven that win rates improve when you meet in person. But hiring folks outside of India is also challenging and administrative nuances of different countries don't make it easy. I have been helping Indian companies streamline international hiring and here are some of the challenges they face: Navigating Local Employment Laws - Every country has its own labor laws, tax rules, and compliance requirements. Staying compliant is crucial—mistakes can mean heavy fines or legal trouble. Managing Global Payroll - Paying employees across different countries isn’t just about sending money. It involves dealing with various tax laws, social security rules, and local regulations. Getting it right can be a nightmare. Avoiding Employee Misclassification - Misclassifying employees as contractors (or the other way around) can lead to serious consequences. Every country has its own criteria, and it’s easy to get caught out. Cross-Border Data Security - Handling employee data internationally means navigating regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Mishandling data can lead to fines and erode trust. Dealing with Work Visas and Permits - Securing work visas and permits is often a lengthy, complex process with shifting requirements. Staying updated is key to avoiding delays. Overcoming Cultural and Language Differences - Building a global team isn’t just about paperwork. It also means integrating different cultures and languages to maintain a cohesive and productive environment. These challenges are real, but they aren’t insurmountable. If your company is looking to simplify international hiring - I am just a DM away! #GlobalHiring #IndianCompanies #Compliance #Payroll #HR #BusinessGrowth #Rippling #GlobalPayroll #EOR

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🏆 Lessons from Rahul Dravid’s Journey to World Cup Victory as a Coach 🏆 Rahul Dravid, fondly known as “The Wall,” has always epitomized resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment. Lets have a look at the relentless pursuit of excellence and how we can imply it in Sales: 1. Patience and Perseverance: Dravid’s career teaches us that success doesn’t come overnight. It requires consistent effort, patience, and a long-term vision. In sales, persistence and steady progress often lead to the most significant wins. 2. Adaptability: From being a classical Test cricketer to adapting his game for ODIs and T20s, Dravid’s versatility is inspiring. As sales professionals, adapting to changing market dynamics and customer needs is crucial. 3. Leading by Example: Dravid’s work ethic and integrity have always set a benchmark. As leaders, demonstrating the values we preach is the most effective way to inspire and motivate our teams. 4. Building and Trusting Your Team: One of Dravid’s strengths as a coach is nurturing young talent and building a cohesive unit. In sales, fostering a supportive and collaborative team environment can drive collective success. 5. Focus on Fundamentals: Despite the glamour and pressure of international cricket, Dravid always emphasized the importance of mastering the basics. In sales, understanding and honing fundamental skills can make a significant difference. As we celebrate this monumental achievement, let’s draw inspiration from Rahul Dravid’s journey. Whether on the cricket field or in the world of sales, the principles of hard work, adaptability, and leadership remain timeless. Here’s to building our own walls of success, one brick at a time! 🧱💼 #Leadership #Sales #Inspiration #RahulDravid #Cricket #WorldCup #Success #Teamwork

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Why Customer Experience is the Secret Sauce for Brands in India's Competitive Market? In India's crowded market, brands are spending huge amounts on marketing - but that's not enough anymore. The missing piece? Customer experience. Global Brands That Get It Right Take American Express, they're a credit card company, but their customer service goes far beyond that. When a customer in Europe lost his passport, Amex stepped in and helped him connect with the U.S. embassy. Or look at Amazon, even for small, non-returnable items, Amazon often refunds unhappy customers without taking the product back. It's a small gesture, but it builds huge trust. Then there's Costco Wholesale, where a customer returned a $900 sofa after two years simply because she didn't like the color anymore and they accepted it with no questions asked. This "no-questions" approach builds loyalty that's hard to beat. For brands in India, focusing on delighting the customer even in small ways is what builds real loyalty. Make customers feel valued, go the extra mile, and let your service speak louder than your ads. #brand #marketing #casestudy

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9 Days to Go for "Adjust Ignite" and I am Thrilled to Host a Panel involving Sachin Gupta Chandni Gaglani Ishaan Humble as we would discuss in detail about an interesting topic i.e "Debunking Common Measurement Myths to Unlock Growth". We would discuss in detail as :- "Why relying on misconceptions can hinder growth and how to unlock untapped potential with evidence-based strategies?" We would discuss how to identify what's actually relevant for your business and what's just noise? This is just a snippet as there much more which we would be discussing on this very interesting Panel Discussion! So, What are you waiting for? If you are an App Marketer and Based out of Bengaluru then do RSVP for the event now !! RSVP Link :- https://lnkd.in/dAcEMQkK See You There!!

