The BarberShop with Shantanu

Everyone thinks luggage is a simple business… until they try building one.So how did Nasher Miles build a ₹150 Cr brand in one of the toughest consumer categories in India?In this episode of Khul Ke Scale, Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company) sits down with Lokesh Daga (Co-Founder & CEO, Nasher Miles) and Shruti K. Daga (Co-Founder, Nasher Miles) along with Revant Bhate (CEO, Mosaic Wellness) to unpack what it really takes to build in a market dominated by VIP, Safari, Samsonite and now Mokobara.From scaling to ₹150 Cr revenue, raising ₹37 Cr from 70 angel investors after Shark Tank, building a luggage brand in a low-repeat category, depending heavily on marketplaces, competing with VIP, Safari, Samsonite and Mokobara, to figuring out offline retail, EBOs, branding, profitability and Made-in-India manufacturing… this conversation goes deep into the realities of modern consumer brands in India.This episode covers:How Nasher Miles scaled through Amazon & marketplacesD2C vs marketplaces vs offline retailEBO economics & retail expansionCompeting against legacy giants like VIP & SamsoniteWhy colour became Nasher Miles’ biggest differentiatorIf you’re a founder, operator, marketer, investor, or someone building a consumer brand in India, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons on growth, positioning, retail, and brand-building.

Men are breaking silently, and most people do not notice until it is too late.This Men’s Day conversation brings Shantanu together with Chirag Taneja and the GoKwik team to talk about the quiet struggles that shape a man’s life.Men live shorter, visit doctors less, hide pain behind work, and carry pressure they never learned to talk about.Many grow up without strong male role models. Many lose friendships after marriage.Many feel responsible for everyone but themselves.Most of this remains unspoken because men are taught to stay strong even when strength is slipping away.In this episode, they finally say the things men usually swallow.They talk about exhaustion that has no outlet, about feeling misunderstood in rooms full of people, about why therapy often misses what men cannot put into words.Watch this if you want to understand the men in your life. Or if you are a man who has been waiting for someone to understand you.Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up01:00 Introduction & Opening Discussion05:05 Male Health & Mental Wellness Statistics10:14 Society's Expectations on Men14:13 Legal Frameworks & Therapy Challenges19:02 Q&A: Stereotypes About Masculinity25:15 Balancing Ambition, Career & Self-Care31:03 Financial Responsibilities & Partner Expectations37:00 Leadership & Modern Men in the Workplace41:45 Shared Values & Relationship Manifestos44:08 Men's Starter Kit for the New Generation50:00 Closing Thoughts

In the chaos of laughter, how does a comedian think of conquering the unpredictable world of business?In this exciting episode of Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Kenny Sebastian, who is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship with his own perfume brand, The Stage. But the twist is he’s not just launching a fragrance, but is ready to challenge big players in the market with a daring entrepreneurial debut.Kenny, known for his sharp wit and stage presence, reveals how he’s blending his passion for comedy with the art of perfume-making. Mic Check and Spotlight, the two fragrances he’s launching, aren’t just scents; they’re his personal tribute to the stage that shaped him.And to make this vision a reality, Kenny had no one but the Bombay Shaving Company team by his side. From exploring perfume branding to choosing the right mood board, BSC’s expertise has been crucial in shaping the brand.What you’ll discover:- How the BSC team helped Kenny launch his own perfume brand from scratch.- The secret behind Mic Check and Spotlight, more than just names- Why Kenny’s perfume brand could compete in both the ₹3,000+ and ₹500 price ranges.- The challenges and triumphs of blending comedy with entrepreneurship.- Can a comedian make it in the business world?Tune in to find out how Kenny’s stage persona is influencing his new venture and why The Stage is set to disrupt India’s perfume market.Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming up00:33 Introduction02:21 How Kenny started The Stage with BSC’s support06:32 Kenny x BSC team09:29 How Rohit Taneja helped launch The Stage 13:17 Why did The Stage begin with two perfumes?18:28 Naming the perfumes and how stand-up influenced the brand27:31 The role of packaging and vendors29:12 Why pricing should reflect value, not just cost32:01 Ticket pricing lessons from stand-up34:32 Premium ≠ Price 41:04 Crafting The Stage’s launch strategy45:31 Why The Stage could be India’s next big perfume brand46:43 Showcasing Mic Check and Spotlight55:21 Closing thoughts

