NAVAN JAISWAL

Stories that make you rich | IG: 700K+ | YT: 200K+
Ex-Founder CirclePe, Funded by India’s Best Investors
IIM Drop-Out

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

You need to be extremely dumb to reject ₹4,000 Cr from PepsiCo.

That’s the only lesson I’m taking from meeting Chandubhai Virani, founder of ₹40,000 Cr Balaji Wafers.

He started at ₹90/month in a Rajkot cinema. Today, Balaji sells 5 crore packets a day.

4 things that stood out:

1. Brothers > CEOs: Built the business with his brothers, who still run it together.
2. Kindness > competition: When Haldiram’s factory caught fire, he let his competitor manufacture in Balaji’s factories.
3. Admit what you don’t know: He openly says he doesn’t understand technology. So he hires people who do.
4. Sachets > premium : Build for every Indian, not just the premium customer.

That’s the kind of “dumb” worth being.

Dumb Founder Series — Part 2

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

Finally the Government WOKE UP!

The Indian government's consumer protection authority has fined Zepto, BookMyShow, IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd), PW (PhysicsWallah) and 5 other platforms ₹20 lakh for using dark patterns.

That's a clear message to every consumer brand, stop sneaking a membership into the customer's cart or pre-selecting a donation, or just using guilt to push an add-on.

One thing I personally hated when you book a flight the travel insurance option is shown as "Yes" or "No, I will take the risk." I mean why guilt-trip customers for making a choice? A simple "No" should be enough.

Hopefully, actions like this push companies towards cleaner and more honest user experiences.

The only question is: when these companies do ₹1,000+ CRORES in revenue, would a small fine be enough to actually change these dark patterns?

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

Meeting Mr. Ram Chandra Agarwal was a masterclass in resilience.

He was diagnosed with polio as a child and still walks with crutches. Yet he built Vishal Mega Mart, lost it in a ₹750 crore debt crisis, and started again. Today, V2 Retail is valued at ₹8,000+ crore.

Three lessons that stayed with me:

1. India doesn't just shop in metros. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are where the real opportunity lies.
2. Sustainable growth beats growth at any cost.
3. Master one thing instead of trying to do everything.

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

India called them “untouchable.”
Nand Kishore Chaudhary called them artisans.

That decision built a ₹10,000 crore company.
He started with ₹5,000 borrowed from his father.

No design background. No connections.

Just one question:
“How can a woman be defined by her caste?”

Today: 40,000+ women artisans • 600 villages •5 states
Most founders chase market gaps.
He closed a dignity gap.

And the market followed.
“Interdependence is the real mool mantra. Not hustle.”

One of the most powerful conversations I've had.

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

In 1986, the average human daily consumed information equivalent to 40 newspapers.

Today, that number is 174 newspapers a day. Yet people aren’t necessarily wiser.

Because information and understanding are two completely different things.

[NAVAN JAISWAL @Navan_Jaiswal]

Indian politicians will become creators or die

Joseph Vijay — decades of content → loyal audience → cultural influence --> CM Of TN

Future politicians won’t be manufactured. They’ll be followed first, elected later. Start small but build influence.