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India Startup Talk

Entrepreneurship

Practical startup advice for entrepreneurs in India or anywhere in the world for that matter. If you are a new listener, thank you for listening, and, make sure you check out my prior episodes as you might find just the thing you were looking for. Use my Investability calculator to assess your startup's attractiveness to an investor at https://tinyurl.com/wjxj5t2m Follow our LinkedIn page and enter into a discussion at https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenesys. Join my mentoring class to get training, customized advice, and plenty of cheerleading!

Location:

United States

Description:

Practical startup advice for entrepreneurs in India or anywhere in the world for that matter. If you are a new listener, thank you for listening, and, make sure you check out my prior episodes as you might find just the thing you were looking for. Use my Investability calculator to assess your startup's attractiveness to an investor at https://tinyurl.com/wjxj5t2m Follow our LinkedIn page and enter into a discussion at https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenesys. Join my mentoring class to get training, customized advice, and plenty of cheerleading!

Language:

English


Episodes
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Episode 19 - Marketing To The USA

10/23/2023
This one is for tips on entering the US markets. Get answers to why do it and how to do it. I have included some examples and as usual, practical actionable advice. FYI...I am also starting a training and mentoring class so feel free to reach out to me at ssen@zenesysconsulting.com for details on how to enroll. You will learn how to make your startup more attractive to investors, get practical guidance on GTM, developing competitive strategies and a above all, finding solutions for taking your startup challenges head on. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message

Duration:00:16:32

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Episode 18 - Competing With The Big Boys

9/8/2022
The euphemism "Big Boys" here is referring to Big Companies. Every tech startup is competing with an Industry Giant. These brands are the elephants in the room when you are trying to make a sale to a potential client. Even if the competitor brand name is not mentioned, your customer is struggling to justify why they should give their business to a risky startup. A must listen for all tech startups who are losing a sale because they are not dealing with this reality. Here I put my management consulting hat and crack this case for you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 17 - Meet Some Indian 5G Startups

8/9/2022
It's not just about spectrum wars that will chase subscribers for more revenues. To better understand what new streams of revenues are possible, let's analyze some of India's 5G startups. Their products will give you an idea of how the wireless landscape is about to change dramatically with new possibilities. I grouped the companies into three broad categories. Radio, Core and Applications. Hope you will enjoy it. Leave your thoughts here or email me at ssen@zenesysconsulting.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 16 - Private 5G, An Exciting Time for Startups and Enterprises

6/24/2022
Listen to this insightful conversation with Mohamed Kazim, founder of Venus and Mercury Telecom. V&M is creating one of the first "Virtual Private 5G Service" for the Enterprise. This is a great opportunity for Startups to create applications on the Edge Cloud and for Enterprises to create cutting edge mobility applications without having to wait for the large telcos to offer "custom" services in their Public 5G offering. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 15 - Government of India Grants For Telecom Startups

4/28/2022
The Department Of Telecom (DoT) is working hard to put the Indian Telecom Industry on the cutting edge. In case you did not know, grants ranging from 50 Lakhs to 10 Crores are available if you are a telecom related startup. In this podcast I explain how simple it is to apply, who won grants last year, how to apply for this year, the qualification criteria, and why you should apply. Hurry up as the deadline of 18th May 2022 is fast approaching. Go to https://DCIS.dot.gov.in for application and all details. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 14: GTM Conversations with Ideaspring Capital Founder Naganand Doraswamy

4/20/2022
A refreshing perspective on GTM from Naganand Doraswamy, founder of Ideaspring Capital, one of the rare VC firms in India who are backing Early Stage Tech Startups. Listen to his thoughts on what it takes to develop a sales strategy in the initial phases of a technology startup. A highly successful past entrepreneur from the US, he feels that rather than creating another startup, why not help start several more as an "hands on" investor. If you are a tech startup, learn more about Ideaspring Capital at https://www.ideaspringcap.com/. You can also reach out to him at naganand@ideaspringcap.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 13 - Part 4 of the Investability Framework: The Team Test

4/15/2022
Fourth and final part of the Investability Framework. A simple four area test for any startup's potential for investment attractiveness. The four areas being Product Market Fit test, Scalability Test, Moat Test and the subject of this podcast, the Team Test. Hope you like it. Listeners, do check out my online web calculator that puts this framework into action for you. Go to https://app.calconic.com/calculator/editor/62399af732accc0021eea9f1 and test your early stage startup for investment attractiveness. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 12: Part 3 of the Investability Framwork - Testing Your Startup For Competitiveness

4/9/2022
The Investability Framework is a quick, easy and quantifiable method for determining a startup's attractiveness for investment. This is a four part podcast series. Earlier, in Part 1, I showed how to test a startups product market fit. Part 2, tested a startups Scalability and this podcast, which is Part 3 shows how to test a startup's competitiveness. To make things a bit more fun, I am creating an online calculator based on this framework. You can test your startup's investability using this calculator. Here is the link https://www.calconic.com/calculator-widgets/investability-score-calculator/62399af732accc0021eea9f1?layouts=true --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 11 - Enabling A Private 5G Network with Niral Networks in The Enterprise

