The BarberShop with Shantanu
Welcome to The Barbershop with Shantanu a safe space for open, free-flowing, and insightful conversations. Shantanu, the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, brings his passion for mentorship and storytelling to this podcast, creating a platform where ideas can grow.Subscribe to stay tuned, and let’s grow together one hustle at a time.
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How Neuro Scaled $3M to $180M After Joe Rogan Mentioned It | Ft. Kent Yoshimura
<p>What happens when Joe Rogan talks about your product… without being paid? In this episode of BarberShop Specials, Shantanu Deshpande sits down with Kent Yoshimura (Co-founder & CEO, Neuro) to break down how Neuro scaled from a niche idea to a global brand. Kent shares how a product built out of personal need turned into a business doing millions in revenue, and how one unexpected moment changed everything. From organic mentions by the world’s biggest podcast to building a powerful creator network, this episode uncovers how modern brands are actually built. The conversation also explores why creating a new cate...
72% Repeat Rate but Only ₹23Cr Revenue: What’s Stopping Little Rituals From ₹100Cr?
<p>In this episode, Gaurang Marvania (Founder, Little Rituals) joins Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company), along with Arjun Purkayastha (SVP & Managing Director - Greater China & North Asia, Reckitt), for a sharp conversation on building a premium baby-care brand focused on safe formulations and long-term trust with parents. </p><p>Little Rituals started with just ₹50L and 3 baby oils and has now grown to a ₹23 Cr brand with a breakout sunscreen that did ₹12 Cr in revenue. </p><p>Problems we solve in this episode: </p><p>• Can a premium baby-care brand scale in India? </p><p>• Should Little Rituals expand its...
The Education Truth 90% of Indian Parents Don't Know | Ft. The Curious Parent
<p>Not every child needs to grow up to be Elon Musk. And maybe that’s okay.</p><p>In this episode, Shantanu Deshpande and Harpreet Singh Grover (Founder of The Curious Parent) discuss the myth of pushing kids to become high achievers like billionaires and the overwhelming pressure children face in today's education system. Harpreet shares his views on the competitive culture in India, and how it often leads children to pursue careers they aren’t passionate about. </p><p>They together explore how today's digital age affects children’s mental health and why parents need to rethink their approa...
₹15Cr Indian Toy Brand vs Chinese Toys: Solving Zero Repeat Rates Post-Shark Tank|Ft. Aditya Sehgal
<p>₹15 Cr in revenue.A crowded toy market. And a big ambition to build a brand that can go global.</p><p>In this episode, Yash Thombare and Vedang Nalawade, Co-Founders of Clapstore Toys, join Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company) along with Aditya Sehgal (Founder, Asgard. world | Ex-President & COO, Reckitt) for a sharp conversation on building a fast-growing toy brand focused on affordable, mass-market products for Indian families.</p><p>From vendor dependence and manufacturing choices to distribution and category expansion, the panel breaks down the real decisions founders face while growing a D2C brand.</p><p>Th...
Scaling a Fashion Brand Profitably: Finding PMF & Making Data-Driven Decisions
<p>This episode explores the realities of building a modern apparel brand from zero.</p><p>Sanya and Adit, founders of Cove & Lane, are building a modern, quiet luxury clothing brand for ambitious professionals. Timeless pieces designed for people moving from boardrooms to social evenings.</p><p>They join experts, Shantanu Deshpande (Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company), along with industry leaders Shiv Shivakumar (Operating Partner, Advent | Ex-SVP, Nokia | Ex-CEO (India), PepsiCo) and Toshan Tamhane (Ex-McKinsey Senior Partner | Global Chief Operating Officer, UPL) for a sharp conversation on what it really takes to build a consumer brand.</p><p>From repeat...
How can bootstrapped Solara scale from ₹100 Cr to ₹1,000 Cr?
<p>This episode goes inside the real shift from founder hustle to founder design.</p><p>Gopal built SOLARA by staying close to operations in the early years. Today, his role has shifted. He focuses on growth, while others run execution. But that transition is not automatic. As a founder, you are constantly switching between operator, shareholder, and long-term architect. The hard part is knowing when to step back and let specialists take over.</p><p>He joins Shantanu Deshpande, along with Shiv Shivakumar, Operating Partner at Advent International, and Toshan Tamhane, COO at UPL Group, for a candid conversation...
Shark Tank’s GOAT Life Gets a Reality Check on Its ₹1 Cr to ₹10 Cr Scale-Up Strategy Ft. Yash Kalra
<p>This episode goes inside the realities of scaling a D2C brand.</p><p>Yash Kalra, Founder of Goat Life, started his journey in Kota. Before crores in monthly revenue and national visibility, there were 80 plus offline events and constant product iteration.</p><p>He joins Shantanu Deshpande and Aditya Sehgal, Founder, Asgard.world and Ex-President & COO, Reckitt, for a direct conversation on what it really takes to scale. They challenge assumptions, question positioning, and examine the shift from founder hustle to structured growth.</p><p>Problems that we solve in this episode: </p><p>- How should founders...
How a McKinsey Partner Lost 90% of His Savings & Turned Early Failures Into an IPO Dream | CleanMax
<p>This episode is a personal one. Kuldeep Jain, Founder and MD at CleanMax | Former Partner at McKinsey & Company, was Shantanu Deshpande’s senior at McKinsey. They share a close bond, and Kuldeep has also invested in Bombay Shaving Company. That trust makes this conversation unusually honest.</p><p>Kuldeep talks about leaving the safe path, early mistakes, and the phase where he lost 80–90% of his savings. He explains how CleanMax found its direction, how he thinks about hiring and culture, and what the IPO journey really looks like, including roadshows and pricing.</p><p>What you’ll get from this e...
How to Generate ₹120 Cr in Revenue Without Owning Villas | Ft. Deven Parulekar
<p>What happens when two people realise India isn’t lacking luxury, but starving for togetherness?</p><p>They walked away from stable careers and built a ₹120 CR hospitality brand that proves ‘luxury’ isn’t always required to succeed! </p><p>In this episode of The Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Deven Parulekar (Founder of SaffronStays), who built his brand on one simple belief: where families bond. From a honeymoon dream many years ago to a reality in 2015, this vision has expanded into a network of 425 villas, each designed to bring people closer.</p><p>But here’s the part that sets th...
Modern-Day Masculinity: The Dark Truth of Being a Man in a Confusing World
<p>Men are breaking silently, and most people do not notice until it is too late.</p><p>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.</p><p>Men live shorter, visit doctors less, hide pain behind work, and carry pressure they never learned to talk about.</p><p>Many grow up without strong male role models. Many lose friendships after marriage.</p><p>Many feel responsible for everyone but themselves.</p><p>Most of this remains unspoken because men are taug...
