Retain me

My retainer is of 3 months or longer until a set of specific objectives are accomplished. These objectives can be MVP launch, Product Market Fit, User Acquisition, Fundraising etc.

My Process

Step 1. Chai pe charcha, bina koi kharcha (free) →

Let’s get to know each other. Walk me through your background, your business idea, the market you’re trying to address and the one specific problem that’s *really* worrying you. This can be about your MVP, going to market, customers, investors, or something else altogether.

Step 2. Let's deep dive (and fill up a boring form)

Help me understand the broad areas where you really need strategic or execution support. Tell me more about where your current strategy is not working and what are the bottlenecks?

Some examples —

• I have X months of cash runway left and I need to figure out how to best utilise it until I get to my next tranche of funds
• I've presented to Z investors in the last one year, but none have sent me a term sheet
• Covid-19 has put all our growth plans all over the place. I am seeing a very high employee turnover
• I’m trying to get to the market but I’m unable to connect with the decision makers at these companies
• How should I approach the distribution for my product? Should I go D2C or should I go to marketplaces?
• We’re acquiring a lot of users but our monetisation is not optimal.
• I have a term sheet but I’m squeezed on the valuation. How should I approach the negotiations?
• I need help in developing a pricing model for my SaaS product.

Step 3. How can I be of help?

This is the part where I follow up with situational analysis, problem definition and ways I can help. You can expect my read on —

1. What do I think about your business, the industry you're in and the market you're trying to tap into?

2. What do I think about your current strategy? Should you move ahead with it? Should you go sideways? Or do I think you should take a step (or two) back and pivot.

3. Will I be able to help you solve any of these problems?

If yes, I'll send a summary of what I can do and how soon I can start, with details of my retainer. If I cannot help you, I will direct you to someone who would be able to help you (with my best wishes, of course!)

Step 4. Freeze scope of work

We freeze scope of work. We prioritise which problems to solve first. I send over expected timelines and list of deliverables.

Step 5. We start working rocking

We get on weekly calls or in person meetings to discuss progress and status updates.

We soundboard ideas, brainstorm, spar, debate, disagree if necessary and commit to a strategy.

I build logical frameworks and mental models to address our challenges. You help me by executing these frameworks and by bulldozing through these challenges.

I help you with your network development with investors, product managers, strategic business partners, software engineers, UX experts and headhunters.

Schedule a 1-1 consult with me

For short term projects, I do 1-1 consults over chai (20 minutes), vada pav (45 minutes), or a wholesome brunch (90 minutes) altogether!

Introduce me to your portfolio companies.

I have over a decade of leadership experience in some of the most impactful digital ad agencies such as Dentsu, Affinity and Appcoach.

I have an efficient network of 5000+ advertisers, agencies, ad exchanges and media partners across the world. I can help your portfolio companies make strategic connections and in helping them scale their users and revenues.

Work with me for thesis development.

My work gives me an insight into untapped venture scalable verticals. I work with founders in gaming, esports, HR, Legal, Advertising, Art, Real Estate and enterprise verticals. I can write approach based, thematic, and explicit theses that fit your investment approach and which can help you identify —

• Overarching trends that are shaping the industry and consumers’ psychology

• Macro/Micro beliefs and assumptions

• Supporting evidence and insights from data and trends

• Tailwinds driving the sector and region specific insights

• Opportunities and risks

• Startups of interest

Work with me for deal flows.

I have run the investor connect at India’s largest gaming conference for 3 years and I have strong and credible network of founders in India.

I work with early stage founders in developing their fundraising strategy. In doing so, I am aware of the niche they are working in and their possible moats. I have my own insights about their success, defences and risks.

I do not take a dealer / broker position in deal making. I am either representing you — the investor — as a scout, or I’m representing the founders as a hired or a pro-bono consultant.

I do not monetise investor introductions as a consulting deliverable for the founders I work with. I do not charge investors for introductions with founders. I make connects only when I’m convinced of mutual synergies, and then move out of the way.

What can I speak about?

Digital Advertising, User Acquisition and Monetisation, Going to market for early stage companies, Gaming, Fundraising for startups, Personal well being, Business and career opportunities in sector X, Financial management for start ups, Valuations, Culture development in start ups

How do I add value?

I leverage my experience of over 13 years across industries and functions for coming up with differential content for the talk

I try to get to know the audience beforehand

I work with the organisers to tailor the content of the workshop for maximum relevance

I give actionable frameworks that can be contextually incorporated.

I work through real time use cases during the talk through breakout sessions

I provide content for pre and post event activities (blogs, newsletter, press releases)

I make myself available for complimentary office hours after the talk

I supply a wholesome quantity of memes during the talk

Workshops / talks I have taken

• Why should gaming studios apply to a gaming focused start up accelerator?

• Contemporary advertising trends in the Covid-19 world

• Evolution in AI Thinking and Products of the Next Decade

• Raising VC for India's gaming founders

• Behavioural mistakes founders make while raising funds for the first time

• Scalable Framework for Founder Discovery and Hiring (For Venture Studios, Incubators and Accelerators)

• Digital GTM Strategies for D2C Companies