Abhishek Dhasmana

One of the best stories of building for your passion. Ace loves hip-hop and gaming. That’s what he is building for. Energetic conversation and a good view on what to do when your startup is at pre-launch stage. #startupstories #growth

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Product Management : beyond influencing without authority, to leading without authority. Influencing without authority has long been the name of the game for PMs. As the industry moves (rightly so) towards a world with fewer managers and more individual contributors, ICs must continue to build their muscle on how to lead without authority. What does leading without authority look like for an IC PM? - Don't measure your worth only through execution. Execution is table stakes. Have strong views on the right thing to build, and the right way to build it. - Insert yourself in critical discussions. Ask for facetime with leaders, present your views. Leaders must learn to listen and embrace feedback/inputs from senior ICs. - Ask for help. For e.g. if some complex data pull needs to be done, make a case to the data team and push your request. DIY is ideal but don't be averse to asking for help. - Be vocal about where you see gaps. Sometimes gaps exist because nobody's thinking deeply enough. Thinking is the job of the PM. You should've thought through issues and experiences before it hits your customers. There's unmatched satisfaction in being an IC PM and building as opposed to endless meetings, but we need to give more agency to the IC leaders. This will also need ICs to not distance themselves from leading - leading is part of the job.

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Here is a QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN HAUNTING ME FOR LONG. Please share your thoughts in the comments. My sojourn into full-time teaching (along with my work!) started in 2009 when one of the Professors, Dr K Chandrasekaran (a rare academic with a mind for product design!), requested I take a course on CREATIVE DESIGN and later got extended to EMBEDDED SYSTEMS and ELECTRONIC PACKAGING (this course encouraged me to write a book on the same topic. I was taking these courses for about five years before my job made me shift to Vizag. However, I have been teaching various forms focusing on basic System Design, Engineering, electronic manufacturing and EVs (last 5 years). During this duration, I saw many types of courses, starting from a textbook-based manufacturing course to ML/AI. But what surprised me was most of these courses were a collection of topics and applicability in practice is a big issue. I have been searching for a course "how to design hardware for an ML engine in practice. My search often led to a dead end. Most of these courses are theoretical and don't deal with "how and why". Mostly dealing with "What" only. None of these so-called courses ever teach you the basics so that application becomes easy. Are you facing a similar situation? Let me know in the comments. This problem is acute in IoT & Connected Vehicles.

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Like to order deliveries from the comfort of your own home? Zepto's recent $665 million funding will now allow the company to set up even more store across India to serve you better. Read all about it only in my new article at Entrepreneur India. . . . Follow and connect for more industry news and updates . . . #News #Update #Zepto #Funding #Investment #EntrepreneurIndia #AdityaPranMahanta https://lnkd.in/gYvATrUE

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Understanding the nuances between India's organized and unorganized sectors is crucial for product managers in the country. In the organized sector, formal structures and advanced technology adoption provide avenues for scalable and compliant solutions. However, navigating complexities and integrating with legacy systems can pose challenges. Conversely, the unorganized sector's informal nature and limited tech usage demand cost-effective, user-friendly solutions that cater to diverse and evolving needs. Adapting strategies to meet the unique requirements of both sectors can drive innovation and create a significant impact. #ProductManagement #Fintech #Innovation #India Worth Watching: Check out this insightful video on Why Is No One Talking About India's Unorganized Sector? Economist Arun Kumar Explains - it’s packed with valuable information and insights. Don’t miss it !

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Reflecting on 2024: A Journey of Lessons, Pivots, and Purpose What a year 2024 has been—one filled with challenges, pivots, and unexpected learnings that reshaped my vision as a founder. It all started during my time building Davaivala, where I learned the hard truth of ground realities. One conversation stands out vividly—visiting Sanjeevani Medical Store in Risali, Bhilai, where the owner, Mordhwaj Chandrakar, asked me, “Kes ki company hai?” After seeing my card, he realized I was the founder. His words struck a chord: “Chandrakar log agriculture ke liye bane hain, business ke liye nahi. Har community ka apna strength hota hai.” Though I was focused on healthcare, his words planted a subconscious seed about agritech. Fast forward to 9th August 2023, I made the tough call to shut down Davaivala, unsure of my next step. Next came PGVala, a student accommodation marketplace that quickly transformed into Settle India, a co living space to upskill students through internships in Bhilai. In just 4 months, we scaled to ₹8 lakh monthly revenue. Yet, something felt off. My purpose—helping students from low-income families grow—didn’t align with the ground reality of Bhilai. The students I wanted to serve weren’t serious about opportunities. Despite our growth, I passed the business to my landlords and returned to my village. There, working with HDFC’s HRDP Project Parivartan alongside Prabhanshu Bhaiya, I gained deep insights into farmers’ lives. The one thing that mattered most to them? Profitability. This led to GaavMandi, a platform aiming to get farmers retail rates for their produce without commission. However, market dynamics made it unscalable. One day, a farmer asked for credit to buy inputs at a lower price. That interaction sparked the idea for Kisan Cash—a platform helping farmers secure better deals while solving cash flow inefficiencies. To refine this vision, I went to Noida to join Aarambh PW SoS, where I met incredible mentors and found a co-founder and met incredible fellow Manas Singh Anmol Malik Today, we’re building the MVP for Kisan Cash—a solution born from real experiences in the fields, conversations with farmers, and relentless persistence. From shutting down businesses to scaling new ventures, learning from failures, and reconnecting with purpose, 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride of growth. Here’s to resilience, staying grounded, and building solutions that truly matter.

