Hard Truths By Vertex

Why would someone quit chasing “big startup ideas” to redesign something as ordinary as a ceiling fan?  In this episode, I sit down with Gazal, co-founder of Nuuk, to trace her journey from a personal problem at home to building a design-led consumer electronics startup in India. We talk about how COVID changed the way Indians live indoors, why Indian consumers are shifting from cheap to meaningful products, and how Nuuk builds home appliances designed specifically for Indian homes. Gazal shares the thinking behind product-first brands, women-led design, and what it really takes to scale a modern Indian consumer brand without cutting corners. If you care about startup journeys, consumer brands in India, or product design that actually solves real problems, this episode will pull you in. If you want it more playful, more founder-centric, or even punchier for YouTube, say the word and I’ll tune it! IN THIS EPISODE(00:00) Why Nuuk Isn’t “Just Another Appliance Brand”(01:28) The Personal Problem That Started Nuuk(04:40) How Indian Consumers Are Changing (And Why It Matters to You)(06:21) Who’s Actually Buying Nuuk — The Answer Will Surprise You(12:11) How Nuuk Turns Daily Frustrations into Product Ideas(16:09) Designing Appliances That Actually Work in Indian Homes(23:28) The Hidden Health Risk Lurking in Indian Mattresses(29:28) Why Building in India Is Harder Than It Looks(30:46) What “Safe Kitchens” Really Mean (And Why You Should Care)(34:49) How Nuuk Builds Trust After the Sale(41:54) Nuuk’s 10-Year Vision — And What’s Coming Next Gazal Kalra | Co-Founder | NuukGazal Kalra is the Co-Founder of Nuuk, a new-age D2C brand for home appliances, shaping the Indian home with purposeful innovation and design-first thinking. At Nuuk, she brings a product-led approach rooted in human-centered design and operational excellence with a vision to create high-performance appliances that reflect modern lifestyles. Gazal is deeply committed to building consumer brands that solve real-world problems alongside raising the bar for thoughtful design, long-term utility, and a future-ready approach to sustainability. Before Nuuk, Gazal co-founded Rivigo, the logistics-tech unicorn that disrupted India’s long-haul trucking sector by introducing relay trucking and tech-enabled efficiency at scale - cementing her reputation as a bold problem-solver with an eye for scalable impact. Her career also spans influential roles at McKinsey & Company and the World Bank in Washington DC, giving her a unique cross-sectoral perspective on systems, policy, and innovation. Rahul ThayyalamkandyDirector of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore. Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals.https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/ —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please follow or subscribe to the show so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming discussions. — Follow us to get notified whenever new episodes are shared. — For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg