Are B2B commerce platforms structurally profitable—or just operationally efficient illusions?

MOB enters a category already shaped by Infra.Market, OfBusiness, and Moglix—platforms that have proven scale, but still leave one core question unresolved: where does durable margin actually live?

But this episode isn’t just about the market.

It marks a milestone for CVCism—our first deep dive into a portfolio company we backed at inception. Through Mad Over Buildings, we wanted to open up how Corporate Venture Capital actually works in practice—what it means to build alongside a company, not just invest into it. This is as much about the founder journey as it is about working with SIG Tattva— the expectations, the systems, the friction, and the value created through real collaboration.

And that’s where MOB becomes interesting. Because it’s not just another B2B commerce play—it’s attempting to change the starting point itself:

- A no-bleed model with day-zero positive unit economics

- Built through brand partnerships, not inventory-heavy aggregation

- An anti dark-store approach, where distributors are supplemented—not bypassed

Alongside this, the episode also explores how India’s construction ecosystem is being rethought—through reliability, credit access, and operational design—and the role of players like Hindware and SIG Tattva as active participants, not passive capital.

But these claims come with real tension. Because if you don’t fully control inventory, logistics, or demand— where does pricing power come from? And if you eventually do— how different are you from the incumbents you set out to disrupt?

This conversation deliberately stays inside that contradiction. Because at scale, this isn’t about GMV or growth. It’s about structural control:

- Who influences pricing vs who absorbs volatility

- Who owns the customer vs who services them

- And ultimately—who retains the margin when the system stabilizes

If you’re building or investing in this space, don’t just ask: “Is this more efficient?”

Ask: “What has fundamentally changed—and is it defensible?”

Because if that answer isn’t clear, this isn’t a new model - It’s a temporary advantage.

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Chapters -

02:28 – The Making of a Founder

06:47 – Backpacker Panda to Ground Zero

09:35 – The 65% Problem in Indian Construction

13:30 – MOB Explained: A Marketplace Powered by Credit

16:23 – Udhaari Economics: The Credit Engine Behind Indian Construction

22:58 – Founder–CVC Fit: What Made Us Bet on MOB

30:04 – The Anti–Dark Store Revolution

37:46 – Three Layers of Risk: Cracking the Last‑Mile Credit Chain

41:04 – Why Contractors, Not Homeowners, Control the Market

45:58 – Distribution Isn’t Dying — It’s Evolving

53:17 – India’s Infra Future & MOB’s IPO Path

59:38 – Rapid Fire

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Hosted by Team Tattva — because at Tattva, the pilot is the product.

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Joining the conversation are Sriharsha Bandaluppi and Shashvat Somany, as they unpack the thinking, structure, and realities behind setting up and running a CVC.

Together, they explore:

• Intent before investment — why clarity of purpose shapes every decision
• Talent as the differentiator — the need for dual fluency across startups and corporates
• The CVC structure — from deal flow and POCs to IC and board approvals
• POCs as the real filter — where most opportunities are truly tested
• BU alignment — navigating internal buy-in and the triad of returns
• Governance in motion — the role of ICs and boards in decision-making
• Evangelism and scale — turning pilots into organisation-wide momentum

A grounded look at CVCs — focused less on theory, and more on the systems, decisions, and execution that make them work.

Hosted by Team Tattva — because at Tattva, the pilot is the product.

🎧 Listen & Watch सीVCism

• To see more of Tattva
• Subscribe to सीVCism

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Somany Impresa Group, SIG Tattva, or any affiliated entities. This content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or financial advice.

Joining him in conversation is Sriharsha Bandaluppi, Head of SIG Tattva. Together, they explore:

• The Operator’s Edge — why operating experience shapes sharper investing
• Venture capital across geographies — how India, US, and Europe truly differ
• AI hype vs real conviction — separating signal from noise
• Defensibility debate — agentic systems vs robotics-led approaches
• India’s cap table problem and its long-term implications
• Nirman’s investment thesis and approach to governance

A grounded conversation on venture capital — focused less on momentum, and more on judgment, discipline, and building what lasts.

Hosted by Team Tattva — because at Tattva, the pilot is the product.

🎧 Listen & Watch सीVCism

• To see more of Tattva
• Subscribe to सीVCism

🔗 Follow SIG Tattva

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Somany Impresa Group, SIG Tattva, or any affiliated entities. This content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or financial advice.

Joining her in conversation are Shashvat Somany, Founder of SIG Tattva and Head of Strategy at Somany Impresa Group, and Sriharsha Bandaluppi, Head of SIG Tattva.

Together, they explore:

· What it takes to build a long-term, homegrown venture capital institution

· Why value creation matters more than valuation — and why IvyCap focuses on building “Dragons,” not just Unicorns

· How mentorship, governance, and execution shape successful founders

· The role of academia, industry, capital, and endowments in building India’s innovation ecosystem

· Where India’s next wave of growth will come from — across consumer, deep tech, and India-to-the-world innovation

A thoughtful conversation on venture capital beyond funding — focused on institutions, ecosystems, and outcomes that last.

Hosted by Team Tattva — because at Tattva, the pilot is the product.

🎧 Listen & Watch सीVCism

• To see more of Tattva
• Subscribe to सीVCism

🔗 Follow SIG Tattva

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Somany Impresa Group, SIG Tattva, or any affiliated entities. This content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or financial advice.

In this first episode, Building Tattva, Shashvat Somany, Founder of SIG Tattva and Head of Strategy at Somany Impresa Group, joins Sriharsha Bandaluppi, Head of SIG Tattva, for an inside look at India’s most forward-looking Corporate Venture Capital platform.

Together, they discuss:

• The genesis of SIG Tattva and its investment thesis
• Why “execution-first” innovation matters in legacy industries
• The role of Tattva in bridging startups, corporates, and academia
• And how the next wave of industrial innovation will be built — one pilot at a time

Hosted by Team Tattva — because at Tattva, the pilot is the product.