Hustling, hosteling and gaming | Zostel
In what has been one of the most fun conversations I’ve had on Founder Thesis - I sat down for a chat with Dharamveer Singh Chouhan, Co-Founder of Zostel - Asia’s largest chain of hostels.
An explorer & nonconformist at heart, Dharamveer’s journey into entrepreneurship is an exciting story.
Throughout his early career days, he has single-mindedly chased his passions and interests. Case in point, his affair with Poker, and making games. However, unlike most other game developers, he did not study computers!
But when your dreams are larger than life, and you are driven by passion, nothing is impossible. And Dharamveer went on to prove this by starting his own gaming studio & also working as a game designer at Zynga.
He eventually pivoted and went on to IIM Calcutta to chase the shiny MBA.
It was a backpacking trip through Europe that introduced him to the magic of living in a hostel - meeting interesting strangers & learning new cultures through immersive experiences.
And inspired by his backpacking trip in Europe, he spotted an opportunity to build a hospitality product true to India’s cultural diversity - Zostel.
Dharamveer decided to start his own chain of hostels & recreate the magic of hostel living for travellers who visited India. He co-founded Zostel - Asia's largest chain of backpacker hostels & experiential homes.
7 years down the road, and Dharamveer is onto another dream!
He talks about his incredible journey- right from growing up in Rajasthan to his experiences at IIT & IIM, playing poker, the genesis and growth of Zostel, & his new venture.
Other Ways to Listen:
Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | Google Podcast
Additional readings:-
1.A lottery, some perspiration and a dream to create a backpacker hostel chain: Zostel
2.The story of Zostel India: Rising above the Pandemic
3.Zostel co-founders enter web3, launch physical space for NFT communities
Before you go……the analytics only tell me so much, I want to hear what you feel and think about the conversations.
Mail me at ad@thepodium.in with your comments & feedback or if you just want to hear my comments on your startup idea - I love getting your emails!
Until the next founder's thesis📕,
Your host, AD