The Young Mavericks

🎙️ Some of the biggest opportunities are hiding inside problems everyone else has stopped questioning.In Episode 101 of The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues, Anmol Gogia sits down with Srikrishna Ellore, Founder & Product Architect of Alya - The Light Co, for a conversation about building technology in an industry most startup founders rarely think about: lighting.Why build here when everyone else is chasing the next obvious AI opportunity?Because sometimes innovation isn’t about inventing a completely new category.Sometimes, it starts by looking closely at an existing industry and asking:“Why are we still doing it this way?”Srikrishna takes us inside the thinking behind Alya, the friction hidden inside traditional lighting workflows, and why solving a niche problem requires far more than adding AI to an old process.We explore:💡 Why he chose to build in a market most people overlook🏗️ What Alya actually solves for lighting professionals⚙️ Where friction still exists across real-world lighting workflows🤖 The real role AI can play, beyond the buzzwords🧠 Why technology should enhance professional judgment rather than replace it📐 How products change when they’re built from ground reality instead of assumptions🔬 What it takes to build in deep-tech and highly specialised markets🚀 Why niche industries can create some of the strongest startup opportunities🏢 How buildings, lighting and intelligent spaces could evolve over the next five years🎯 The founder mindset required when you’re building something the market doesn’t immediately understandAnd we close with a question every aspiring founder has probably asked:What do you do when you feel like you don’t have a “cool” startup idea?Because the next meaningful company might not come from chasing the category everyone is already talking about.It might come from looking deeper into a problem everyone else has learned to tolerate.Build where others don’t look.If you’re a founder, architect, designer, product builder, AI professional, deep-tech entrepreneur or simply interested in how technology transforms traditional industries, this conversation is for you.🎙️ The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues - Episode 101🌐 Explore Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow Crobstacle:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/X: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacle#TheYoungMavericks #SrikrishnaEllore #Alya #ArtificialIntelligence #LightingTechnology

🎙️ 100 episodes. Countless conversations. One milestone we’re incredibly proud to reach.For the 100th episode of The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues, Anmol Gogia sits down with Dr. Anil K. Khandelwal, former Chairman & Managing Director of Bank of Baroda and author of "The Gym of Leadership", for a powerful conversation on what leadership really demands when titles, authority and optics stop being enough.Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a muscle and muscles only grow when you train them.Having led transformation inside one of India’s largest public-sector institutions, Dr. Khandelwal has spent decades studying leadership through people, pressure, character, self-management and real-world decision-making.And his argument is simple:You don’t become a leader because someone gives you a designation. You become one through consistent practice.If you’re a young manager, founder, CXO, team leader, entrepreneur or professional trying to grow into leadership, this episode offers a practical lens on building leadership from the inside out.🎙️ Welcome to The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues.🌐 Explore Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow Crobstacle:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/X: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacle#TheYoungMavericks #AnilKhandelwal #TheGymOfLeadership #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment

🎙️ What does 27 years across business, startups, investing and global markets teach you that no MBA can?In this episode of The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues, Anmol Gogia sits down with Hetal Sonpal for an unfiltered conversation on sales, startups, investing, discipline and the stamina required to build for the long term.Having spent decades across organisations including Microsoft, LinkedIn and Intel, while working closely with founders, investing in startups, mentoring entrepreneurs and building across global markets, Hetal has seen business from almost every side of the table.But this conversation goes far beyond corporate lessons.We talk about why founders are chasing funnels and growth hacks while forgetting how to sell, what consultative selling actually looks like, why promising startups fail to become investor-ready, and what separates companies that survive from those that disappear.And then there’s the other side of Hetal’s story: marathons, IRONMAN, reading, writing and building the discipline to keep going long after motivation disappears.In this conversation:💼 What young founders misunderstand about business🌏 Lessons from building relationships across India, Japan and global markets🤝 Consultative selling vs simply pushing a product🎯 What actually matters when pitching to a CXO🚀 What separates the startups that survive from the ones that don’t💰 How investors decide whether to invest, mentor or walk away📈 The biggest gap between a startup and becoming investor-ready🌱 What Tier-2 startup ecosystems still need🏢 Why many incubators fail to create successful companies🤝 Building community-driven growth instead of isolated hustle🏃 What IRONMAN and 30+ marathons teach about business endurance🧠 How to stay disciplined when motivation disappears📚 Lessons from reading 100 books a year🎙️ Why content and podcasting can become business assets🔥 And whether founders should build their product, content or network firstOne question runs throughout the episode:Is success really about having the best idea or having the sales ability, discipline and stamina to stay in the game long enough?If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, sales professional, investor, marketer or young professional building your career, this episode is packed with perspectives you can apply immediately.Welcome to another episode of The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues.🌐 Explore Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow Crobstacle:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/X: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacle#TheYoungMavericks #HetalSonpal #StartupPodcast #SalesStrategy #Entrepreneurship

