See all those consumer products behind us. What if I told you that all these can be created using AI?
Imagine a world where products are no longer solely developed based on intuition and market research, but rather a world where AI becomes the driving force behind the creation of consumer packaged products. This idea is not a distant dream but a reality taking shape as we speak and Ai Palette is at the forefront of it.
At Ai Palette, we are passionate about leveraging the power of Generative AI to transform the traditional CPG Industry and drive innovation. With this recent investment, we are poised to take our disruptive technology to new heights and expand our reach into exciting new verticals.
🌟 Entering the Beauty and Personal Care Sector: Building on our success in disrupting traditional CPG markets in F&B, we are thrilled to announce our expansion into the dynamic world of Beauty and Personal Care. This move represents a strategic leap forward as we continue to push boundaries and deliver cutting-edge solutions to meet evolving consumer needs.
💡 Transforming the Industry with AI: Our proprietary Generative AI technology enables us to create unique, data-driven insights and develop personalized products that resonate with consumers on a deeper level. By harnessing the power of AI, we are unlocking new possibilities in product development, marketing, and customer engagement, setting new standards for innovation within the industry.
As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we remain committed to our vision of shaping the future of the CPG landscape on a global scale. With our innovative approach and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to drive meaningful change and create value for consumers, brands, and investors alike.
Thank You to all our well-wishers and supporters: None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our customers, investors, and dedicated Paletteers. We are immensely grateful for your belief in our vision and your commitment to our success.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to disrupt and innovate in the CPG industry! Together, we are shaping the future of consumer goods with AI-driven solutions that inspire, delight, and transform.
Madhukar Sinha and Anand Lunia took us through some interesting insights on how India is evolving 🙌 and the trends coming up.
✅ With single kids and nuclear families in tier 1 cities, the spending of families have changed.
✅ Traditional Markets have matured to become specialised
✅ Online Retail started from Metro cities but #growth comes from Tier 2 & 3.
✅ Phygital Services coming up like Utsav App, where #technology is used to bridge the digital world with the physical world with the purpose of providing a unique interactive puja experience for the devotees. (Mentioned in Page 86)
Gallabox is a no-code, conversational commerce platform that leverages the WhatsApp Business API to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their sales conversions.
About the team
Yogesh was one of the early Engineering team members at Sulekha where he built the marketplace for Local Services, mining deep understanding of user needs and ‘matchmaking’ with SMB offers. He was also the first Engineering team member at CredAvenue where he built the fintech marketplace for debt.
Yathin created the Value Delivery function at Sulekha, a system that kept track of what’s due to paying customers and led the B2B product at Sulekha that was used by over 50,000 SMBs to keep track of their leads and deals.
Karthik helped build Sulekha’s Local Services business from ground up and built it to a Rs 100 crore ARR on the back of over 50,000 SMBs. He saw how the Internet was impacting SMBs at the dawn of the digital era while at Sify. He built the wedding services marketplace for Matrimony with users on one end and SMBs on the other.
Eureka moment
Sales is the lifeblood for small to medium sized businesses, but they lack the resources & know-how to convert their prospects and sell better.
We want to help businesses grow their sales through cutting-edge technologies channeled through easy-to-use tools - to digitize and automate their customer interactions.
How does it work?
Business model
We are a SaaS company and charge subscription for use of our product. Plans vary by features and are designed for businesses of all sizes
Traction
We now serve almost 1,000 paying customers from India and abroad, while over 12,000 businesses use our product for free.
Community support
Help us with product feedback, offer constructive criticism and brainstorm for new ideas for product road-map and for GTM.
🌟 What a weekend! Had the privilege of engaging with amazing audiences on two different stages, discussing startups, brand building, and product marketing.
On Saturday, I shared the stage with esteemed founders Ankita De and Rapti Gupta at an eChai Ventures event, moderated by the fantastic Penchala Tharun 🚀. We delved into topics ranging from marketing and communities to startups and product marketing, with a special focus on the fintech space. A big thank you to eChai and Jatin Chaudhary for this opportunity! 🙏
Simultaneously, I had the pleasure of interacting with numerous entrepreneurs who are passionately building their own ventures. The insights gathered from diverse industries, from healthcare to the evolving Indian solar market, were truly enlightening. 🙌
On Sunday, the learning journey continued at a MyCaptain event, where I connected with over 80 individuals exploring the intricacies of Product Marketing.