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CLSA published a detailed research report on India quick commerce. Recommended reading. Who will be the first to create a $50-100Bn company in India internet? #Zepto #Zomato #IndiaInternet

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Calling all APMs & PMs! Deep Dive into Razorpay's approach to create exceptional PRDs. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gGG6sYmE In this insightful video Pravir Shanker, Director of Product at Razorpay, unpacks their PRD process. HelloMeets - Upskilling platform for PMs. #productmanagement #PRD #Razorpay #HelloMeets

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How product managers can give designers feedback that helps build great products? Click the link to watch the full video for FREE! -> https://lnkd.in/gkkQjxEa Watch this exclusive video featuring Abhilash Ramachandran, Head of Product Design at Reach, as he dives into actionable tips to help you provide clear and concise feedback that drives results. HelloMeets - Upskilling Platform for PMs #productmanagement #reach #designfeedback #hellomeets Avi Chopra Vrishti Jain Sumanth Suri Jules Pearson

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Continuing the FitBiz360 story..... We identified a great technical partner in India - Rage Communications. They co-created an architecture for the solution and started coding using rapid prototyping. This meant we were quality checking every module and delivery, before it was considered "live". We made what turned out to be one of our best decisions, we split the software from the content (so no content is hard coded). Why is that important - well here is an actual event: - The HR Director of Rage asked if we could run an employee engagement survey for them - Using our in-house subject matter expert on HR issues, we created a survey and loaded it within half a day. - The survey was run in the business and from start to finish took 48 Hours. The reason for 48 hours was simply the time it took over 200 people to respond to the request to complete the survey. - As soon as the last employee hit submit (well within say 2 minutes processing time) I was looking at the results and the final report - I shared this with the HR Director and he sprung the "surprise" - the company had a physical consultancy conducting an employee engagement previously that took around 3 month duration in total. - We had taken 48 hours, remember and then the final icing was when he said FitBiz360 had hit 95% of the issues identified by the physical consultants. - What would this efficiency and effectiveness uplift provide for your consulting practice? - The case study is available if you would like to know more - just message or reply yes below.

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Are you on the hunt for product/market fit? If so, you might enjoy my discussion with Fareed Mosavat on how today's product builders find it. In this discussion, we cover: 😥 Shortcomings of the Lean Startup methodology 👂 Better customer discovery techniques to quickly validate your riskiest hypotheses 💡 The concept of exploring the idea maze & why it's so important 📈 How to rigorously measure product/market fit If you are looking for a modern approach to reaching product/market fit, I'd encourage you to check this out

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Last week, I had the chance to attend India Game Developer Conference - 2024 with my team in Hyderabad—a buzzing 3-day event filled with game developers, studios, designers, investors, and gamers. It was an overwhelming yet inspiring experience, full of energy, creativity, and innovation. Here are some of my key takeaways from the event: - The venue was alive with Gen-Z creators passionately pitching their games, people gaming on PlayStations, and mobile devices everywhere. The creativity in the air was infectious. - Game development is anything but linear. It blends gameplay mechanics, level design, visuals, storytelling, and endless collaboration. The process is intricate, but that’s where the magic happens. - Cultural integration is becoming a big part of game design. Games that feature folk music, regional maps, or relatable storytelling connect better with players. This is something that feels uniquely powerful. - Gen Z players love trendy language, immersive storytelling, and visually consistent art styles. It’s not just about the mechanics; it’s about how the story and visuals pull you in. - The talent landscape was incredible. From freelancers to indie studios, many are experimenting with bold ideas and building creative hubs. Most of the talent came from game colleges or were recent graduates diving into the industry. - Two key conversations stood out—one with Nikhil Malankar, CEO of GameEon Studios and a popular figure in the Indian game development scene, and the other with Duncan Campbell from Roblox. Both shared practical insights on community building and tackling technical challenges, sparking ideas for Game Jams and potential collaborations. The biggest takeaway for me is this—if you have a game idea that’s truly compelling, there are countless college students and aspiring developers out there, ready to join projects like yours. Who knows, the next breakout game could come from India—and it might just be yours! #IGDC #IGDC2024