🎙️ The Young Mavericks is back with bigger conversations and a new chapter.What happens when cricket, gaming and motion technology collide?In this episode of The Young Mavericks | Apex Dialogues, we sit down with Ranjit Behera, Co-Founder of MetaShot, to unpack the journey behind building a physical-meets-digital cricket gaming experience and taking it all the way to Shark Tank India.From his years leading digital growth across companies like Zivame, BankBazaar, MyGate and Aditya Birla Fashion to becoming a SportsTech founder, Ranjit shares what it really takes to move from scaling brands to building one from scratch.We get into:🏏 The idea and early “aha moment” behind MetaShot🦈 What really happened behind the Shark Tank India pitch🎮 Why MetaShot is betting on physical × digital gaming🚀 The future of cricket, motion gaming, AR and immersive sports📈 Performance marketing and MetaShot’s early GTM strategy💡 D2C growth lessons first-time founders should know⚙️ The hidden challenges of building and scaling hardware🇮🇳 What founders misunderstand about Indian gamers and cricket lovers💰 And the ultimate curveball: How would Ranjit launch MetaShot today with just ₹10 lakh and no Shark Tank?If you’re building in SportsTech, gaming, D2C, consumer hardware or startups, this conversation is packed with lessons from someone who has operated on both sides, scaling established companies and building from zero.Welcome back to The Young Mavericks.The conversations are only getting bigger.🌐 Explore Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow Crobstacle:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/X: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacle#TheYoungMavericks #MetaShot #RanjitBehera #SharkTankIndia #SportsTech

Welcome to The Young Mavericks, a leadership and growth podcast by Crobstacle. 🎙️Apex Dialogues is our deep-dive series where we sit with builders, investors, and changemakers shaping the future.In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Srishti Sharma Founder of Shakti Wearables and General Partner at FEMI Fund. From building across gaming, edtech, healthcare, and safety tech to backing women-led startups, Srishti shares what it really takes to build impact-driven businesses that scale.We also cover:✅ How Shakti Wearables was born and the real problem it set out to solve✅ Choosing the right startup idea across different industries✅ The biggest myths around building tech for women’s safety✅ What a city-wide women’s safety tech pilot should actually look like✅ How to pitch impact-first startups without losing credibility on metrics✅ Why funding still fails women founders and how FEMI Fund is fixing the gap✅ What a “feminist business model” really means in 2025✅ Scrappy growth moves founders can use with limited capital✅ The mindset systems that help founders stay grounded and consistent✅ Legacy, ambition, and building businesses that outlive the hypeThis episode is a must-watch for founders, investors, operators, and anyone building at the intersection of technology, impact, and gender equity.👉 Connect with Dr. Srishti Sharma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-srishti-sharma-469983135/🔗 Explore more about Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungMavericks #ApexDialogues #SrishtiSharma #ShaktiWearables #FEMIFund #WomenInTech #WomenFounders #StartupPodcast #ImpactEntrepreneurship #SafetyTech #VentureCapital #FounderMindset #GenderLensInvesting #IndianStartups #Crobstacle

Welcome to The Young Mavericks, where bold founders, global leaders, and operators share what it really takes to scale in today’s fast-moving world. 🎙️Apex Dialogues is our deep-dive series under The Young Mavericks, focused on real stories, real playbooks, and real decisions behind global success.In this episode, we sit down with Sultan Bhatti, Marketing Manager at Meydan Free Zone (Dubai), to break down why Dubai is fast becoming the global playground for startups and why founders from India and across the world are choosing it to scale.From speed and structure to AI readiness and founder-friendly ecosystems, this conversation goes beyond hype and into what actually works on the ground.✔️ Why Dubai is winning the global startup race✔️ How Meydan transformed from a legacy brand to a digital-first free zone✔️ What founders misunderstand most about setting up in UAE✔️ Speed vs sustainability: Is fast company setup enough?✔️ Hiring, talent, and culture myths about Dubai✔️ How Dubai is preparing for an AI-first future✔️ Whether AI can replace compliance, legal, and documentation processes✔️ Smart company structure hacks that save time and burn✔️ How solo founders can start and scale in Dubai on a limited budget✔️ Costly mistakes first-time founders make and how to avoid themThis episode is a must-watch for founders, operators, marketers, and anyone thinking global from day one.🔗 Explore more about Crobstacle:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungMavericks #ApexDialogues #SultanBhatti #MeydanFreeZone #DubaiStartups #GlobalEntrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #UAEBusiness #FounderLife #ScalingStartups #AIinBusiness #BusinessGrowth #StartupIndia #GlobalFounders #Crobstacle