We delved into the different strategies of product marketing, and I had the opportunity to walk them through a real-life campaign from Cashfree Payments, viewed through the lens of product marketing. Witnessing the participants' demos and the depth of insights they brought to the table was inspiring. 🎊
A huge shoutout to everyone who attended and engaged in these discussions. Your enthusiasm and curiosity made these events truly memorable. Special thanks to Tejaswi Vuppula and the entire MyCaptain team for this opportunity. 🙏
Looking forward to more such enriching events and interactions in the future!
Thrilled to share that I had the incredible opportunity to participate as a panelist at the meetup delving into the dynamic world of Product Management!
It was a pleasure to join fellow industry experts Sanjeet Kathuria, Harneet Kaur Chhabra and Sanket Bhatt in a riveting discussion on key practices and strategies shaping the field. The turnout was nothing short of amazing with 50+ product and growth folks and even founders showing up for an engaging evening!
Key Highlights from the discussion:
🎯 Being an advocate for customer empathy is fundamental for translating business needs into actionable insights to drive product growth. 🎯 GTM and product development should go hand in hand with a key focus on adopting early design partners and finding distribution channels that work for your startup. 🎯 Experimentation with product features, pricing and positioning can help unfold unforeseen avenues leading to higher customer engagement and business expansion
🙌 Huge shoutout to the organizers and host Jatin Chaudhary and Darshan Suthar for extending the invitation and for orchestrating such a successful event for the community.
Spent a dynamic Saturday morning with a group of dedicated entrepreneurs with eChai Ventures, exchanging invaluable insights and strategies for startup success. 🙌
We delved into key takeaways crucial for entrepreneurial success: 📈
1. Importance of Product Marketing: Emphasized the pivotal role of product marketing in effectively communicating the value proposition and benefits of your offering to the target audience.
2. Understanding CAC and LTV: Discussed the significance of Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Value (LTV) metrics in guiding sustainable growth and profitability strategies.
3. PLG and SLG Strategies: Explored the power of Product-Led Growth (PLG) and Sales-Led Growth (SLG) approaches, highlighting their respective advantages and suitability based on business models.
4. Finding Ideal Customer Profile (ICP): Stressed the necessity of identifying the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) to optimize marketing efforts and enhance customer acquisition and retention rates.
5. Achieving Product-Market Fit (PMF): Recognized the importance of attaining Product-Market Fit (PMF) to ensure that your product resonates with the needs and preferences of your target market.
6. Importance of User Research: Underlined the critical role of user research in gaining deep insights into customer behavior, preferences, and pain points to inform product development and marketing strategies.
7. Significance of Customer Interaction and Insights: Highlighted the value of ongoing customer interaction and feedback loops in refining products, enhancing user experience, and fostering long-term customer relationships.
Here's to the power of collaboration and hustle! 💼🚀
My recent family visit to Jaipur would have been incomplete without a quick check-in into the start-up ecosystem. A few conversations with Headstarters and a last-minute meet-up with eChai Ventures helped me understand-
1. Jaipur and Rajasthan as a whole believe in business = profit > massive growth 2. Fundraising doesn't take as much precedence as building a sustainable business 3. Some of the most renowned start-ups and businesses like CarDekho Group, Razorpay, DealShare, and even Dexter Ventures have started and been built in Jaipur 4. The community is nascent, close-knit and growing 5. A lot of talent, very good talent is available thanks to the number of colleges and coaching institutes in the region
If you have been to or built-in #Rajasthan, I would love to hear your thoughts. Do tag anyone you would like me to meet the next time I'm in Rajasthan.
Exciting news from Meet the Drapers Season 6 Finale - BonV Aero emerged as the champion, securing a whopping $1.6 million in funding! 🏆
I had the opportunity to be part of the selection panel along with Devesh Ramchandani, Dr. Barada Prasad Panigrahy and Sarika Batra, we witnessed more than 300+ Startups from across India, Srilanka and the MENA region, and least mention the Sri Sri University, Bhubaneswar, certainly was tough call to pick one startup to be represented from each region.
BonV Aero’s groundbreaking mission to transform critical logistics with innovative electric aerial vehicles, tailored for demanding terrains, has garnered them well-deserved acclaim from our distinguished panel of judges.
This season witnessed a total investment of $2.8 million, underscoring the extraordinary promise and commitment of our contestants to propel innovation and change.
If you're convinced your startup can make a significant impact, seize the opportunity to apply for Season-7 of Meet the Drapers. Embark on this journey to leave your imprint on the global entrepreneurial landscape. https://lnkd.in/gWuVsvJF
Going forward apna will be the official partner of AICTE to help all Engineering and Management graduates find a job and help them in career discovery. Honoured to exchange an MoU with AICTE, led by esteemed Prof. Sitharam T.G, Chairman of AICTE.
