"The Fear of the Nokia Fate"

Last week, we hosted a Round Table in Pune for CallHippo on “The Future of Business Communication.” The room was packed with folks from big call centers and IT giants, all trying their best to look very futuristic 😁 .

The hot topic? AI. And somewhere between the coffee breaks we collectively coined a term: The Fear of the Nokia Fate.

Here’s the gist: Every organization is throwing money at AI like it's a Black Friday sale. Why? FOMO. Everyone’s terrified of missing out on the next big thing, even though most of them don’t have a clue what they’re actually trying to achieve.

Now, here's the kicker: Every time someone in the organization dares to ask, “Hey, should we maybe figure out our goals before burning more money on AI?” another person stands up and dramatically says, “Remember Nokia?” Cue collective gasps.

The Nokia legend goes like this: Nokia didn’t embrace smartphones fast enough and poof!—they vanished into the corporate Bermuda Triangle. Never mind that the story is oversimplified; it’s the mic-drop moment in every AI debate. Nobody argues after the Nokia card is played.

And that’s how we arrived at The Fear of the Nokia Fate—the corporate boogeyman ensuring that AI budgets stay bloated and slightly aimless. Because nobody wants to be the next Nokia.

Here are the people who were there at the round table and contributed to coining this term:

Kanchan Patwardhan-Deshpande, Rahul Mergu (CISM) (CCISO), Kiran Mirajkar, Sikandar Pathan, Krishna Badwane, Anurag Agrawal, Achal Chhajed DHIRAJ SHISAT, Abdullah Parkar, Parvez Chhapgar, Gaurav Sharma, Chirayu Patel, Komal Chavan

We got featured on CNBC 🚀

Our journey to revolutionize the 100-year-old market research industry is now going to reach millions of people 🌎

When Somsubhra and I started the Ai Palette journey six years ago, the vision was clear: a future where AI powers the market research in the CPG industry and makes research faster, smarter, and more accessible. Fast forward to today, being recognized for disrupting such a legacy space is both humbling and exhilarating.

This recognition isn’t just about our technology – it’s a testament to the incredible team of Paletteers behind it, the clients who believed in our vision, and the investors who invested in us.

📈 From a small café in Singapore to scaling across 6 continents, our mission has always been about driving innovation and delivering real value. This feature is a reminder that with the right focus and determination, bold ideas can reshape industries.

Thank you to CNBC and Enterprise Singapore for spotlighting our work in the EDGE Series. Thanks to Conor Delahunty for being an early adopter of AI technology and supporting us since the early days.

Here’s to challenging the status quo and building the future, one insight at a time 💯

Absolutely elated to share that FloMobility has been granted its first patent, filed in 2021, granted in 2024.. a small win in our journey to build "Vision based Autonomy" for outdoor environments. Few more to go, as we build our #constructionrobotics portfolio.. 

A big #thankyou to our investors DevX Blume Ventures Indian Institute of Science (IISc) ARTPARK VentureGarage LetsVenture

Congrats team Pratik Patel Clay Motupalli Hemang Purohit Ashok Dhaker Akhilesh B Kalnoor Kunaal Kiran Kumar.

It takes a village to raise a child.
It takes a community to raise a startup.

Grateful to have found eChai Ventures community & Jatin Chaudhary and
an incredible network of people who continually inspire me and
team at Digipple to push boundaries and strive for more.

As we open the doors to our new office,
we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our Founder Friends & Mentors at an exclusive eChai Marketing Social.

At Digipple, we believe the best is yet to come.

Let's continue to inspire, innovate, and co-rise.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening:

Syed Nadeem Jafri | Kumar Manish | Jaydip Parikh | Tanmay Shanishchara | Jitendraa Lakhwani | Vikas Mundhra | Vikalp Somani | Dipti Parmar | Rohan Ayyar | Niraj Harlalka | Surendra Varma | Roshan Bhansali

We often hear VCs saying location doesn't matter for startups. But if that's true, why don't we see more VC firms based in states like Madhya Pradesh?

How many venture capital firms can you name in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, or Jharkhand?

The numbers are disappointingly low and this disparity creates a significant disconnect.

While we preach that great ideas can come from anywhere, the capital and networks essential to nurture these ideas remain overwhelmingly concentrated in a few metro cities.

But things are changing and I recently witnessed this firsthand at an exceptional event in Gwalior organized by Fluid Ventures.

It brought together some of the most innovative thinkers and leaders in India's startup community, all under one roof.