No matter where you are with money, this episode is for you.In this episode, Shantanu’s college best friend Anuj takes us through his journey - from the pressures of corporate banking and quarterly targets to building My Fundbox, a financial services platform helping people like us manage, invest, and grow our money smarter.Along the way, he’s experienced all the highs and lows, cleared the mutual fund distribution exam, and is now empowering people to take control of their finances.On the pod, they talk about corporate fraud, credit card traps, insurance, and how My Fund Box is solving real problems in financial services. Plus, Anuj shares his own and his 7-year-old Adwik’s personal experience with content creation, passive income as social media influencers, and what money really means in life to them.What’s the biggest financial lesson you’ve learned so far? Share it in the comments!Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00:00 Coming Up 00:01:46 Anuj’s Early Career 00:15:42 How My Fundbox Started 00:18:11 The Dark Side of Banks 00:22:05 Investments & Insurance Truths 00:28:28 How to manage Credit Cards & Debts 00:48:25 Life Lessons & My Fundbox Vision 01:07:55 Finance Advisory, MFDs & NFOs 01:13:44 Adwik’s Fitness & Social Media Journey 01:31:04 Anuj’s Social Media Story 01:36:45 Building Passive Income 01:54:24 Banter with Adwik & Closing Thoughts

What if a simple idea could start a trend? What if one spark could change the way people live, shop, and even groom themselves?In this episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu takes us on a journey through the last decade of Indian entrepreneurship at Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune. He exhibit how investing in different brands transformed sellers, shaped trends, and set the stage for India’s future.He shares the story of how the beard trend took over India, and why that sparked the idea to start Bombay Shaving Company. Then, in classic Shantanu style, he turns theory into action: A 45 minute sales challenge. Students hit the campus selling trimmers, facing rejections, cracking pitches, learning on the go. This season, the pitch you make could land you the bike of your dreams!Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher!Prizes this season:1. Sell the most → KTM 390 Duke2. Next 6 sellers → KTM 160 Duke3. An internship at Bombay Shaving Company4. Get invited for an episode on The BarberShop with ShantanuHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → [https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf]2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters 00:00 Coming Up 00:47 Introduction02:02 How to Identify Product Market Fit? 05:24 Why selling is important for Entrepreneurship11:05 Omni Blade X KTM Duke 13:01 How to participate in this challenge16:20 How Britannia Campaign inspired BSC19:00 Student shaves his beard to win the KTM Duke 20:33 Winning Tips and Tricks

“Sell like your life depends upon it.”We can’t agree more with Kiran Shah! In the second episode of Razorpreneur 3.0, Shantanu teams up with Kiran Shah, Razorpreneur and founder of Go Zero. From his early days at Apsara Ice Creams to building Go Zero, Kiran shows how every big idea begins with the art of selling.At Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, the challenge heats up. Shantanu announces a one-hour contest, and students step out to sell trimmers, while Shantanu and Kiran take on the same test themselves. The campus buzzes with pitches, rejections, lessons, and wins.This season, the pitch you make could win you the bike of your dreams! Now, it’s your turn.Razorpreneur 3.0 is here! The stakes are higher, the prizes hotter, and the race tougher:- Top Seller → KTM 390 Duke- Next 6 Champions → KTM 160 Duke each- 3 Lucky Buyers → KTM 160 Duke eachHere’s how to jump in:1. Register → [https://www.bombayshavingcompany.com/pages/razorpreneur3-0?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=product_shelf]2. Sell the Trimmers using your unique code3. Climb the leaderboard, win big, and ride in styleThis is your chance to sell and win KTM!Navigate your way through these chapters:00:00 Coming Up01:36 Introduction02:44 How can you become an entrepreneur03:47 What is Razorpreneur07:30 Team Shantanu V/S Team Kiran11:20 Winners From Vidyalankar13:56 Omni Blade X KTM

Can you scale fast without falling into legal traps?In this episode of The BarberShop with Shantanu, we are joined by Archana Rajaram (Managing Partner, River Law) and Anup Agarwal (Co-Founder & CEO, Mintifi) to decode a side of entrepreneurship that’s often left behind and what really happens when capital, compliance, and chaos collide.From helping founders steer clear of costly mistakes to making sense of India’s tricky legal systems, Archana breaks down how "good lawyering should never come in the way of business". And Anup shares how Mintifi is not just simplifying credit for distributors but doing it while keeping unit economics and risk in check.This episode is basically a founder survival guide on what to fight for, what to let go, and how to not get distracted by vanity clauses.Key Takeaways from the episode:Why not hiring a lawyer early could cost you crores.The dos and don’ts of equity dilution, term sheets, and board control.How Mintifi is solving working capital at scale using tech-first lending.When you should fight a clause and when to just move on.If you're a founder, investor, or just someone trying to make sense of startup chaos, this episode will make you think and maybe double-check your SHA.Let us know in the comments what’s one legal or financial misstep you wish someone had warned you about.