“There is no dearth of jobs, we just need to connect students with opportunities. We are thrilled to announce that Apna and AICTE will make this happen for all India’s Engineering and Management College students.”
The ceremony was graced by the august presence of Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan-ji, Secretary Higher Education Shri K Sanjay Murthy, UGC Chairperson MAMIDALA JAGADESH KUMAR, NCVET Chairperson Dr. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi IAS (retd), and other dignitaries whose guidance and blessings make this journey even more meaningful.
Inspired by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi-ji's words, “The energy of the youth and their passion for development are what drive a nation forward.” It is a privilege to work alongside such visionary leaders and dedicated institutions in our shared mission to nurture and equip India's youth for the opportunities of tomorrow.
The collaboration envisions to unlock job and career discovery, provide AI-powered support for building resumes & interview preparation and set up a community platform for all-round professional development of students, ensuring they step into the professional world with confidence and the right opportunities at their doorstep. All Engineering and Management students graduating from AICTE-affiliated colleges will be benefitted by this initiative.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in making this a reality. Karna ChokshiShuvajyoti GhoshKathak Mehta, PhD and the entire team at apna, and Hiranmay Mahanta. Together, we will be nurturing a skilled, competent and confident generation ready to lead India's growth.
“Prateek, let’s travel across India to know more about the stories of India SaaS”
4 months ago, my co-founder Sri reached out to me with this crazy text and bag full of even crazier ideas. Without a second thought, I knew I was in.
And that's how from Day 0, both of us went all in.
And here we are today—I’m extremely excited to introduce to you, The Bharat SaaS Yatra!
Our vision? To celebrate the Rise of India SaaS, and cover hundreds of stories of SaaS Founders—The wins, the losses, the challenges and everything in between ❤️
Stories not just from the Tier 1 cities, but also the gritty tales from Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities.
Hitting the road for the next 4 months to travel across 20 cities and capture the Fan-SaaStic stories out there.
Wondering, where we’ll meet? In one of the finest immersive SaaS exhibitions that we’re setting up across all the 20 cities. I bet, you’re going to love it!
around thinking about MVPs and what it took him to build Superblog ai. and also from
Amit Chavan
.
The highlights from my notes say:
- B2C is hard. Sigh. - Build stuff for yourself, solve your own problem. - Do primary research by looking over trends. - Consumer behavior change revolves around three axes: Energy, time, and money. - Your first set of customers will come from your Alpha and beta users. - Your organic channels could be from either of these: - SEO - Build in public - Word of mouth - Good PMs follow revenue/business. - Sales is getting the cheque in hand.
- SEO in the future might take a different form, could evolve into chat engine optimization.
And got connected to a few interesting folks as well.
If you see and do things differently, then this post is for you.
Join our rapidly growing startup as we revolutionise the CPG landscape leverageing AI 🚀
While other companies are downsizing and letting go of their top talent, we at Ai Palette are gearing up for unprecedented growth and expansion. Our vision is bold, our mission is clear, and our team is unstoppable. We're seeking partners in innovation across tech and business functions who are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a real impact.
1️⃣ Be Brave We dream big and push boundaries because we believe innovation requires creative curiosity and purposeful exploration about what the future holds.
2️⃣ Be Empathetic We listen intently to our clients’ needs and focus on building diverse teams because we believe a culture of trust thrives with inclusiveness, transparency and honesty.
3️⃣ Be Committed We take collective ownership of our work because we believe good leadership inspires collaborative ideals as well as a client-focused determination.
If you are eager to be part of something dynamic, where your ideas are valued, and your potential is limitless, then look no further!
Join us and let’s build something incredible together.
Had an incredible time at the eChai Startup Social Event! Connecting with professionals from diverse industry like #Technology, #Healthcare, #Food, #entertainment, #CA, #Sales & #Marketing was truly enlightening. . Throughout the event, we engaged in insightful discussions covering a spectrum of industries. From sharing experiences of success to reflecting on lessons learned from failures, our collaborative efforts aimed at fostering growth and development were truly enriching.
The enthusiasm and shared experiences highlighted the vibrant spirit of our startup ecosystem. It was pleasure moderate the event and share knowledge.
