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Artwork for First Principles

First Principles

The Ken
Entrepreneurship
E-Commerce
Meesho
Venture Capital
Women Founders
Customer Insights
Zero Commission Model
Logistics
Rebel Foods
Indifi
Flipkart
Phonepe
Middle-Class Values
Small Business Lending
Digitization
Postcard Hotels
India
Startups
Commodities Market
Empathy In Leadership

First Principles is a weekly interview podcast comprising authentic, candid, and insightful conversations between some of India’s most accomplished founders and business leaders, and Rohin Dharmakumar, The Ken’s CEO & co-founder. From personal philosophies, mental models and decision making frameworks, to reading habits, parenting styles or personal interests, each episode will delve into what mak... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes111Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessManagement

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Artwork for First Principles

Latest Episodes

In part 1 of the 50th episode of First Principles, Rohit Chennamaneni, co-founder of Darwinbox, joins the show to talk about what changes after the early chaos of a startup fades.

He explains how Darwinbox has operated without a CEO for years, how t... more

What a year it's been.

After a long hiatus and when we thought we'd closed the curtains for good, First Principles came back in April 2025 for Season 3. And what made this comeback so special? Simple: Rohin was genuinely excited to be back in the in... more

YouTube

Hello and welcome back to First Principles. This is the part 2 of the 49th episode since we started, or the 8th episode of season 3.

In this episode, I sit down with Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO of Ixigo, one of India's fastest-growing and most downloade... more

YouTube

Hello and welcome back to First Principles. This is the part 1 of the 49th episode since we started, or the 8th episode of season 3.

In this episode, I sit down with Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO of Ixigo, one of India's fastest-growing and most downloade... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Aloke Bajpai
CEO and Co-Founder of Ixigo, a prominent travel tech company in India.
Ixigo
Episode: Part 1: Ixigo's Aloke Bajpai on using empathy, customer experience, and resilience to both survive and thrive
Deepak Abbot
Co-founder of Indiagold
Indiagold
Episode: Part 2: Indiagold's Deepak Abbot on turning a nation's 'dead asset' into credit scores and working capital
Rahul Matthan
Co-founder of Trilegal, one of India's largest law firms
Trilegal
Episode: Part 2: Trilegal's Rahul Matthan on the firm, the partnership, and the principles
Anand Jain
Co-founder of CleverTap, an expert in customer engagement platforms
CleverTap
Episode: Part 1: Anand Jain of Clevertap on starting with nothing and learning, building and leading as you go along
Manish Sabharwal
Executive vice chairman of Teamlease, contributor on labor markets and education
Teamlease
Episode: Part 2: Manish Sabharwal of Teamlease on creating great ancestors, India’s development journey and ‘regulatory cholesterol’
Sahil Barua
Co-founder and CEO of Delhivery
Delhivery
Episode: Part 2: Sahil Barua on why Delhivery is the antithesis of moving fast and breaking things
Prof. Raj Srinivasan
A professor who teaches Strategy at IIM Bangalore with a focus on platform business models.
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
Episode: Introducing Two by Two, a new premium business podcast from The Ken
Srikanth Rajagopalan
CEO of Perfuse Account Aggregation, previously involved in Amazon Pay and AWS financial services in India.
Perfuse Account Aggregation
Episode: Introducing Two by Two, a new premium business podcast from The Ken
Krish Subramanian
Co-founder and CEO of Chargebee
Chargebee
Episode: The Final Supercut Part 2: Founders 21-41

Host

Rohin Dharmakumar
CEO & co-founder of The Ken, known for his inquisitive interview style and ability to extract insightful narratives from his guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • LEART FROM KEN & BUILT A START-UP !!!

    "I'm incredibly grateful to the Ken Team, especially Rohan. With over 35 years of experience in healthcare and life sciences management consulting, I've struggled to find podcasts or masterclasses that truly delve into first principles. Rohan is exceptional; his intriguing questions consistently yield unique insights, setting him apart from other podcasters.

