Gopal Kulkarni

🚨 Girish Mathrubootham to exit Freshworks by December Girish Mathrubootham, co-founder of Nasdaq-listed Freshworks and a key voice in India’s SaaS story, will step down as Executive Chairman on December 1, 2025. He will now focus on Together Fund, the VC firm he co-founded. Freshworks has appointed Roxanne Austin, Lead Independent Director, as the new Chairperson of the Board. Under Mathrubootham’s leadership, the Chennai-founded startup grew into a unicorn and became the first Indian SaaS company to list on Nasdaq. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gZwWvqXU By Thimmaya Poojary #Freshworks #SaaS #Leadership #Startups #TechNews

133

2 Comments

Loved connecting with Sindhu Gangadharan about how we help our customers co-innovate and turn big ideas into real business impact.   One of my favorite examples is a customer who introduced a brilliantly simple 0-1-2 innovation approach: 🔹 0 – “Zero customization.” Use the standard product as is. 🔹 1 – “One approval.” If customization is needed, it requires CFO sign-off and will be done as extension using SAP BTP. 🔹 2 – “Two in a box.” The entire transformation is a joint responsibility between IT and the Business.   This model helped the customer deliver on time, avoid unnecessary complexity, and drive meaningful transformation. It also enabled them to work more efficiently and create needed use cases based on their business challenges. With Customer Innovation Services, we built and deployed innovative extensions on SAP BTP – keeping everything natively integrated and turning innovation into a true strategic advantage.   These types of extensions are essential for customers looking to stay differentiated. Once they run on SAP, they can unlock new value with data and AI, and that’s where the power of the Business Suite shines – bringing it all together so organizations can innovate and adapt faster. 🚀

201

2 Comments

🚨 Easebuzz raises $30M in series A round led by Bessemer Venture Partners With over $30B GTV processed in FY25 and revenue more than doubling to ₹650 Cr, this digital payments and vertical SaaS powerhouse is scaling fast—and profitably from day one. From powering UPI Soundboxes to streamlining payments in sectors like education, real estate, and BFSI, Easebuzz is revolutionizing how India pays. With RBI’s final nod as a payment aggregator and global ambitions brewing, this startup is buzzing louder than ever! Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gUCGtQvW By Sayan Sen #StartupFunding #Easebuzz #FintechIndia #SaaS #DigitalPayments #RBI #SeriesA #IndianStartups #YourStory

126

3 Comments

Just as new GCCs keep coming, every week we see another firm launching a “GCC offering”. The FOMO is real and so is the opportunity. Although the pie is large enough for many players, the GCC enablement ecosystem in India has grown far quicker than demand has caught up. Here's an alphabetical list of who’s helping GCCs in India. A mix of GCC specialists, Big 4, staffing-tech players, workspace providers, and research/intel firms that are active in India’s GCC story. A few caveats though, this is a quick, personal A-Z. Not a ranking or endorsement. The ecosystem of course is much deeper and exhaustive. Too many see the GCC market as: hire/augment people + lease office space/facilities = $$. That's not a GCC setup; that's just a staffing play. Offshoring today is very different from 15 years ago. When enterprises are choosing between offshoring and relocating capability, India's strength shouldn't be reduced to ‘talent ramp-up/ramp-down’ flexibility. In the crowded ecosystem, market assessments rarely capture the fact that very few can do everything end-to-end. Most successful GCC journeys are highly collaborative for any enterprise when it selects one player to shape the strategy and operating model, another to handle legal compliance and someone else for execution and expertise. Put together, these firms could complement each other far more than they compete. The hard part isn’t launching another GCC offering, but the challenge is creating demand: convincing global enterprises why India, why now, and why a GCC. The timing, however, couldn’t be better. With geopolitical winds in favour, if not now…when? Only wish for new entrants, invest time in understanding the model beyond talent + real estate. There’s a lot to do on building real POV, governance, value realization, and transformation.   Healthy competition benefits everyone. And, winners are those who play to their strengths, go deep, and build a genuine niche. Focus beats breadth here as well especially in a market that’s slowly moving towards consolidation. Everyone doesn’t need to be a ‘Leader’ on a quadrant to win (sponsorship budgets aside 😊). You just need to know where you belong!   This A-to-Z is a starting point, who did we miss? Tag the firms, people and help build a comprehensive list. #GCC #GBS

