Alankar Chandra CEO & Founder of Wild Voyager & Ilora Retreats on Leaving the Corporate World to Build an Experiential Travel Startup

Giving People a Second Life! We are thrilled to welcome back Rishi Krishna, the visionary Founder and CEO of Symbionic, for his first appearance since November 2021! A lot has changed since our last conversation.  After losing his right arm in a tragic bus accident in 2018, Rishi channeled his personal adversity into founding Symbionic, an assistive tech startup dedicated to building affordable, life-changing prosthetic devices.  In this episode, we dive deep into the massive pivots the business has undergone, what it really takes to build and scale in India, and how Symbionic is quite literally giving people a second life. Rishi also pulls back the curtain on his recent experiences pitching on Shark Tank India Season 4 and Startup Singham, offering invaluable advice for early-stage founders on navigating the noise, securing finance, AI and finally An inspiring story of delivering a prosthetic to a user just before her wedding, allowing her to celebrate with confidence and without self-consciousness. 🎧 What You'll Hear in This Episode: The Origin & The Human Impact The Catalyst: Rishi reflects on the 2018 bus accident that changed his life and sparked the creation of Symbionic in 2019. Wearing Prosthetics in Public: Overcoming stigma and the emotional reality of living as an amputee. Building the Tech & The Business Engineering Robotic Arms in India: The challenges of R&D, hardware design issues, and combating prosthetic abandonment rates. The Major Pivot: How the product and the company’s trajectory have drastically evolved since 2021. Scaling Up: A look at the numbers—revenue targets, distribution channels, and building a robust customer data engine. The Team: How Rishi's childhood friend, Naranjan, stepped up as Co-Founder and Head of Engineering, and how Rishi’s own role as CEO has shifted over the years. Pitching, Funding, & The Future Under the Lights: Behind-the-scenes insights from pitching on Shark Tank India Season 4 and Startup Singham. Mastering the Pitch: Rishi’s top tips for founders preparing to pitch their startups on television or to investors. The AI Advantage: The good, the bad, and how Rishi currently spends 60% of his day leveraging AI tools like Claude to streamline operations. 💡 Rishi's Top Advice for First-Time Founders "In an era where technology makes building products easier, the real challenge is managing the endless possibilities. Figure out exactly what to do, rather than trying to do everything. It is far more effective to perfect one thing than to do many things inadequately." Persistence is Non-Negotiable: Too many founders pivot or give up at the first sign of a minor obstacle. Stay the course and trust your R&D. Lean on Your Support System: Success is rarely a solo endeavor. From early collaborators to incubation teams, finding the right support network is crucial to scaling. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned Learn more about Symbionic: https://www.symbionic.co/ Watch Rishi on TV: Search for Symbionic Shark Tank India Season 4 or Startup Singham on YouTube/SonyLIV. Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Turning Wanderlust into a Business. Can falling in love with a place completely change the trajectory of your life? For Alankar Chandra, a trip to the Masai Mara did exactly that. Today, I speak to Alankar Chandra, the CEO and Founder of Wild Voyager and Ilora Retreats. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Alankar left his comfortable corporate job to pursue his true passions: wildlife and travel.  In this episode, we discuss how he turned his hobby into a thriving experiential travel company, born out of a desire to rekindle a true sense of wonder through authentic adventures. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a travel enthusiast, Alankar’s journey from having zero background in the travel industry to building a successful business is packed with incredible insights. In this episode, we discuss: The Lightbulb Moment: How falling in love with the Masai Mara inspired him to leave the corporate world behind. Starting from Scratch: Navigating the industry without a travel background and treating the first year as a "discovery phase." Building the Business: Effective marketing strategies, getting early customers, and lessons learned from what didn't work. Team Dynamics: The challenges of hiring and retaining great staff. Founder Life: What a typical day looks like and the realities of being a solo founder. The Travel Industry: Dealing with competition, prioritizing sustainability in tourism, and exciting expeditions like tracking snow leopards. What's Next: Exciting future plans for Wild Voyager and Ilora Retreats. Please enjoy the show! Links  https://www.wildvoyager.com/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

