00:00 - 03:16: Introduction
03:17 - 5:26: Tough beginnings and what shaped Niraj
05:33 - 7:25: Grit to get to IIT-D
12:34 - 13:42: Support of the ecosystem being very low back in the day
14:53 - 17:23: Lost his father but bounced back in 3-4 months and started his second company
31:42 - 33:51: Going with the full stack model even though the new investors pulled the term sheet
35:22 - 37:37: Restarting with the new business model: What happened after the investors pulled back?
39:43 - 41:28: How the team stepped up during tough times?
52:46 - 53:57: Being open to feedback and it's importance
On the very surface, Niraj Singh’s startup story might seem like one you’ve heard before. He went to IIT-Delhi, and is the CEO and founder of Spinny, the online platform for people to sell and buy second-hand cars. You know this already.
But behind the scenes, nothing about Niraj’s journey is familiar; his grit story long preceded his entrepreneurial days.
Studying with his textbooks and a Hindi to English dictionary side by side, attempting JEE exam for the second time in secret in order to switch from B.Arch to B.Tech, a few entrepreneurial stints even before he hit 30, the loss of a loved one - Niraj has accumulated significant life experiences at a fairly young age
How he did all that, and has now built one of India’s most recognizable startups is part of the ground we cover on this podcast.
But there’s also more, on:
Speaking to founders is the central tenet of what I do. But it never ceases to surprise me how I almost always walk away with a new story, a fresh perspective.
Niraj’s is truly a tale of grit, and I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I did.