Is India truly ready for the EV revolution, or are we driving straight into a massive supply chain bottleneck? In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, host Shivansh Singh sits down for a reality check with Vikrant Singh, Co-Founder of BatX Energies and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. BatX Energies is pioneering India's clean-tech space by recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and extracting critical minerals through a proprietary "Zero Waste – Zero Emission" technology to build a truly circular green economy. Vikrant shares an incredible raw journey—from an ambitious college student building racing cars at university to solving a critical, national-level macroeconomic problem: India’s 96-97% reliance on imported lithium-ion cells. This isn't a surface-level motivational podcast. This is a deep dive into the harsh unit economics of sustainability, the massive gaps in EV charging infrastructure, the realities of fundraising after hundreds of rejections, and what it actually takes for young entrepreneurs to build global deep-tech companies from India. --- TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 - Pre-cap: The Hidden Reality of India's EV Market * 00:00:25 - Welcome Vikrant Singh (Forbes 30 Under 30 & Co-Founder, BatX Energies) * 00:00:45 - The College Origin Story: Building Racing Cars at University * 00:02:50 - The Pivot to EVs: Facing the Lithium-Ion Shortage Firsthand * 00:03:40 - The Curiosity Trigger: Why Doesn’t India Manufacture Its Own Cells? * 00:05:04 - Transitioning from College Project to Deep-Tech Startup * 00:06:00 - The Microeconomic Solution: Mining Wealth from E-Waste & Scrap * 00:08:23 - Overcoming Early Criticism & the Resilience Needed to Break Even * 00:11:56 - How BatX Energy Competes & Differentiates in a New Sector * 00:12:20 - The Economics of Sustainability: Why "Green" Must Make Financial Sense * 00:14:40 - The Hidden Materials: Extracting Gold, Silver, and Critical Minerals from Spent Batteries * 00:15:50 - Market Trajectory: Where is the Clean-Tech Space Headed in the Next 5-10 Years? * 00:18:50 - The Infrastructure Bottleneck: The Truth About EV Charging Networks * 00:21:15 - Open Fields for New Founders: Component Manufacturing & Logic Systems * 00:22:20 - Can India Become a Global Sustainability Hub? (China + 1 Strategy Explained) * 00:25:10 - Overcoming the Fear of Failure as a Young Entrepreneur * 00:26:00 - The "Delhi to Kashmir" Analogy for Long-Term Startup Vision * 00:29:31 - RAPID FIRE ROUND: Core Habits, Big Risks, & Human Humility * 00:30:25 - Industry Leaders to Watch: The Anduril Strategy * 00:31:10 - Advice to my 19-Year-Old Self: Exposure and Global Scale * 00:32:15 - Outro & Closing Thoughts --- KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 1. The Circular Economy is Driven by Economics, Not Just Ethics: True sustainability only scales when the financial incentives align. Just like old glass bottles are collected because they hold intrinsic monetary value, e-waste and spent battery packs hold precious rare earth metals like Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and Manganese. 2. Vision Dictates Strategy: If you only look at immediate, local hurdles, your business planning will remain small. Founders trying to change the world must adopt a massive, long-term vision (the "Kashmir Vision") so that early structural roadblocks don't derail the mission. 3. The Clean-Tech Entry Point: While legacy automotive segments (like internal combustion engines) have massive entry barriers, the emerging clean-tech ecosystem—spanning battery pack assembly, lightweight chassis development, logic systems, and secondary recycling—is completely open for young, agile deep-tech startups. --- ALIGN WITH THE CHANNEL * Subscribe to IMPACT UNFILTERED: [https://www.youtube.com/@UC2tTJjoVu2U65OhSPz4xRvQ ] * Follow Shivansh Singh on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivansh-singh-5923a737b/] * Learn more about BatX Energies: [https://batxenergies.com/](https://batxenergies.com/) --- KEYWORDS & SEARCH TAGS Impact Unfiltered, Shivansh Singh, Vikrant Singh, BatX Energies, EV battery recycling India, clean tech startups, lithium ion battery manufacturing, EV charging infrastructure, rare earth metal extraction, circular economy India, Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur, electric vehicle market trends, deep tech startups India, startup unit economics, electronic waste recycling, sustainable energy solutions, e-mobility infrastructure. --- If you found this conversation insightful, please make sure to LIKE this video, SHARE it with an aspiring entrepreneur, and SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered reality checks from the leaders building our future.