    I've listened to his podcasts, particularly those with Manav Garg of Eka and Ananth Narayan of Mensa, over 20 times. The insights gained w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deepak H Gowda
    India6 months ago
  • It’s magical

    Really love the concept and the way shows drives…..running out of words to describe express ……great job team

    It will be great if we have one prod cost about THE KEN journey

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Charan theja
    Indiaa year ago
  • A class act !

    Have been listening to the podcast since its inception. Have loved each of the episodes - the curiosity that Rohin brings forth and the tonality of the conversations are just amazing. Each episode is packed with learnings and are entertaining at the same time. Congrats and thanks Rohin and team for curating such a lovely series ! Made my last 2 years a tad more meaningful and my runs (when I listened mostly) so much engaging.

    Look forward to the next act !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sri Sundaram
    Germany2 years ago
  • The Best Ever Podcast!

    Rohin is simply the Hero of First principles! The way he host the show , the questions, the analogies, just awesome! His presence of mind & Clarity of thoughts are just unmatched . He brings one of the talented people of India which the makes the show even more interesting, insightful and inspiring!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meet82
    India2 years ago
  • Need timestamps!!

    Timestamps make it easy to jump to interesting parts of the podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    iShark47
    India2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are frequent praises for the host's interview style, highlighting his ability to ask compelling questions that provoke meaningful responses.
Audience members express that episodes provide practical insights and inspiration for entrepreneurs and professionals, making it a valuable weekly resource.
Some feedback points to a desire for more timestamped content to navigate episodes more efficiently.
Listeners appreciate the insightful and authentic nature of the conversations, often noting the depth of thought and experience shared by guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Part 1: Indiagold's Deepak Abbot on turning a nation's 'dead asset' into credit scores and working capital
Q: Why did you choose to focus on gold as a financial asset?
He recognized the opportunity in gold as an abundant but underutilized asset in India, explaining the potential for transforming gold into a source of credit.
Part 1: Indiagold's Deepak Abbot on turning a nation's 'dead asset' into credit scores and working capital
Q: What made you decide to quit Paytm and start Indiagold?
Deepak desired a hands-on experience in building products and wanted to initiate something on his own, reflecting on his entrepreneurial spirit.
Part 1: Trilegal's Rahul Matthan on the firm, the partnership, and the principles
Q: How did you approach scaling Trilegal from a small firm to one of India's largest?
Rahul described that the key to scaling was shifting from founder-led management to a more structured, elected management model which allowed for growth and recruitment of new talent.
Part 1: Trilegal's Rahul Matthan on the firm, the partnership, and the principles
Q: What made you decide that you wanted to start a law firm of your own?
Rahul mentioned that all six co-founders felt a need for a different approach to law firm operations that emphasized professionalism and clear career progression.
Part 1: Anand Jain of Clevertap on starting with nothing and learning, building and leading as you go along
Q: Why did you say that you shouldn't be where you are today?
Anand reflects on his modest intelligence, non-traditional educational background, and the necessity to start from First Principles.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About First Principles

What is First Principles about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Offering insightful and authentic conversations, this series features interviews with some of India's most notable founders and business leaders. The discussions encompass a wide array of topics, including personal philosophies, decision-making frameworks, and unique life experiences that shape leadership in today's business landscape. This podcast not only highlights entrepreneurial journeys but also dives deep into the mental models and personal interests of its guests, making it a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals alike. Each episode stands out for its thought-provoking content, providing listeners with frameworks for both business and personal growth that might not be found in traditional business discussion... more

Where can I find podcast stats for First Principles?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for First Principles. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to First Principles and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does First Principles get?

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What are the audience demographics for First Principles?

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How many subscribers and views does First Principles have?

To see how many followers or subscribers First Principles has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to First Principles?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Principles:

1. Daybreak
2. Finshots Daily
3. The Morning Brief
4. The Daily Brief
5. 3 Things

How many episodes of First Principles are there?

First Principles launched 3 years ago and published 111 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact First Principles?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for First Principles?

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What guests have appeared on First Principles?

Recent guests on First Principles include:

1. Aloke Bajpai
2. Deepak Abbot
3. Rahul Matthan
4. Anand Jain
5. Manish Sabharwal
6. Sahil Barua
7. Prof. Raj Srinivasan
8. Srikanth Rajagopalan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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