Episodios

  • Narayan Manepally’s Journey of Building Geist Brewing Co. |From Ex-Intel Engineer to Craft Beer Icon in India
    Jul 4 2025

    What happens when a techie starts brewing in his garage and ends up building one of India’s most iconic craft beer brands?

    Just as refreshing as Geist’s beer, this episode has Narayan Manepally, CEO & Co-founder of Geist Brewing Co., chatting with Sanjay Swamy. It has all the flavours and ingredients - from sharing his journey as an Intel engineer in the U.S. to innovating and succeeding as a beer entrepreneur.

    What you’ll learn:
    🍺 How one batch of California Golden Ale changed everything
    📜 Why Narayan brewed in Belgium and brought it back to India
    📦 The science of building a cold chain for beer
    🌳 How Geist Brewing Co. turned adversity into an open-air beer garden
    📈 From 0 to 450+ locations without compromising on quality

    Timestamps:
    00:00 – Introduction


    03:27 – Tech at Intel → Garage Brewing


    08:09 – First Brew = The Big Idea


    10:08 – “Now They Say: We Love Geist!”


    12:42 – What Makes a Beer ‘Craft’?


    15:00 – Brewing Abroad When India Said No


    18:04 – The 600K Month & Scaling B2B


    20:33 – COVID Pivot: Sell to Myself


    23:47 – Cold Chain & the Science of Fresh Beer


    34:03 – Advice for Founders

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    🔔 Subscribe for more founder-first content.

    #GeistBrewingCo. #CraftBeerMovement #StartupIndia #FounderInsights #EntrepreneurMindset #RegulatoryChallenges #B2BtoB2C #FoodAndBeverageIndustry #ConsumerBranding #ScalingStartups #BootstrappingStories #COVIDPivot #BusinessOfBeer #FounderPodcast #PrimeVenturesPartnersPodcast

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    46 m
  • From Accidental Entrepreneur to Startup Icon - K. Ganesh | Prime Venture Partners Podcast
    Jun 19 2025

    What happens when a founder builds and exits four companies, including a multi-million-dollar edtech company, before India even started talking about startups?

    In this episode, K. Ganesh (Author & Partner at Growth Story) - the man behind BigBasket, Portea, Bluestone, and more breaks down the hard truths, lucky accidents, and pivots that shaped his journey.

    🎙️ Hosted by Sanjay Swamy | Prime Venture Partners
    📘 Featuring: Mastering Disruption by K. Ganesh

    🧠 What you’ll learn:

    How he went from engineer to entrepreneur by accident
    The pivots that saved his companies during the dotcom crash
    The GrowthStory model vs. traditional venture capital
    His take on AI, relevance after 60, and learning to reinvent yourself

    👉 Don’t just listen - learn, reflect, and share. This is founder wisdom in its purest form.

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    🔔 Subscribe for more founder-centric content from Prime.

    #SerialEntrepreneur #KGanesh #StartupIndia #FounderStories #MasteringDisruption #BuildInIndia #BusinessWisdom #ConsumerTech #VCIndia #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    55 m
  • This Startup Doesn’t Just Use AI, It’s Run by AI | Xiaoyin Qu
    Jun 10 2025

    What if your product manager, designer, developer, AND CEO were all AI?

    In this game-changing conversation, Xiaoyin Qu, Founder of HeyBoss, joins Pankaj Agarwal (VP @PrimeVP_in) to share how she’s building a startup where software is shipped in minutes, led entirely by AI agents.

    Before founding HeyBoss, Xiaoyin was a Product Manager at Facebook and Instagram. Today, she’s scaling her company with support from the OpenAI Startup Fund.

    What you’ll learn:
    🤖 How HeyBoss evolved from a kids' gaming idea to an AI development agency
    👩‍💼 Why Xiaoyin stepped away from day-to-day operations and let “Astra”, their internal AI, lead the team
    🧱 The infrastructure behind AI agents that ship full products from a single sentence
    📊 Lessons in product design, QA, and customer feedback loops — all powered by AI
    🧠 Why “taste,” strategy, and human intuition still matter (and always will)

    ⏱ Timestamps:
    00:00 – Introduction
    01:00 – From Stanford MBA dropout to COVID-era startup success
    04:30 – Building the first AI-run dev agency
    06:40 – Meet Astra: The AI CEO
    08:46 – How AI manages product, design, dev & delivery
    14:53 – Prioritising quality over speed in an AI world
    21:49 – Humans vs. AI: What still needs us?
    33:19 – The one human skill AI can’t replace

    💡 Key Takeaways:

    How to structure teams of AI agents to deliver finished outcomes
    Why non-technical founders are a massive unlock for AI-driven products
    What the future of work looks like when humans and agents collaborate
    Tactical lessons for founders exploring AI-powered SaaS

    This is not just a conversation - it’s a first-hand look at where the future is already headed.

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    🔔 Subscribe for more founder-led conversations on tech, innovation & startups.

    #HeyBossAI #XiaoyinQu #AIStartups #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupLeadership #TechInnovation #AIxProduct #AIAgents #PrimePodcast #IndiaStartups #VCInsights #WomenInTech #PrimeVenturePartners

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    35 m
  • AI x SaaS: How PrimeVP Thinks About the Next Wave of Enterprise Innovation
    May 6 2025

    AI is no longer experimental—it's foundational.

    In this explosive episode, PrimeVP Founder & Partner Shripati Acharya and Principal Gaurav Ranjan unpack how AI is reshaping B2B software—and what that means for evaluating and investing in early-stage startups.

    What you’ll learn:
    ⚙️ The rise of Enterprise AI and its real-world applications
    📈 Prime’s investment thesis in AI-first SaaS startups
    🧠 What separates hype from defensible value in AI
    🚀 Advice for founders building in vertical SaaS, AI agents, and more

    Timestamps:

    00:00 – Introduction


    02:00 – AI’s impact on startup scaling and team size


    03:20 – Faster sales cycles with enterprise AI


    07:26 – Will AI unlock India’s SaaS market?


    13:36 – Has AI neutralised India’s cost advantage?


    20:19 – Models vs APIs: Where’s the real business?


    25:52 – Why UI still wins in enterprise software


    27:27 – Building moats through workflow depth


    34:38 – How to price AI products right


    39:43 – Prime’s investment themes in enterprise AI


    44:58 – Final thoughts

    💡 Key Takeaways:

    Where AI is driving real enterprise value today
    Prime's active investment thesis in AI + SaaS
    The rise of function-specific AI agents across verticals
    Shifts in software buying behaviour—from IT to HR budgets

    This is your tactical guide to the next generation of enterprise innovation.

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    🔔 Subscribe for more founder-centric content from Prime

    #AIRevolution #EnterpriseAI #SaaSInnovation #FutureOfWork #AIEcosystem #StartupGrowth #FoundersFirst #VCInsights #TechLeadership #AIInvesting #B2BInnovation #IndiaStartups #AIxSaaS #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    47 m
  • India & US Fintech in 2025: Sheel Mohnot from Better Tomorrow Ventures on PrimeVP Podcast
    Apr 23 2025

    What’s next in fintech? In this high-signal episode, Sheel Mohnot (GP at @ Better Tomorrow Ventures) shares deep insight into the future of financial services, AI’s impact on SaaS, and how VC is evolving in 2025.

    🔍 In Sheel’s candid chat with Sanjay Swamy, You’ll learn:

    • What US fintech can learn from India’s public infrastructure (UPI, DEPA, account aggregation)
    • Why SaaS isn’t dead—but must evolve beyond subscription revenue
    • How Sheel evaluates founder-market fit, velocity, and tenacity
    • The co-lending revolution in India—and why it’s a structural shift
    • Why BTV is betting big on hands-on accelerators and early-stage velocity

    📌Timestamps:

    00:00 – Introduction

    01:30 – Sheel’s journey from Pittsburgh to VC

    08:15 – U.S. vs India: Fintech regulation

    15:30 – Is SaaS dead? The AI disruption

    20:15 – India Stack vs U.S. payments

    27:30 – Can Indian fintech go global?

    30:00 – IPO readiness: India vs U.S.

    34:00 – Will BTV invest in India?

    45:00 – Red flags & founder filters

    50:00 – What gets a “yes” from Sheel

    54:00 – Fintech outlook for 2025

    57:10 – Clubhouse, Bieber & Taco Bell wedding

    🔑 Key Takeaways:
    ✔️ Vertical SaaS is fintech in disguise – and it’s how modern software will scale revenue
    ✔️ AI is not just augmenting work—it’s replacing it in areas like accounting and underwriting
    ✔️ Regulation ≠ obstacle – In the U.S., a patchwork system creates an edge for savvy startups
    ✔️ Early-stage investing is about founder-market fit, and spotting overlooked “superpowers”

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    #Fintech #SaaS #AI #Startups #VentureCapital #IndiaStack #SheelMohnot #BetterTomorrowVentures #DigitalTransformation #FounderInsights #InvestorInsights #FutureOfFinance #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    1 h y 4 m
  • How Zoho Cracked Global Markets with 3 Iconic Campaigns | Prime Venture Partners Podcast
    Apr 10 2025

    What happens when creativity meets sharp market insight?

    In this episode, Raffic Aslam (ex-Creative Director at Zoho) breaks down the 3 campaigns that defined Zoho’s global marketing playbook:

    1️⃣UAE VAT Campaign – A masterclass in cultural targeting that unlocked a new market via a single character: Kutty, the Malayali accountant.
    2️⃣ Made in India for the World – A bold declaration of Indian innovation for a global SaaS audience.
    3️⃣Super Bowl Ads – Frugal but fierce, this campaign helped Zoho stand out in a sea of enterprise giants.

