Digitization To Drive, Survive and Thrive In Crisis: The Journey of Info Edge

Sanjeev said, "India has progressed substantially by adopting digital, mobile, Aadhaar, UPI, and more when asked about financial inclusion. Digital technology will make financial inclusion more ubiquitous."

On climate for entrepreneurs, sources of capital and pooling in a team

"I had no money. My father was a retired government doctor; my mother a homemaker. I had to make do with all I had", said Sanjeev. It was all about work hard, play hard.

When asked what wealth means, Sanjeev said, "I doubted it, wondering if I deserve it? Second, I had to understand it was not my wealth. I was a custodian of this wealth for which I need institutional stability." He reiterates the importance of giving back through charities.

As for AWS, they follow a unique policy when acquiring talent. Sachin said, "At AWS, we like to invent and hire talent who are 'builders' and solution providers." He also goes on to explain the policy that they follow at AWS for decision-making. "We have a policy called one-way door and two-way door strategy which helps separate high-velocity decisions", he further added.

Technology: An Integral Part of Business Evolution

Some big moments would be when the Internet went on the mobile, Jio and its low data prices, BSNL, and the voice prices. It was not a one-day phenomenon. It happened over 10-15 years. "10 years ago, 93% of our traffic was from desktops. Fast forward to now, 97% of our traffic is from mobile. From videos, local languages to social media, it is a huge transition. You keep trying until you succeed", he said.

AWS's Sachin Chawla also shed light on how technology has gone from an enabler to the core of businesses. He said, "Entry barriers were high in the beginning. But, with cloud computing, the entry has become easier, and the cost of experiments has reduced significantly."

On choosing between Product Innovation vs. Product Awareness, Sachin says, "You need to do both to stay relevant." Sanjeev believes in the same but adds a little twist saying, "You focus on the customer. Innovate relevant to the customer and make them aware."

On start-up valuations

It can be quite a challenge. Sanjeev said, "We don't decide the valuations. The market decides." Their share price rose from 2100 to 5000. Is it justified? If the market says so, it is. Entrepreneurs just run the business.

The Drive to Survive...But what's next?

The mavericks stressed the importance of building a culture of innovation in an organization. Sanjeev said, "To win an investment from Info Edge, you need to have natural traction. Solve customer problems and innovate to create a product that the customers want. Be a pioneer, relevant and different. Investment is a lemon that eventually ripens."

Were you lucky? Sanjeev says, "Yes, I was. But I also worked hard, played smart, and persisted." This is how you get wealthy without being lucky.

Keep an eye out for the next episode of 'The Mavericks' series, which will feature additional insider perspectives on the tech world from those at the centre of the process.