Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR, from the city of many monikers - Namma Ooru!
Code. Culture. Conversations. Coffee – That’s what we’re all about at FCTC; UBLR’s foray into the exciting world of podcasting.
Settle in as we take you through a guided, all-expenses paid tour through the Silicon Valley of The East. Explore the awe-inspiring but oddly distinct experiences of the people and businesses who’ve taken Bengaluru to the global stage and brought the global to the city.
We’ve got some pretty sweet stuff brewing on our socials too. Check it out, and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel while you’re at it!
We are so excited to welcome our next guest on FCTC; BIAL’s Hari Marar!
In this episode, Hari is tackling all of our burning questions, and we had plenty to keep the conversation going: What sets Bengaluru International Airport apart from Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai? Are strategic partnerships with Uber, KSTDC, BLADE, and BMTC the secret to BIAL’s success? What lessons did the founding team take away from the critical media coverage of the airport in 2008?
Hari is a proud parent in FCTC’s latest episode, looking back on Bengaluru’s aviation journey – from starting its international passenger journey relatively late, to currently being India’s third largest airport carrying over 37.5 million passengers as of 2023, and over 30% of India’s perishables for the fourth year in a row.
Has the competition between Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad aided healthy competition while simplifying the passenger experience? What will elevate Bengaluru to become an aviation hub like Dubai, Heathrow, or Hong Kong? How is the airport tackling sustainability amid reports of ‘Day Zero’ and a water crisis? This episode is not shying away from giving you answers.
Tune in, take notes, and settle in. This episode is bound to enthral all those who love the city, and want to know all about Bengaluru’s most famous (and expensive) infrastructure project. Don’t miss out!
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
Fun in a Bottle by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Welcome to a preview of our fifth episode with the one and only – Hari Marar!
In this episode, BIAL’s MD & CEO Hari Marar, gives us his insights on what goes on behind the scenes to make Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru truly world class – whether it’s rapid tech adoption, aesthetic and sustainable infrastructure or just keeping the passenger at the centre of every conversation.
It is impossible to mention the airport without its world class aesthetics – and Hari details it all in conversation with our host Malini Goyal; from the hanging garden in Terminal 2 which pays tribute to Bengaluru’s heritage as the garden city to the unique wave design of Terminal 1 which gives it the iconic Bengaluru smile from afar.
How can infrastructure which benefits the ordinary man be developed for a global city? How can Bengaluru find solutions to its many challenges – whether it is legacy issues, mobility, or even water scarcity? Why is Digi Yatra being criticised by citizens despite its convenience to passengers?
Find out the answers to these questions, and many many more, only in this unfiltered conversation on From Code to Culture. PS: Stick around until the very end for a rapid-fire that, in our opinion, is even better than the one on KWK 😉
Don’t miss out, and keep your post notifications turned on for part 2!
Warmly,
Team FCTC
We are so excited to welcome our next guest on FCTC; BIAL’s Hari Marar!
In this episode, Hari is tackling all of our burning questions, and we had plenty to keep the conversation going: What sets Bengaluru International Airport apart from Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai? Are strategic partnerships with Uber, KSTDC, BLADE, and BMTC the secret to BIAL’s success? What lessons did the founding team take away from the critical media coverage of the airport in 2008?
Hari is a proud parent in FCTC’s latest episode, looking back on Bengaluru’s aviation journey – from starting its international passenger journey relatively late, to currently being India’s third largest airport carrying over 37.5 million passengers as of 2023, and over 30% of India’s perishables for the fourth year in a row.
Has the competition between Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad aided healthy competition while simplifying the passenger experience? What will elevate Bengaluru to become an aviation hub like Dubai, Heathrow, or Hong Kong? How is the airport tackling sustainability amid reports of ‘Day Zero’ and a water crisis? This episode is not shying away from giving you answers.
Tune in, take notes, and settle in. This episode is bound to enthral all those who love the city, and want to know all about Bengaluru’s most famous (and expensive) infrastructure project. Don’t miss out!
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
In this episode, BIAL’s MD & CEO , Hari Marar looks back on his journey setting up Bengaluru’s largest infrastructure project – the Kempegowda International Airport. He details the reasons why Bengaluru required 2 airports, the many challenges that presented themselves upon the airport’s launch in 2008, and how the airport is able to add tremendous value to Bengaluru city as a global aviation and business hub.
In an FCTC exclusive, Hari gets personal about his own journey as a young man aspiring to live in the glitzy city of Bengaluru. He shares how his love for music and culture was shaped by legendary rock pubs such as Purple Haze when the city was making waves as India’s beer capital. As a passionate gastronome, Hari lets us in on his culinary adventures while travelling the world, and answers some burning questions we’ve all wanted to ask, but never got the chance to: Boeing or Airbus? Would he continue to live in Bengaluru despite the city’s massive infrastructural challenges?
Settle in because this is an episode you just can’t miss.
Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.
This is From Code to Culture’s second episode featuring Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh; CEO & co-founder, and CTO at Zerodha, respectively.
Nithin Kamath deep dives into Zerodha’s journey – from being a virtually unknown broking firm in 2010 to commanding global attention as one of India’s most trusted trading platforms with a net valuation of $3.6 billion.
Watch Nithin’s journey developing a simple pricing model for beginner traders, investing in 100+ startups through Rainmatter Foundation, empowering traders and democratising investing through their company ethos.
Despite Mumbai being the obvious choice, Nithin and Kailash were insistent on Zerodha’s HQ being in Bengaluru, and how the city was imperative to building a healthy company culture at Zerodha.
In an exclusive FCTC only bit, explore the duo’s philosophical take on social media, information consumption, algorithms, fitness, and deeper introspection on materialism, money, and the purpose of any business.
This is our first season, The Pioneers, where we are giving you an insider look at those who make Bengaluru what it is today.
Tune in, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8KyiZfVoxo3Q880y2HLze
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath & CTO Kailash Nadh detail the story of Zerodha as a small startup in 2010 to its rise as India’s biggest stock broker with a current valuation of $3.6 billion. They reflect on the hiring strategies in place at Zerodha, the company culture and what they aim to achieve through their educational and non-profit platforms – Zerodha Varsity & Rainmatter Foundation.
In an exclusive bit, Nithin & Kailash get existential while candidly discussing the pros and cons of social media, and their vastly different stance on their public personas.
Want to know the top money mistakes that Indians make when trading so you can steer clear of them? Wondering what the secret is to acquiring top talent in your company? Curious to know about Nithin’s fitness journey, and Kailash’s thoughts on social media platforms in this day and age?
Tune in to see what went on behind the scenes before this stockbro duo got their one way ticket to success.
Subscribe to our channel now, and stay tuned for more 👀
Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.
This is From Code to Culture’s second episode featuring Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh; CEO & co-founder, and CTO at Zerodha, respectively.
Nithin Kamath deep dives into Zerodha’s journey – from being a virtually unknown broking firm in 2010 to commanding global attention as one of India’s most trusted trading platforms with a net valuation of $3.6 billion.
Watch Nithin’s journey developing a simple pricing model for beginner traders, investing in 100+ startups through Rainmatter Foundation, empowering traders and democratising investing through their company ethos.
Despite Mumbai being the obvious choice, Nithin and Kailash were insistent on Zerodha’s HQ being in Bengaluru, and how the city was imperative to building a healthy company culture at Zerodha.
In an exclusive FCTC only bit, explore the duo’s philosophical take on social media, information consumption, algorithms, fitness, and deeper introspection on materialism, money, and the purpose of any business.
This is our first season, The Pioneers, where we are giving you an insider look at those who make Bengaluru what it is today.
Tune in, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8KyiZfVoxo3Q880y2HLze
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath & CTO Kailash Nadh get candid about the serendipitous journey of Zerodha from a bootstrapped startup to a multi-billion dollar firm. They discuss the work culture in BLR, and the push that Rainmatter Foundation has given to hundreds of companies and individuals across India.
While Kailash Nadh gets all philosophical on social media, ‘making a difference’ and NOT having goals in life, Nithin Kamath lets us in on his smart investing hacks, interest in longevity research and the secret behind his six packs, of course.
Catch the full episode by subscribing to From Code to Culture’s channel, and keep your eyes peeled for more updates!
Our next set of guests are a powerhouse in more ways than one – please welcome to the FCTC couch, Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar!
In this episode, Prakash and Ravi get candid about Bengaluru’s glaring lack of public infrastructure despite Karnataka’s lofty Art & Culture budget allocation. While Prakash speaks on the ban on dubbing in the Kannada film industry, regional politics and language imposition in the state, Ravichandar reflects on the improvements that can help the city’s public facing infrastructure.
Prakash looks back upon his time as an actor auditioning for roles in near history films like Madras Cafe, Youngistaan and Airlift, while Ravichander discusses his involvement in projects the city has undertaken – TenderSURE roads, pedestrian friendly infrastructure, and Lalbagh’s sustainability, to name a few.
Have spaces like Chowdiah set the benchmark for Bengaluru’s performing arts venues very high? How can citizen facing, public utility infrastructure be created in collaboration with private developers? How does Bengaluru; the city of migrants, cope with the pressures and challenges that come up because of its unique cosmopolitan nature?