The India–Scotland Entrepreneurial Journey!  Today’s guest is Nishant Sharma. the Indian-born, Edinburgh-based entrepreneur whose company blends Indian heritage with Scottish craftsmanship. Nishant’s story is one of resilience, legacy and bold reinvention.After leaving a successful career in financial services, he set out to build a brand with long-term meaning. Inspired by his late grandmother — and a family history that traces back to his great-grandfather becoming a whisky distiller during the British Raj — he brought his Assam roots into the heart of Scotland’s spirits industry. The journey, however, was anything but smooth. At one point, the business had just £25 in the bank with major bills due. The stress led to a near-fatal heart attack at just 35. He survived. Rebuilt. And came back stronger.  In this episode, we discuss building a global spirits brand against the odds. Operating in highly regulated markets; India's complicated relationship with alcohol, building a global brand. Great advice for first time founders. Why ignorance can be bliss; raising investment; and even how to drink it — ice or no ice? And finally… if India plays Scotland at cricket, who is he supporting?We also talk about:Growing up in India and moving to ScotlandFirst impressions of Scotland: cold, rainy… but kind peopleWorking as a waiter, dishwasher and cleaner in GlasgowThe family whisky connection during the British RajWhy he chose spiritsSpending 4 years perfecting the recipeCreating the world’s first oolong white tea infused chai-spice spiritWhy 2021 failed… and why 2022 failed againbuilding without industry experienceBuilding a global premium brand in a crowded marketExpanding into India — why it’s not for the faint-heartedThe aspirational Indian consumer marketLinkshttps://rutlandsquare.com/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Reinventing Kids Hospitality in India. Today my guest is Kanupriya Poddar, CEO of MagickWorld. She is building a platform to help parents discover kid-friendly stays, experiences, shops, and enrichment services across cities. In this episode, she shares how she launched MagickWorld alongside her 8-year-old daughter (a mini-entrepreneur, Shark Tank fan, business mindset!), onboarded 100+ local businesses within two months of soft launch, and cracking the distribution model. She reflects on lessons from her McKinsey background, explains why she prefers top-down strategy over bottom-up execution, and talks about bootstrapping, investor interest, the pressure of startup life , and staying grounded with advice from her father. And finally she shares must visit Jaipur recommendations, including places to see, do, and eat, along with advice for anyone considering leaving a corporate career to build a startup and much more!In this episode we talk about:🚀 Building MagickWorldCreating the world’s first kids-focused lifestyle & travel ecosystemThe problem MagickWorld is solving for parents & familiesLaunching with a free directory modelOnboarding 100+ local businesses in 2 monthsCracking distribution and early customer acquisitionManaging supply & demand in a two-sided marketplace👩‍💼 Founder JourneyGoing from McKinsey to startup lifeLessons learned from McKinsey: simplifying complexityTackling “elephants in the room” in businessBootstrapping vs investor interestManaging early-stage pressureGetting advice from her fatherBuilding a startup while raising an 8-year-old daughterHer daughter as a mini-entrepreneur (Shark Tank fan, business mindset)🧠 Strategy & Product ThinkingTop-down vs bottom-up strategy — and why she prefers top-downDeveloping the product roadmapPricing & discovery challenges for small businessesPay-to-play discovery vs affordable visibilitySolving real customer problem statements🤖 AI, Tech & Future VisionBeing optimistic about AIBuilding an AI recommendation botThe future of kids hospitality & family travelWhat hospitality in India looks like in 2026🌏 Geography, Culture & HospitalityRunning hospitality businesses in Singapore & IndiaWhy Indians are great at hospitality globallyWhy Jaipur is the hospitality capital of IndiaStaying in Jaipur instead of moving to BangaloreJaipur’s rise in tech talent & innovationPredictions for Jaipur in the next 5–10 years🍽️ Jaipur RecommendationsBest things to see, do, and experienceWeekend itinerary ideasFood & restaurant recommendationsWhy she’s obsessed with Jaipur’s culture and energy💡 Advice & TakeawaysAdvice for people thinking of quitting corporate jobs to start a companyHiring strategy: young talent & unconventional thinkersStaying resilient as a founderLinkshttps://magickworld.in/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@magickworldindia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magickworldindia Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/magickworld LinkedIn: @magickworld Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Building a global brand from India. Today my guest is  Ritesh Arora, Co-Founder of TRU.BIKE, TRU.BIKE designs premium, lightweight and safe bicycles for children, and is now exporting e-bikes to Europe. In this episode he talks about why India, despite being the second-largest bicycle manufacturer, has no global brand, and how TRU.BIKE is changing that.Ritesh shares their journey from bootstrapping in year one to raising funds, achieving product–market fit, and growing fast. He talks about building a strong marketing engine.Being mentally prepared for the startup journey. Why your first hire should be a finance person. He talks about taking Indian products global that comes from a deep sense of patriotism and finally some great book recommendations and much more. In this episode he talk about Bootstrapping.His Co-founders.Competing in a crowded market (and why you shouldn’t overthink it)The primitive nature of India’s domestic bicycle market.Attending global bicycle exhibitions.Maintaining quality standards and pricing correctly.Opening retail stores.Why bikes aren’t e-commerce friendly and how they overcame that!What excites Ritesh most about the future.And much more Linkshttps://tru.bike/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