In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, host Shivansh Singh sits down with Mr. Khitish Pandya, Founder of Eco Tasar Silk, to explore how sustainable entrepreneurship can empower communities and transform the textile industry. From empowering rural women artisans to crafting eco-friendly silk products, Mr. Pandya shares his inspiring journey of building a business that creates both profit and purpose. This conversation dives deep into the realities of sustainability, the challenges of handmade crafts in a modern market, and the vision behind Eco Tasar’s success. 🎙️ Key Highlights: How Eco Tasar Silk empowers rural women through sustainable livelihoods The art and economics of handmade silk production Overcoming challenges of sustainability in fashion Building purpose-driven business models Mr. Pandya’s advice for young changemakers Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or just someone passionate about sustainability — this episode will leave you inspired to make impact-driven choices in your own journey. 📌 Hosted by Shivansh Singh 🎧 Impact Unfiltered — Real stories. Real change impact unfiltered podcast, shivansh singh podcast, khitish pandya, eco tasar silk, sustainable fashion india, social entrepreneurship, rural empowerment, women artisans india, ethical fashion, green entrepreneurship, handmade textiles, sustainable business, indian entrepreneurs, eco friendly startup, impact podcast, sustainability india, purpose driven business, handloom india, eco fashion, inspiring entrepreneurs, sustainable living, startup stories india

What does it take to build an institution that shapes generations? In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, Shivansh Singh sits down with Tijay Gupta, Co-Founder of Bachpan Play School and Academic Heights Public School (AHPS), to discuss the journey of building one of India's largest education networks. From entrepreneurship and leadership to AI, startups, legacy, and the future of education, this conversation explores the principles behind creating long-term impact. In this episode: How Bachpan Play School was built Why most startups don't succeed Leadership lessons from building a national education brand The future of education and AI Why quality isn't expensive The importance of long-term thinking Success, legacy, and purpose Advice for young entrepreneurs and students Whether you're an entrepreneur, educator, student, parent, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights and timeless lessons. 🎙️ Impact Unfiltered features in-depth conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers who are building real impact. 👍 If you enjoyed the conversation, don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more episodes. #ImpactUnfiltered #TijayGupta #BachpanPlaySchool #Education #Leadership #entrepreneurship Tijay Gupta, Tijay Gupta Podcast, Bachpan Play School, Bachpan Play School Podcast, Bachpan School, Academic Heights Public School, AHPS, Impact Unfiltered, Shivansh Singh, Education Podcast, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Leadership Podcast, Indian Entrepreneurs, Startup Podcast, Founder Podcast, Business Podcast, Education in India, Future of Education, AI in Education, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Startup India, Business Leadership, Success, Legacy, Personal Growth, Founder Stories, School Education, Preschool, Education Leader, Motivational Podcast, Long Form Podcast, Indian Podcast, CEO Podcast, Startup Lessons, Business Growth, Education System, Indian Education

Most startups fail because they chase trends instead of solving real problems. In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, Varun Chawla, Founder of 91Springboard, shares hard-earned lessons from building multiple startups, surviving failures, navigating COVID, and helping thousands of founders through India's startup ecosystem. Key insights from this conversation: • Why founders should focus on value, not valuation • The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make • Why trend-chasing destroys startups • Building businesses that last beyond hype cycles • The importance of communities and networks • Lessons from 6 startup journeys • Physical vs virtual communities • What success really means for founders • Startup funding, growth, and long-term thinking One of the most powerful takeaways: "Trends are temporary. Real problems are permanent." If you're a founder, entrepreneur, student, creator, or startup enthusiast, this conversation will help you