Join us for an insightful fireside chat with Jacques Lebel, Country Manager of L'Oréal India, as he shares his perspective on building and scaling one of the world’s largest beauty companies in one of its most dynamic markets.

From reaching the next 300M–450M consumers to understanding Gen Z, quick commerce, and the rise of Indian brands, this conversation dives deep into how global incumbents are thinking about India today.

If you're a founder, or simply curious about consumer brands, this session offers a candid look at growth, strategy, and what it really takes to win in India.

Visit DSGCP : https://www.dsgcp.com

Subscribe now for more founder stories and fireside conversations

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

Build Less. Earn More.

Mohit Yadav built Minimalist into one of India's most talked-about skincare brands, not by spending more, scaling faster, or chasing every trend, but by doing the opposite. In this fireside chat, he breaks down the counterintuitive operating principles behind Minimalist's growth: why SKU restraint is a strategic weapon, why most CAC optimization is just theatre, and why the hardest founder skill at scale isn't spotting opportunity — it's ignoring it.

Equal parts honest and provocative, this conversation is for founders who are tired of growth advice that doesn't compound.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

In this episode of Brick by Brick, we sit down with Kiran Shah, founder of GoZero , India's leading guilt-free ice cream brand. Kiran comes from a legendary ice cream family (Apsara Ice Creams), scaled it to 100 stores, and then made the bold decision to leave it all behind and start from scratch.

What followed was a masterclass in brand building, quick commerce strategy, and founder resilience.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Kiran left the Apsara family business after 8 years
  
  
• How GoZero entered a market with 5 existing competitors and still won
  
  
• Getting rejected by Swiggy/Instamart and pivoting to Zepto first
  
  
• The quick commerce playbook every D2C founder needs to hear
  
  
• Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart , what's actually different
  
  
• Should new brands go exclusive on one platform? Kiran answers
  
  
• The dark first 3 months of GoZero and how he pushed through self-doubt
  
  

Whether you're a founder, a consumer brand builder, or just curious about how India's D2C ecosystem works this one is packed with gold.

Visit DSGCP: https://www.dsgcp.com

Subscribe for more deep dives into how great consumer brands get built.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

In this episode, we sat down with Suyash Saraf, CEO and Co-founder of Dot & Key, one of India's most profitable beauty and personal care brands. With revenues exceeding 500 crores and EBITDA margins of 15%+, Dot & Key has achieved what most D2C brands struggle with - massive scale with concentrated focus on just two categories: moisturizers and sunscreens.

In this candid conversation, Suyash reveals:

→ Why they chose to dominate categories instead of diversifying
→ How they built multiple hero products in sunscreen while competitors failed
→ The real reasons behind their stagnation period and comeback strategy
→ Their contrarian approach to capital efficiency and profitability-first growth
→ Why they rejected the typical VC playbook and raised only 50 crores
→ The organizational changes needed when scaling from 0-100 to 100-500 crores
→ How they attracted top talent to Kolkata without a startup ecosystem

From near-failure in 2021 to becoming every BPC founder's benchmark, this is the untold story of building India's most focused beauty empire.

Whether you're a founder or just someone curious about the consumer startup world, this is a masterclass you don't want to miss.

Visit DSGCP : https://www.dsgcp.com

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Bedi, the Executive Director of Forest Essentials, to explore the incredible journey of transforming a small passion project into a global luxury Ayurveda brand.

Sam shares his insights on everything from navigating early challenges to building a distinctive brand identity and setting up their manufacturing facilities. He discusses the significance of maintaining uncompromised quality, the evolution of retail strategies, and the importance of thoughtful store expansion. With 175 stores and plans to expand further, Sam reveals how patience, focus, and hard work have been the cornerstones of their growth.

Tune in to hear about the company’s journey from its first store launch at Khan Market to its global aspirations, and learn valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a legacy brand.

Key topics covered:

• Building a Brand from Scratch: How a small project started in a garage without a business plan turned into an iconic luxury brand.
• Strategic Growth & Store Expansion: Why patience and strategic planning are essential in-store rollouts and how Forest Essentials scaled to 175 stores while maintaining quality and profitability.
• Challenges of a Luxury Ayurveda Brand: Overcoming price sensitivity through product and retail experience to establish a new category in the Indian beauty market.
• The Importance of Product Differentiation: Sticking to uncompromised quality and unique formulations is crucial in a crowded beauty space.
• Navigating Retail Trends: The evolution of retail strategies from high streets to malls and back, and insights into selecting the right locations for store openings.
• Global Vision & Long-term Goals: Sam’s vision of positioning Forest Essentials as a global brand, rivalling international names like L’Occitane and The Body Shop.
• Key Advice for Founders: Patience, focus, and the role of hard work in building a long-lasting, impactful brand.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

In this episode of Brick by Brick: Building Insurgent Brands, we're excited to host Andrew Kandolha, co-founder of SATURDAYS. Andrew shared his valuable experience and insights on the strategic importance of scaling retail stores for emerging brands like SATURDAYS.

In a conversation with Sameer Mehta, Andrew delves into how SATURDAYS has evolved from a fledgling start-up to a tech-enabled omnichannel brand with an app, website, and 51 stores in 19 cities across Indonesia in a matter of 2 years. Tune in to learn how strategic location selection, operational excellence, and a customer-centric approach propelled SATURDAYS to revolutionize the eyewear retail landscape in Indonesia.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.

Welcome to the 15th episode of ‘BRICK by BRICK: Building Insurgent Brands'. Join us as we talk to the brightest minds across the world about building enduring consumer brands.

In this episode, we will hear insights from Viksita Singh Menon about the ever-evolving landscape of Beauty for Millennials and Gen Z in Southeast Asia.

Tune in as we discuss:

• The unique dynamics of young consumer needs and behaviors observed in Southeast Asia.
• Navigating the competitive landscape and strategies for beauty insurgent brands to thrive.
• Adapting to the post-COVID consumer, meeting demands for interactive online experiences and personalized shopping journeys.
• The power of online platforms, notably TikTok, for brand discovery and engagement, emphasizing the importance of a robust content strategy.
• Anticipated future trends in beauty, including the growing influence of AI and the increasing emphasis on sustainability in product offerings.

You can also watch the full episode on the DSGCP website.