In this episode, I sit down with Saurabh Nigam—HR leader, angel investor, and author of People-Powered Startups: Building a Culture of Collaboration, Innovation, and High Performance. With over two decades of experience, Saurabh shares actionable insights on building a thriving startup culture, avoiding common HR mistakes, and hiring the right people at the right time. We dive into: Why startups struggle with HR—and how to fix it. The role of AI in recruitment. How to retain top talent and manage toxic high performers. Managing mental wellness in a high-growth startup environment. The three non-negotiables in any startup culture. Red flags that indicate a new hire isn’t working out. The best time to hire your first HR professional and much more.In this conversation we talk about:How Saurabh became a LinkedIn Top Voice and his strategy for successTop HR Skills: Why empathy and resilience are key traits for successRemote Work: Myths and best practices for building a distributed teamGiving Tough Feedback: How to deliver criticism without demotivating employeesAngel Investing in HR Tech: What Saurabh looks for in a startupLinks https://www.amazon.in/dp/0143473743 Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Showcasing emerging artists—today, my guest is Leia Tyebjee, co-founder of Pylot Studios, an interdisciplinary creative platform dedicated to artistic design, curation, and community engagement. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of creating spaces for artists, breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, and how Pylot Studios is redefining art curation. Leia also shares her thoughts on AI in art, mistakes emerging artists make, the importance of community, and why she still chooses to work with film photography in the digital age. And finally, we talk bananas, interesting first impressions of New York, travel photography tips, and much more!In this episode we talk about:The Birth of Pylot Studios – From a coffee-fueled idea in 2019 to a thriving creative platformThe Problem They’re Solving – Helping artists find space and opportunities to showcase their workThe Hardest Part of Curation – Reaching out, building trust, and bringing themes to lifeLeia’s Background – From Mumbai to New York, studying photography, and her artistic influencesWhy She Still Shoots on Film – The tactile, immersive experience of analog photographyPhotography Trips & Creative Rituals – Habits that fuel her artistic processMistakes Emerging Artists Make – And how to navigate the art world more effectivelyArt & Technology – Thoughts on AI’s impact on creativityBreaking Barriers – Navigating a male-dominated industry and standing up for yourselfThe $6.2M Banana?! – The wild side of the contemporary art worldBuilding Community – How to start from scratch, make connections, and find your creative tribeand much more LinksPylot Studios WebsitePylot Studios Instagram - @pylotstudios Leia Tyebjee Instagram - @leiatyebjee Yitzhak Franco Instagram - @__ytzk__  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Indie Hacker Special! I speak to Piyush Patel, the founder of AmplifyX Labs and a prominent voice in the micro-SaaS and indie hacking space. From bootstrapping projects to building in public and exploring AI-powered tools, Piyush shares invaluable insights into his personal journey, product development strategies, getting your first customers and the future of micro-SaaS. This episode is packed with actionable advice for aspiring indie hackers, developers, and entrepreneurs who want to build and scale meaningful projects without funding. He also shares how numerology and astrology influence both his personal and business decisions, and reveals the surprising story of how he used Bumble to gain new customers!in this conversation we talk:Why most people don’t know what indie hacking is, and how the small but vibrant community in India is shaping the space.Piyush's step-by-step ideation process for identifying and validating product ideas.Building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and finding your first customers without breaking the bank.Common mistakes to avoid when developing and scaling a micro-SaaS product.The key strategies Piyush uses to scale his projects while staying bootstrapped.Why he prioritizes “selling before building” and “distribution before product” as the foundation for success.Navigating tough calls, feature prioritization, and knowing when to pivot or shut down a project.His thoughts on the rise of "AI for X" products and how indie developers can leverage AI to innovate.Opportunities and threats AI presents for the indie hacking community.Learning from failure and building emotional resilience as a bootstrapped founder.Tips for indie developers to build their personal brand on YouTube and social media.How to prioritize marketing efforts across channels like SEO, Meta, TikTok, and email marketing.Why networking is crucial for indie developers and Piyush’s advice for making meaningful connections.How public speaking has helped him grow personally and professionally, with tips for beginners.Where Piyush sees the micro-SaaS industry heading in the next 5–10 years.Advice for aspiring indie hackers: Qualities you need, mistakes to avoid, and how to stay motivated.What he would do differently if he had to start over from scratch.and much more!Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/whatsuppiyush/https://bento.me/whatsuppiyushhttps://x.com/WhatsUpPiyush  Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

