Most founders look at Aman Gupta and think: “he's different. I could never build that.
Avnish Bajaj has known Aman for over 20 years - since before boAt, before Shark Tank, before any of it. He knows that's not the truth. That's exactly why he invited him on Unstarted.
Aman Gupta co-founded BoAt in 2016 and built it into India's largest consumer audio brand, with ₹3000+ crore in revenue and a 45% co-founder stake. What most people don't know: before boAt, there were 5 other companies. Most didn't work.
Some ran simultaneously. He got fired from almost every job he held. And he only had a 2-year window to prove himself.
In this episode, Avnish and Aman try to answer the questions founders actually carry:
1. Follow your passion" but what if you don't know what yours is yet? Is it really the idea that separates winners from losers?
2. What does it take to build a cult brand when you're nobody? When do you know it's time to hand the keys to someone else?
3. How do you stay unapologetically yourself when the whole world is watching?
The answer they keep coming back to: it's less about being born right, and more about being willing to stay in the game.
Chapters
00:00 Aman Gupta & Baazi backstory
01:21 Podcast intro – What is Unstarted
02:44 Introducing Aman Gupta (boAt founder)
04:11 Shark Tank, media & public image
08:15 Jobs, getting fired & entrepreneurial DNA
11:12 “Hum bhi bana lenge” mindset
14:45 Q1Are entrepreneurs born or made?
17:52 Q2 3 outrageous qualities founders need
25:55 Q3 How founders should pitch to investors
27:44 Judging founders in minutes
28:30 Hiring philosophy – people like you vs complementary skills
29:44 Shark Tank regret question setup
Follow Z47
Website - https://www.z47.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/z47.vc/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/z47-vc/