Vamsi Udayagiri

Kashmir Apples: A Crown Jewel Poised for Global Growth (2024 Update) Kashmir's apples have always been a crown jewel of Indian agriculture, and with good reason! Contributing a remarkable 75-80% of India's apple production, which stood at a staggering 2,276 thousand metric tons in 2021, Kashmir is a powerhouse in the world of apples. With India currently ranking 5th globally according to 2021 data (sources like World Population Review), Kashmir plays a vital role in this achievement. But the journey doesn't stop here! We now set our sights on unlocking Kashmir apples' full potential in the global market. Here's the key: Modernizing Orchards with High-Density Plantings: Converting aging orchards into modern, high-density plantations featuring a wider range of top apple & cherry varieties . This will not only increase yield and optimize land usage but also extend the harvest season, offering a diverse selection throughout the year. Quality First: Implementing stricter quality control measures to ensure consistent size, color, and taste in Kashmir apples. This will make them even more competitive in the global market. Sustainable Practices: Embracing integrated pest management and water-efficient irrigation techniques to ensure long-term orchard health and environmental responsibility. By working together, we can elevate Kashmir apples to a global brand synonymous with exceptional quality and sustainable farming. Let's cultivate excellence! Share your thoughts on propelling Kashmir apple production to new heights in the comments below. What are some of the latest advancements or techniques that can be implemented?

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The Unsung Heroes of Sales in India: Why Field Support Makes All the Difference The vast and fragmented nature of India's market presents a unique set of challenges for sales teams. After all the business is an aggregation of very small transactions – running into billions. Scorching summers, unpredictable weather patterns, intense competition, and tremendous sales pressure all contribute to the pressure of performing. In this dynamic environment, the role of HO and regional sales support teams becomes even more critical. Beyond Transactions: Building a Collaborative Partnership While achieving sales targets is crucial, a successful sales strategy goes beyond individual transactions. It's about building a strong, collaborative partnership between Head Office (HO) and field teams. Both sides are integral parts of the sales process, working together to achieve shared goals. Empowering Field Teams for Success The HO sales team acts as a strategic partner, providing crucial support to field teams in several ways: Market Insights and Support: Equipping field teams with actionable market understanding, competitor analysis, and customer trends which has been obtained from market visits. This includes providing in-depth data and insights that can be immediately applied in the field. Effective Sales Enablement: Developing relevant sales strategies, training programs, and practical sales tools to empower field teams. Regularly gathering feedback from the field ensures these tools and strategies remain effective. Data-Driven Guidance: Continuously monitoring sales performance together, identifying areas for improvement, and providing data-driven guidance. This creates a shared accountability for results, fostering open communication. Proactive Problem Solving: Proactively addressing challenges faced by field teams, such as logistical issues, product concerns, or customer roadblocks. This includes prioritizing solutions and going the extra mile to ensure field teams have the resources they need. Collaboration Leads to Success Studies have shown that strong collaboration between HO and field teams leads to significant improvements in sales performance. A Harvard Business Review report revealed that companies with strong collaboration achieved 17% higher sales growth compared to those with limited collaboration. In fact every function has a great role to play, if there is a common will and zeal. Conclusion: Fostering a Winning Team Environment In the competitive Indian market, fostering a culture of collaboration between HO and field teams is essential for sustainable sales success. By breaking down silos, promoting open communication, and working towards shared goals, organizations can empower their entire sales force, creating a winning team environment that achieves remarkable results. What are your experiences with HO and field team collaboration? How can HO teams better support field sales success in India? Love to hear your thoughts and observations!

