AI adoption is accelerating across India, but most enterprises still struggle to convert pilots into measurable business impact. While startups rush to label everything as “AI-powered,” decision-makers increasingly demand clarity, specificity, and return on investment.

In this episode of the ExitFund Podcast, Yugraj Dagur, Founder of Cleverr AI, breaks down what it really takes to build AI startups that enterprises adopt, trust, and scale with. Drawing from his experience building an AI co-pilot for D2C brands, Yugraj explains why most AI pilots fail, how ROI-driven positioning changes adoption, and why maturity, not novelty, defines winning AI companies.

The conversation explores how Cleverr AI helps brands move beyond dashboards by consolidating fragmented data into a single source of truth, enabling AI-driven decisions that directly save time, save revenue, or generate growth.

In this episode, we cover:

• How AI adoption is shifting from experimentation to ROI accountability

• Why most enterprise AI pilots fail to convert

• The difference between AI hype and AI that drives business outcomes

• Why specificity beats “AI for everything” positioning

• How design partnerships accelerate real product-market fit

• Why small, focused teams may outperform large organizations in AI adoption

Follow the ExitFund Podcast for more conversations on startups, AI, investing, and building durable businesses in emerging markets.

90 percent of India’s urban population is exposed daily to polluted air, contaminated water, and high digital screen exposure.

This environmental reality is reshaping consumer expectations and creating new demand in the skincare and haircare market.

In this episode of the ExitFund Podcast, Tushar Bansal, Founder of Bonji, explains how pollution-driven oxidative stress is influencing consumer behavior and why science-led, India-specific formulations create stronger, more defensible businesses than marketing-first beauty brands.

The conversation explores how Bonji applies pharmaceutical research, nanotechnology, and regulatory discipline to build products designed for Indian climate conditions rather than global white-label templates.

In this episode, we cover:

• How environmental exposure is changing skincare and haircare demand

• Why oxidative stress is becoming a consumer decision factor

• The limits of white-label and trend-driven formulations

• How research-led development builds long-term brand advantage

• Why direct consumer insight outperforms influencer-led growth

Follow the ExitFund Podcast for more conversations on startups, consumer businesses, investment strategy, and sustainable brand building.

Foreign direct investment is driven by fundamentals, not headlines. In this episode, Axel Guyon from Choose Paris Region joins our podcast to explain why Paris Region continues to attract global capital even amid political debate and economic uncertainty. The discussion focuses on what investors actually evaluate when expanding into Europe and why Paris Region remains a competitive, long-term business destination for global founders and enterprises.

• What keeps foreign direct investment flowing into Paris Region year after year?

• Does political uncertainty in France actually impact investor confidence?

• How do global businesses assess risk when entering European markets?

• Why are Indian companies increasingly considering Paris Region for expansion?

• How do talent shortages and demographics shape investment strategy?

• What fundamentals matter most when choosing a European base of operations?

If you found this conversation valuable, follow our podcast for more insights on global business, investment strategy, startups, and leadership. Share this episode with founders, operators, and investors navigating international expansion.

Here is what you will get to know: