Arjun Sarode
I am an experienced C-Level operator and management consultant specializing in corporate, fundraising, and growth strategies for early-stage companies. I work with founders / CEOs of early stage companies in bringing down their early stage headaches.
My practice focuses around executing high signal go to market and fundraising strategies. I work with founders in emerging tech sectors such as Gaming, Legal, Real Estate, e-commerce and HR. I do this while sitting in cabin-less coffee shops, sipping on dangerous amounts of caffeine.
I have built scalable businesses, rocketship products and 10x teams over a career spanning 15 years in the digital universe. I've held leadership roles both in Corporate and Government, including at Dentsu, Appcoach, Affinity and Airnow.
I help VCs discover interesting startups and deal flows. I help organise India's largest Gaming, Media and Entertainment conclave. I advice Industry bodies, Government Task Forces and Think Tanks on startup policy.
Sometimes, I make memes.
What do I do?
Go to Market Strategy
Digital Marketing Strategy
Business Feasibility Analysis
Fundraising Consulting
Valuation
Competitive Analysis
Industry Research
Repositioning
Financial Planning
Business Plan Development
Contingency Planning
Growth Strategy (B2B, B2C, D2C, SaaS)
My work
Gaming & esports
Consulting Area
Fundraising
Strategic Partnerships
360° Business Plan
Covid Resilience
Engagement Type
1-1 consults to prepare for fundraising
1-1 executive sparring before term sheet negotiation
Investment portfolio strategy to deploy raised funds
pitch deck and business plan
scenario analysis and uncertainty planning during Covid-19 lockdown
Impact
The founder was able to pitch and secure meetings with the top VCs operating in the gaming sector within India and globally. The company made strategic partnerships with some of the biggest gaming studios and publishers. The company was able to sustain through the pandemic despite having delayed revenues, cash-flow crunch and turnover uncertainty.
Legal Tech
Consulting Area
Business Case
360° Business Plan
Market Research
Pricing
Engagement Type
Business case analysis for a go / no go decision
Collateral development - business plan & pitch deck
Multidimensional framework for market sizing
TAM and SAM
Strategy for horizontal integration with adjacencies
How to and how much to price during various stages of product growth
Valuation
Impact
The company went with one of my recommended business pivots, which gives them a distinct competitive advantage. MVP is in progress.
Real-estate Tech
Consulting Area
Product Market Fit
Fundraising
Covid Resilience
Engagement Type
1-1 consult on product market fit
1-1 consult on pitch deck narrative development
1-1 consult on business resilience due to cash-flow crunch
Impact
The founder was able to raise seed capital from three investors. The company had a double-digit growth and managed to achieve product market fit.
HR Tech
Consulting Area
Feasibility Evaluation
360° Business Plan
Go to market strategy
Engagement Type
Business case analysis for a go / no go decision
Pivoting strategy, following the BCA recommendations
Network development for the founders with investors, partners and vendors
Impact
I recommended a go decision with a pivot over founder's initial idea. The company entered a few strategic partnerships and increased margins as it scaled. Running as a profitable bootstrapped start up now.
Digital Cakery
Consulting Area
Market research
Product market fit
Business feasibility evaluation
Pricing strategy for a go-to-market pilot
Engagement Type
Business case analysis for a phygital cakery business model
Competitor analysis and survey development for physical business model
Website and collateral development for exhibitions & trade shows
1-1 consults for market research, go-to-market and pricing strategies
Impact
I recommended a no-go for this idea. The founders were skeptical, so we planned a pilot to evaluate product market fit in a phygital set up. The founders eventually agreed with my recommendation and are now working on their next big idea.
Genuinely flattering honest reviews
Arjun's Contingency Planning and Industry Research skills played a crucial role in shaping our trajectory. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-- Ankit || Manufacturing
I loved ur honnest feedback on improving soft skills! Your honnest inputs on other initiatives! Your Approach on pressing right buttons with 100x vc! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
-- Vaibhav || Media & Entertainment
I have gone through the recommendations also.. Unfortunately our requirements are not fulfilling... (co-founder) is not happy ⭐
-- Santosh || Media & Entertainment
As we get to the final phase of our engagement, I have nothing but words of gratitude for helping my venture to your best extent possible. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-- Varun || AI & Computer Vision
From creating a network of publishing partners, distribution models and fundraising meetings initiated - the conversations enabled by Arjun are of the highest quality, thus helping us step up our game and succeed in our journey from an indie developer to one of India's best game publishers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
-- Ravi || Gaming
Arjun is a passionate industry professional and his talk and insights were very practical and actionable. He possesses superior skills in the areas of digital advertising and allied areas of media and communication sectors. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
-- Chaitanya || Ed-Tech