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Q-Commerce overtaking traditional e-commerce? Currently we are seeing a big boom in terms of the different SKUs being sold in Quick commerce apps like Zepto, Blinkit, etc. - Atomberg Technologies 's fans - Sony's PS5 - Samosa, Chai and what not - Digital Gold from Jar! Zepto is in talks to raise $300m for its broader ecommerce play. While Swiggy is preparing to file for an IPO this year, incumbent Flipkart is readying its entry into quick commerce. Zomato has invested $240 million in Blinkit over the last one year. Taking a step back, the lines between quick commerce and traditional e commerce have started to become increasingly blurred with QCom pretty much catering to every needs! Also, multiple reports suggest that QCommerce can potentially become bigger than traditional e commerce in India!  Case in point : According to Goldman Sachs, the valuation of Blinkit is greater than Zomato's core food delivery biz! Non-grocery boom in Q-Commerce: Categories including beauty, toys, health and electronics are witnessing robust sales growth on quick-commerce platforms overall. While the overall base for the new categories is still small, aggressive expansion by these players is starting to ensure a dominant presence for these categories. Plus AOV is higher which also comes with better margins, making it a win-win! Case in point: Zepto - 2x sales MoM in segments such as toys and electronics accessories - Beauty category expanded 3x QoQ - ~15% of Zepto’s $1.2bn annualised gross sales currently comes from non-grocery products (Source: Goldman Sachs) For several D2C quick commerce has become the fastest growth channel as well as the platform with highest customer engagement This is definitely a positive for the consumers and the Q-Commerce players, but is everything on the up and up?   As the demand for space on quick-commerce platforms skyrockets, niche D2C cos in segments like FMCG, beauty and personal care, and health and fitness are agreeing to pay a 30-45% commission on sales, besides shelling out on advertising and discounting on these Q-Com platforms. On top of the commissions, brands are also regularly spending around 20% of their total sales on ads on the platforms, and discounting their products by about 20-25% (totaling 60-70% revenue!). This is in stark contrast to the 10-20% commission that large FMCG cos pay these platforms reflecting the intense competition for visibility. The brand's scale and comparison with competitors are crucial considerations when it comes to new listings. On the positive side, smaller D2C brands have seen 40-60% total revenue coming from Q-Commerce compared to ~10-20% from traditional ecommerce, which is surprising! Essentially, Q-com currently has a BIIIG Bargaining power against new D2C brands and can essentially make or break their businesses! Is this sustainable on the long run? #ecommerce #quickcommerce #india #zepto #businessmodel #d2c #startups #LIPostingChallenge

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Why PVR Limited? Just why???? It's absolutely a rip off to see popcorns being sold at such high prices, to a point where movie tickets are lesser compared to the F&B. Mr Ajay Bijli, PVR Chairman and Managing Director, however, said that there will be no change in the prices of food and beverages (F&B) as India is still in a "transition phase from single screens to multiplexes". He said in order to cover operational costs, the snacks at multiplex will be sold at higher prices. I agree, but my one single question here is - operational costs have to be factored in your margins. Why not go by volumes? Reduce prices and see more customers buying F&B. Even people having second thoughts will buy. Movie is your core business not F& B. Unless you are looking only for elite customers and not common citizens.