    ⏱ Timestamps

    00:00 – Introduction

    02:15 – The birth of the Zoho logo

    06:30 – Why simplicity & color made the logo unforgettable

    08:37 – Branding vs. Performance Marketing

    14:25 – Campaign 1: UAE VAT Campaign – Meet “Kutty”

    20:45 – Lessons from targeting expat accountants

    23:02 – Campaign 2: Made in India, Made for the World

    27:00 – Building pride in Indian-built software

    30:55 – Campaign 3: Zoho’s Super Bowl Ad Strategy

    35:10 – How Zoho kept it frugal but memorable

    38:00 – Branding advice for SaaS founders

    41:20 – Final takeaways for startup marketers

    💡 Top Takeaways for Founders & Marketers:
    ✔️ Go deep, not broad: Hyperlocal targeting can unlock massive markets
    ✔️ Your logo is a strategy: Visual identity drives brand recall & lowers CAC
    ✔️ Brand building ≠ media spend: Authentic storytelling beats big budgets

    🔔 Subscribe to Prime Podcasts for more insights

    🎙 Hosted by Jerome Manuel, Head of Community at PrimeVP

    📌 Follow us:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_in
    Website: https://primevp.in

    #Zoho #SaaSMarketing #StartupBranding #IndianStartups #MarketingStrategy #B2BMarketing #MadeInIndia #SuperBowlAds #FrugalMarketing #GrowthMindset #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    53 m
  • The Inside Story of Quizizz’s Rise to 70M+ Users & Its Game-Changing Growth Strategy
    Mar 28 2025

    How do you scale a product to 70M+ users without spending a dime on marketing?

    Deepak Joy Cheenath (Co-founder of Quizizz) reveals:

    ✅ The moment Quizizz found its viral growth loop

    ✅ How teacher-driven adoption fueled massive organic scale

    ✅ The mistakes they made along the way—and what they learned

    ✅ Why they held off on monetisation for years (and why it paid off)

    Timestamps:

    00:00 – Introduction

    02:15 – The early days of Quizizz & WizenWorld

    05:40 – The teacher-driven insight that changed everything

    09:10 – Scaling to 70M+ users with zero marketing

    12:30 – Why Quizizz delayed monetisation

    20:20 – The lean team behind a global product

    28:30 – Key challenges & lessons from scaling

    36:50 – Competing with larger EdTech players

    45:15 – The power of community & word-of-mouth growth

    49:30 – Key insights & takeaways for founders


    Prime Venture Partners backed Quizizz early, helping them scale from a startup to a global EdTech leader.


    🎙 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

    📌 Growth isn’t always about paid marketing—sometimes, organic adoption wins.

    📌 The right users can be your biggest growth engine.

    📌 Delaying monetisation can lead to long-term success.

    📌 Simplicity scales—more features don’t always mean better engagement.


    💡 What’s the biggest lesson from Quizizz’s journey that applies to your business? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇


    🎙 This episode is packed with insights for founders, product leaders, and anyone scaling a startup. Don’t miss it—watch or listen now! 🚀👇

    Follow Prime Venture Partners:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Primevp_in

    #Quizizz #EdTech #StartupGrowth #ZeroMarketing #ProductLedGrowth #FounderLessons #ScalingStartups #TeacherDriven #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStory #UserAdoption #MarketingStrategy #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    54 m
  • Why Private Equity Paid $8.4 BILLION for Smartsheet | Prime Venture Partners Podcast
    Mar 19 2025

    💡 How do you scale a SaaS company from SMB customers to billion-dollar enterprise deals?

    In this Prime Venture Partners Podcast episode, we sit down with Praerit Garg, President of Product & Innovation at Smartsheet, to uncover the secrets of scaling SaaS, AI’s role in work management, and the game-changing lessons from Smartsheet’s journey.

    ⏳ Timestamps:

    00:00 - Introduction


    01:28 - Praerit Garg’s Career Journey: From Microsoft → AWS → Smartsheet


    04:46 - What is Smartsheet? How It Serves SMBs & Enterprises


    07:11 - The Land & Expand Strategy: How Smartsheet Scaled Enterprise Deals


    10:27 - Finding the "Magic Metric" That Drives SaaS Growth


    12:55 - Smartsheet’s IPO Journey & Why It Later Went Private Again


    15:37 - AI’s Role in Work Automation & How Smartsheet Uses It


    21:03 - The Enterprise AI Trust Challenge – Why Big Companies Are Cautious


    24:58 - What VCs Look for in AI SaaS Startups 🚀


    36:30 - Why Learning from Non-Customers Unlocks New Market Opportunities


    43:00 - Closing Thoughts


    🔥 Inside This Episode:
    ✅ How Smartsheet transitioned from PLG to enterprise sales
    ✅ The pricing strategy that maximized SaaS revenue
    ✅ Why AI is transforming work management & automation
    ✅ The #1 mistake SaaS founders make when scaling
    ✅ How learning from non-customers can drive new product innovation
    ✅ What VCs look for when investing in AI-driven SaaS startups

    📢 This isn’t just a SaaS success story—it’s a must-listen masterclass on scaling, pricing, AI, and product innovation.

    🔔 Subscribe & Turn on Notifications for more expert insights!

    Follow Prime Venture Partners:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevp/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Primevp_in

    #SaaS #ScalingSaaS #Smartsheet #StartupGrowth #AI #TechInnovation #EnterpriseTech #VentureCapital #FounderMindset #Entrepreneurship #B2BTech #SaaSStartups #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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    44 m