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I am a digital marketer with over six years of experience. I am also an actor/model and an influencer. 🕺🏻 (https://lnkd.in/gvuy_jbZ) Yesterday someone asked me, 'How come you are into both marketing & acting? Aren't they very different from each other?' To which I said: 'I see them as a very similar field. Both requires you to be creative to grab attention!' 😉 There are so many creatives out there today who are doing four different things together - to either make ends meet or just because they simply love it! Don't let the world fool you; that you can have only one career option. It's either 'this' or 'that' - Do what makes you feel alive! Reaping all benefits of my skills, Parth Soni, founder of Union Living started working with me - where I have been helping him with brand positioning, devising content & marketing strategies and overall social media management - whilst also being the face of the brand! Win-Win for both of us, eh? Btw, you can check out this super cool property tour vlog that I made for them. Special thanks to Rhutwik Inamdar for shooting & editing this vlog for us! CHECK IT OUT - https://lnkd.in/gVvhT6ht If you're also a creative juggling with different things, comment down your story below! 🙏🏽 ---------------------------- If you're a brand looking for a content creator or a model, you can reach out to me on [email protected] If you're a brand looking for a digital marketer with an expertise in targeting Gen Z audience, you can drop a comment or reach out to me via DM's here. #letsconnect #digitalmarketer #creatives #branding #marketing #contentcreation

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Inspired by Sanjay Kathuria, CFA's post on the challenges of competing with giants like Reliance in the quick commerce space, it's clear that one company alone can't match up to an 'elephant' like Reliance. Instead, it takes a group effort—a network of local neighborhood mom-and-pop stores that have strong roots in their communities. This is where Bino and the Boni network come in—catering to these small businesses across India, from Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities, including metro areas. Try Bino: https://lnkd.in/gFgBzRcv By providing tech-driven solutions and a robust distribution network, we empower these local stores to not just survive, but thrive. Together, we’re building a collaborative ecosystem that levels the playing field in the age of quick commerce. https://lnkd.in/giHf_pup #bino #EmpoweringLocal #BinoNetwork #PhygitalCommerce Reliance Industries Limited Zepto Blinkit bigbasket.com Dunzo instamart Swiggy Zomato Boni

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Why I’m Betting on Zomato. In its early days, Amazon faced heavy losses but focused on one thing: the customer experience. Today, it’s a giant, with shares soaring. Zomato is on a similar journey. Even while reporting losses, they delivered over 1.2 billion orders last year, prioritizing real-time tracking and customer engagement. This strategy sets them apart, especially compared to companies like Snapdeal and Paytm, which are faltered by neglecting customer needs. Their market shares plummeted, while Zomato is steadily growing. Critics warn that Zomato's losses are unsustainable, but remember how Amazon faced the same doubts. Their long-term vision led to market dominance. I believe Zomato can replicate this success. As they continue to innovate and focus on customers, their future looks bright.

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Being a founder basically means you're on-the-move ALL THE TIME. And so, the airport starts feeling like your second home :') Air India Limited reimagined loyalty programme, Flying Returns is made for people like us - those forever in transit. Built on 3 key values - ease, rewards and recognition, they know exactly how to ace member experience and make airport days a lot less hectic. My top reasons to pick them? - working through last minute itinerary changes 🗓️ - excess baggage allowance (!!) as i move from city to city 🧳 - checking into the airport 3 hours early to work + relax at the lounge 💆🏻‍♀️ What do you look forward to in a brand loyalty programme? #AIFlyingReturns #Reimagined #FlyAI #NewLaunch

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