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Kiko Live is dependent on Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC), it's valuation is too high and there are too many competitors. The reasons for jury on Shark Tank India to pass on the opportunity. As CEO of eSamudaay, this argument holds true for me too and even though I didn't apply for Shark Tank, I use this post to explain the business model so that our existing investors don't lose hope. #eSamudaay is in the business of localising data and was founded in July 2020 based on work done in 2016-2020 on #redefine (Regulated Decentralized Financial Networks). One of the first use-cases for our nested network (network of nests where "nest" is a store of data) was to localize data infrastructure for hyper-local digital business models. I have worked at a #kirana during my school days and I know that online is NOT the mode for us to gain customers. Our primary needs out of digital is for CRM or it's new age version - Community Management. Online ordering by people that don't know us is expected to be tending toward zero. The #LCommerce business model defined by our pioneer district digital economy platform Udupi eSamudaay Digital Services Pvt Ltd is developed on this insight. Deepinder Goyal is right when is says that #UPI and #ONDC are like apples and oranges. UPI is for digital goods and that too for a single digital good (INR on banking rails). Also, UPI is built on a strong technology foundation of core banking and IMPS. So, any business model that is dependent on ONDC needs to be aware that this is a game that will evolve in the long term and adapting existing platform business models to ONDC won't work. For eSamudaay's network of nests, ONDC is the data transfer protocol. Also, our network of nests is dependent on the ONDC gateway only for local to global, global to local transaction flows which we estimate as ~20% of total transaction flows. So, yes, eSamudaay is dependent on the ONDC protocol's success. To the same extent that we are dependent on GST's success. People reached out to me over the past few days congratulating me on my new role as CEO of Tenacious Bee Collective and asking me how I will manage the pressures of being CEO in two companies. The Nirmund style of management enables me to do that. Through this, we are developing a polycentric conglomerate of we, the People. We are creating a network of people-friendly, earth-caring businesses supplying to our Roti (Food), Kapda (Clothing), Makaan (Housing) and Muskaan (Celebration?) needs. I am very comfortable being CEO/CXO and directing the first businesses in this network serving as models which can be adapted by entrepreneurs across India and the world. All these businesses have access to the technology, the know-how and the network reach of the existing businesses in the network. This is a complex system thats adaptive. Not the kinds that sharks will get. I would love your feedback though. Please comment with candid views. https://lnkd.in/g4dDcmdn

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Buying gold / silver coins on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trithiya come under low frequency - low complexity purchase category. It is a seasonal product bought generally during specific occasions. Zepto Blinkit Swiggy lapped up this opportunity and started selling this with the benefit of quick delivery. No wonder the sales picked up quite well. I wonder how much would it have impacted the sales of larger eComm players. Sales trends from swiggy is already out. I am sure the trend will be similar for Zepto - Aadit Palicha and Blinkit - Albinder Dhindsa I detailed out this approach and more in my notes - https://lnkd.in/gBmvVKy2

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Bihar Startup Ecosystem: Beyond the Noise Don't believe the negativity. Here's the reality: 1. Agrix got 10 lac in a single tranche within 45 days of our application. We got the matching support after raising angel round without any hurdles/delay. We also got the scale up funds of 15 lacs within a month of application. (Total Support from Industries Department =65+ lac ). 2. As long as the screening process is concerned, there must be a way to filter out non serious startups or entities that don't even qualify as startups. We have also appeared for the exams. The questions are usually of very basic nature. I think Startup Bihar is doing great work for the startup Ecosystem in Bihar. Considering, there are more than 2000 startups registered with them, there will be some issues with a few of them. These cases are mostly exceptions, not the norm.We had a great experience with Startup Bihar. Bihar startups are innovating, scaling, and thriving ! Image: Clicked on the day of 10 lac grant. #Bihar #startups #supports #commitment #growth #Invest JEEVIKA, Rural Development Department, Government of Bihar Invest Bihar BIADA Bihar Zero Lab Bihar

