Inside the Mind of a Champion: Mahesh Bhupathi, India's first grand slam winner, on Winning Beyond Boundaries 🎾 🚀 In a nation starved of global sporting success in the 1990s, Mahesh Bhupathi emerged as a beacon of hope. Armed with a racquet and an indomitable spirit, he rose to become India's first Grand Slam champion. His journey from a tennis-obsessed kid to a global sports icon showcases what it takes to compete and triumph on the world stage. We're excited to bring you the second episode of Blume Podcast's third season, featuring Mahesh Bhupathi in conversation with Karthik Reddy. This episode perfectly embodies our theme of "Winning Beyond Boundaries," showcasing how determination and skill propel an athlete to the pinnacle of world tennis. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/dkq9TQYs (more links in the first comment). Whether you're a sports enthusiast or simply love stories of triumph against all odds, this episode offers invaluable insights and inspiration. Tune in to hear Mahesh Bhupathi's remarkable story of breaking barriers and conquering the tennis world. Available now on your favorite podcast platforms. Special thanks to our friends at IDFC FIRST Bank, our annual partner and Ultrahuman for supporting Season 3 of the Blume Podcast. Ashish Fafadia Sajith Pai Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Karthik B. Reddy Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Mitul Mehta Alok Mehta Deepika Jain Sarita Raichura Gautham Sivaramakrishnan Vikram Gawande Mudit Narain Shreevar Chhotaria Dhruv Trehan Vignesh J Aditya Kuber
Blume Ventures
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Backing the next wave of revolutionary founders from India!
About us
Blume is an early stage venture fund that backs startups with both funding as well as active mentoring. We typically invest in tech-led startups, led by founders who are obsessed with solving hard problems, uniquely Indian in nature, and impacting large markets. Our vision is to be the leading platform that sources, funds, nurtures and creates value for India's brightest young startups – helping them 'blume'!
- Website
-
http://www.blume.vc
External link for Blume Ventures
- Industry
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Mumbai
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2011
Locations
-
Primary
Byculla East
Mumbai, IN
Employees at Blume Ventures
Updates
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
I have never been much of a sports person, but my limited exposure to it is thanks to my sports fanatic husband, Bineet Thaker, who somehow manages to watch a game 365 days a year! Interestingly, through the years, I’ve come to see the parallels between sports and entrepreneurship, realizing just how many important life lessons sports teaches: how to deal with losses, face competition, bounce back, respect your opponent, and much more. As Karthik B. Reddy pointed out to me, "These are personal grit stories—founder journeys are lonely at the top, and these lessons cater to them." Last weekend, I had the chance to listen to the Blume Ventures podcast featuring Mahesh Bhupathi. There were valuable lessons here for both #entrepreneurs and #parents. I especially loved Bhupathi’s closing remark: "What sets one apart is #Discipline". Sharing my key takeaways from the podcast: - Family support is crucial: Whether you're a sportsperson or an entrepreneur, having a supportive family makes all the difference. It’s not easy—long, unpredictable hours, days filled with highs and lows— a supportive family can be a game-changer. - Global exposure matters: To win beyond borders, whether in sports or entrepreneurship, global exposure can be inspiring - be it founders visiting the Valley or tennis players visiting Wimbledon. - No margin for error: When competing against the best, one must be relentless. The pressure is high and there is simply no margin for error. - Understand your strengths and weaknesses: Working with partners isn’t easy. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and understanding what’s needed from your partner, is key. Bhupathi's stability and his partners’ shots were what helped them win. - It’s a marathon: Whether it’s an IPO celebration or a championship win, we often forget the passion, the years of discipline and hard work it takes to rise and sustain success for 1-2 decades. Without obsession, reaching the top is nearly impossible. -Good mentor/friend: Surround yourself with people who believe in where you want to go. Tennis, like entrepreneurship, can be a lonely journey, especially with travel 35-40 weeks a year. Having a friend—whether it’s a coach, trainer, spouse —is essential to stay mentally grounded. - Always keep learning: Continuous learning is critical. Even the best need to hear and be reminded of important lessons. Re-tooling is vital. You need to build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses to improve. - Coach-mentee relationships matter: The best coaching relationships are built on mutual understanding. Knowing when to give advice, especially after a loss, is crucial. - Go ALL-IN: Whether in sports or entrepreneurship, for India to become a serious contender, we need to put the muscle behind it. Worth a listen -> https://lnkd.in/dkq9TQYs On a parallel note, excited about the sportstech startups we have backed through the Blume founders fund - Sports For Life & KheloMore.
