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India cannot become the 3rd largest economy? Because it faces one BIG challenge—oil dependency. Oil not only fuels inflation but also exposes us to external pressures. While renewable energy, especially solar power, seems like the solution, India has a new obstacle: China. China controls 80% of the global solar value chain, from silicon production to solar panel manufacturing, making it hard to compete with their low prices. But there’s hope—Waaree. With a production capacity of 13.3 GW, Waaree surpasses industry giants like Adani Solar (4GW) and Vikram Solar (3.5GW) combined. So how did Waaree become India's solar beacon? 1️⃣ Complete Solar Solution Waaree doesn’t just make solar panels; they offer a complete solar solution for homes, offices, and industrial estates. By positioning themselves as a one-stop solution, they tap into the huge demand for solar energy across India, making them a leader in the market. 2️⃣ Optimizing Supply When demand was taken care of, they relentlessly increased their SUPPLY. Because • Demand was rapidly increasing • By producing more, they could achieve economies of scale. And all this, without any worry about 'under-utilization of capacity!) 3️⃣ Building India’s Solar Supply Chain While most Indian companies rely on Chinese imports for raw materials, Waaree is building its own supply chain within India. Be it mining, or wafer processing, they aim to do everything here. If successful, this would be a hallmark for other Indian firms to follow, massively boosting the Indian solar sector. And imagine, a time when India would be not just a top Solar State, but also a Solar EXPORTER! 4️⃣ Advanced Technology. To top it off, Waaree has some state-of-the-art technology to separate them from others! For eg, their innovative Solar Panels can even be put onto triangle-shaped Indian homes, Dome Shaped Structures, and even Fabric Rooftops! 5️⃣ Strong Distribution Network. And instead of just being a 'manufacturer', they have built a solid D2C brand as well! With 388 franchises across India, Waaree has a huge demand to cater to, and in the process, getting more and more data to make itself better! & guess what? Despite their ambitious plans, Waaree’s financials remain STRONG. They have an Interest Coverage Ratio (ICR) of 11x, where Adani is at 4.5 and Vikram Solar is at just 1.5. Not to forget, their impressive 31% ROCE! To top it off, their Revenues are growing beyond expectations! Like in FY23, when all top renewable energy companies like Adani and Tata felt a double-digit slowdown. Waaree came out with 136% INCREASE in revenues! (btw, 67% of their sales were to the US, thanks to the China+1 trend) But challenges remain: 1. Falling Solar PV Prices could affect margins. 2. Although Waaree aims for vertical integration, 78% of their raw materials are still sourced from China. Can Waaree lead India’s renewable energy revolution, or will China continue to dominate?

The BIG PHARMA thought Mankind Pharma was a nobody. It could do them no harm. Because face it: They are the ones who rule the game. They have big margins for the chemists. Name among the doctors. And value amongst the customers. But ONE employee beat them selling AFFORDABLE medicines with slim margins! Here's his mind-blowing story: 1️⃣ The Motivation In 1974, Ramesh Juneja went on a field visit through his employer - Kee Pharma. He saw a family selling their heirloom jewellery - to buy medicines! This heart-wrenching incident sowed the seed for his future company. 2️⃣ The First Break. Up. After getting some experience at Lupin, he left it to start his affordable antibiotics manufacturing company. How affordable? Up to 70% CHEAPER! But a dispute with partners sent him back to the drawing board. 3️⃣ The Internal Motivation. He got ₹50 Lakhs as his share. He could have 'retired'. But he didn't. ➡️ He started another company. Because he was motivated by his HEART and not MONEY. 4️⃣ The Local play The big pharma had cornered the urban market, that's why he sold in RURAL Areas first: - Because big pharma didn't focus on it - giving him a big market gap! - Rural people were more likely to buy his AFFORDABLE medicines! Soon, he had cornered and become big in the rural market! 5️⃣ Child's Play. He targeted the segment which the Big Pharma wasn't even touching with a barge pole: SEX (I.e. Condoms) But to sell this he needed to do the impossible: Change Indian's perception about the product. Even the government had failed to change our minds towards 'nirodh (condoms)'! 6️⃣ Manforce and Prega News. But he did it. By portraying condoms are a pleasure tool instead of a 'nirodh' - they achieved two goals: • They helped control our birth rates. • They helped Mankind become famous - and reach the ₹1000 Cr revenue hallmark! 7️⃣ The CHRONIC Revenue. Medications for Chronic medicines are a big revenue generator for companies. Because they get a LONG TERM customer who will continuously buy your expensive medicines. So by launching his chronic medications, he achieved 2 goals: - The customers saved a lot of money - They got more revenue! 8️⃣ Incentives Whatever his strategy may be - Affordability. OTC Medicines. You cannot leave behind their Marketing Representatives. Usually, an Indian company gets ₹3-5L per distributor. But what did Mankind get? ₹20 LAKHS per distributor (as of 2013, today the number comes out 3-4x HIGHER) It's all because of the incentives they gave to them. The more they sell - the more money they get. Incentives are powerful - Mankind just showed us that. -- Today, Mankind Pharma is India's 6TH largest Pharma company in India by selling affordable medicines with very slim margins! The biggest thing I learned from him is that: - If you have a strong enough 'why' you can get through any 'how'. So what do YOU learn from him?

