The Startup OG Podcast

Hosted by Nikunj Thakkar

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Apr 2025

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Connect. Learn. Build Your Startup.

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11 recent

April 3, 202541 min

SaaS, Startups & LinkedIn – Real Talk With Utsav Patel of Supergrow

Send a text In this episode of The Startup OG Podcast , host Nikunj Thakkar chats with Utsav Patel , founder of Supergrow.ai , about his journey from college dropout to building a lean, impactful SaaS product helping creators grow on LinkedIn. 🎧 In this episode, we cover: Utsav’s story from Gujarat Technological University to startup life The leap from customer support to product management Building Supergrow.ai with minimal resources Real, actionable LinkedIn growth tips The hard truths about being a product manager today If you're a startup founder, SaaS builder, or someone trying to grow their personal brand online, this episode is packed with value. Guest: Utsav Patel – Founder, Supergrow.ai Host: Nikunj Thakkar – Entrepreneur & Product Leader 🔗 Learn more: https://supergrow.ai 🎙 The Startup OG Podcast – Real stories. Raw insights. Founder-first. Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

January 22, 202545 min

Building a D2C Brand in the Creator Economy | Himanshu Gupta, Co-founder of KREO

Send a text How do you build a thriving D2C brand in the competitive creator economy? In this episode, we speak with Himanshu Gupta, Co-founder of KREO, a brand that’s redefining the gaming and content creator accessories market. From high-performance gaming keyboards and ergonomic chairs to professional lighting and audio equipment, KREO is empowering creators and gamers to elevate their setups. Himanshu shares: 🎮 The challenges of building a D2C brand in India. 📈 Opportunities in the creator economy space. 🛠️ How KREO stands out with its range of creator-friendly gear. 🌟 Lessons from his journey working at MuSigma, Flipkart, and Zetwerk. Whether you’re a D2C entrepreneur, a gamer, or a content creator, this episode is packed with valuable insights into scaling in a competitive market. 🎥 Watch the full episode to learn from Himanshu’s incredible journey! #D2C #CreatorEconomy #GamingAccessories #KREO #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

December 27, 202445 min

Bootstrapping 3 SaaS Startups as a Non-Tech Founder | Ankit Dudhwewala's Journey

Send a text How do you build and scale multiple SaaS companies without a tech background? In this episode, we sit down with Ankit Dudhwewala , the co-founder of SoftwareSuggest , CallHippo , and ControlHippo . Ankit shares his journey as a bootstrapped, non-tech founder who built not one but three successful SaaS businesses from Ahmedabad. He opens up about: ✅ The challenges and advantages of bootstrapping. ✅ Insights into SEO, sales, and marketing for SaaS companies. ✅ Building and running a company with his life partner as a co-founder. ✅ How his strategies evolved while scaling globally. Whether you’re a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or SaaS enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. 🎥 Don’t forget to subscribe for more founder stories! #SaaS #Bootstrapping #NonTechFounder #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

December 4, 202450 min

Solving Cross-Border Payments: Rishabh Goel on Merchant of Records with Dodo Payments

Send a text Join us for an insightful conversation with Rishabh Goel, Co-founder of Dodo Payments, as we dive into the world of cross-border payments and the emerging role of Merchant of Records in simplifying global transactions. 🌍 In this episode, Rishabh takes us through his incredible journey—from studying at BITS Pilani and London Business School to working with leading companies like Wise, Prodigy Finance, and more. He shares how these experiences shaped his vision for building Dodo Payments, a cutting-edge solution for businesses navigating global payments, taxes, and compliance. Here’s what you’ll learn: 💡 What is a Merchant of Records, and why is it crucial for global payments? 📈 The challenges and opportunities in the cross-border payments industry. 🎓 How Rishabh’s educational journey at BITS Pilani and LBS prepared him for entrepreneurship. 🌟 Lessons from his roles at top companies and how they influenced Dodo Payments’ mission. If you're curious about fintech, startups, or global payments, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration for founders and professionals alike. 🎧 Listen now and discover how Dodo Payments is revolutionizing the way businesses handle cross-border payments! Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

November 19, 202436 min

Bootstrapping, Pivoting, and Going Global: The Story Behind Dyrect with Abhishek Agarwal

Send a text Join us as we sit down with Abhishek Agarwal, Co-founder of Dyrect, a cutting-edge warranty management platform for modern brands. In this episode, Abhishek shares: His journey of building a startup from Pune The realities of bootstrapping and multiple startup attempts The importance of pivoting to find product-market fit How Dyrect is helping brands collect first-party data and manage warranties effortlessly Lessons on scaling a business globally from India If you’re an entrepreneur navigating challenges or looking for inspiration, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. Don’t miss it! Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

October 1, 202445 min

Building & Selling an EdTech Startup: Raj Kothari’s Journey from MyClassCampus to Teachmint