535

49 Comments

How does Talrop generate revenue from its distribution system? Equity, Revenue Share & Service Charge! For over a decade, Talrop has been working towards building the largest hybrid distribution system in Kerala. Now, this distribution system is being scaled to a national level, expanding from Kerala to every corner of the country, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Talrop’s distribution system follows a similar approach to Amazon’s AWS. Amazon initially developed AWS as an internal cloud computing platform to meet the growing demands of its e-commerce business. Over time, the company recognised that the scalable and reliable cloud services it had built could benefit other businesses as well. Eventually, Amazon officially launched AWS as a public cloud computing platform, making it accessible to businesses worldwide. Talrop is applying the same principle. Talrop is developing the largest distribution system in Kerala as the foundation for its digital assets in the form of startups. This system is taking shape through 20 regional offices in each parliamentary constituency. Additionally, 140 Techies Parks are being set up in selected colleges, and 140 Inventor Parks are being established in selected schools - one in each assembly constituency. At the grassroots level, 1,064 Village Parks are being established across panchayats, municipalities, and corporations, creating a widespread infrastructure to support Talrop’s vision. Talrop initially developed its distribution system with the primary goal of supporting its own digital asset creation. This system was tailored specifically to meet Talrop’s needs. However, what was originally built for Talrop’s internal purposes is now being opened up to the public. Currently, Talrop’s distribution channel is fully operational as a two-way system in 200 panchayats. By December 2027, the distribution system will extend across Kerala. Starting from the following year, Talrop’s distribution system will be available to businesses from Kerala, as well as those from other states and countries, seeking to expand into the Kerala market. For those interested in utilising Talrop’s distribution system, we offer a partnership framework based on equity, revenue share, and service charges. This approach enables businesses to leverage Talrop's extensive distribution system in exchange for shared value creation. We invite you to connect with us and explore the potential of expanding your business through our established distribution channels. Thankfully, Safeer Najumudeen Co-founder & CEO, Talrop

227

9 Comments

🌏 India’s cross-border momentum is just getting started. 🚀 From the rise of Tier 2 exporters to the power of digital-first platforms, Payoneer is witnessing a shift in how India does global business. 💡 Gaurav Shisodia, Vice President, Payoneer India, shares key insights in Outlook Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd. spotlighting what’s driving the next wave of cross-border growth for Indian SMBs. Read the interview here 👉 https://paynr.co/4pqPkdK

19

Unlocking the Power of Automation for CFOs! Bikash Joshi, Chief Product Officer at dMACQ, shares his insights on how AI-driven automation is transforming financial operations, boosting efficiency, and ensuring seamless compliance. Stay ahead in the digital era—watch this exclusive conversation! Know more: https://bit.ly/3Ba4VtX #ETCFO #ETCFOLeadership2025 #BusinessTransformation #DigitalGrowth #Leadership #CFO #IndiaInc #EconomicTimes #Summit

10

Maathra Technology and Consultancy Pvt Ltd is thrilled to announce the launch of our very first Oracle APEX plugin: a seamless Voice Recorder integrated directly into application comments! Imagine the power of clear, direct communication alongside traditional text comments. Whether it's explaining intricate details in a transaction within your ERP or simply adding a personal touch to collaboration, our new plugin makes it effortless. Users can now record and attach voice notes, which are securely stored in the database and instantly viewable within the refreshed comments section. This capability streamlines collaboration and enhances understanding like never before. We're excited about the possibilities this opens up for enhanced user experiences within Oracle APEX applications. Have you explored the potential of voice in your collaborative workflows? We'd love to hear your thoughts! #OracleAPEX #APEXPlugin #Innovation #Collaboration #UserExperience #Maathra #Oracle #Tech #NewRelease #orclAPEX #maathra Maathra Technology and Consultancy Pvt Ltd