If you want the answers to some difficult questions you have to confront as a Bengalurean in this day and age, tune into our latest episode, grab a notebook and get ready to take some invaluable notes. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this.
Subscribe to our channel now, and stay tuned for more 👀
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
The City of New Beginnings seems to be an apt way to describe the city of Bengaluru, but how would Civic Evangelist V Ravichandar, and Actor Prakash Belawadi describe the city?
For Ravi, Bengaluru is a city of migrants in more ways than one. For Prakash, the city is a melting pot of culture, which weirdly enough causes much of the tension in the state about identity, language, and blanket impositions on public life.
In FCTC’s third episode, Ravi and Prakash are ready to face the fire as they give us their hot takes on the city’s progress in art and culture, the lack of public facing infrastructure in the city, and the ways towards which they see the city moving in the future.
The tea is hot, and it is being served. Stay tuned for part 2 of the episode dropping tomorrow.
Our next set of guests are a powerhouse in more ways than one – please welcome to the FCTC couch, Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar!
In this episode, Prakash and Ravi get candid about Bengaluru’s glaring lack of public infrastructure despite Karnataka’s lofty Art & Culture budget allocation. While Prakash speaks on the ban on dubbing in the Kannada film industry, regional politics and language imposition in the state, Ravichandar reflects on the improvements that can help the city’s public facing infrastructure.
Prakash looks back upon his time as an actor auditioning for roles in near history films like Madras Cafe, Youngistaan and Airlift, while Ravichander discusses his involvement in projects the city has undertaken – TenderSURE roads, pedestrian friendly infrastructure, and Lalbagh’s sustainability, to name a few.
Have spaces like Chowdiah set the benchmark for Bengaluru’s performing arts venues very high? How can citizen facing, public utility infrastructure be created in collaboration with private developers? How does Bengaluru; the city of migrants, cope with the pressures and challenges that come up because of its unique cosmopolitan nature?
If you want the answers to some difficult questions you have to confront as a Bengalurean in this day and age, tune into our latest episode, grab a notebook and get ready to take some invaluable notes. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this.
Subscribe to our channel now, and stay tuned for more 👀
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
In this episode, Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar ask the difficult questions about Bengaluru in what is probably FCTC’s most bold episode yet. The duo amongst other things discusses the Kannada film industry’s blanket ban on dubbing, the uproar over Trevor Noah’s cancelled shows in Manpho Centre, and the rising influence of pro-Kannada activist groups in the city.
In an FCTC exclusive, Prakash spills the tea on his film career, reveals why he steers clear of ads, and shares his wild experiences mediating the language divide in Karnataka. Meanwhile, Ravi reflects on his work with key development projects in the city, the satisfaction in doing public facing work, and how, without knowing Kannada, he feels like he’d have “not a hope and a half” in a tough spot.
This one’s gonna be interesting. Catch the full episode by subscribing to From Code to Culture’s YouTube linked in our bio, and keep your eyes peeled for more updates!
An architect, urbanist, and entrepreneur by profession, our next guest attempted to do what very few people dare – plan and execute a vision for Bengaluru’s redevelopment.
Drumroll please. Welcome our latest guest on the FCTC couch – Naresh Narasimhan!
In this episode, Naresh Narasimhan deep dives into how Church Street’s TenderS.U.R.E project paved the way for new ways through which the city’s development could be imagined, while also commenting on the improvement in citizen participation in policy over recent years.
Watch Naresh outline the interconnected nature of Bengaluru’s pain points – poor infrastructure, high vehicle to people ratio, lack of urban planning and encroachment of the city’s stormwater canals, and what system level changes are required to implement world class urban design.
What makes or breaks Indian cities? Is there a need to integrate policy with practice more than ever in the 21st century? Where does Bengaluru lead and lag across developmental sectors? Naresh answers these questions and more, only in FCTC’s second episode.
Oh, and did we tell you about the bit where Naresh is also an actor? Find out more about his unconventional, but very cool career trajectory in this unmissable episode.
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
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Welcome to a preview of our second episode with the one and only – Naresh Narasimhan!
In our second episode on FCTC, Naresh deep dives into how the TenderS.U.R.E project transformed Church Street and paved new paths for city development while also talking about Bengaluru’s infamous challenges —poor infrastructure, a high vehicle-to-people ratio, encroachment of rajakaluves and low citizen participation in everyday policy. A famed urban architect, Naresh doesn’t mince his words when it comes to the importance of system level change in executing world-class urban design for the city.