The event was not just another startup gathering. It’s a reminder that innovation isn't limited to big cities. It's happening right here in smaller towns as well.

Experiencing this in my hometown hits me very differently.

It's one thing to read about change, but to experience it is entirely different. And  I'm grateful I could contribute as a speaker, host, founder, and even gifting partner through Amrutam .

A huge thanks to the support and encouragement of Shmt. Priyadarshini Raje Scindia at the Gwalior Palace. It wouldn’t have come to life without your vision to make Gwalior grow and prosper.

A special thank you to Amit Singal and Rakhee Singal for spearheading this initiative in our city. For thinking about start-up ecosystems and building them in Tier 2 cities. 

Let’s continue to work towards a more inclusive startup ecosystem across all of India.

Reflecting on the incredible journey of our 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 this past year, I am beyond thrilled to announce that we have achieved a phenomenal 𝟭𝟬𝘅 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. This milestone is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our vision and mission.

At  Univia , we have always aimed for excellence, and this achievement signifies that we are not just on the right path but also moving at top speed. Our team’s relentless dedication, innovative strategies, and customer-centric approach have driven us to this remarkable success.
As we continue to push boundaries and break new ground, I am confident that this is just the beginning. Here’s to achieving greater heights together!

I haven’t been in touch with Silicon Valley SFO in the last decade, primarily because I had nothing to do. Or rather, I got caught up in long bootstrapping cashflow woes.

Then I was building everything for India. To become 2nd largest player in event experience & entertainment ticketing in India. Up to 2015.

In US:
 
Yes, much later, I did win big customers like TiE, Harvard business school entrepreneur network and a bunch of others to serve ExplaraX, but, with hundreds of fantastic friends and colleagues, I could never 10x from my network, that is changing definitely now in 2024 and then 2025 onwards, thanks to AI initiatives we are sketching Foundership - Web3 & AI Accelerator VC

4 Years of Soch, Swad Aur Sehat 🥳🥗

It all started in 2020 with the idea of serving healthy food for the people of Ahmedabad! 🌱☺️

Now after all the struggles we have reached here and are grateful to all of you for supporting us. 🧿🙏🏻

Our mother-son duo founders will keep up their good work, grit & gratitude always along with their hardworking team! 🥹🙌

Stay healthy, happy & hearty. 🤍

Payal Pathak The Simply Salad 

It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Allan Koltin. I've been following your incredible journey since the start of my career in the US accounting industry, and your insights have always been invaluable to me. Truly humbled by your humility and generosity in taking the time to share your wisdom. Thank you for the great conversation—I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field!

Entigrity Koltin Consulting Group, Inc.

Got an opportunity to reconnect with old & new US state alumni based in Ahmedabad. Attended the “Alumni Networking Event" hosted by the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad.

As part of a Legislative Fellow way back in the Year 2016, I spent a month in the USA ( Washington DC & Reno) during the election time of Ex Prez Trump & Hillary Clinton and got first-hand experience of the US election frenzy. During the fellowship, the best part was meeting fellows from other parts of India & Pakistan who were working on sustainability, digital media, storytelling, social mobilisation & the political domain. Also, staying with host US families and getting first-hand experience of American culture.

As part of this meet-up, we exchanged ideas, experiences, and insights to see how each of us can partner in making a positive impact in our chosen area of work.

The breakout sessions on Climate Change, Women’s Economic Empowerment, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility), and Education led to thought-provoking discussions & collaborative opportunities.

A big thank you to Nerissa Castelino and the team for organizing such an enriching experience, and special thanks to Rob Anderson and Tejal Vasavada for hosting the event. Also, met Nayankumar Dave,a media veteran and former TOI colleague, after a long time. 

Hope to have meaningful collaboration & partnerships on issues which are close to our hearts. 

In case, you are a US state alumni based in Ahmedabad/ Gujarat and still not part of the community, do PM me to join the dedicated WhatsApp community.  :) 

We work with a wide range of event organizers at AllEvents, from local gatherings to global festivals. But seeing a traditional institution like ISKCON Bangalore✔ embrace digital technology for their Janmashtami celebrations is something truly special.

In just 2-3 days, tens of thousands of devotees registered online for the event. It’s inspiring to see how the temple is using technology not just to streamline the festival but to build a stronger, more connected community. Going digital allows them to plan future festivals more effectively, keep their community informed, and ultimately enhance the experience for everyone involved.

This partnership is a beautiful example of how tradition and technology can come together to create something meaningful. We’re proud to support ISKCON Temple Bangalore in their journey towards a more connected and engaged community.

