Two Founders Walk Into

What does it actually take to get funded as an NGO in India and why are so many organisations pitching the wrong funders entirely?In this episode of Two Founders Walk Into, we sit down with Amit Antony Alex, Investment Director at Dovetail Impact Foundation, where he manages an international portfolio of social enterprises and impact organisations. Before Dovetail, Amit led investments at Upaya Social Ventures and headed enterprise grants at the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance giving him a rare vantage point from both sides of the funder-NGO relationship.This conversation goes deep on the structural realities of philanthropy in India: why the sector is maturing but still has a long way to go, what the 10x startup culture is doing to nonprofits, and why the most honest thing a social entrepreneur can sometimes do is shut their organisation down.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q Two Founders Walk Into Featured in FeedSpot's Top 25 Indian Leadership Podcasts About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into Timestamps: 00:00 — What excites Amit about where India is heading 02:30 — India's growth story and the two Indias 06:21 — Three things India's philanthropic sector needs to fix 08:21 — The funder-NGO power imbalance, explained 15:33 — How nonprofits can build towards scale the right way 18:01 — The controversial case for closing your NGO 19:36 — AI and its real (vs. hyped) potential in the social sector 22:03 — Career advice for young people entering the social sector 26:32 — Should funders pay for salaries? Unrestricted funding explained 29:03 — One change that would transform the nonprofit sector in 10 years#philanthropy #nonprofit #socialimpact #NGO #India #ImpactInvesting #TwoFoundersWalkInto #socialentrepreneur

What happens when one of India's brightest cricketers gets dropped not once, but twice and has to find a reason to keep going?In this deeply personal conversation, Indian Women's Cricket Team star Jemimah Rodrigues sits down with Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti of Two Founders Walk Into to talk about the journey that most people never saw: the anxiety attacks before matches, the 35 days of faking smiles, the tears on a flight back to Mumbai and the faith, family, and community that pulled her back every single time.This is not just a cricket story. It's a story about identity, belonging, and what it truly means to be part of a village.About Jemimah Rodrigues: She is an Indian international cricketer known for her explosive batting and joyful presence on the field. She plays for India Women's cricket team across all formats and represents Delhi Capitals in the WPL. She scored a match-winning 105* against Australia in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q Two Founders Walk Into Featured in FeedSpot's Top 25 Indian Leadership Podcasts About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into #JemimahRodrigues #TwoFoundersWalkInto #IndianCricket #WomensCricket #ICCWomensWorldCup2025 #Faith #Leadership #MentalHealth #Cricket #IndiaWomen #Podcast #Inspiration #VolunteeringIndia #CricketPodcast #IndianWomensCricket #WorldCupSemiFinal

Self-leadership is the foundation of every form of leadership. In this episode, we explore why understanding our blind spots, recognising our biases, and practising honest self-reflection matter far more than experience or technical skill.Drawing on Daniel Goleman’s research on emotional intelligence, this conversation breaks down how self-awareness, self-regulation, and intentional growth directly influence the way we lead, communicate, and show up for others.If you’ve ever wondered what truly differentiates an “ultra leader,” or how to build the discipline of holding the mirror up to yourself, this episode offers a clear, practical pathway.

What if the most valuable MBA lessons aren’t taught in classrooms but learned while volunteering?In this episode, we explore how volunteering can be the real-world MBA that shapes leaders, not just managers. From building empathy and communication skills to managing diverse teams and navigating uncertainty, volunteering provides the kind of experience that no degree can replicate.Whether you’re planning to pursue an MBA or simply want to grow as a leader, this conversation will make you rethink where true learning really happens.

Giving feedback is one of the most important skills a manager can master but also one of the trickiest. In this episode, we explore the art of giving feedback, how to approach it with clarity, empathy, and impact. Whether it’s reinforcing good work or addressing areas of growth, you’ll learn practical ways to make your feedback constructive and motivating.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I, one of India’s fastest-growing change movements, empowering 37,000+ changemakers to transform lives through education and mentorship.Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/

There’s a quiet revolution happening in corporate India and it’s not about profits. It’s about purpose.In this episode, we unpack how corporate volunteering is shifting from a “nice-to-have” CSR activity to a strategic tool for employee retention and engagement.Why are more companies investing in giving back? Because the data says it works:🔹 96% of companies report more engaged employees🔹 52% drop in employee turnover🔹 93% of volunteers feel happier at workWe explore what’s driving this change, the “social fulfillment gap” many employees experience, and how meaningful volunteering can create impact both within and beyond office walls.Tune in to find out how your company can turn purpose into its greatest asset.#CorporateVolunteering #PurposeAtWork #EmployeeEngagement #CSR #UandI

School taught us to compete. Work demands we collaborate.From solo ranks to team projects, we’re navigating a system we were never trained for. In this episode, Ajit and Satish unpack the big collaboration crisis and walk you through the 4 levels of working together, from unhealthy competition to powerful co-creation.Featuring stories from Microsoft, Pixar, and Amul This one’s packed with insight, laughs, and uncomfortable truths.Listen in if you’ve ever thought:“Why is teamwork so hard?”“What’s the ROI of being a giver?”or “Wait… was school a scam?”#collaboration #teamwork #leadership #amulinspiration #pixar #careerdevelopment

We love talking about leadership—vision, values, collaboration. But there’s one word we avoid like the plague: power.In this episode, we get real about power dynamics at work. Inspired by Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power (yep, the book 50 Cent swears by), we break down how power actually shows up in organizations—through access, influence, and narrative.We’re talking: The “shadow org” behind your org chart Why ignoring power = losing trust What managers can actually do to navigate team politics Real tools for leading without losing your soulThis isn’t about playing dirty. It’s about leading with intention. Because if you’re not naming power, chances are—it’s already leading you.#PowerAtWork #LeadershipUnfiltered #OrganizationalCulture #RealTalkLeadership #SpotifyPodcast