What makes an elite partnership thrive? 💪 In this clip, tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi reveals the unique dynamic he shared with Leander Paes. Their partnership thrived on an unspoken understanding and unwavering self-belief, allowing them to dominate even when unseeded. Bhupathi shares how they maintained their edge, striking fear into opponents across multiple Olympics and Grand Slams. Their approach offers valuable lessons on trust and resilience in high-stakes partnerships. Want to dive deeper into the mindset of world-class athletes? Watch the full episode of our conversation with Mahesh Bhupathi in the 2nd episode of the Blume Podcast. Link 👉 https://lnkd.in/dkq9TQYs Karthik B. Reddy Ashish Fafadia Sajith Pai Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Mitul Mehta Alok Mehta Deepika Jain Sarita Raichura Gautham Sivaramakrishnan Vikram Gawande Mudit Narain Shreevar Chhotaria Dhruv Trehan Vignesh J Aditya Kuber
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
Interesting story about Surge in House Hold Debt in India in Mint sharing few snippets below. India's household debt has risen sharply, with the debt-to-income ratio increasing by 20 percentage points since 2011-12. The rapid adoption of fintech models like 'buy now, pay later' has fueled this surge, particularly among younger consumers. While this has boosted short-term consumption, the shift from asset-building loans (like housing) to discretionary spending on consumer durables and vehicles is concerning. The RBI has already taken steps to curb the rise in unsecured lending, but the long-term risks remain significant. With household debt now at 40% of GDP, the burden is heavier when compared to India's lower per capita income. If left unchecked, this could lead to a debt trap, weakening consumer spending and slowing economic growth. It's crucial that we focus on increasing incomes and sustainable financial practices to mitigate these risks and ensure long-term economic stability. Financial products like Multipl are addressing this need by encouraging "spendvesting" – a smarter way to invest for big-ticket future expenses. Multipl provides a twofold advantage: it helps you plan for significant expenditures like vehicle down payments, insurance premiums, travel, education fees, and gadgets, while also offering great discounts with partner brands. In short, Multipl allows you to plan and save better, while enjoying savings of up to 20% on purchases. Link to the Story : https://lnkd.in/gyx4XkgV Link to the app in the first comment Paddy Raghavan Jags Raghavan Vikas Jain Ashish Fafadia Blume Ventures
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
Interesting story about Surge in House Hold Debt in India in Mint sharing few snippets below. India's household debt has risen sharply, with the debt-to-income ratio increasing by 20 percentage points since 2011-12. The rapid adoption of fintech models like 'buy now, pay later' has fueled this surge, particularly among younger consumers. While this has boosted short-term consumption, the shift from asset-building loans (like housing) to discretionary spending on consumer durables and vehicles is concerning. The RBI has already taken steps to curb the rise in unsecured lending, but the long-term risks remain significant. With household debt now at 40% of GDP, the burden is heavier when compared to India's lower per capita income. If left unchecked, this could lead to a debt trap, weakening consumer spending and slowing economic growth. It's crucial that we focus on increasing incomes and sustainable financial practices to mitigate these risks and ensure long-term economic stability. Financial products like Multipl are addressing this need by encouraging "spendvesting" – a smarter way to invest for big-ticket future expenses. Multipl provides a twofold advantage: it helps you plan for significant expenditures like vehicle down payments, insurance premiums, travel, education fees, and gadgets, while also offering great discounts with partner brands. In short, Multipl allows you to plan and save better, while enjoying savings of up to 20% on purchases. Link to the Story : https://lnkd.in/gyx4XkgV Link to the app in the first comment Paddy Raghavan Jags Raghavan Vikas Jain Ashish Fafadia Blume Ventures
Buy now, pay how? Inside the worrying surge in India’s household debt
livemint.com
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
