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The Startup Operator

The Startup Operator

By: Startup Operator
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 The best-curated wisdom from founders, operators, & investors on executing at startups | Hosted by Roshan Cariappa | Head down, execute hard. 🔥 Millions of listeners seek out Bingepods (Ideabrew Studios Network content) every day. Get in touch with us to advertise, join the network or click listen to enjoy content by some of India's top audio creators. studio@ideabrews.com Android | Apple2024 Startup Operator Economics
Episodes
  • 253: Why Healthcare Startups Fail in India | Dilip Kumar (Rainmatter)

    253: Why Healthcare Startups Fail in India | Dilip Kumar (Rainmatter)
    Apr 17 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with Dilip Kumar, investor at Rainmatter, to unpack the complex world of healthcare startups in India. The conversation dives into the fundamental challenges of building trust, why tech solutions often fall short, and the cultural and structural nuances that make healthcare a uniquely difficult sector to crack. Dilip shares his journey from founder to investor, the gaps in India’s healthcare infrastructure, and why founders must rethink traditional VC playbooks if they want to build for Bharat. Whether you’re building in healthtech or just curious about India’s evolving startup landscape, this episode is packed with sharp, first-principles insights. Topics 00:00 Sneak Peek 01:00 Introduction – From Founder to Investor 03:45 Why Healthcare Is Unlike Any Other Sector 07:50 India’s Unique Healthcare Economics 10:55 Why Copy-Paste Models Don’t Work in India 14:40 Choosing Your Audience: 1M vs 500M 17:10 The Real Challenge: Building Trust, Not Just Tech 21:00 Post-Covid Shift: Health Awareness and Consumer Behavior 24:30 Has the Quantified Self Movement Peaked? 29:00 What’s Missing in Mental Health Startups 31:25 EEG Wearables, AI Therapy & Future of Wellness 33:10 Ayurveda, Quacks & the Problem of Outcomes 34:50 How to Find Your Own Healthcare Startup Idea 37:00 Why Trust Is the Ultimate Moat in Healthtech 39:30 Healthcare Needs Patient Capital, Not Just VC 41:00 Dilip’s Personal Health Transformation Journey 44:15 Push-Up Challenge & Sign Off 💪 ------------------------------------- Connect with Us: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-operator ​Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperatorStartup​​ ------------------------------------- If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!
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    48 mins
  • 252: Secrets Behind Building Planes in India – What You Didn't Know | Venkatesh Mudragalla(Jeh Aerospace)

    252: Secrets Behind Building Planes in India – What You Didn't Know | Venkatesh Mudragalla(Jeh Aerospace)
    Feb 25 2025
    In this episode of the Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with Venkatesh Mudragalla, co-founder of Jeh Aerospace, to discuss the intricacies of the aerospace industry. The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the challenges Boeing faced, the impact of supply chain constraints, and the critical nature of manufacturing in the aerospace sector. Venkatesh shares his journey from working with Tata to starting J Aerospace in 2022, the importance of advanced manufacturing, and how India is poised to become a global aerospace hub. Topics: 00:00 Sneak peak 01:06 Introduction 03:28 Challenges and Evolution in the Aerospace Industry 04:40 Impact of Supply Chain on Aerospace 11:23 India's Role in the Global Aerospace Market 12:35 The Origin Story of J Aerospace 14:18 Starting Up in Aerospace: Challenges and Strategies 19:43 Technical Nuances in Aerospace Manufacturing 22:36 Partnering with Academia for Industry-Relevant Education 23:35 The Evolution and Current State of Industry 4.0 24:07 Balancing Automation and Workforce in Aerospace 25:51 Leveraging India's Jugaad Mentality in Aerospace 27:36 Challenges in Indian Aerospace Manufacturing 28:45 Targeting Mid-Market Companies for Growth 29:56 Building Trust in Indian Manufacturing 32:17 Government Support and Ecosystem Growth 34:29 VC Interest and Funding Challenges 36:10 Rapid Fire: Future Technologies and Aspirations 40:29 Advice for Aspiring Aerospace Entrepreneurs 43:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ------------------------------------- Connect with Us: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-operator ​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperatorStartup​​ ------------------------------------- If you liked this episode, let us know by hitting the like button and share with your friends and family. Please also remember to subscribe to our channel and switch on the notifications to never miss an episode!
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    44 mins
  • 251: The Winning Formula to Build Billion-Dollar Businesses | Ganesh Krishnan (Serial Entrepreneur)

    251: The Winning Formula to Build Billion-Dollar Businesses | Ganesh Krishnan (Serial Entrepreneur)
    Feb 1 2025
    In this episode of The Startup Operator Podcast, Roshan sits down with K. Ganesh, the serial entrepreneur behind BigBasket, Portea, Bluestone, and HomeLane. They delve into topics like staying relevant in the ever-changing startup ecosystem, the importance of focusing on large, core sectors, and the reality of embracing both failures and small successes in entrepreneurship. Ganesh shares his insights on potential sectors for future startups, including green energy, climate tech, and space tech, while emphasizing the need for passion and a bit of foolishness in believing in one's ideas. They also discuss the importance of planning for exits, how to build scalable businesses, and leveraging the latest technological disruptions like Generative AI. This episode is filled with practical advice and frameworks for aspiring and current entrepreneurs. Topics: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Guest Background 02:15 Staying Relevant in the Startup Ecosystem 08:10 Building Scalable and Exitable Businesses 24:26 Changing Consumer Behavior 30:25 Storytelling for Investors 32:15 Choosing the Right Investor 33:46 Understanding Investor Motivation 34:44 Challenges in the Indian Market 44:01 The Importance of Timing in Exits 50:31 Emerging Sectors and Opportunities 56:40 Mastering Disruption: Key Takeaways 01:05:10 Recommended Reads and Final Thoughts
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    1 hr and 7 mins

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