When a popular artist goes live on AllEvents! 

6x spike in North American ticket sales over the last two days, driven by an event featuring a well-known artist who chose AllEvents as their ticketing platform. 

This surge highlights the power of AllEvents as a global event discovery and ticketing platform, trusted by artists and event organizers worldwide. We’re proud to be the platform of choice for major events that connect with audiences across the globe.

As we continue to grow, we’re committed to providing a reliable, credible, and impactful platform for events of all sizes, anywhere in the world.

Looking forward to more exciting milestones ahead!

... and it's a wrap for SGx5 🙌

Couple of months back, we had the graduation for SGx5 cohort in Goa. SGx is a 16 week pay-it-forward program by SaaSBoomi where founders of early stage 

#saas companies go through growth acceleration with mentors and wingmates who have been through the curve.

About a year ago, Anupama and I had the good fortune of being part of the SGx4 cohort for Clientjoy (Acquired by Synup). Our learnings were crisp, clear and actionable.

They helped us with improving our account activations, getting a handle on our ICP and focusing on the right metrics. I also witnessed them helping my batchmates with their US GTM, going about category creation and setting up sales processes.

If you are a SaaS company doing $500K to $1.5M in ARR, link to apply to SGx6 is in the first comment.

Here's what you can expect if you are selected:
- Goal setting and weekly check-ins for your GTM
- Sat morning calls to hold you accountable every week
- Play-books on things you think you already know but you don't - like SEO, outbound, PPC etc
- 2 founders who will work with you and get their hands dirty, and most valuable of all
- Genuine community that also happens to be the world's largest pay-it-forward community for SaaS.

In SGx5, I had the opportunity to work with Saurabh from PMaps along with Abhishek from WeCP | We Create Problems and Mrigank from PeopleStrong. It was extremely meaningful.

A big hug for all SGx5 cohort companies - Parin from Reelo, Akash from Pibit.ai, Priyank from UrSpayce, Paul from Two Minute Reports | GoX.ai, Ayush from Adbrew and Manoj from SOCLY.io.

And ofcourse, can't forget the mentors & wingmates Dhruvil, Pallav, Sachin, Shruti, Vengat, Abhi, Ankit, Kalyan, Sakshi, Deepti, Rahul, Naman, Sudheer, Vaibhav, Utkarsh and Aastha.

Looking forward to learning via teaching in SGx6 👊

With over 20 years of experience in the food and grocery retail business, I’ve realized that the industry can become more viable and popular by focusing on a few key areas. Now is the time to share these insights and offer guidance to a broader audience, particularly by connecting with small retailers beyond our franchise network.

In this series of videos/reels, I’ve discussed these topics in detail, including retail consumer insights, essential dos and don’ts in the food and grocery sector, and the emerging trends and role of technology in making food and grocery retail more effective.

At the Raksha Bandhan celebration hosted by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav MPIDC RO-Bhopal MSME-TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (PPDCAGRA) at Minto Hall, where 800 incredible women entrepreneurs gathered, SOQO had the honor of being showcased as one of Bhopal’s marquee startups.

Amidst the festivities, a lady found herself in a tricky spot—without access to period products at such a high-profile event. Don’t be surprised this is a stark reality at ALL PLACES not just here but also 5 star hotels, schools, museum or any public place for that matter.

In her moment of need, SOQO stepped in with our leakproof undies literally meant to save the day for unexpected leaks including sogginess from pee, periods, discharge or sweat proving that we’re here to make a difference in real-life situations. 🌟 so glad this picture also made it to peoplessamachar 🥰✨

Happy to announce that BabyOrgano Secures Seed Funding with Sauce.vc

My husband, Ripul Sharma, and I started BabyOrgano with just 2 lakhs, and today, securing seed funding from Sauce.vc feels like a dream come true.

As with any entrepreneurial journey, ours was not without its challenges.

When BabyOrgano launched, our mission was to use natural, safe ayurvedic products to redefine child wellbeing.

Bootstrapping our way through the initial years, we faced our fair share of challenges.

Despite the difficulties we encountered, we never wavered from our goal of giving parents reliable natural & ayurevdic wellness solutions for their kids.

In our third year, after countless meetings with potential investors, we found ourselves at a crossroads.

We knew we needed to expand but were unsure where we were going wrong.

That’s when we connected with our first investors Umesh Uttamchandani,& Devansh R. Majithia who believed in us.