think beyond hype and build for the long term. Guest: Varun Chawla Founder, 91Springboard Host: Shivansh Singh Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with founders, operators, investors, and innovators. #VarunChawla #91Springboard #StartupIndia #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #ImpactUnfiltered startup trends, varun chawla, 91springboard, startup india, entrepreneurship, startup founder advice, startup mistakes, startup growth, business podcast india, founder podcast, shivansh singh, impact unfiltered, startup funding, startup ecosystem india, startup lessons, entrepreneur mindset, startup strategy, business growth, startup community, innovation, startup culture, startup mentorship, founder journey, startup success, startup failure, indian startups, entrepreneurship india, business leadership, startup networking, startup insights

What is the true meaning of innovation, and why do 90% of companies fail to understand it? In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, host Shivansh Singh engages in a powerful reality check with Anshu Sharma, a corporate consultant and leadership expert. Bringing over 21 years of industry experience across टियर-1 ecosystems, Anshu is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and ISB Hyderabad who has worked closely with CXOs to transform organizational structures. Today, he runs Skillwise Global to bridge the gap between process and human capability. This discussion completely bypasses surface-level corporate hype. Anshu pulls back the curtain on why terms like AI, transformation, and innovation are frequently overused in pitch decks just to satisfy stakeholder narratives, and breaks down the real market indicators of a successful business outcome. From the psychological safety required to run experiments to the danger of cost-cutting measures that accidentally ruin user experience, this conversation delivers absolute clarity on long-term corporate sustainability. TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 - Pre-cap: The Top Three Reasons Innovations Fail * 00:00:26 - Intro: Moving Beyond the Motivational Hype to a Corporate Reality Check * 00:00:56 - Welcome Anshu Sharma (Founder, Skillwyze Global) * 00:01:11 - The Catalyst Decision: Shifting from a Disciplined Household to IIT Freedom * 00:01:52 - Why Freedom of Thought is the Prerequisite for True Creativity * 00:02:44 - The Buzzword Trap: How to Identify Fake Innovation vs Market Validation * 00:03:57 - Myth Busting: Why Innovation is Not Restricted to New Product Development * 00:05:14 - Real World Case Studies: Analyzing the Delivery Models of Netflix and Uber * 00:06:02 - Copy, Curate, and Create: The Differentiation Moat for Startups (Ola vs Uber) * 00:07:10 - Legal Modeling: The Innovation of Execution and Classroom Curriculum Delivery * 00:07:47 - Pitch Deck Reality: What Percentage of Corporate AI Narrative is Actually Real? * 00:08:45 - Position Scaling: Why Generative AI is a Tool, Not the Core Financial Objective * 00:09:38 - Customer Centricity vs Profit First: Navigating Conviction in Boardrooms * 00:10:23 - The Cost-Cutting Trap: How Saving Tube-Lights Led to Expensive Product Defects * 00:11:38 - Design Thinking: Using Customer Personas and Drivers to Vet New Ideas * 00:12:21 - The Innovation Team Illusion: Why Creating Isolated Silos Fails Big Organizations * 00:13:42 - Culture Subsumes Process: Structural Roadblocks and Hierarchical Approval Delays * 00:15:22 - The Top Three Reasons Experiments Fail: Lack of Empathy, Safety, and Open Loops * 00:16:14 - The Harvard Study Baseline: Analyzing the 40% to 80% Innovation Failure Rate * 00:17:28 - Deep User Empathy: Why the R&D View of Customer Needs is Often Biased * 00:19:36 - Speed vs Perfection: Finding Balance via Iterative Minimum Viable Products * 00:20:46 - Crisis Timelines: Vaccine Development Cycles vs Aircraft Safety Constraints * 00:21:52 - Finding the Balance: Testing in Controlled Set Customer Environments First * 00:23:22 - Measurable Impact: Kaizen Engineering Examples at Maruti Suzuki * 00:25:05 - Enhancing Indian Airport Capacity Through Digital Tools and Automation * 00:27:05 - The Framework: Deconstructing Empathy for Entrepreneurs to the Power of 100 * 00:28:48 - Questioning the Status Quo: Breaking Down Set Ways of Industry Working * 00:29:54 - Degree vs Thinking Ability: Opening Corporate Doors vs Proving Skills on Your Feet * 00:32:58 - Advice to My 20-Year-Old Self: Starting the Entrepreneurial Journey Earlier * 00:34:52 - Skill Architecture: Building Freelance and Consultative Skill Backups to De-risk Careers * 00:35:45 - The Skillwise Global Breakdown: Package Offerings in Training, Consulting, and Content * 00:36:31 - RAPID FIRE ROUND: Execution, Intuition, and Risk-Taking * 00:37:22 - The Go-To Reading List: Creativity Techniques by Edward de Bono * 00:38:08 - The Ultimate Future Skill: Using Human Empathy to Outpace AI Predictions * 00:39:18 - Personal Metrics: Defining Success as the Absolute Control Over Your Own Time * 00:40:33 - The Founder's Trap: When Greed Diminishes Family Connection and How to Pause * 00:42:38 - Closing Thoughts: The Intersection of Innovation and Total Clarity * 00:43:01 - Outro --- ALIGN WITH THE CHANNEL * Subscribe to IMPACT UNFILTERED: [https://www.youtube.com/@UC2tTJjoVu2U65OhSPz4xRvQ ] * Follow Shivansh Singh on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivansh-singh-5923a737b/] --- KEYWORDS & SEARCH TAGS Impact Unfiltered, Shivansh Singh, Anshu Sharma, Skillwise Global, Meaning of corporate innovation, design thinking frameworks, corporate reality check, psychological safety in workplace, why corporate innovations fail, deep user empathy, speed vs perfection MVP, Kaizen methodology manufacturing, digital transformation tools, degree vs skills debate, business school curriculum, Edward de Bono books.

What does it actually take to build a multi-brand cloud kitchen from scratch and scale it across India? In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, host Shivansh Singh sits down with Geetika Anand, Co-Founder of MOPP Foods (Mad Over Paranthas & Pakodas). Geetika shares her raw, unfiltered entrepreneurial journey from launching a single brand in 2019 to surviving the pandemic, pivoting to a cloud kitchen network, appearing on Shark Tank India, and successfully raising funding from investors like Amit Jain (CarDekho Group) and partnering with K Hospitality's franchise arm, Qozeena. Geetika pulls back the curtain on the unglamorous reality of the food business, breaking down the exact unit economics, standard operating procedures, and rigorous training structures needed to maintain consistency across multiple kitchens without sacrificing quality. Whether you are an aspiring food tech entrepreneur, a student curious about the startup ecosystem, or a professional looking to transition into business, this episode is filled with practical frameworks on risk, fundraising due diligence, and side-hustle planning. TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 - Pre-cap: The Real Game of Scaling a Food Business * 00:00:40 - Welcome Geetika Anand (Co-Founder, MOPP Foods) * 00:01:08 - Passion as a Fuel vs Market Size R&D * 00:02:30 - Identifying Pain Points in the Street Food Delivery Market * 00:03:16 - The Science Behind Keeping Delivery Paranthas and Pakodas Crispy * 00:04:35 - The Three Tick Marks Needed to Validate a Brand for Launch * 00:06:07 - Internal Motivation and Navigating Early Business Milestones * 00:06:44 - The Hardest Phase: Launching a Second Kitchen Right Before COVID-19 * 00:07:31 - Lockdown Leadership: Retaining Staff and Shifting Fully Online * 00:08:40 - Pivoting from a Single Brand to a Multi-Brand Cloud Kitchen Strategy * 00:09:22 - The Rise of Mely: Doubling Revenue with Zero Marketing * 00:10:33 - What Breaks First When You Scale? The SOP Bottleneck * 00:14:18 - Maintaining Taste Consistency Across Locations Using Culinarily Locked Recipes * 00:15:43 - Low Entry Barriers vs High Operational Hurdles in Food Startups * 00:17:28 - De-risking via Franchise Support Models (The Qozeena Partnership Explained) * 00:19:54 - The Biggest Misconception: Becoming a Millionaire in Three Months * 00:20:45 - Why Traditional Franchise Systems Fail: The Hand-Holding Gap * 00:22:45 - Breaking Down the Multi-Brand Package Investment Tiers * 00:24:14 - Location Strategy: Utilizing Data Heat Maps Over Intuition * 00:25:49 - The Operational Timeline: From Initial Launch to the Revenue Team Handover * 00:29:57 - The Shark Tank India Experience: Practice vs The Live Rollercoaster * 00:31:37 - The 9-Month Due Diligence Reality Check with CarDekho's Amit Jain * 00:33:17 - Dealing with Investor Pressure and Post-Broadcast Influx Demand * 00:35:54 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and the Power of Analytical Introception * 00:41:25 - Instagram Glamour vs The Emotional Cost of Startup Tags * 00:42:48 - Financial Planning Advice for Young Founders: The One-Year Runway Rule * 00:44:53 - Ground Realities: Learning to Work Under Someone Before Working