🎮 Level Up Your Career with LightFury Games!🎮 Are you ready to embark on an epic quest in the world of game development? #LightFuryGames is on the hunt for legendary talent to join our guild of innovators, creators, and game-changers! 🏆✨ CURRENT QUESTS AVAILABLE: 1. 🛡️ Senior Unreal Programmer - Master the code and shape the realms! 2. 🎨 Senior Character Artist - Bring characters to life with your artistic magic! 3. 🎭 Technical Animator (Facial) - Animate expressions that tell epic tales! 4. 🗺️ Lead Producer - Guide our team to victory with your strategic prowess! 5. 🔧 Senior Tools Programmer - Forge the tools that empower our creators! 6. 🌟 Senior Graphics Programmer - Craft stunning visuals that captivate players! 7. 🎓 Graduate Roles - Unreal Programmers - Begin your journey and hone your skills! Are you ready to accept the challenge and take on big responsibilities & big adventures? 🏹 Write to us at [email protected] or visit us on https://lnkd.in/gaTacQVS to apply. Share this quest with your fellow adventurers and let’s build the future of gaming in #India together! 🚀 #JoinTheQuest #GameOn #LevelUpYourCareer #Startups #Startup #India #Bangalore #Jobs #Gaming #JobAlert #Games #Hiring #HiringPost
-
A legendary partnership! 🎾 🏆 In the latest episode of the Blume Podcast (Season 3, Episode 2), Tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi shares the captivating story of his 15-year partnership with Leander Paes. From their serendipitous teaming in Jakarta to dominating the global tennis scene, he talks about what it takes to become the World No. 1 doubles team, clinching 3 Grand Slam titles in a year, and what made them unbeatable. But it's not just about tennis. Bhupathi's story offers valuable lessons for founders/operators on building lasting partnerships, the power of complementary skills in a tag team, and bouncing back from setbacks. Watch 👇 https://lnkd.in/gBdMDYKE Karthik B. Reddy Ashish Fafadia Sajith Pai Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Mitul Mehta Alok Mehta Deepika Jain Sarita Raichura Gautham Sivaramakrishnan Vikram Gawande Mudit Narain Shreevar Chhotaria Dhruv Trehan Vignesh J Aditya Kuber
The Legendary Partnership of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes #blumepodcast #usopen #indiastartups
https://www.youtube.com/
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
Commercial three-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Euler Motors plans to enter the small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment with the launch of its first four-wheeler EV in the festive season 👇 The startup said that the EV will offer a payload of over 1,000 kg and meet the growing demand for cost-effective and high-performance inter-and intra-city transportation solutions. Euler Motors said that the vehicle will offer long driving range and thoughtful design ergonomics to enhance the driving experience and allow real-time fleet management. 📎 To read more in detail, click here: https://lnkd.in/g_3NBmSq Saurav Kumar #news #electricvehicles #launch
-
Ever felt out of place and overwhelmed shopping at a local Kirana store while finding comfort in the familiar brands and streamlined aisle experience of modern trade stores? *Home is Where The Mart Is* Neeraj Menta, Co-Founder of SuperK (Blume Fund IV co), experienced this during a visit to his ancestral town near Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. He saw a wave of modernization - traditional barber shops became chic salons, old bakeries turned into trendy cafes, and local medical stores evolved into organized chains. People wanted a more modern, comfortable shopping experience. Yet, the daily retail sector lagged. *Bridging the Retail Gap* Traditional stores run by older generations struggled with inconsistent pricing and unstandardized products, disappointing shoppers. The demand for a better retail experience was clear, but major players like Reliance and D-Mart find it challenging to enter smaller markets due to high operational costs and complex staffing needs in small towns. Neeraj and his cofounder, Anil Thontepu, seized this opportunity, launching first SuperK store in Kadapa in 2019. They launched with an OYO-like franchise model, leveraging local expertise and keeping costs low. However, they faced early resistance from local store owners who were skeptical of SuperK's ability to enhance their operations and revenue. To build confidence, SuperK launched a few company-owned stores to prove their