Welcome to The Young Mavericks, a leadership-first podcast exploring bold thinking, real business impact, and modern decision-making. 🎙️This episode is part of our Apex Dialogues series, conversations with industry leaders shaping brands, markets, and mindsets at the highest level.In this episode, we sit down with Archana Srivastava, a global brand transformation leader with 30+ years of experience across FMCG, real estate, retail, and media. From boardrooms to billion-dirham markets, Archana shares what truly drives sustainable growth and long-term brand success.We also cover:✅ The one business truth that never changes, even after 30 years✅ What the first 90 days of a real business transformation should look like✅ Rebranding vs reinvention and where most brands go wrong✅ Brand building vs sales-first execution: what actually delivers results✅ The most underrated operational fix that unlocks massive growth✅ How brand building in Dubai differs from India and the West✅ What UAE buyers really care about (beyond pricing)✅ 3 non-negotiables for launching a brand in the UAE market✅ Why CEO communities matter more than LinkedIn connections✅ The real challenges women face in reaching the C-suite✅ Tough leadership moments that reshape how leaders think✅ Rapid-fire brand turnaround scenarios and bold leadership callsIf you’re a founder, CXO, marketer, or business leader navigating scale, transformation, or global markets, this episode delivers sharp insights with zero fluff.👉 Connect with Archana Srivastava on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/archana-srivaastava/Explore more about The Young Mavericks:https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungMavericks #ApexDialogues #ArchanaSrivastava #LeadershipPodcast #BrandTransformation #BusinessGrowth #CXOInsights #WomenInLeadership #DubaiBusiness #GlobalMarkets #FounderPodcast #ModernLeadership #StrategyAndScale #Crobstacle

Welcome to The Young Turks Dialogues, the space where sharp ideas meet real-world experience, and conversations shape the future of branding, business, and creators. 🎙️In this episode, Anmol Gogia sits down with Dr. Rich: creator, educator, and the man who literally came back from flatlining to dive into what happens when neuroscience, storytelling, and purpose collide. From building immersive metaverse classrooms to decoding how the brain actually learns, his journey is as unexpected as it is powerful.We also cover:✅ Why most people misunderstand “learning” and waste years using the wrong methods✅ The science behind attention, memory, and habit formation✅ How creators can use brain-based storytelling to 10x impact✅ The truth about motivation and why it fails most people✅ What schools and workplaces will look like in the next 5 years✅ Lessons from his near-death experience and how it reshaped his mission✅ Rapid-fire takes on creativity, education, and the future of digital classroomsIf you’re curious about learning smarter, building purpose-driven work, or understanding how the mind shapes success, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.👉 Connect with Dr. Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rich-melheim/👉 Explore more about Crobstacle: https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungTurksDialogues #DrRichMelheim #RICHLearning #NeuroEducation #MetaverseEducation #DigitalLearning #FutureOfEducation #EdTech #ARVRinEducation #BrainBasedLearning #ImmersiveLearning #GlobalEducation #Storytelling #NFTRevolution #CreativeLearning #Crobstacle #Episode93 #LearningInnovation #EducationReform #FutureSkills

Welcome to The Young Turks Dialogues, where we explore the future of business, innovation, and entrepreneurship.🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto, who has advised 300+ startups and worked with 400+ investors across the globe. She shares how fundraising and marketing go hand in hand and why most founders get it wrong.We also cover:✅ The biggest marketing mistakes startups make before raising funds✅ Why pitch decks may be outdated and what could replace them in 2025✅ When startups should really start spending on performance marketing✅ The role of a founder’s personal brand in attracting investors✅ Global lessons: how Indian founders differ from Southeast Asian founders✅ What marketing metrics investors actually care about✅ Rapid-fire takes on growth hacks, storytelling, and GTM strategiesIf you’re a founder, marketer, or investor navigating today’s funding landscape, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.👉 Connect with Vandana Tolani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandanatolani/Explore more about Crobstacle at: https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungTurksDialogues #VandanaTolani #Convanto #StartupFunding #Fundraising #MarketingForStartups #InvestorRelations #FounderJourney #PitchDecks #StartupGrowth #B2B #B2C #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #MarketingMistakes #GrowthHacks #DigitalStrategy #BusinessPodcast #FutureOfStartups #Crobstacle #Episode92

Welcome to The Young Turks Dialogues, where we explore the future of business, innovation, and leadership in action.🎙️ In this episode, we chat with Pralhad Gairapipli, a humanitarian communicator and strategic outreach expert who has worked with USAID, UKAid, the EU, and grassroots communities alike.He shares how inclusive communication can transform lives, bridge divides, and bring authentic stories to the forefront.We also cover:✅ His journey from local villages in Nepal to global institutions✅ Why inclusion must be a strategy and not just an afterthought✅ Real stories of how communication has shifted mindsets and saved lives✅ How to balance donor-facing messaging with ground realities✅ The role of social media in amplifying authentic community voices✅ Steps to design campaigns that are inclusive, impactful, and future-readyThis episode is filled with powerful insights for communicators, NGOs, policymakers, and anyone who believes in the power of storytelling for social change.You can reach out to Pralhad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pralhad-gairapipli-8185b0120?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app🌐 Explore more about Crobstacle: https://crobstacle.com/📲 Follow us on Social Media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/crobstacleTwitter: https://twitter.com/crobstacleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/crobstacleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crobstacle/#TheYoungTurksDialogues #PralhadGairapipli #InclusiveCommunication #HumanitarianWork #StorytellingForChange #SocialImpact #GlobalDevelopment #CommunityVoices #StrategicOutreach #NGOLeadership #DigitalStorytelling #InclusionMatters #Crobstacle #Episode91 #FutureOfCommunication