"I felt like the Formula 1 car driving in the rain knowing that the guy coming at the back is going to have a great time" shared Mithun Sacheti, Founder of CaratLane - A Tanishq Partnership
In my day's dose of podcasts, it was wonderful to hear an entrepreneur being born out of a family business, one that built in what wasn't a sunrise sector yet still a category creator - jewellery! Mithun not only set the path for start-ups in the space but paved the way for everything operations from negotiating the need for it with courier companies to convince the need for it to the banks and even had to explain the concept of online cross-border buying and selling of jewellery to the government, keeping it all ready for the ones to follow.
Some aspects that stayed with me-
- Relationships and your network: The importance of building relationships leading to mentorship backed by one's capability. He mentioned two core ones with Srinivasa Gopalan and how he got Raakesh Jhunjhunwala to listen to him while he got his numbers up after the insights Raakesh Jhunjhunwala shared (listen for more context- it's worth it)
- Partnerships led growth: Partnering with Cartoon Network to introduce a range of products for the 0-5yrs old and also working closely on introducing products with themes like Doremon and Harry Potter exponentially increased their TAM (total addressable market)
The Titan Company Limited partnership is one that went through its course, it gave both brands enough leverage to grow. #Founders, if you want to hear your heart drop for a few minutes, listen to the Titan-Caratlane story shared in the first 30 minutes of the podcast
- Reverse due diligence: The team travelled across the country and even to the US to understand their potential investors. While VCs have a stringent DD (due diligence) process, the founders knew they had to be aware of who they were getting onboard
- Holocracy: Roles > Titles ( What's in a name right? It's more about what you do) and that's exactly what the CaratLane - A Tanishq Partnership spirit was. Your work defines your role, not your title.
It made me smile to hear this last bit when Mithun Sacheti shared with Karthik B. Reddy that the Power of compounding = Sleep peacefully!
Connecting with multiple young entrepreneurs at the meetup underscored the importance of collaboration, shared learning, and building a supportive ecosystem. Each interaction sparked new ideas, collaborations, and opportunities for growth.
As the audience was filled with young entrepreneurs, they thrive on the energy and creativity that comes from connecting with like-minded individuals. These connections not only inspire us but also open doors to new partnerships, mentorship, and possibilities for innovation.
Grateful for the opportunity to engage with such a vibrant community of startup enthusiasts at Draper Startup House by Karan Bahadur & curated community by Nivin Joseph enabled by Jatin Chaudhary of eChai Ventures . Let's continue to foster connections, support one another, and collectively drive positive change in the startup ecosystem!
I'm thrilled to share that our partner, Upekkha, is now welcoming applications for their UP24 Spring Cohort. This is a golden opportunity for SaaS startups looking to catapult their growth to the next level.
What's on offer? - A robust 💰 $125K Pre-Seed Fund to kickstart your journey. - Unparalleled 🌐 strategic guidance and support for global expansion. - An opportunity to 👥 join a vibrant community of 300+ founders who are reshaping the SaaS landscape globally.
🌟 Why Upekkha? 🌟
Upekkha isn't just about funding. It's about fostering a community where founders can thrive, share, and grow together. With 40 startups funded in 2023 and plans to fund 70 more in 2024, Upekkha is on a mission to nurture the next wave of SaaS success stories. Whether you're dreaming of hitting your first $1M ARR or scaling beyond, Upekkha's track record speaks volumes:
- 165+ profitable and capital-efficient startups. - 11 startups have soared past $1M ARR, with three exceeding $5M ARR. - A remarkable 85% of the first 20 startups are cash flow positive and growing month-on-month.
Don't let this chance slip through your fingers! The application deadline is 15th Feb 2024. If you're ready to take your SaaS startup to unprecedented heights, apply now at https://lnkd.in/gcZuKGGS.
Founders, Investors, Enablers- Who are you listening to?
Over the last few weeks I've been constantly trying to rediscover learning through podcasts and here are some of them that are on my radar-
🎙 Seed to Scale by Accel - A podcast series highlighting the journey of various founders while launching a 2 podcast series with the Accel team from across the globe - Jim Swartz, Anand Daniel, Sameer Gandhi, Harry Nelis, Mahendran Balachandran celebrating their 40 years in the VC industry in 2023
🎙Blume Ventures podcasts - Season 1 on XUnicorns followed by Season 2 focusing on Power of Compounding where Karthik B. Reddy hosts founders like Peyush Bansal, Raamdeo Agrawal who have excelled at compounding from the last decade to almost half a century
🎙Matrix Moments by Matrix Partners India - Highlighting human capital while also discussing trends of 2023 and 2024 hosted by Rupali Sharma ranging to over 180 episodes over different seasons and topics
🎙DesiVC by Akash Bhat - Candid conversations with leading investors from across India with insights from Akash's journey as a founder and investor having spoken to 127+ people. This one has been on my list for over 3 years now
🎙Indian Silicon Valley podcast by Jivraj Singh Sachar- Intricate conversations with founders, investors, and enablers in the Indian start-up ecosystem spanning 161 episodes and more. Jivraj has been closely associated with the start-up and investment ecosystem bringing out his unique perspective through the questions he asks his guests
VCs have extensive insights and access to diverse information. They have access to insights ranging from an industry understanding brought together by cumulative team experiences, in-depth sector focus, and access to real-time information through their portfolio companies. Often these insights stay unshared or when shared, undiscovered by some of us. This year I'm on a mission to uncover some of the most insightful podcasts and will keep sharing as I keep listening.
