Sahil Bansal’s Post

Shark Tank India S4 has announced that entries are open! Entrepreneurs will be competing for a chance to pitch their ideas. And as a viewer I’m expecting- •⁠ ⁠Lots and lots of “I don’t want a deal” pitches aiming at free marketing. •⁠ ⁠And Sharks acquiring controlling stakes in struggling startups due to a funding winter. But what I’m truly excited about is to know what’s going to be the ideal deal combination for S4? Season 1- Sharks opting for more “Equity” deals, even buying the startup upfront. Remember the Bummer pitch! Season 2- Sharks investing big with Equity + Debt deals Season 3- Deals locked with Equity + Debt + Royalty Season 4- I’m curious about it. I'm excited for the entrepreneurs and startups that will emerge, and for the sharks who will invest in Indian startups, offering guidance and opening doors to success. Though it is an entertainment show, it is shaping the entrepreneurial landscape in a big way. Reaching rural India and making entrepreneurs and startups household names - that's phenomenal. Are you excited about the Shark Tank Season 4? Should Fitelo apply? #sharktankindia #entrepreneurs #indianstartups #anotherbansal

How to know if you are working for a Lala company? 1/ Pleasing boss’s ego is more important than doing actual work. 2/ Top management discusses people over performance. 3/ Manager’s personal work = Your responsibility 4/ Need to prove your loyalty by leaving late. 5/ Salary is always late. If your company does at least three of the above,  Congratulations! You are working for a Lala company :) #corporatelife #culture #anotherbansal

Startups succeed when they hire for impact rather than just getting things done. Over the last 10 years, I have identified some common traits of people who want to make a real impact. Every employee force operates on the 80/20 rule. 20% of people do their work to make a real impact. As a founder, your goal is find folks who excel beyond just checking boxes. We need to identify them, set them up for success, nurture them and keep them motivated. But how do you identify them? There are some commonalities that every 20% category employee holds: 1/ They genuinely like what they do and do not need any external motivation to get things done. 2/ They have extremely high ownership. You don’t need to chase them for deadlines. 3/ They will keep on learning new things. 4/ They actively seek guidance and feedback from their supervisors. 5/ Compensation matters, but it's not the sole driver. They're driven by purpose and growth. 6/ They value everyone's time, including their own, and demonstrate punctuality. 7/ Their actions match their words. They deliver on their commitments. 8/ They're always seeking new challenges, not limited to a definite role. 9/ Honesty and ethical behavior are paramount for them. 10/ They mean what they say, fostering trust and transparent communication. By keeping these traits in mind, I have been able to hire high-impact players who share our vision and propel Fitelo forward. Remember, it's not just about filling roles; it's about finding those who will truly invest in our success. Have you seen any other traits in high performing individuals? #teamplayer #startups #employees #anotherbansal

Tradition continues after 17 years! India’s historic win carries extra weight coming after India’s 2007 World Cup.   This match was cinema at its best, as we witnessed not just India's win but our players' stronger comeback that inspired millions. Beyond numbers, the journeys of three legends shone through with this win:    Coach: Rahul Dravid  Hitman: Rohit Sharma  Comeback King: Virat Kohli    Millions of hearts were won and healed. Thank you Team India for everything! #TeamIndia #proudmoment #anotherbansal

If there was one piece of advice Steve Jobs would give to Young Entrepreneurs, it would definitely be this:   1/ Money should not be the focus of entrepreneurship.    2/ Money enables you to the freedom things. But it’s not the most important thing.    3/ The real value is the company.    4/ The product, the people, and the problem you are trying to solve.    5/ Having an unwavering belief in your idea/company matters a lot. #motivation #stevejobs #entrepreneurs #anotherbansal Source: DeclanLTD