213

26 Comments

Winning High-Stakes RFPs-Part 2B/10 Solution Engineering Series : Domain Architecture Blueprints – NBFC & Healthcare (AI × Compliance × Engineering) 🏦 NBFC – Credit, Risk, and Collections 🔹 Before the Loan (Pre-Disbursal): Lead Capture: Integrate CRM, referral systems, or DSA (Direct Selling Agents) into the loan journey Credit Decisioning: AI Scorecard built from: Credit Bureau scores, Banking patterns, Behavioral + Device data XAI (Explainable AI): Use SHAP or LIME to explain to regulators/customers why a loan was rejected Bank Statement Parsing: APIs like Perfios, Finarkein extract income, inflows, and bounce history; ML flags irregular patterns (e.g., sudden income drop) Underwriting Automation: CKYC (Central KYC), CRILC (Large Credit Exposure), MCA (Company data), GST filings auto-verified. CAM (Credit Appraisal Memo) built via GenAI to reduce manual errors 🔹 After the Loan (Post-Disbursal) Mandates & Escrow:API-based eMandates (Enach, BBPS) → Escrow accounts tagged to loans. Auto reconciliation between LMS (Loan Mgmt System), Tally, and Bank Risk Monitoring: DPD (Days Past Due) buckets → 0-30, 30–60, 90+ NPA (Non-performing Assets) & ECL (Expected Credit Loss) as per RBI auto-triggered Collections Engine: Flow-based routing: Soft bounce vs. fraud cases; IVR bots, WhatsApp reminders, Agency apps integrated. Early Warning System (EWS): AI detects stress using: GST trends (monthly), MCA financials (quarterly), Repayment behaviour 🔐 RBI Compliance Controls Role-based vaults, secure consent capture Audit logs mapped to every action RBI-mandated uptime (RTO, RPO), provisioning rules, CKYC/CRILC logs 🏥 Healthcare – Clinical Ops to Recovery (NDHM & HIPAA Compliant) 🔹 In-Hospital EHR Systems (Electronic Health Records): HL7/FHIR APIs connect labs, vitals, prescriptions LLM (Large Language Model) Copilot: Summarizes patient history, detects gaps in diagnosis Alerts comorbidity or medication conflict in real time Consent Vaults: Patients own their data → control access by doctor, insurer, nurse 🔹 After Care Wearable Monitoring: BP, sugar, SpO2 streamed from IoT devices to care teams GenAI Coach: Personalized post-surgery diet, alerts via chatbot Readmission Prediction: LLMs use prior notes + real vitals → alert CMOs early 🔐 NDHM/HIPAA Compliance PHI (Patient Health Info) is row-level masked Secure ledger for each episode visit RTO/RPO governance with zero data leakage 🤖 AI Patterns Applied XAI = explain credit/clinical decisions GenAI = summarize, pre-fill, coach Agentic AI = borrower/patient assistant bots that reason and act MLOps = auto-retrain when models drift Up Next → Part 2C: AI Patterns across Domains: GenAI, Agentic AI, Drift, Risk, and Security Maturity #NBFC #Healthcare #AI #XAI #GenAI #AgenticAI #Compliance #RBI #HIPAA #FHIR #EHR #RFP #SolutionEngineering #CTO #Architecture #RegTech

17

Cloud infrastructure costs are not a side note anymore; they are the story. Meesho’s IPO use of proceeds says it all: 👉 ₹1,390 crore only for cloud infrastructure via its subsidiary MTPL, on top of large allocations for AI/ML talent and marketing. Capillary Technologies, which just listed, is similar: 👉 ₹143 crore from its fresh issue for cloud infra, ~₹72 crore for product R&D, plus additional spend on computer systems. Add Pine Labs’ plan to deploy ₹2,300 crore towards IT assets and cloud infrastructure, and a clear pattern emerges: new-age IPOs are effectively “funding the cloud” first, everything else later. In the old world, tech was a 3–5% cost centre. In the AI world, tech + cloud is rapidly becoming a 40%+ strategic investment – and for many platforms, the single biggest use of IPO proceeds. As AI models get larger, real-time, and more personalised, cloud + AI (GPU) infra will only go one way: up. Companies that underinvest here won’t just be “saving costs”; they’ll be falling behind the curve. Question for founders, CIOs and CFOs: Are you still budgeting cloud like it’s 2015, while your competitors are raising capital to re-architect everything for AI? E2E Cloud #Cloud #AI #CloudCost

67

1 Comment

Q-Comm SaaS startup Inamo raises $3 Mn to scale dark store network Founded in 2024 by ex-Dunzo VP C Sumit Anand and ex-ApnaKlub product head Rupesh Thakare, Inamo enables businesses to set up, scale, and optimize dark store operations by offering management solutions, last-mile delivery fleets, and other services. Read more :- https://lnkd.in/g5jsQBXK #DarkStoreNetwork #EcommerceGrowth #LogisticsTech #QCommerceStartup #TechForCommerce

