Start-ups need to hack costs to cope with pandemic: MakeMyTrip’s Deep Kalra

Deep Kalra, the pioneer of online travel in India, who as founder and CEO steered MakeMyTrip since its inception to a successful listing on Nasdaq, has a piece of advice for entrepreneurs to cope with the challenges thrown by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the group executive chairman of MakeMyTrip, a leading online travel firm, Kalra says that entrepreneurs running young ventures which are on a high growth path need to shift gear and slash various costs.

“There is no question that capital has become scarce. There are only a few businesses in areas such as health and remote learning which are getting capital, but they are just 1-2 per cent of the ecosystem,” said Kalra during a fireside chat with venture capitalist Vani Kola at Global Fintech Fest held virtually. “For everyone else, I would say please hunker down and slash away costs as much as possible.”