33 VCs saying NO, being labelled FAKE to signing Diljit: The Incredible Story of Mokobara
Mokobara was rejected 33 times. And now they’ll beat legacy brands in their own game within 6 years. Something the biggest brands took 44 years to do! That’s the thing about great entrepreneurs. They don’t give up. In this episode, we are joined by three of Shantanu’s closest friends. Sangeet Agrawal, Founder at Mokobara, Navin Parwal, Co-Founder & CMO at Mokobara, and Manu Chandra, Founder and Managing Partner at Sauce.vc came together to uncover the power of aspirational hungry India. Mokobara is on a mission to redefine travel for India, designing luggage that feels world-class. But with ambition comes scrutiny. Recently, they faced backlash over claims of white-labeling and premium pricing. Instead of backing down, they flipped the script by dropping a non-apologetic comeback, launching a discount code named WHITELABEL on their latest Naruto collection. Through this episode, Sangeet and Navin, along with their friend and investor Manu Chandra also put down the curtains on the unnecessary controversy finally. Major takeaways from the episode: - Sangeet and Navin finally address their controversy. - How fast Mokobara grew in 6 years, something Safari took 44 years to do. - Why Indian brands need to build high-quality products and take them to the global market. - A secret BSCxMokobara product launch. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a design enthusiast, or just someone who needs to hear a story of resilience today, this episode is for you! Hit LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations. Drop your thoughts in the comments! And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here :- https://forms.gle/uY8w2an4Q44mN9dd8 00:00 Coming Up 01:15 Introduction 06:06 The Dichotomy of Founders: Passion vs. Market Analysis 12:02 Cultural Exports: Lessons from Korea 18:10 The Evolution of the Indian Consumer 21:08 The Importance of Passion in Entrepreneurship 23:52 The Dynamics of Brand Building and Design 26:45 The Role of Community and Support in Business 29:57 The Journey of Growth and Resilience 32:59 Creating Products with Purpose and Identity 41:21 Building a Consistent Brand Identity 42:10 Navigating Product Life Cycles and Manufacturing 43:35 Philosophy of Timeless Design 45:30 Evolution of a Travel Lifestyle Brand 46:58 Balancing Focus and Scale in Business 49:02 Expanding into Global Markets 50:39 Creating an Exceptional Retail Experience 54:57 Importance of Offline Presence 01:00:11 The Role of Design in Brand Experience 01:02:39 The Impact of Retail on Digital Performance 01:09:10 Lessons from Adversity in Business 01:21:46 Importance of Patience in Building Brands 01:23:39 Valuation Challenges in Entrepreneurship 01:24:20 Understanding Business Valuation and Investment 01:26:18 The Risks of Overvaluation 01:28:19 The Reality of Angel Investing 01:30:08 Building a Brand with Passion and Quality 01:32:15 Navigating Competition in the Market 01:34:03 The Role of Patience in Brand Evolution 01:35:35 The Power of Team Dynamics 01:36:03 Leadership and Team Culture 01:39:40 Celebrity Endorsements and Brand Identity 01:42:30 The Impact of Profitability on Brand Partnerships 01:45:30 Collaborative Opportunities Between Brands 01:48:05 The Journey of Fundraising and Building Trust 01:51:56 Closing Thoughts on Building a Business
