Down & Dirty with Dr. T. is back with another episode and this time our featured guest is Abhimanyu Shekhawat.
Abhimanyu is a seasoned leader in the consumer tech space with over two decades of experience across e-commerce, fintech and AI. He's currently building Nurix, a generative AI startup focused on reimagining customer experience for enterprises.
In this episode, Abhimanyu shares how tools like YouTube and his organized approach to content consumption help him stay ahead of tech trends while managing the constant ambiguity and challenges of building an AI company from the ground up.
Highlights from the episode:
A day in the life – What does a day in the life of a founding member generative AI startup look like? Abhimanyu takes us through his routine — from checking WhatsApp and Slack at 7:30 AM, to managing sales calls, product meetings, and client solutioning for a 20–25 person team. He shares how tools like Slack, Google Workspace, HubSpot, and ChatGPT help streamline operations, and how he evolved from a hands‑on “get it done” approach to a highly organized one.
YouTube as his indispensable content platform – For Abhimanyu, YouTube is his "one indisposable item"—a platform for consuming diverse content from AI trends to movie trailers. He shares how he consumes podcasts during Bangalore traffic, multitask during work, and stay updated through creators like Lex Friedman and Think School. His highly organized channel subscription system helps him quickly navigate to different content categories. As for why he sticks with YouTube Music instead of Spotify? You’ll never guess.
Challenges in startup life – It’s not all smooth sailing in the startup world. Abhimanyu talks openly about the shift from structured corporate roles to the ambiguity of joining a founding team, where prioritization is a constant challenge, resources are limited, and every team member has to wear multiple hats. In this environment, “there’s no concept of time” as weekdays and weekends blend, and cross‑functional collaboration becomes vital. Scaling from a team of 10 to 25 adds its own complexity, making resilience and focus essential in the fast‑paced AI space.
Learn more about our research shenanigans:
Website: https://www.poocho.co/
Blog: https://www.poocho.co/resources/blog/
LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/justpoocho
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justpoocho
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poochonetwork
Chapters:
00:00:00 Welcome and introduction
00:00:48 Transition to generative AI startup
00:03:53 Structured vs. unstructured work
00:05:38 A day in the life at Neurix
00:08:42 Enablers for effective work
00:11:36 Task management and personal growth
00:12:59 Challenges and opportunities in a startup
00:15:06 Tech touchpoints and tools
00:16:59 Morning routine and app usage
00:19:27 Entertainment habits: YouTube and cooking
00:21:03 YouTube as an indispensable tool
00:23:37 YouTube features and content preferences
00:26:46 YouTube’s role in daily life
00:28:48 Entertainment: trailers, soundtracks, and YouTube Music
00:30:27 YouTube organization and consumption patterns
00:33:53 YouTube Premium and its benefits
00:35:53 Contextual recommendations and algorithmic understanding
00:37:16 Evolution of media consumption
00:39:24 The power of long‑form content for brand building
00:41:20 Rapid‑fire questions and reflections
00:42:42 Conclusion and farewell