In this episode, Sudeep grills Sharan on a brutally honest question - why are so many emerging consumer brands getting steamrolled by Quick Commerce platforms?
Sharan shares firsthand founder conversations and hard-earned insights to make a bold claim: Q-Com isn’t the problem. You are, if you’re treating it like a business model instead of a channel. What follows is a fiery, insight-packed breakdown of how to engage with platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart without losing your brand, your margins, or your mind.
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Platforms Are Tools, Not Strategies: You’re not on Q-Com. Q-Com is on you, until you build your own roads.
Define the Role Before You Spend:
Distribution Is the Ultimate Moat: You can’t build a brand without owning how it reaches customers.
D2C ≠ Selling on Shopify: If your logistics fail and you can’t control CX, it’s not D2C—it’s rented reach.
Sample, Don’t Sell at a Loss: In FMCG, CAC vs LTV is flawed. Give it for free rather than burn margins permanently.
Start Small, But Start Now: Even 100 offline stores in your city is a step toward real independence.
QUOTES
“Visibility cannot come at the cost of viability.”
“If Q-Com is your business model, go work there. You’re just a supplier.”
“Distribution is expensive, yes - but being dependent is far more costly.”
“There is no LTV in FMCG. You don’t acquire customers. You rent occasions.”
“The best brands aren’t avoiding Q-Com. They’re just not addicted to it.”
If you’re a founder, marketer, or investor in consumer brands, this episode is your wake-up call. Before you chase growth on platforms, make sure you actually own the business you’re building.
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CREDITS
Album Art & Design by ting.in
Voiceovers by Anjale Stephanos
Music from Zapsplat.com