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Groww Invest-Tech Private Limited, the stockbroking arm of Groww, has posted remarkable growth in FY24, with its operating revenue surging 2.4X to Rs 2,900 crore, up from Rs 1,295 crore in FY23, according to audited financials from ICRA. Even more impressive, the Tiger Global-backed firm’s profits skyrocketed over 4X, hitting Rs 298 crore, compared to Rs 73 crore in FY23. This growth was driven primarily by retail broking, which contributed a massive 90% to GIT's operating revenue. As of August 2024, Groww controls 25% of the Indian stockbroking market, boasting a user base of 1.2 crore active traders, according to NSE data. In October 2023, Groww achieved a significant milestone by overtaking Zerodha to become India’s number one stockbroking app. Other top contenders include Angel One, Upstox, and ICICI Securities. In addition to its core services of equity broking in cash and derivatives, along with mutual fund distribution, Groww Invest-Tech recently entered the Margin Trading Facility (MTF) business, a move expected to drive further growth. This expansion will be financed through a mix of internal funds and commercial paper, while keeping financial leverage manageable, according to ICRA. The boom in broking volume was a key contributor to GIT's fourfold profit jump, improving its return on average net worth to an impressive 40.3%. The company’s strategic shift back to India from the U.S. in May 2024 further solidifies its position in the Indian market. Groww competes fiercely with Zerodha and Angel One, who also posted strong financials in FY24. Zerodha reported revenues of Rs 8,370 crore and profits of Rs 4,700 crore, while Angel One saw a 42% revenue increase to Rs 4,272 crore and profits of Rs 1,125 crore. Angel One continued its growth into Q1 FY25, generating Rs 1,405 crore in revenue and Rs 293 crore in profits. #InvestingTrends #StockMarketGrowth #FintechInnovation #WealthManagement #FinancialSuccess

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Country Delight is one of the fastest & fewest Indian D2C brands to >2x valuation every ~1-2 years. How? Country Delight (CD) in 2024 raised ~₹160 Cr in Series E. It initially had a successful PMF, growing bootstrapped for its first 4 years without funding • Valuation jump - Series C Nov'21 : ~$94 MM Series D Mar'22 : ~$428 MM Series E Jan'24 : ~$790 MM . How? » By turning into a Free #Cashflow Machine (-ve WC biz). Somewhat like the retail-tech behemoth Apple! • In the last 8 years - 1.) Average cash collection time from customers has fallen from ~66 days, to just <10 days (mostly pay in advance) 2.) How long do they pay suppliers in? From >10 days in 2017, to ~25-30 days today. 3.) Average cash conversion cycle has gone from >45 days in 2015, to less than ~1 day today. ✓Result? Operating Cashflows >>> Profits » Cash on the books explodes - From ~₹12 Lakhs in FY'17, To over ~₹484 Crores in FY'24! World's "Highest Customer Retention" within D2C? ✓ Dairy category. Almost ~70% of all CD customers acquired ~3-4 years ago give nearly the SAME revenue, EVERY month consistently even till today. New customers add on to these, as CDs marketing spends in last couple of years grew ~5x, simultaneously exploding the free cashflows flywheel. In addition, Cross sell & Up-sell of "high gross margin" newly added products (~60% success rate) like ghee, paneer, vegetables, essentials, etc. In this model "owning customers long-term" gives - ✓ Highest LTV, Lowest CAC, Highest ROCE. Amidst giant peer brands like Amul and Mother Dairy that handle close to ~45M litres / day.. • Country Delight carved its "premium niche" from scratch - Growing ~1.5-2x YoY - From ₹0 to ~₹1380 Crores revenue in last ~8-9 years! - More than 15M deliveries per month - Network of 10,000+ Indian farmers, lakhs of cattle. One of my favourite quote, by the Founder - » Animals are the best non-depreciable assets because they only multiply ;) #india #business #startups #technology #consumer

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Exciting times ahead for the SaaS ecosystem! Thrilled to see our founder, Saket Dandotia, recognized for addressing a crucial gap in the market. Saket's vision has led the way in creating OneTab – a game-changing solution for software project management. Onetab’s AI-powered platform is revolutionizing collaboration for development and engineering teams by integrating multiple tools into a seamless workflow. Check out the full story and learn more about our journey and goals!

