World-Ranked Athlete to $25M Founder Building LoveLocal FT. Akanksha Hazari| Founders Unfiltered 09

Описание: In this episode of Founders Unfiltered, we sit down with Akanksha Hazari, Founder of LoveLocal, to unpack her journey of building one of India’s most impactful local-commerce platforms.

A University of Cambridge graduate and Hult Prize winner (2011), Akanksha began her career as a consultant before choosing entrepreneurship to solve a deeply local problem at scale. LoveLocal connects consumers with neighbourhood retailers, helping small businesses compete in a digital-first economy.

Under her leadership, LoveLocal has raised over $25M in funding, across multiple rounds including $6M, $18M (pre-Series B), and $23M making it one of the most well-capitalised startups in the local commerce space.

In this episode, we discuss:
1. Transitioning from consulting to entrepreneurship
2. Building and scaling a hyperlocal e-commerce platform
3. Fundraising lessons across multiple rounds
4. Backing local retailers with technology
5. What it takes to build a mission-driven company at scale

This episode is a must-watch for founders, operators, and anyone interested in consumer tech, hyperlocal commerce, and venture-backed startups in India.


Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Introduction of Akancha Hazari
1:58 Background & Entrepreneurial Journey
5:31 Birth of Love Local Idea
12:32 Freshness vs Dark Store
18:47 COVID Launch & Rapid Scale
24:07 Competing with Quick Commerce Giants
26:45 Revenue & Business Model
35:20 Fundraising & Women in VC
39:40 Toughest Phase During COVID
41:53 Athlete Mindset & Resilience
51:22 Future Plans & Expansion
54:35 Hybrid Delivery Model
59:34 Building Mumbai’s Tech Ecosystem
1:02:16 The Indian Dream
1:04:24 Rapid Fire Round


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