244: Can Devotion Drive Digital Innovation? | Prashant Sachan (Co-founder, Apps for Bharat)

The Startup Operator

In this episode Roshan talks to Prashant Sachan, co-founder of Apps for Bharat, to explore the dynamic landscape of India's consumer market and his successful journey with the Srimandir app. With over 3 crore downloads and 3 million monthly users, Prashanth discusses the art of building engaging app-led businesses, the role of monetization, and delivering unique user experiences. The conversation delves into user engagement, iterative experimentation, and scaling challenges, particularly amidst the digital adaptation of religious practices during the pandemic. Additionally, the episode provides practical fundraising advice for startups and insights on operating through economic downturns, stressing the importance of trust, authenticity, and financial discipline.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction
02:27 Starting a Business: Key Insights
05:09 Building for the Masses
07:05 Experimenting with Ideas
09:05 Understanding User Needs
16:13 Validating App Ideas
24:27 Growth Strategies and User Engagement
36:52 Monetization and User Feedback
41:37 Building Without Bias
42:19 Commitment to User Needs
43:11 Business Model Innovation
44:26 Monetizing Devotion
46:23 Digital Spiritual Tourism
49:07 Empowering Lesser-Known Temples
58:10 The Role of Devotion in Society
01:11:07 Navigating Market Challenges
01:11:31 Fundraising Insights
01:14:34 App Store Challenges
01:18:07 Advice for Founders
01:19:49 Recommended Reads for Founders
01:21:17 Conclusion and Farewell

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