In 2023, I made a difficult choice for Fitelo. We were rapidly growing and hiring more and more dietitians to keep pace with growing clients. Only to realize that- The breakneck speed had its own cost. Our margins were shrinking. It was difficult to effectively onboard so many new people remotely (imagine our team grew 6X in 2 years). This impacted customer experience.   It was a tough call, but we decided to slow down.  Running behind numbers, doing aggressive performance marketing, and staying neck-to-neck with everyone was good. But we decided not to do it anymore. Instead focused on what matters the most—the customer experience.  We shifted gears by: •⁠ ⁠Slashing the marketing budget. •⁠ ⁠Focusing more on employee onboarding and culture building programs •⁠ ⁠Making customer experience a top priority for everyone. •⁠ ⁠Aligning everyone on Fitelo’s core mission—to help clients get better health outcomes.    This has resulted in positive cash flows, a better customer experience and much more motivated and aligned team. Fitelo has found its rhythm again.   Running behind numbers is hard to resist, but slowing down to do things the right way is sublime ✨ As a founder, it was a close call that I made, keeping Fitelo’s long-term mission and success in mind. But it's a great reminder that true growth comes from putting the customer first, not just the numbers. #growth #founders #customerexperience #anotherbansal

One thing I have done over the years and continue to do is finding the right people. People who can be with you for 20 years. Not just 2 years.   I have built a strong network of professionals who understand me and have had my back for years. And it is a superpower that many don’t know about.  The compounding effect of this networking is priceless.  But it only translates into real value when you do it right.  When there is a crisis, these people can become your lifejacket.  No second-guessing and minimized misalignments. It has helped me in almost all aspects of life. For example, In the last 5 years of building Fitelo, some of these people have jumped in and starting contributing from Day 1. Everyone knows what they are doing and how it will contribute to the bigger picture. This shared history eliminates the repo building, establishing ways of working and knowing each other phase. We hit the ground running, saving precious time and energy. And get things in place really quickly.  Nurturing relationships isn't a luxury; it's an investment.  It is not something that I knew by birth. I have just acquired this skill over time. I keep doing it and over time, this network is growing. Do you know that successful leaders—Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, and Elon Musk—encircle themselves with long-term allies? #networking #founders #startups #anotherbansal

India is taking center stage, be it T20 world cup or G7 summit.  As an entrepreneur, I see the industry and the economy thriving, but here is what bothers me.    While the bright side of India is: → Foreign direct investments are skyrocketing → Multiple government startup schemes, a vibrant ecosystem 61,000 startups got recognized in 2024 → Strong demand and acceptance of domestic brands  → Indian startups are going public → Emerging as Tech and innovation hub   There is a gloomy side of India where: • NEET exams not being conducted fairly • India’s Job crisis, even IITs graduates struggling to secure jobs • Increasing trend of people emigrating from India • Startup registration complexity and stringent laws • Corporate professionals are comparing themselves to Vada Pav Girl, whose annual income estimate is 1.4 crore India's rise as a global economic force is undeniable. But to truly usher in the "India Decade," the nation needs to address issues like educational fairness, job creation, income and social inequality. What are your thoughts on India? #India #indianstartups #anotherbansal

People call me crazy for being so invested in Fitelo. And I’m totally fine with it!    Recently, I went out for a social event, and people around me were having all sorts of conversations related to investing.    → Some were talking about real estate investments.  → Some about crypto. → Some about the equity markets.   And there I was, with nothing to contribute. I felt like I was stranded on a deserted island.    One friend finally broke the silence: "Don't you invest in anything?” My reply? “I just have a SIP.  I want my mental bandwidth to be dedicated 100% to Fitelo."   The awkward smile on their faces was not something I was unfamiliar with. In their mind they wanted to say “He must be really stupid to have all his eggs in one basket”. I often get these from friends, family, and people outside of Fitelo.    The truth behind being so consumed with my brand stems from a deep conviction that we are off to something really big. And it requires all the attention at this stage.    Sure, putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. But building a company is hard. You have got to have as few distractions as possible. What do you think - is it an opportunity or obsession? #entrepreneurship #founders #anotherbansal

Had an enthralling time at AGOG Podcast with Aseem Ghavri! From the name to the conversation we had, it was full of curiosity and excitement. Talked about health and entrepreneurship for hours and we loved it! It's always inspiring to connect with like-minded individuals, and this episode was no exception. During the discussion, we delved into the common health mistakes Indians make, offering insights to navigate them effectively. Mac Singh and I also shared the story behind Fitelo's inception and its exciting journey thus far. Tune into the podcast and let us know how we did! #startups #founders #anotherbansal