Dabur India Limited did something brilliant! Dabur Red Paste not only raised awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco but also promoted better oral health among Indians through 'The Batteesi Experiment'. This social cause campaign educated the public on the dangers of tobacco use and encouraged healthier habits, aiming to improve the overall well-being of communities across India. The endeavor to steer clear of tobacco and improve oral health standards was a masterstroke considering the relatability among Indian audience.

Was KILLING their once-best-selling SCOOTER segment the right move by Bajaj? Let's understand with a little background: 1️⃣ The CHETAK Launched in 1972 - the Chetak took India by storm. Its affordable price meant everyone wanted this. Yet - due to its limited supply (thanks to the license raj, gov. didn't allow them to produce more) - it became EVEN MORE POPULAR. It was often used as DOWRY - and saw a waiting period of 10 YEARS! 2️⃣ The Kodak-like Fall. Lack of innovation and the entry of new-tech scooters meant Chetak lost its leg. Its demand fell rapidly against the likes of Honda Activa. 3️⃣ The SHUTDOWN They made one mistake by not innovating. But they understood it and introduced a remedy: SHUT THE SCOOTER DIVISION DOWN. 4️⃣ The Controversy Some argue this was a stupid move. Because the years following saw a massive demand for scooters. They say Bajaj could've easily captured the growing demand. But could it? ➡️ Because they shut their scooter division down, they were able to focus MORE on Bikes. This enabled them to create better bikes, focus on its exports, and enter the premium segment. Could all this be possible if they continued to operate their scooter segment? (PS: Comment your opinion on this move ↓ ) Done? Let's continue with how they excelled in the bike segment: 5️⃣ PARTNERSHIPS Magic Bajaj had launched their first bike in 1986. But... they couldn't have done this by themselves. It was because of the partnership with Kawasaki, that they were able to develop the bike, and adopt foreign technological practices! 6️⃣ The Strategic Investment Kawasaki helped them make good bikes. But they didn't give them the technology required to make FAST bikes. So? They purchased a major stake in KTM - so that they could use its TECHNOLOGY to make faster bikes - and enter the PREMIUM SEGMENT! 7️⃣ The EXPORT Magic They didn't just limit themselves to India - they made sure this INDIAN PRODUCT was heard throughout the WORLD. By giving much better quality bikes than their Chinese counterparts, their bikes like Boxer became a huge hit (>50% market share) in countries like Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh! -- So that's a small story about Bajaj Auto! What's ONE lesson you learn from this story? For me, it's that → Crying over 'possible return' is of no use! What's yours?

