In the fast-paced startup ecosystem of 2025, staying ahead isn’t just about working hard — it’s about working smart. One of the most powerful yet underrated tools for Indian startup founders today is startup-focused podcasts. Whether you’re commuting, hitting the gym, or unwinding after a long day, a good podcast can provide you with real-time insights, founder stories, fundraising tips, growth hacks, and even the occasional dose of startup therapy.
Here’s a handpicked list of top startup podcasts Indian founders should tune into in 2025 to stay inspired, informed, and innovative:
1. The Neon Show by Digital Futurists
Host: Raj Shamani
Why Listen: A blend of business wisdom, digital trends, and candid founder conversations. In 2025, Raj is doubling down on emerging Indian unicorns and Web3-native startups.
2. The Desi VC Podcast
Host: Akash Bhat
Why Listen: Deep dives with Indian VCs, angel investors, and high-growth founders. Perfect for understanding what today’s investors are really looking for in Indian startups.
3. Founder Thesis
Host: ThePodium.in
Why Listen: One of the most underrated gems where India’s top and emerging startup founders share real, unfiltered journeys — pivots, rejections, first customers, and big wins.
4. Building For Bharat
Host: Accel India
Why Listen: Explores stories from founders solving real Bharat-scale problems — in healthtech, agritech, SaaS, and edtech. It’s India-specific, practical, and often includes VC-backed journeys.
5. Indian Silicon Valley Podcast
Host: Jivraj Singh Sachar
Why Listen: A masterclass-style podcast where each episode feels like a mini MBA in startups. It features top-tier founders from companies like Razorpay, Zepto, and Meesho.
6. Masters of Scale India
Host: Reid Hoffman (Indian Edition)
Why Listen: Adapted with an India-specific lens, this version features global principles of scaling applied to Indian startup challenges. Think blitzscaling — but for India.
7. 100x Entrepreneur
Host: Siddhartha Ahluwalia
Why Listen: Focuses on India’s fastest-growing startups and how founders think about product-market fit, team building, and raising capital. Ideal for early- to mid-stage founders.
8. The Indie Hackers India Series
Host: Various Indie Hacker community contributors
Why Listen: For solo founders and indie developers building bootstrapped, profitable businesses in India. 2025 has seen a surge in AI solopreneurs, and this podcast captures that shift.
9. Blume Podcast – Cost to Company
Host: Blume Ventures
Why Listen: Combines HR insights with founder experiences — covering real issues like burnout, hiring missteps, org culture, and what makes startup teams truly scale.
10. SaaSBOOMi Podcast
Host: Community-led, featuring SaaS founders
Why Listen: If you’re in SaaS, this podcast is pure gold. Listen to Zoho, Freshworks, Chargebee, and Postman founders talk about global expansion, pricing strategies, and GTM frameworks.
11. The Nikhil Kamath Show
Host: Nikhil Kamath (Co-founder, Zerodha & True Beacon)
Why Listen: While not strictly a startup show, Nikhil’s 2025 episodes focus deeply on India’s economic landscape, AI-driven startups, and his own investment lens for the next decade.
12. The Musafir Stories – Startup Edition (New in 2025)
Host: Musafir Founders
Why Listen: Combines storytelling with startup journeys of founders from Tier II and III cities. Inspiring for those building outside of Bengaluru and Mumbai.
13. Unfiltered by Lenskart (New)
Host: Peyush Bansal
Why Listen: New in 2025, Peyush brings Shark Tank lessons, D2C growth ideas, and how he scaled Lenskart beyond eyewear. Very relevant for consumer tech founders.
14. Fintech Ki Baat
Host: Razorpay Community
Why Listen: A deep dive into India’s evolving fintech landscape — covering RBI regulations, new banking APIs, embedded finance, and UPI 3.0.
15. Zero to One by RazorThink Labs (AI-Startup Focused)
Host: Various AI/ML founders
Why Listen: With India’s AI startup wave in full swing in 2025, this new podcast explores product-building, prompt engineering, and VC funding in GenAI and vertical AI startups.
Final Thoughts: Tune In, Level Up
Listening to startup podcasts isn’t just passive learning — it’s about absorbing the mindset of those who’ve built and scaled in the trenches. Whether you’re bootstrapping your first MVP, pitching at Startup Mahakumbh, or preparing for Series A, these podcasts will keep your vision sharp and your strategy grounded.
So, plug in your earphones and let India’s top founders, operators, and investors be your mentors — one episode at a time.
Bonus Tip for Founders:
Use tools like Spotify Smart Shuffle, Pocket Casts playlists, or Snipd AI to save, summarize, and revisit episodes with the best frameworks or founder advice.
