Saurabh Thapa has transitioned from the high-pressure world of corporate sales to the grounded stillness of the mountains. A former engineer who worked with brands like New Holland and Fiat, he realised the "9-to-5" travel grind was leading to burnout, not fulfilment. Today, he is a fitness entrepreneur, a hotelier running the Shiva retreat in Mukteshwar, and the owner of a CrossFit box, all while living a life deeply rooted in spiritual practice.

In this conversation, Saurabh opens up about:

Growing up as an "Army Kid" and how constant movement taught him grounding

The frustration of corporate "Excel sheet culture" and the realization he was meant for more

The pivotal loss of his father and the 2014 spiritual awakening that changed his trajectory

Why he quit his job on a specific date to launch a business with zero prior experience

Surviving the hospitality crash during COVID-19 and pivoting to professional fitness

Overcoming family resistance: "Why is an engineer running a tent house?"

The "100REP" program: A solution for corporate employees trapping themselves in unhealthy cycles

His biggest blind spot as a founder: Taking things too personally and prioritizing people over profit

Building a legacy for his daughter based on an ecosystem of help, not just revenue

His 60-second founder fix on trust, "200% Intention", and the power of visualization

You will hear Saurabh explain why true entrepreneurship isn't about the hustle—it's about the flow. He bridges the gap between the physical discipline of CrossFit and the internal discipline of a seeker.

If you are feeling stuck in a corporate loop, looking to balance your ambition with your inner peace, or want to understand how to build a business that actually serves your life, this episode offers a refreshing perspective.

Listen now. And subscribe for more conversations about the humanness of entrepreneurship on Founder Unboxed.

Tags: entrepreneurship, corporate burnout, CrossFit, fitness business, spiritual entrepreneurship, hospitality industry, Saurabh Thapa, Founder Unboxed, Kabeer Lal, 100REP, mental health, career pivot, visualization, Mukteshwar, work-life balance

Vikrant Gupta has managed billions in institutional capital in Australia, built a SEBI licensed portfolio management firm from scratch in India, and shaped a philosophy of money that goes far beyond returns. He runs Aricus Wealth, manages over 100 crores in assets, and works with a clear process driven mindset that resists panic and prizes long term clarity.

In this conversation, Vikrant opens up about
• Growing up in a frugal baniya household that shaped his early relationship with money
• Working for free as an intern in Australia to play the long game
• Managing institutional portfolios worth billions and what that taught him about judgment
• Why instinct only works when backed by structure
• His move back to India and the opportunity cost he still carries
• AI in wealth management and the shift from information advantage to behavioural advantage
• Scuba diving lessons that shaped his thinking on panic, calm, and control
• The bold move of applying for a SEBI PMS license and what that risk means
• Why most investors fail due to emotions, not markets
You will hear Vikrant break down money in a simple, direct way. No noise. No hype. Just process, behaviour, and clarity.

If you want to understand how serious investors think or want to sharpen your own approach to risk, saving, and long term decision making, this episode will help you reset your lens.

Listen now. And subscribe for more conversations about the humanness of entrepreneurship on Founder, Unboxed.

Tags
entrepreneurship, investing, wealth management, PMS, SEBI, long term investing, behavioral finance, Aricus Wealth, Vikrant Gupta, Founder Unboxed, Kabeer Lal, financial discipline, personal finance, decision making, AI in investing

Ep 4: Amit Saini built Motolyfe from a small rental idea into India’s largest women-centric motorcycle training movement. He has trained over 3,500 women, created a full riding ecosystem, and shaped a culture where confidence, safety, and community matter as much as the ride itself.In this conversation, you hear Amit unpack• How a family legacy in automobiles shaped his journey• Why riding is stress relief, discipline, and self-expression• How Motolyfe grew from six trainees to thousands• What stops women from learning to ride and how training solves it• How a structured progression, from beginners to expeditions, builds real skill• Why the next decade belongs to women ridersIf you care about purpose driven ventures, grassroots communities, or stories of people who build cultures rather than companies, you’ll enjoy this episode.Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Founder, Unboxed for more stories about founders who lead with purpose, people, and clarity.

Ep 3: Tanvi Dhamija has built Cinemon on one clear idea, stories sell and authenticity sustains. Her journey moves from a shy childhood in Ambala to Citibank’s high-performance culture to a failed first venture and finally to building a brand consulting firm that feels like home.In this conversation you hear how she• learned to see work without taking things personally• moved from retail banking to reviving handicrafts with artisans• shut down her first venture during Covid and rebuilt from zero• discovered that her real strength is insight• built a purpose-driven culture inside Cinemon• helps founders activate purpose in their brands• balances Gurguram work life with slow, reflective days on her family farmYou also hear the quieter themes: identity, clarity, fear, and the shift from selling products to selling ideas.Watch this if you are• a first-generation entrepreneur• building a brand• struggling with direction• recovering from a failed idea• trying to find meaning in your workTanvi’s story is proof that your path makes sense in hindsight and that the right work often reveals itself only after the wrong turns.New episodes of Founder, Unboxed drop regularly. Subscribe and stay part of the conversations on the humanness of entrepreneurship.

Ep 2: Interior designer Soniya Baveja has spent three decades shaping homes, energy, and everyday living. Her journey began with a quiet childhood in an all-girls home, a mother who pushed her daughters toward independence, and a move from Dehradun to Delhi that rewired her sense of who she could become.In this conversation, she talks about• building her career without a blueprint• how intuition guides her design work• why a home has its own energy and how she reads it• what her mother and her spirituality still teach her• the blind spot she’s fixing as a founder• her love for the moon, dragonflies, and the magic in everyday objects• the masterclass she wants to create to help people manage their own home projectsIf you want to hear from a founder who has built an entire practice on listening, sensing, and staying true to the client, this episode will stay with you.Watch the full conversation and explore the humanness of entrepreneurship with Founder, Unboxed.

Opening Episode:

Ep. 1: Welcome to Founder, Unboxed – a podcast where we go beyond the pitch decks and success stories to uncover the raw, unfiltered journeys of entrepreneurs – and the humanness of entrepreneurship. This isn’t your typical startup podcast. We dive into the mistakes, mindsets, moments of doubt, and breakthroughs that shape a founder’s reality. From early failures to unexpected wins, Founder, Unboxed brings you real stories from real builders.🎙️ Don’t miss what’s next; new episodes dropping soon.Whether you're a founder, creator, or dreamer — this is your tribe.#FounderUnboxed #StartupPodcast #FounderStories #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #UnfilteredFounders #BusinessPodcast #IndianStartups #RealTalk #BuildInPublic