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.
10
₹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...
How to Crack Interviews: Lessons from McKinsey, Questions and Framework and Common Mistakes to Avoid
<p>Scared of interviews? Maybe you're following the wrong rulebook.</p><p>In this episode, Shantanu sits with a group of students to break down what interviews actually are. Not tests. Not interrogations. But human conversations where trust, honesty and connection matter far more than memorised answers.</p><p>Shantanu pulls apart the fear, the overthinking, the nervousness that students walk in with, and reveals the real strategy: show up as someone your interviewer will genuinely enjoy working with.</p><p>From decoding the classic McKinsey-style interview model to understanding why fun, clarity and natural communication create the strongest impression...
How Kenny and Shantanu Plan to Compete with Davidoff and Chanel with their Perfume | BSC X Kenny
<p>In the chaos of laughter, how does a comedian think of conquering the unpredictable world of business?</p><p>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.</p><p>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...
Interns. ESOPs. And What Working at Bombay Shaving Company Really Feels Like
<p>What’s it really like to work inside one of India’s most loved D2C brands?</p><p>In this episode, Shantanu visits Ashoka University to talk to students about the journey of Bombay Shaving Company - how it started, why it was built, and the values that continue to guide its growth story.</p><p>From startup stories and brand-building lessons to honest conversations about risk, purpose, and culture, it’s a peek into what goes behind building a D2C brand that people truly love.</p><p>Two interns also share their experiences while working at Bombay...
