The BarberShop with Shantanu
Hosted by Shantanu Deshpande
The founder of Bombay Shaving Company offers practical advice and mentorship to Indian entrepreneurs through expert panels and solo narratives.
A hybrid business podcast that alternates between several formats. Some episodes are solo deep-dives where the host, Shantanu Deshpande, breaks down his own strategies for building his brands. Others are structured "Khul Ke Scale" sessions where guest founders present a business problem to a panel of seasoned industry veterans for advice. The show also features occasional human-interest stories that tie back to his company's mission and customers.
“The host is not a journalist but an active founder-CEO, grounding the conversations in his own current experience. Its unique "Khul Ke Scale" format functions like a public boardroom session, providing guest founders with direct advice from high-caliber experts, which is a departure from typical one-on-one interview shows.”
Who hosts this show
Shantanu Deshpande is the founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company and its women's line, Bombae. A former McKinsey consultant with an MBA from IIM Lucknow, he uses this podcast as a platform for mentorship. The show features discussions with industry experts and entrepreneurs, focusing on actionable insights for building businesses in India.
Credentials & credits
- Founder & CEO, Bombay Shaving Company
- Founder, Bombae
- MBA, IIM Lucknow
- B.Tech, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur
- Former Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
- Advisor, Advent International
Other ventures
- Bombay Shaving Company
- Bombae
- The Barbershop Fund (angel investments)
- Advisor, McKinsey & Company
- Ambassador, Olympic Gold Quest
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01This is how you can choose your distribution channel!Jun 26, 2026 · 1 min
- 02How can coffee startups innovate smartly?Jun 25, 2026 · 33s
- 03Packaging Insights For Every FounderJun 24, 2026 · 50s
- 04This is how Nescafe was born!Jun 23, 2026 · 1 min
- 05The Father’s Day Story We Never Expected to Tell | Happy Father's Day!Jun 20, 2026 · 6 min
- 06From OEM To ₹20-25 Cr ARR: How Beanly Is Building India’s Next Coffee BrandJun 19, 2026 · 1h 00m
- 07How to Build a ₹150 Crore Women's Grooming Brand | BombaeJun 12, 2026 · 4 min
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01From OEM To ₹20-25 Cr ARR: How Beanly Is Building India’s Next Coffee Brand
A prime example of the show's 'Khul Ke Scale' format, where founders get direct advice from industry titans like a former PepsiCo CEO.
- 02How to Build a ₹150 Crore Women's Grooming Brand | Bombae
A solo narrative where the host provides a masterclass on brand building, using his own successful venture, Bombae, as a detailed case study.
- 03The Father’s Day Story We Never Expected to Tell | Happy Father's Day!
This episode showcases the podcast's unique ability to blend business with human interest, turning a customer's comment into a brand story.
What you'll be asked on this show
In the show's signature 'Khul Ke Scale' format, Shantanu acts as a facilitator. He begins by having the guest founder articulate a core business challenge. He then asks targeted, operational questions about their manufacturing, team structure, or product performance to build context for the expert panel. Shantanu doesn't typically engage in aggressive pushback; instead, he probes for specifics to ensure the experts' advice is well-informed. He guides the conversation, allowing the veteran leaders to deliver the primary strategic insights, often illustrated with case studies from major corporations.
The show's style varies by format. Solo episodes are direct, educational narratives from the host. The 'Khul Ke Scale' interviews are structured problem-solving sessions where Shantanu facilitates between founders and an expert panel. Other episodes are more personal, such as an on-location interview conducted in a customer's home.
Questions Shantanu Deshpande keeps coming back to
9 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Shantanu Deshpande reaches for it.
advice
1- Q.01
“What is your framework for balancing new innovation versus scaling what already works?”
This is often posed as the central 'Founder's Question' in the 'Khul Ke Scale' segments to frame the strategic discussion.
origin
2- Q.01
“What did your early-day manufacturing and operations look like?”
He asks this to understand the origin and constraints of the business's initial setup.
- Q.02
“What was the specific moment or reason you decided to reach out?”
Used in the customer-centric episode to uncover the emotional origin of the story.
product
2- Q.01
“Which product is your top performer on a key channel like quick commerce?”
This question seeks to identify the core revenue driver in a specific, modern sales channel.
- Q.02
“How does a customer perceive the difference between your product and its alternatives?”
This question probes for the product's true market differentiation from a consumer's point of view.
process
2- Q.01
“Who on your team is responsible for the brand's direction and execution?”
Asks this to understand the internal structure and ownership of brand management.
- Q.02
“Have you considered or filed for a patent on your innovation?”
A tactical question to gauge the founder's approach to intellectual property.
money
1- Q.01
“What was the cost to build out your core process or technology?”
He asks this to benchmark the financial investment required for a key innovation, often highlighting frugality.
craft
1- Q.01
“Did you have the technical skills for a key innovation, or did you learn on the fly?”
This explores the founder's resourcefulness and technical background.
Signature segments
- · Khul Ke Scale
- · Founder's Question
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show primarily books founders of Indian consumer brands (e.g., Beanly Coffee, Nasher Miles) who face specific scaling challenges. It also features senior industry leaders, such as former CEOs and operating partners, who serve as expert advisors on panels.
- Rahul Jainon From OEM To ₹20-25 Cr ARR: How Beanly Is Building India’s Next Coffee Brand
- Samayesh Khannaon From OEM To ₹20-25 Cr ARR: How Beanly Is Building India’s Next Coffee Brand
- Shiv Shivakumaron From OEM To ₹20-25 Cr ARR: How Beanly Is Building India’s Next Coffee Brand
- Lokesh Dagaon How Do You Build A Brand In A Low-Repeat Category? Nasher Miles On Luggage, LTV, CAC & EBOs
- Juiee Merchanton The Father’s Day Story We Never Expected to Tell | Happy Father's Day!
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is a core part of the host's brand strategy. His companies, Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, are the primary sponsors and are frequently used as case studies, making the show a powerful content marketing engine.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is Shantanu Deshpande's background?
- He is the founder of Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, with an MBA from IIM Lucknow and prior experience at McKinsey & Company.
- What is the format of the podcast?
- It's a hybrid show featuring solo narratives from the host, expert panel discussions with founders ('Khul Ke Scale'), and occasional customer stories.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, it releases episodes frequently, with the most recent ones published in June 2026.
- Who is the target audience for this podcast?
- The show is primarily for Indian entrepreneurs and business leaders, especially those in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) and consumer goods sectors.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Shantanu Deshpande: Founder of Bombay Shaving Company | Biographystartuptalky.com
- [02]Shantanu Deshpande - Indian Speaker Bureauindianspeakerbureau.com
- [03]The BarberShop with Shantanu | Podcast Profilepodcastrat.com
- [04]Shantanu Deshpande - Startup Mahakumbhstartupmahakumbh.org
- [05]Shantanu Deshpande: Building FMCG 2.0 with Bombay Shaving Companythefounderthesis.com
- [06]The BarberShop with Shantanu - YouTube Musicmusic.youtube.com
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