So what are you listening to, to stay up to date? Drop startup and investing podcast recommendations in the comments. I'm sharing links to the ones I've mentioned above in the comments too.
I am thrilled to announce the launch of FoodGPT, a revolutionary tool in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, designed to provide powerful and unparalleled consumer insights. 🎉
"Unlocking Consumer Insights: FoodGPT" 💡
As a leading AI startup in the CPG industry, we understand the challenges of staying ahead in the competitive landscape. That's why we are proud to present FoodGPT, a specialized vertical tool that goes beyond the capabilities of general-purpose models like OpenAI's GPT-4 and Google's LaMDA, providing CPG brands with deeper and more accurate consumer insights.
🔍 How is FoodGPT Different? 🔍
📈 Unrivaled Volume & Variety: FoodGPT has been trained on an extensive dataset of over 61 Billion data points across 24 geographies in 17 languages, making it incredibly accurate in understanding global consumer preferences, habits, and desires. With this enhanced precision, businesses can make well-informed decisions and create products that resonate with their target audience.
💡 Solves Hallucination: For the same question, FoodGPT answers quantitatively with exact consumer drivers along with percentages and data points and provides reference links compared to generalized models that answer more qualitatively with no to very less quantitative information.
💬 Granularity: Generalised models create a very high-level concept since they've been trained on Wikipedia, articles, and books. FoodGPT, on the other hand, is trained on a domain knowledge base that allows the granular level answers to the F & B related questions and text generations.
🚀 Embrace the Future of Consumer Insights with FoodGPT! 🚀
At FoodGPT, we believe that understanding consumers is the key to building successful and sustainable brands. With our state-of-the-art tool, we are empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions, achieve innovation, and foster meaningful connections with their customers.
👉 If you want to gain a competitive edge and be at the forefront of consumer trends, reach out to us at [email protected] to witness the future of consumer insights!
🚀 Recently, I had the opportunity to join an insightful panel alongside some incredible minds - Vandana Jain from Evident Capital, Priyank Jain, Co-founder of Soup-X, and the insightful moderator, Riten (Fueler).
Initially, I had my reservations, but thanks to Jatin Chaudhary's generosity in extending multiple invites, I decided to dive in. Grateful that I could overcome my inhibitions.
I questioned whether I could bring anything new to the table, considering my previous engagements on similar topics. It felt like everything I could share was already out there, accessible as playbooks or online courses. And as for my own and my brand's journey, well, it's right there on the internet for anyone to read.
But here's what this experience taught me:
1. Sometimes, we underestimate the value of our unique insights and journeys. We might think we've shared enough knowledge already, but there's always a fresh perspective or a new angle to offer. Your experiences are your own, and they can resonate with others on their own entrepreneurial journey.
2. The D2C space in India has indeed seen its fair share of repetition, especially in the post-COVID world. It's easy to fall into the same patterns and practices, but true pioneers stand out through innovation. Let's challenge the status quo and explore ways to set ourselves apart, beyond just products and sales channels.
Speaking at Draper Startup House and eChai Ventures event(s) is always a joy, and this time, it reminded me of the unique energy in Bangalore's startup ecosystem. It's an energy unlike any other, with an audience whose enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge were truly palpable.
And as we navigate the D2C landscape in India, let's remember that innovation, sustainable growth and authenticity are our guiding lights. While fundraising remains crucial, our focus should remain on building robust foundations, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and nurturing our long-term vision.
Here's to more enriching conversations and pushing the boundaries of D2C in Bharat! 🚀🇮🇳
I had an amazing time engaging with fellow entrepreneurs and enthusiasts in the startup community. The atmosphere was charged with an extraordinary level of passion and energy.
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
Sai Krishna
Amit Chavan