Chicken and hot sauce are a match made in heaven! In this episode, II’m joined by Mikhel Rajani, co-founder of Naagin Sauce, India’s first and favourite hot sauce brand. Mikhel and his team spotted a gap in the market about five years ago and have since transformed Naagin Sauce into a household name, now partnering with KFC India and reaching both domestic and international customers.We dive deep into the story of building Naagin Sauce and what it takes to pioneer a brand in an untapped market. Here's what we cover:Why India didn’t have a hot sauce brand before Naagin and how they championed Indian Ghost Chillies.The challenges of being first movers in the market—and how they overcame the heat, both figuratively and literally.Creating and  testing recipes that balanced nostalgia and innovation.Mikhel’s insights from 15 years in the F&B industry: branding, marketing, and growing a team from 3 to 50 employees.His hiring philosophy: "Loyalty over certificates."Overcoming the challenges of Covid, raising funding, and why every business idea should be stress-tested by smarter people who can punch holes in it.We also touch on fascinating behind-the-scenes stories:The quirky inspiration for the brand name, involving cricket and the iconic "Naagin dance."Mikhel’s preference for low-key launches instead of flashy events.His incredible marketing innovations, including the world’s first pizza delivery by drone in 2012, which was featured on BBC and CNBC.Mikhel also shares valuable advice for founders:Why India is not for beginners, and how to handle 100 rejections without taking them personally.How his management style has evolved over the years and why documenting mistakes is crucial for growth.Practical tips on working with co-founders and maintaining healthy partnerships.Finally, Mikhel’s closing advice for first-time founders:“Don’t accept defeat. There will always be someone willing to help you on your journey.”Links https://www.naaginsauce.com/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV

The world is getting fatter! In this episode, we dive deep into fitness and nutrition with Adarsh Gopalakrishnan, founder of Move101 in Chennai. Move101 is a unique strength and conditioning gym tailored for regular folks with little to no training background, and it also offers online coaching.Adarsh’s journey into fitness began in an unexpected way: he started working out to impress a girl who liked the biceps of a popular MTV VJ. He had no biceps and he wanted biceps and he started lifting weight and he got biceps! Thirteen years later, he’s trained hundreds of clients both in-person and online.Here’s what you can expect in this episode:Adarsh’s Journey: Being an unconventional, anti-institutional kid who dropped out of school.Right Place, Right Time: Catching the CrossFit wave in 2008–2010 and building a unique, community-driven gym.Word-of-Mouth Success: Why Adarsh spends zero on Google or Facebook ads and still has an 80% client retention rate—higher than most big box gyms.The Protein Problem in India: Why Indians often lack protein in their diets, the supply chain issues around whey protein, and what alternatives you can eat.Fitness in a Post-COVID World: How the pandemic actually boosted his business and his thoughts on the global obesity crisis.Social Media Pressure: The unrealistic expectations to look “jacked” and the common mistakes people make in strength training (like too much volume and variety, and poor goal setting).Adarsh shares insights on improving your communication skills Training Myths & Realistic Goals: Why you don’t have to train like a beast,  loving single-leg squats, and why a six-pack is hard. But a  four-pack is good enough!The Problem with Corporate Wellness Programs: Why Adarsh isn’t a fan and his thoughts on the most effective exercises.Navigating Diet Fads and Fitness Trends: Adarsh’s advice on avoiding the hype around the latest diet crazes, fitness gadgets, and weight-loss drugs.The Indian Fitness Market Today: His views on why he’s not interested in scaling his business and how his philosophy on fitness has evolved over the years.And for a fun finish: we talk about how to handle those family gatherings where well-meaning aunties offer Pepsi and jalebi when you’re trying to stay on track!Linkshttps://www.move101.net/ Hosted And Produced by Neil Patel https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/neilpatel2 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Share this episode with your friends. Listen and Subscribe to More Episodeshttps://www.indianstartupshow.com/ Music by Punch Deck.https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kdduxAVaFnbHJyNxl7FWV