All these couldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Ravi Uttamchandani from Faraz Wadhwania & Jeel Doshi. Their support was the first step toward a brighter future.

The unwavering support by my family, loyal customers, investors and my whole team laid the foundation for this latest milestone—our successful seed funding round led by Sauce.VC.

What does this mean for BabyOrgano?

This funding is a major step forward, enabling us to:

→ Expand Our Product Line: Introduce innovative, natural wellness products to more families.

→ Enhance Our R&D: Invest in developing new and improved solutions

→ Grow Our Market Presence: Reach more parents and children across the country.

This isn’t just a financial boost; it’s the icing on the cake and a reflection of our hard work and perseverance.

Thanks to the fantastic support of Manu Chandra, Yash Dholakia & Padma Milhotra for believing in our dream. 

We’re more determined than ever to make a positive impact on children’s health. A big thank you to our loyal customers and dedicated team for helping us achieve this! 

Here’s to the exciting future ahead!

Today, I interviewed a student from one of the top engineering colleges. As I reviewed the projects he had worked on during his studies, I was thrilled to see that, instead of doing the usual projects found on most engineering resumes, he took a different approach. He identified a problem within his institute and developed a SaaS tool to address it, which is now actively used by his college. Even more impressive, he is continuously gathering feedback and refining the tool.

Curiously, I asked him why he chose to apply to AllEvents rather than going through the traditional campus placement process. His response was insightful: He heard from a friend who works at AllEvents about our dynamic culture and the exciting growth opportunities we offer, and that made all the difference.

At AllEvents, we take great pride in our culture. We believe in creating an environment where every team member can thrive, learn, and grow. It’s not just about filling roles; it’s about building careers and futures.

This story is a testament to the power of culture in hiring. It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it that attracts talented individuals. And it’s moments like these that remind us why investing in our people and our culture is so important.

We’re excited about the future and are always looking to welcome passionate, talented individuals to our team. If you're looking for a place where you can grow, be inspired, and contribute to something bigger, let's connect! 🚀

Great news for us at Cibos Techno Solutions Pvt Ltd!

I am excited to share with all that we have been selected as one of the Top 30 startups in SolarX India Startup Challenge by International Solar Alliance and Invest India.

We pitched to the honorable jury consisting of Shri. Bhupinder Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance.

For last few years, we have been working hard at Cibos Techno Solutions Pvt Ltd and LAARI for micro-entrepreneurs across India providing them access to Modular Infrastructure, and Solar compatible DC Heating and Cooling technology and helping them with financial inclusion so that they have access to sustainable and affordable business technologies and solutions. 

Looking upwards and onwards with Cibos!

It is always Givers Gain!

But I really didn't expect Harshil Karia to share everything he shared.

He candidly talked about the business challenges, collaboration possibilities and his views on the future trends...(things that you don't hear in podcasts)

And why I was so apprehensive...may be because I have not seen agency owners in Ahmedabad collaborate the way Harshil managed to get us to talk to each other in a 2 hour meet up.

Thank you Harshil Karia for your openness and sharing things candidly 💛💙

Revamped, Redesigned, Reborn! 🚀

We're thrilled to unveil the new version of @allevents_in Event Discovery App during #AEFest.

Check out our video to see the exciting changes and get ready to experience events like never before! 📲✨

#StayHappening

 

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.

To further this vision, we are excited to announce our latest funding round of 5.8 Million USD by partnering with Tin Men Capital and with continued support of Exfinity Venture Partners and pi Ventures.

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.

I am back from SaaSBoomi Annual 2024, held in Chennai 😎

🔹Not long ago, Chennai struggled to attract Investors.

🔹Fast forward to 7th Mar 2024 - Investors from all over globe flew to Chennai, eager to see what SaaS Founders are building and offer them help, guidance and capital

Visionaries like Girish Mathrubootham and Avinash Raghava reinstate the thought - Think Big, and everything becomes possible

Huge shout out to Team SaasBoomi and all the volunteers for putting up such a incredible event 🙌

Imagine a building sized machine - printing another building!

Spent a day at the new paint factory from Aditya Birla Group where they have brought India's 2nd 3D printed building to life!

Proud to be a part of this exciting project at Rezovate Constructions!

I am excited to launch my very first "ReSchool Podcast" episode with Abhishek Desai, founder of CricHeroes, and Jatin Chaudhary, co-founder of eChai Ventures. 

Together, we explore innovative pathways for transforming schooling in our digital era as we dive deep into education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and reschooling. Stay tuned for real insights and inspiring stories!