What truly shapes a city’s identity? Is it high time we integrate policy and practice rather than talking about it in silos? How can Indian exteriors be elevated to the same level as Indian interiors?
Find out, only in this unfiltered conversation on From Code to Culture, where Naresh lets us in on his journey with urban design and an unexpected career pivot into acting. Yup, acting. You totally read THAT right.
Don’t miss out, this one’s a fiery little episode! Tune in, and tell us your thoughts!
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
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Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.
This is From Code to Culture’s first episode featuring Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw; the visionary founder of Biocon, and a true blue Bengaluru citizen. Discover how she built India’s largest pharma enterprise with a billion-dollar market cap post-license raj, and how India’s biotech and IT sectors grew in tandem with her efforts, including the establishment of Syngene International.
Kiran shares her journey of formulating recombinant human insulin, revolutionising diabetes treatment in India and beyond. She delves into Bengaluru’s unique spirit, highlighting initiatives like TenderSURE and the vibrant culture, safe environment, and exciting nightlife that attract young innovators to the city. Explore how efforts like the Science Gallery and MAP Museum are shaping the city’s future.
Tune in to hear Kiran’s inspiring story of resilience, vision, and community, and discover how Biocon became a global biotech leader, bringing affordable healthcare solutions to the world. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8KyiZfVoxo3Q880y2HLze
Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.
This is From Code to Culture’s first episode featuring Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw; the visionary founder of Biocon, and a true blue Bengaluru citizen. Discover how she built India’s largest pharma enterprise with a billion-dollar market cap post-license raj, and how India’s biotech and IT sectors grew in tandem with her efforts, including the establishment of Syngene International.
Kiran shares her journey of formulating recombinant human insulin, revolutionising diabetes treatment in India and beyond. She delves into Bengaluru’s unique spirit, highlighting initiatives like TenderSURE and the vibrant culture, safe environment, and exciting nightlife that attract young innovators to the city. Explore how efforts like the Science Gallery and MAP Museum are shaping the city’s future.
Tune in to hear Kiran’s inspiring story of resilience, vision, and community, and discover how Biocon became a global biotech leader, bringing affordable healthcare solutions to the world. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Check us out on our socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr
Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8KyiZfVoxo3Q880y2HLze
India’s largest pharmaceutical company – Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw opens up about her career as an Indian woman in STEM. From humble beginnings as a trainee brewer to founding a billion dollar pharma giant; Biocon in Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley.
Want to learn about the groundbreaking scientific innovations that revolutionised diabetes treatment globally with their brand of insulin? Wondering if you too can be a global disruptor like Kiran with your startup idea? Or maybe you’re curious about the Bengaluru magic that’s shaped the turn of events for thousands of entrepreneurs today?
In any case, tune in as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw opens up about her trailblazing career as one of the most successful woman entrepreneurs in India — with hilarious quips and quirks that are just so Bengaluru!
Subscribe to our channel now, and see you in the next one!
#kiranmazumdarshaw #Biocon #womenentrepreneurs #bengaluru #podcast
Code. Culture. Conversations. Coffee.
This is From Code to Culture, UnboxingBLR’s foray into the exciting (and sometimes nerve wracking) world of podcasting. We deep dive into all that makes the city a hub of contradictions, with exclusive insights from its most influential voices.
Hosts Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash give you a rundown of the city’s charm and challenges, in candid conversation with Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw; brewmaster turned billionaire, Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh; a dynamic stock bro duo, actor Prakash Belawadi; multi-talented Bengaluru huduga, Naresh Narasimhan; iconic urban architect, V Ravichandar; the mastermind behind BLR Hubba and public private partnerships, and Krishnan and Meena Ganesh; the power couple of our dreams who have pioneered Portea, Bluestone and many more.
Oh, and did we tell you this is only part 1 of our first season?
TLDR: FCTC is dishing out the scoop on entrepreneurial success, so grab a plate and get ready to be served!
Hosts
From Code to Culture is hosted by Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash.
Malini Goyal is the co-founder of UnboxingBLR, and the co-author of the book Unboxing Bengaluru: The City of New Beginnings. Malini has 30 years of experience working with leading publications and journals such as Forbes, The Economic Times, India Today, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Prashanth Prakash is a founding partner of the global venture capital firm Accel Partners in India and the co-founder of UnboxingBLR Foundation. He began his career as an entrepreneur in the 1990s and, since 2004, has played a key role as a venture capitalist in nurturing Bengaluru’s-as well as India’s startup landscape.
Want to suggest a guest for our podcast?
We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at codetoculture@unboxingblr.com or comment on our socials with your recommendations.