Meet the man who went from selling DOOR-TO-DOOR to creating a ₹7,00,00,00,000 BRAND selling HERBAL items! KV Pendharkar, a 55-year-old grocery shop runner, was discontent. Companies were diminishing our age-old dental practices with their chemical-filled toothpaste. Plus, his grocery shop wasn't enough to feed his family of 10 children. So he started Vishnu Industrial Chemical Company (Vicco) to manufacture a HERBAL TOOTH POWDER. "Advertising" was unknown back then - and the only way to sell items was to go DOOR TO DOOR. But after he died in 1971, things changed. His Kids had BIGGER AMBITIONS. Just toothpaste (which they launched a few years ago), wouldn't suffice. So they launched the VICCO TURMERIC CREAM. And you can guess their success from thereon. But how did Vicco become such a big name - that they now export to 45 COUNTRIES? I found 3 main reasons: 1/ Borrowing A Piece of Tradition 2/ Attacking our PRIDE 3/ Quirky Marketing 1️⃣ A Piece of Tradition Most of their products are based on the Indian traditions. Because this gives them A BIG SUPERPOWER: → People already associated those things (turmeric, taste, neem, etc) as 'good' and 'healthy' → This promotes their brand image of being "SWADESHI" → It allows them to attack our PRIDE ↓ 2️⃣ Attacking our PRIDE. Indians LOVE their nation. And Vicco used it for THEIR ADVANTAGE. By continuously portraying: → It's AYURVEDIC Roots → That it's MADE-IN-INDIA → It's based on the Indian Culture It became the go-to choice among those individuals. 3️⃣ Quirky Marketing They were one of the first companies to → Advertise in Doordarshan → Sponsor a TV Show (Yeh jo Zindagi hai) → All - so that their JINGLE would be repeated again and again. This "marketing blitzkrieg" made them MASSIVELY FAMOUS. -- But... there is a problem today. 🤜 They thought they'd be able to remain relevant today with their age-old name. But as you, the people are changing. India is changing. What worked 20 years ago isn't working now. And that's why - their growth slowed massively. In 2011 - they were at ₹400 Cr. In 2023 - they were at 700 Cr. In 12 YEARS - their revenue increased by just ~5.5% cagr annually. -- ➡️ Hoping to change, they are now targeting the YOUTH of India. Last year, they signed Alia Bhatt to be their brand ambassador. But how can they keep their Ayurvedic image - while portraying the youth? Well, time will tell. Until that time, do let me know YES or NO if you (or your parents) use ANY Vicco Products! (And if you liked the content, do like the post :) #CaseStudy #SuccessStory

Mahindra and Mahindra was started by the eventual FINANCE MINISTER of PAKISTAN. Shocked? Let me explain: Back in 1945, JC and KC Mahindra joined hands with Ghulam Mohammed to start 'Mahindra and Mohammed'. ➡️ But after the partition, Ghulam Mohammed LEFT THEM to reside in Pakistan. He later becomes Pakistan's FIRST Finance Minister and the 3RD GOVERNOR GENERAL. Damn... then how did they succeed given one of their founders LEFT the company? Well, it all starts with choosing the right market. ➡️ They found that the new INDEPENDENT India had a big shortfall: TOUGH VEHICLES (given our roads). So? They left their steel trading and focused on just that. They struck a deal with Willys in 1949 - imported 75 Jeeps - and assembled it in INDIA. Enter the FIRST OG JEEP. But just timing the right market doesn't make you successful. It's SURVIVAL and the RIGHT LEADERSHIP that makes you big. M&M succeeded because of: 1/ Building for the real India 2/ The OG Product 3/ LEADERSHIP 1️⃣ Focusing on the real India Keshub Mahindra had a dream bigger than money: impact. He specially made TRACTORS for farmers so that the REAL INDIA can grow and become SELF-SUFFICIENT (in food) 2️⃣ The OG Product They say your first product makes or kills you. M&M's first product - made them LEGENDARY. What was it? The OG JEEP • It is easy to maintain • It is suitable for Indian Roads. • It is VERY Durable. And that's why Jeeps became so popular. They were used by the general people, farmers, and even the ARMY! 3️⃣ LEGENDARY LEADERSHIP. Like the Tata's, M&M is, and was blessed with 2 LEGENDARY LEADERS: • Keshub Mahindra: The PIONEER who diversified and grew M&M into a global company even during the TREACHEROUS LICENSE RAJ. • Anand Mahindra: The GROWTH DRIVER - who took unimaginable risks even when the world was against him. ➡️ For eg, even after the MASSIVE FAILURE with the "Ford Escort" - He diverted ₹550 CRORE (which was MORE THAN 2 YEARS of their PROFITS at that time) to create a new SUV - WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANY FOREIGN COMPANY. The result? SCORPIO. You know their growth after this! -- From 1520 Cr in 1991 - to 1,21,269 cr in 2023 - their REVENUE has seen a massive 8000% increase! Talking about today - do you feel Mahindra has done a good job of promoting 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' - YES or NO? Eager to know what you think, so ✍️ ↓