business model's viability and gain trust. What further helped them build trust was their decision not to raise prices during the pandemic to support local retailers. Once trust was built, SuperK rapidly expanded from ten stores in Kadapa to 100+ stores in 5 districts. *Resilience in Retail* While the brand was gaining popularity, the pace of growth presented challenges. Infrastructure, people, and process gaps affected customer experience and store success, along with increased operational burn. They made a strategic decision to focus on deep business improvements before growing the store count. This hard work has started paying off, with a 20% sales increase and a robust operational setup. Vikram Gawande, from the Growth Investments team at Blume Ventures, says, “Non-metro India is as aspirational as Metros, presenting a huge opportunity. Neeraj and Anil’s insights into non-metro shopping behaviors allowed them to build a massive network of 100+ SuperK stores. They’ve created livelihoods for hundreds of families and delighted thousands of customers.” To focus on loyal customers, SuperK recently launched a Costco-like membership model offering cashback to shoppers, which is already gaining strong traction. Though it’s early days for the Bengaluru-based company, they’ve made impressive progress in building efficient operations and proving their model’s potential to work at scale. At Blume Ventures, we’re proud to be partners in this journey and excited to see them become one of India’s most exciting retail brands.
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
WebEngage is hiring its Head of Service Delivery. If you have 5+ years of project management experience in managing technical project deliveries or Technical Services, this is just the opportunity you were looking for. You get to lead a team of service delivery professionals, own the service P&L, and get to work with 800+ consumer brands every day - some that you might yourselves be a user of :-) WebEngage has emerged as a big challenger to American enterprise software (across CDP, Analytics, Campaign Management, and Personalization categories) who have been doing business in India and other emerging markets for over a decade. We have repeatedly been awarded for being the most agile and easy to use product in our category. Thousands of customer reviews stand testimony to the highest quality of onboarding and solutioning we are able to offer to our customers. This is a wonderful opportunity to add your layer of expertise to the service operation and scale it further. Here's more on what we are looking for - https://lnkd.in/dsUU5vV5 Please feel free to ping me or Ankur, should you wish to learn more about the opportunity. If you know someone who fits the description, please refer this opening to them. Also, it'd be great if you could share this in your network 🙏
-
Blume Ventures reposted this
Now’s your opportunity to stand out in the 3rd edition of HDFC Tech Innovators, India's leading platform for pioneering startups at the forefront of innovation. Launched by HDFC Capital and supported by HDFC Bank along with its group companies, this edition emphasizes technology-driven solutions that promote inclusion and democratize access in Consumer Tech, FinTech, New Age Tech, PropTech, and Sustainability Tech sectors. Don’t miss the chance to elevate your startup and make a significant impact! Apply Now - https://lnkd.in/eErdN5CJ HDFC Bank HDFC AMC HDFC Life HDFC securities HDFC ERGO General Insurance HDB Financial Services Ltd. Startup India MeitY Startup Hub IIMA Ventures Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad NSRCEL Indian Institute of Management Bangalore Indian Institute of Science (IISc) YNOS Venture Engine Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST) Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Awfis Space Solutions Limited CREDAI National Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) NATIONAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (NAREDCO) 100X.VC 3one4 Capital Accel Blume Ventures Brigade Real Estate Accelerator Program (REAP) Chiratae Ventures Earth Fund Elevation Capital Gruhas Inflection Point Ventures IvyCap Ventures Advisors Private Limited Rainmatter by Zerodha Z47 (fka Matrix Partners India) #HDFCTechInnovators2024 #HDFCTechInnovators #Innovation #Startup #HDFCGroup #StartupChallenge #StartupAward #TechLeaders #FutureOfTech #InnovationChallenge #Startups #InclusiveInnovation