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In the bustling world of digital media, where trends change at the speed of a tweet, Viraj Sheth found his calling not just in riding the wave, but in creating it. As the co-founder of Monk Entertainment (affectionately known as Monk-E), Viraj embarked on a journey to redefine the relationship between brands and influencers a journey that has made him a standout figure in the ever-evolving landscape of influencer marketing. But let's rewind a bit. Imagine being in college, surrounded by the usual chaos of assignments, exams, and the looming question of "What next?" For most, it’s a time of uncertainty. But for Viraj, it was a time of inspiration. Partnering with Ranveer Allahbadia (aka BeerBiceps Media World Private Limited ), another digital dynamo, Viraj co-founded Monk-E with a simple yet powerful idea: to bridge the gap between brands and the new wave of content creators who were rapidly taking over the internet. What makes Viraj’s story remarkable isn’t just the timing it’s his approach. In a world where brands often struggled to connect authentically with audiences, Viraj saw an opportunity. He recognized that the real power of content lies in authenticity, in the genuine connections that influencers build with their followers. This insight became the cornerstone of Monk-E’s strategy. Instead of treating influencers like mere advertisers, Monk-E positioned them as storytellers, voices that could resonate with millions in a way traditional media never could. Viraj's vision🎯 didn’t just stop at creating connections; it was about fostering growth. Under his leadership, Monk-E became a nurturing ground for talent, helping influencers navigate the complexities of brand collaborations while staying true to their own voices. This approach not only elevated the influencers but also brought unprecedented value to the brands they worked with. It was a win-win, and the industry took notice. Fast forward to today, and Monk-E isn’t just a company; it’s a movement. With a roster of some of the most engaging digital creators in the country, the company has become synonymous with successful, authentic influencer marketing. Viraj’s unique ability to blend business acumen with a deep understanding of content creation has made him a sought-after name in the digital space. As we look ahead, the landscape of digital media will continue to evolve, but one thing is certain: Viraj Sheth and Monk-E will be at the forefront, leading the charge, bridging dreams, and creating connections that last. #InfluencerMarketing #DigitalMedia #ContentCreation #BrandInfluencer #MonkE #VirajSheth #MarketingInnovation #DigitalCreators #BrandStorytelling #InfluencerGrowth #AuthenticConnections

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I completely agree with Sabeer Bhatia about the PE Mindset of VCs in India. I think as Founders we should focus on convincing the customers. If your product is great and you need funds to scale, you will find many lenders. https://lnkd.in/dDw-a9_i

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For urban India, status > health "Consumer health TAM is quite small. Hard to build right now." Attended the Antler D2C Series event yesterday evening. Key Insights: 1. "GenZ would happily spend ₹4,000 on status symbols like sneakers or concert tickets, but hesitate to invest the same amount in health products like protein powder." 2. The air we breathe (25 kg daily) has the biggest impact on our longevity. However, longevity-focused products and protocols are still ahead of their time. 3. "It's not important that everybody should be a founder. If you are doing a good job, enjoy the life. Also, Scaling up means more meetings and more headache." Thanks Revant Bhate and Rajiv Srivatsa for a focused and spirited discussion. The Science Behind Status-Seeking? 1. Evolutionary biology shows status links to reproductive success and better resource access. 2. India's young median age (27 years) may explain the status-over-health preference. 3. The Disposable Soma Theory explains that young organisms prioritize reproduction over body maintenance, leading to aging. Later adulthood often sees a shift towards prioritizing survival and healthspan. Revant shares Mosaic Wellness is building for the next 20 years, focusing on creating health habits that don't currently exist. An uphill tasks to change consumer behaviour. As India's population ages, the focus will naturally shift toward longevity and health-span. ------ #d2c #healthtech #longevity

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OkCredit has reached >98% of Indian PIN codes with ZERO sales team. How did we achieve this? 👇🏽 Product-led growth Imagine there’s a wholesaler who uses OkCredit & records credits on 10 other retailers. The retailers receive WhatsApp notifications for the transactions recorded on them. The retailers in turn get introduced to OkCredit & discover how easy it is to manage their ledger and collect payments with timely reminders. We onboard 1.5 Lakh new merchants every month without a single penny spent on marketing. The ROI on paid marketing has dropped significantly and it doesn't move the needle after a point. If you want to grow really big, there's only one way - create virality loops in your product and make your existing users recommend it to other people.

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