46

3 Comments

InfoEdge Ventures-backed NextLeap Acquires PM School With this acquisition, the goal is to build India’s most accessible and effective product management education ecosystem Read full story on: https://lnkd.in/gAmswgXQ Arindam Mukherjee | Kushaal Devanahalli | Ankit Bareja | Nikunj S. Annurag Batra | Noor Fathima Warsia l Chetan Mehra l Resham Suhail

33

GCCs Are Scaling Fast But Are They Scaling Right? Everyone’s chasing headcount. But few are building leadership gravity. And almost no one is fixing the middle layer mismatch. Let’s talk about it. As someone preparing to return to India after 15+ years of global transformation leadership, I’ve spent the last year observing this closely: - India is the epicenter of AI-led transformation. - GCCs are no longer back offices, they’re mission-critical growth engines. But leadership hiring hasn’t caught up with ambition. The real pain points? --> The "Empty Middle": Too many GCCs have junior doers and senior sponsors, but few mid-level leaders who can drive strategy, scale product, and lead transformation. --> Title Inflation, Capability Deflation: Roles are expanding in name, but shrinking in depth. A VP tag doesn’t fix a capability gap. --> Missed Opportunities with Returning NRIs: Many of us return with global experience in org design, AI integration, and infrastructure transformation, yet the hiring engine still optimizes for familiarity, not future readiness. --> Silent Attrition of Vision: You lose momentum not when people resign, but when your best minds stop pushing bold ideas. So how do we fix this? Hire for Strategy, Not Just Stability: Site leaders need enterprise exposure and AI fluency, not just admin excellence. Bridge the “Trust Gap” for Returning NRIs: If someone has scaled teams globally, built AI platforms, and worked across time zones, they’re ready to lead in India. Trust the capability, not the ZIP/pin code. Invest in Mid-Level Muscle: Your center’s growth curve depends on the 8-15 year talent segment. Don’t outsource their development, just own it. Treat AI as Core, Not Cosmetic: Build AI-native orgs that reduce cycle time, not just dashboards that report it. If you're a GCC decision-maker reading this: --> Don’t just chase headcount. Build capability. And if you’re a returning NRI wondering if it’s too late? --> You’re not late. You’re right on time. Let’s build something better together. #GCC #LeadershipHiring #ReturningNRI #DigitalTransformation #IndiaAdvantage #AILeadership #GCCStrategy #OrgDesign #HyderabadGCCs Zinnov Talentiser Accenture in India GCC Pulse™ EY EY Technology Solutions PageGroup ANSR Achyut Vishnu BG Viswanathan K S Jayesh Ranjan Rama Devi Lanka

32

10 Comments

From Data Mess to Sales Comp Success – Our Takeaways from #SalesComp25 When Sujeet Pillai & I took the stage at the #WorldatWork conference, we started with a simple question: "How confident are you in your sales incentive data?" The answers? Let’s just say…very few raised their hands for “Totally confident.” That’s the reality we’ve seen over 20+ years of working with sales compensation programs - even the most perfectly designed incentive plan can collapse under the weight of bad data. We spoke about: - Silent derailers like missing records, bad hierarchies, and inconsistent inputs - Real client stories—from financial services to insurance brokers to beverage giants—who overcame chaos and restored trust - Practical frameworks to detect anomalies, set up early warning systems, and save analysts from burnout - How automation doesn’t just reduce errors—it gives your team their nights and weekends back The message we wanted to leave the room with was simple: Data first. Because without clean, timely, accurate data—automation, dashboards, and comp models can’t deliver their promise. Our advice if you’re starting this journey: - Audit your last comp cycle and spot where data broke the flow. - Add just one regular data check and one alert to your process. - Automate one manual task this quarter. - Make clean data everyone’s responsibility. When data quality becomes a shared mission, you not only fix payouts. You rebuild trust, save time, and give your teams the clarity they deserve. Because in the end, Clean data = Happy reps. Happy reps = Better performance. We loved the energy, questions, and honest discussions at the session. Thank you to everyone who joined us! Aurochs Solutions Incentivate Solutions #SalesComp25 #SalesCompensation #DataQuality #IncentiveCompensation #Automation #Leadership #WorldatWork

100

1 Comment