3/3/2022
Abhijit Chaudhary the founder of this Indian startup, Niral Networks, explains how a Private 5G Network will be a game changer for the Enterprise. One does not have to wait for Airtel or a Jio to provide 5G. They can roll out an affordable Private 5G Network with Niral's 5G software. Private 5G blows the socks off WiFi or any other wireless technology. This is a low latency, ultra broadband mobile network that is inherently secure. This combined with an edge server, enterprises can enable robotics, drones and IoT for revolutionary Industry 4.0 applications without the need for an operator or access to cloud. Imagine the possibilities for remote locations such as campuses, ships, mining areas, refineries who are far from urban cell towers. 5G features can reduce TCO by up to 70% by leveraging the power of virtualized software. We discuss what is Private 5G, who benefits, a use case, the market size, and migration strategies. For a proof of concept or a demo contact abhijit@niralnetworks.com. A white paper to learn more can be found here https://tinyurl.com/unvaf5zk --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 10 - Part 2 of The Investability Framework : Testing your startup for Scalability

2/23/2022
In this second part, I talk about a "Scalability Test" which is the second pillar in the investability framework. Recall that "The Investability Framework" is an assessment tool to find out if your startup is attractive to investors. The four pillars being: 1. Product market fit test (Part 1) 2. Scalability test (this episode) 3. Moat Test 4. Team Test Watch out for Part 3 and 4. Coming soon! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 9 - Part 1: Testing Your Product Market Fit. A Framework for Assessing Investor Attractiveness

1/7/2022
A four part series on an "Investability Framework". Using this framework you can assess how attractive is your startup to investors? The framework will assesses your startup along four dimensions "Product Market Fit", "Scalability", "Competitiveness" and "Team Quality". Listen on to the first part for the how to test your "Product Market Fit". --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 8: If You Think Your Start-up Is Competition Proof, Try Pitching To Michael E Porter!

9/26/2021
Founders think of competitive advantage in just one dimension which is"How are they different from their competitor's product". In reality, competitive forces are multi-dimensional. In this episode, I have used startup examples to illustrate the other dimensions using Michel E. Porter, the management guru's "Porters Five Forces". A must listen for founders building their pitch decks to convince an investor that they are truly "Competition Proof" --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 7 - The Importance of GTM

8/26/2021
I noticed that GTM (go to market strategy) which is a one time oomph marketing effort in an early stage startup is conspicuously missing or misunderstood by early stage startups. This is my sincere attempt to put it right. I will tell you what it is NOT, what it IS, why it is important and some examples to illustrate a good GTM. Thanks to Justin Novello for the cover art image. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 6 - Advice To Early Stage Startups in India

7/17/2021
Fourteen practical tips packed here for you based on my recent analysis of more than a 100 pitch documents, 60 pitching sessions and mentoring 10 early stage startups. This was from a couple of GOI Startup India initiatives I was involved with last month. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 5 - What Makes a Great Founder? An Analysis of India's latest Unicorns

5/11/2021
Last month, six Indian startups, CRED, Meesho, Pharmeasy, Groww, Sharechat, and Gupshup reached a valuation of more than a billion US Dollars. I did some research and analysed the founder backgrounds and their journeys to see what might be the top traits of a solid founder. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 4 - 5G Explained for Next Gen Mobile App Opportunities

4/5/2021
If you think mobile apps are exciting, wait till you hear what awaits once 5G is here. In this episode I explain in simple terms what all the 5G hoopla is all about. If you are capable of creating good deep tech code, then this episode is a must listen. I have plenty of examples here to illustrate how 5G features such as gigabit speeds, lower latency and edge computing will blow the socks off current mobile apps. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 3 - Startup Basics and Jargon Part 2 Getting Investor Ready

3/17/2021
This is continuation of Part 1. In this episode I demystify some more jargon in startup land and talk about 15 things you need to work on to get sure shot funding. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 2 - Startup Basics and Jargon Part 1

3/4/2021
New to startups or need a refresher? In this episode explain terms such as Cap Table, GTM, MVP, POC, IPR, Sacalability etc. etc. Also, I will explain all the jargon as we go through a startup journey from start to its end. This way, you get to understand what startups are all about and how to get funding. Send me feedback on ssen@zenesysconsulting.com or enter a discussion on Linkedin ZENeSYS India Startup Page or click on this link https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenesys --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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Episode 1a - Trends in Indian Startup Land with Pranav Tej Abridged

2/20/2021
Welcome to our first episode on Startup Trends in India. Pranav and I discuss trends in India that is shaping the startup activity. Pranav is a serial entrepreneur from Bangaluru India. He started Datasissar, a SaaS service for small businesses way back in 2008! Considering, his early vision, who better than Pranav to talk about trends now and what the future hot sectors will look like. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/indiastartuptalk/message
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India Startup Talk (Trailer)

2/14/2021
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