Send a text Join us in this episode as we talk with Raj Kothari , Co-founder of MyClassCampus , who shares his journey of building one of India’s largest EdTech startups . Raj dives into how he scaled MyClassCampus into a leading school ERP system and discusses the strategies that led to its successful acquisition by Teachmint . Learn key insights into building a SaaS business , sales and marketing for startups , and navigating the path to an acquisition in the competitive EdTech industry . If you're curious about how to build and sell a startup , grow a school ERP platform , or succeed in the EdTech space , this episode is packed with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs . Watch now to discover: How Raj scaled MyClassCampus into a top ERP system for schools Strategies for growing a successful EdTech startup Insights into securing an acquisition deal with a major player like Teachmint #EdTech #StartupJourney #SaaS #SchoolERP #Entrepreneurship #Teachmint #StartupAcquisition #EdTechSuccess Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

September 19, 202443 min

The Ultimate Product Hunt Launch Playbook: Superjoin's Success Story Revealed

Send a text 🚀 Want to dominate Product Hunt? Discover the step-by-step strategy that helped Superjoin achieve a #1 Product of the Day , #2 Product of the Week , and rank as the #1 Productivity, Artificial Intelligence, and SaaS product of the week ! In this exclusive interview, the Superjoin team breaks down their Product Hunt launch playbook , sharing insider tips on how to plan, execute, and maximize the impact of your Product Hunt launch. Whether you're a SaaS startup , working on an AI product , or just preparing for your first Product Hunt launch , this video is packed with actionable advice to help you get featured and gain massive traction. In this video, you’ll learn: How Superjoin prepared for their #1 Product Hunt launch The key steps to securing top rankings on Product Hunt How to engage with the Product Hunt community and drive upvotes Pro tips for optimizing your Product Hunt launch day strategy Mistakes to avoid when launching on Product Hunt 💡 Who should watch this? Founders and entrepreneurs preparing for a Product Hunt launch SaaS startups looking to boost their visibility Anyone interested in learning from Superjoin's incredible #1 launch success story Don’t miss out on these proven strategies from a team that’s been there and done it! Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

September 11, 202449 min

How Shyamal Parikh Built SmartTask: Insights on SaaS, Funding, and Entrepreneurship

Send a text In this episode of Entrepreneur's Cafe, we chat with Shyamal Parikh, Founder of SmartTask, an online productivity tool designed to help organizations streamline their workflows. Shyamal shares his entrepreneurial journey, including raising pre-seed funding and building SmartTask in a highly competitive SaaS market. We explore the challenges of scaling a SaaS business, competing in a crowded space, and the evolving role of AI in productivity tools. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a startup founder, or someone interested in SaaS growth strategies, this episode is packed with valuable insights on navigating the path from pre-seed to success. Subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with more inspiring episodes from the Entrepreneurs Cafe Podcast. Join us in brewing success, one conversation at a time! Subscribe to the Entrepreneurs Cafe Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@entrepreneurs_cafe?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://entrepreneurs.cafe/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@entrepreneurs_cafe?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/entrepreneurscafe Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

February 24, 202439 min

SmartCue's Journey & How Interactive Demos Can Skyrocket Your Sales | With Robin Singhvi

Send a text Join us for an exhilarating new episode of the Entrepreneur's Cafe Podcast featuring Robin Singhvi, the innovative Founder of SmartCue. In this episode, we delve into Robin's entrepreneurial journey, exploring the genesis of SmartCue and the vision behind it. Discover how SmartCue is revolutionizing the way businesses engage with their audience and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in now for insights, inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of customer engagement! Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Watch now and subscribe for more captivating entrepreneurial stories. Subscribe to the Entrepreneur's Cafe Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@entrepreneurs_cafe?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneur's Cafe: Website: Entrepreneurs Cafe YouTube: Entrepreneurs Cafe YouTube Channel Join Our Slack Community: Slack Community Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog

January 22, 202455 min

Xobin's CEO Guruprakash Sivabalan on Pivoting, VC Funding, and Building $500K ARR Business

Send a text Join us for an insightful episode of the Entrepreneurs Cafe Podcast as we dive deep into the remarkable journey of Guruprakash Sivabalan, the Founder and CEO of Xobin—a smart talent assessment platform that's taking the hiring world by storm. In this episode, Guruprakash shares the story of Xobin's evolution, from its early pivots to building a robust platform that now boasts a $500K ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue). Discover the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world of VC funding, and learn how Xobin found innovative solutions to drive growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, startup enthusiast, or simply someone looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable insights and entrepreneurial wisdom. Don't miss out on this chance to glean knowledge from Guruprakash's incredible journey. Subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with more inspiring episodes from the Entrepreneurs Cafe Podcast. Join us in brewing success, one conversation at a time! Subscribe to the Entrepreneurs Cafe Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@entrepreneurs_cafe?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: Entrepreneurs Cafe YouTube: Entrepreneurs Cafe YouTube Channel Join Our Slack Community: Slack Community Subscribe to The Startup OG Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with Entrepreneurs Cafe: Website: https://startupog.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StartupOG?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupog_com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StartupOG 𝕏: https://x.com/startupogcom Join Our Whatsapp Community: https://nas.io/startupog