How “Shark” Amit Jain plans to build 20 unicorns out of Jaipur with his brother Anurag

The BarberShop with Shantanu

In this conversation with Amit Jain (Co-Founder & CEO, CarDekho) and Anurag Jain (Co-Founder & COO, CarDekho) we learn why every founder should consider building in a small town like Jaipur—and do it with family.

Amit and Anurag turned what started as a small-town dream (announced on LinkedIn - true story) into a billion-dollar reality. If that doesn’t make you believe in manifestation, we don’t know what will. 😏

CarDekho’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From a bootstrapped company to one of India’s most sought-after startups, they’ve completely redefined how India buys and sells cars.

In this conversation, we break down:

- The power of trust in leadership and how it shapes company culture.

- Scaling a startup: structuring equity, empowering talent, and navigating co-founder dynamics.

- Why founders today should pick Tier 2 cities over metros to thrive.

- Working with family—the unique challenges, advantages, and what makes it work.

- The mindset shifts required to build billion-dollar businesses and what Indian entrepreneurs can learn from global success stories.

This episode is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs, family business owners, corporate leaders, and anyone looking to turn their big dreams into reality.

Drop your thoughts in the comments! Also, if you’d like a chance to interact with SD as an audience member for our next shoot, fill this form: https://forms.gle/5j26oEVkRbEFJmcX8

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Navigate your way through this conversation:

00:00 - Coming Up

01:04 - About the Podcast

04:41 - The Journey of Entrepreneurship

10:45 - Building a Consumer-Centric Ecosystem

13:36 - Identifying and Empowering Talent

16:25 - Structuring for Success: Equity and Ownership

19:41 - The Dynamics of Brotherly Co-Founders

22:37 - Navigating Challenges and Growth

25:41 - The Role of Trust in Leadership

28:34 - The Evolution of Organizational Structure

31:37 - Lessons from Experience and Scaling Up

43:47 - Understanding Numbers and Business Instincts

45:47 - Building a Knowledge-Driven Organization

47:53 - Fostering Personal Connections in Leadership

49:53 - Balancing Professionalism and Personal Bonds

52:12 - The Importance of Authentic Leadership

53:57 - Celebrating Alumni Success Stories

55:14 - Encouraging Individual Aspirations

56:03 - Co-Founder Dynamics and Feedback

57:50 - Influencing Each Other's Leadership Styles

59:57 - The Role of Sports in Team Bonding

01:01:32 - The Jaipur Connection and Talent Pool

01:03:06 - Creating Opportunities in Tier 2 Cities

01:05:11 - Company Culture as a Family

01:07:54 - Navigating External Capital and Investor Relations

01:22:02 - Building for the Future: Vision and Legacy

01:25:03 - The Power of Compounding: Growth and Strategy

01:28:24 - Energy and Inspiration: What Drives Founders

01:29:48 - Patriotism and Community: Building in India

01:32:31 - Giving Back: The Role of Mentorship and Support

01:34:03 - The Rise of Entrepreneurship in Tier 2 Cities

01:36:56 - The Evolving Landscape of Startups and Investments

01:44:02 - Harnessing AI: Opportunities and Challenges

01:49:59 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Taking the Leap