Above Someone * 00:46:13 - The Core Anchor: Staying Grounded in Your Internal Passion * 00:48:18 - Identifying True Market Opportunities in the 4.4 Billion Dollar Cloud Kitchen Market * 00:50:52 - What I Wish I Understood Earlier About Funding Principles * 00:52:00 - Outro & Closing Thoughts --- KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 1. Real Value is Built by Solving Real Gaps: MOPP Foods succeeded because Geetika recognized a structural problem in 2019: street food delivery didn't exist properly because products got soggy. Spending nine months addressing the physical and chemical constraints of the recipe created a defensible competitive moat. 2. Standard Operating Procedures Scale Businesses: Scaling a kitchen is not about cooking the best meal once; it is about cooking a standardized product consistently across hundreds of locations. Locking core proprietary spice mixes and scheduling routine auditing processes keeps the customer experience intact. 3. The Real Value of Interning or Job Experience: Learning to navigate professional environments and understanding ground realities under existing leaders builds the foundational empathy and managerial skills required to effectively run your own team later. --- ALIGN WITH THE CHANNEL * Subscribe to IMPACT UNFILTERED: [https://www.youtube.com/@ImpactUnfilteredByShivansh/featured] * Follow Shivansh Singh on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivansh-singh-5923a737b/] KEYWORDS & SEARCH TAGS Impact Unfiltered, Shivansh Singh, Geetika Anand, MOPP Foods, Mad Over Paranthas, Cloud kitchen business model, food tech startups India, Shark Tank India due diligence, Amit Jain CarDekho, scaling a restaurant brand, Qozeena franchise, food delivery SOPs, startup unit economics, multi brand kitchen strategy, cloud kitchen market size 2030, young entrepreneur advice.

What if a discarded pair of shoes could change someone's life? In this episode of Impact Unfiltered, we sit down with Shriyans Bhandari, Co-Founder of Greensole and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, to uncover the incredible journey behind one of India's most inspiring social enterprises. From collecting used shoes on a running track to creating a nationwide movement that has impacted lakhs of lives, Shriyans shares how purpose, innovation, and resilience transformed a simple idea into a mission that's changing India. This isn't just a conversation about entrepreneurship—it's about solving real problems, building sustainable businesses, and creating lasting impact. Hosted by Shivansh Singh, Impact Unfiltered brings you honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are building the future. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:46 – The story behind Greensole 02:19 – The feeling of donating the first pair 02:54 – Greensole's impact today 03:30 – Opportunities in sustainability & circular economy 05:05 – Biggest challenges while building Greensole 06:43 – Being featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 07:30 – Advice for young entrepreneurs in India 10:04 – Government, startups & the future of India's innovation ecosystem 11:04 – Rapid Fire 12:03 – How to join Greensole (Internships & Volunteering) 12:42 – Outro 💡 In this episode you'll learn • How Greensole started from a simple idea • Turning waste into opportunity • The future of sustainability in India • Building a purpose-driven startup • Challenges every entrepreneur must overcome • The story behind Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia • Advice for students, founders and aspiring entrepreneurs • How you can volunteer or intern with Greensole 👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs and changemakers. Tags (Comma Separated) Shriyans Bhandari, Greensole, Greensole Podcast, Shriyans Bhandari Podcast, Greensole Founder, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Forbes Asia, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Startup India, Indian Startup, Indian Entrepreneur, Social Enterprise, Impact Startup, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Startup Podcast, Business Podcast, Tekno Satori, Impact Unfiltered, Sustainable Business, Recycling, Circular Economy India, Waste Management, Green Business, Environmental Sustainability, Youth Entrepreneurs, Startup Journey, Founder Story, Innovation, Social Impact, India Innovation, Eco Startup, Climate Entrepreneurship, Sustainability Podcast, Volunteer, Internship, Purpose Driven Business, Real Impact, Changemaker, Indian Changemakers