Pepsi's $370 MILLION GAMBLE on SoBe FAILED. Then? These strategies got them an 86% SHARE in the ENERGY DRINKS market in just 4 YEARS! 1/ Massification 2/ Nailing the Price 3/ The Varun Beverages Magic A little background before I delve deeper: In 2000, Pepsi acquired South Beach Beverage Co, maker of SoBe drinks. A few years later, around 2007-8, they launched a slightly modified version of this drink in India.  And it failed. Shamefully, they draw back this product from the Indian markets. But then something changed in 2017. Copying the success of Sting in Vietnam, Pepsi launched Sting (produced by Rockstar Inc), in India. And as you know - Sting became an INSTANT HIT. The reason this time around?  1️⃣ Massification Traditionally, Energy Drinks were reserved for the sporty and athletic people. If you've seen any Red Bull ads, you know what I mean. But sting? They changed the game. ➡️ You could say it was an "Energy Drink" only in NAME. Because it targeted the YOUTH and competed with Cold Drinks like COCA-COLA. 2️⃣ Nailing the Price. Red Bull costs ₹~165. Monster costs ₹125. And Sting? ONLY ₹20 (now. earlier it was ~₹50). Why is it so CHEAP? ➡️ Because they ARE NOT targeting those who NEED it. They're targeting those who WANT it. And that makes all the difference. Just ask yourself: Who is Sting's primary audience?  It's the Youth. The middle class who don't have that much money to spare. If they wanted to attract these people - they needed to REDUCE THEIR PRICE. 3️⃣  Exploiting Pepsi's Distribution. In almost EVERY VILLAGE in India - you'll find either a packet of lays, kurkure, or Pepsi. That was until a few years ago. Today - you'll also find STING.  ➡️ By leveraging their existing distribution system (all thanks to Varun Beverages!) - they nailed Sting's distribution.  And that's what set Sting apart from Red Bull, Monster, etc (who were 1. higher priced, and 2. not easily available) -- So yeah, that's how Sting Set Themselves apart and became the market leader! Tell me with just YES OR NO: Is Sting popular in your area among the youth? #CaseStudy #Pepsi

Meet the SHAURYA Chakra holder who left his ARMY JOB to start a ₹17,00,00,00,000 company Vijay Arisetty knows the importance of SECURITY. Why wouldn't he, he is an ex-Air Force officer holding SHAURYA CHAKRA! But here's what troubled him this time: E-Commerce. 🙍♂️ Thanks to E-Commerce, random strangers would just walk into his so called 'safe' society. So, he, with 2 of his colleagues at JP Morgan (yup, he worked there after studying at ISB) - started MyGate: A Digital Security Interface. But it was tougher than it sounds. Because 1. People (in 2014) looked at tech with a LOT of cautiousness. And 2. Getting people to CHANGE - is a HELL OF A JOB. But, where there is a will, there is way. Today, with more than 25,000 SOCIETIES - and 4 MILLION daily visitors - it has SUCCEEDED. All thanks to 1. Solving some REAL PROBLEMS. 2. Word of Mouth 3. Hitting the Tipping Point 4. Building for the Watchman 1️⃣ Solving some REAL PROBLEMS. The Co-Founders, Vijay Arisetty and Abhishek Kumar, spent DAYS working as SECURITY GAURD, and found 3 problems: ❌ For new unknown visitors, there is huge lack of safety (one just needs to write name in a register) ❌ There is a a LOT OF inefficiency (a guard has to call everyone before entering) ❌ There is no formal way to book amenities, and send out notices and other updates. So they made a digital platform (app) which ✅ Made it very easy to authenticate, and store the information of every workers/visitor (just some clicks and a photo) ✅ Provided digital amenity booking process ✅ Had excellent in-app communication(for sending notices) 2️⃣ Word of Mouth Instead of advertising the traditional way, they LEVERAGED the Watchman's/Security Guards' massive network to spread their idea. (An upskilled guard would be quick to tell his friends about a new app which simplifies their work!) Then, they went in-person to demonstrate its capabilities, and gave an irresistible offer to to them! 3️⃣ The TIPPING Point Every society wants to look 'COOL' and 'ADVANCED' in compared to others. Offering to 'digitize' the entire society, it became a NECESSITY to have. The main reason? Because OTHERS HAD IT. 4️⃣ Easy to use See, MyGate's MAIN users aren't guys like you and and me. It's the WATCHMAN's. So? They designed the app FOR them i.e. VERY EASY AND INTUITIVE. ➡️ For eg, instead of yes/no - they had green/red buttons for those less educated. -- So yeah, that's how digitized the Indian Societies. And guess what? Even JIO has entered this segment with their JIO Gate. But according to me, the moat MyGate has built for itself, it truly unbreakable. So what are YOUR PERSONAL opinions about this app? Eager to know, so comment ↓ PS: Do like the post if you liked the content :thumbs #startups #India

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