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The update on this is that I’ve been thinking about some theme ideas for the gathering. The event should be unlike the regular mixers or any kind of thons or conferences. Not work stuff. So I was wondering - how about an Art event where we get together to play music we’ve developed on Suno and artwork we’ve created using txt2img models. I’ve been playing with Suno and it’s getting incredibly better and better. I remember writing a brief note on an album I’d like to develop. Electronic music is something I enjoy right from when I discovered Kraftwerk growing up and then Daft Punk over the years with Parov Stelar from time to time mesmerising me. With Suno and a lot of help from ChatGPT I’ve done a fairly satisfying job of describing a few tracks from my album that I conceived in 2020, Neptune Armada. Little did I know that AI would make it not only possible by enjoyable for someone like me to create music by describing what I think the sound should sound like. I’m obviously not looking to become a musician in the traditional sense of the word. I probably should learn music theory in the sense of how to describe and learn the vocabulary of music genres, styles and technicalities like instrument names and notes and chords. So the evening I’m now looking to plan is where we get together and listen to the album you create on Suno. The artwork you imagine for your album. And the origin story you tell to mesmerise us. I’ve linked to 2 of the songs from the album. There are 6 more I’ve planned. The 2 so far are satisfying but I’m looking to improvise and maybe even extend it to be a bit longer edits. Let me know if this format for a December hangout is interesting. Planning it between 24/12 and 2/1 IRL event.

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Entrepreneurship Teaches Resilience and Problem-Solving I’ll never forget the days, my early days at Intelliplanner that took me deep into India’s heartlands, where the real grit of the country thrives. One moment, I’d be presenting to skeptical mine managers, convincing them of a GPS-enabled logistics solution; the next, I’d be hopping onto a dusty jeep to see operations firsthand. And nights? They were for coding, often by dim lights, surrounded by nothing but quiet fields and the occasional chai stop. These weren’t just workdays—they were life lessons. Resilience, adaptability, and ingenuity.

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🎙️ India's next tech superstar could be on Aakash Gupta's podcast. But who? The choice might be in YOUR hands. — I was chatting with a friend about India's booming tech scene. We couldn't believe how many innovative leaders are emerging. It got me thinking: Who REALLY represents the future of Indian tech? That's when I heard a rumor about Product Growth's next podcast series... — 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 reasons this matters: 1️⃣ EXPOSURE: It's a chance to spotlight India's hidden gems 2️⃣ INSIGHTS: Learn from the best minds in the industry 3️⃣ NETWORKING: Connect the dots in India's tech ecosystem — So, here's where YOU come in: If you could nominate ONE person to be on Aakash's podcast, who would it be? The EdTech founder revolutionizing rural education? The product manager turning user pain into game-changing features? The VC who seems to have a crystal ball for the next unicorn? — Drop your nomination in the comments! 👇 Your suggestion could shape the future of Indian tech conversations.

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Back in college, my friends Sandeep, Rajeev, and I shared more than just a startup dream. We shared a vision having a drum kit in our office. We were startup founders by day, music lovers by night. For us, that drum kit symbolized creativity, passion, and a bit of freedom amidst the chaos of building a business. We started a T-shirt design company, full of ambition and big plans. But the market didn’t cooperate. Our startup failed. Yet, something from that time stayed with me the dream of the drum kit. Now, as I lead a new venture, Goldenflitch, I’ve finally made some part of that dream a reality. There’s a drum kit in my office, and every time I play, it reminds me of how far I’ve come and how much further there is to go. Huge thanks to Rajeev Gain, who first introduced me to drumming, and Sandeep Pradhan, who shared that love for music with me. Sometimes, the dreams we chase aren’t just about success. They’re about holding onto the things that make us feel alive even when the business doesn’t make it. Do you have a dream that you’ve carried with you over the years? #collegedays #IIT #dreams #stories

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This episode holds special significance for us at SecondPod. After recording over 40 episodes, we are thrilled to feature a guest who truly embodies why we started this platform in the first place. Our mission has always been to remind people that they have a second chance in their professional journey, and we’re here to support them by sharing impactful stories, connecting them with the right people, and building a thriving community. 🎙️ We’re honored to welcome Narges Baniasadi, a true example of resilience and reinvention. After earning her PhD at Stanford, she founded Bina Technology, which went on to be acquired by Roche in one of the sector’s most notable acquisitions. But Narges didn’t stop there—she embarked on a new journey and now leads the Emergence Program @ Stanford University, where she is reframing entrepreneurship at the heart of innovation. In this inspiring episode, we dive into: 🔹 Narges's journey after the acquisition 🔹 The challenges and rewards of founding Bina Technologies 🔹 Insights into Roche’s acquisition 🔹 The vision behind Stanford’s Emergence Program 🔹 Her invaluable advice for entrepreneurs looking for a fresh start 🎧 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eDT8NeRq 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/erGbs6Py Narges’s story is a powerful reminder of the value of second chances and the drive for impactful change. Don’t miss this episode—it's packed with inspiration! #entrepreneurship #secondchances #innovation #stanford #podcast

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Revathi Pillai and I talked about the key elements of effective engineering leadership, how to create a culture of collaboration, the differences between product and engineering roadmaps, and the importance of #AI to the future of daily operations. Link in the comments👇

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in this clip from my discussion with Neha Mittal (former growth leader at Twitter) we talk about how AI is emerging as an asset for growth teams one key angle Neha highlights is content is no longer a bottleneck - content generation is easier and content relevance is higher

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