“Banihal.com targets working professionals in the age group of roughly 25-30 years who have their own unique definition of an ideal marriage and are looking for someone who is on the same page as them. It’s primarily an aspirational brand that seeks to offer fulfilment to the top 10% of the population in metros, specifically aiming at people who are well-educated and are successful in their careers. These individuals are not on dating sites or matrimonial sites but are looking for something like Google to answer the question of how they can build a fulfilling family life.” Ishdeep Sawhney CEO and
Founder of Banihal.com
Founder of Banihal.com
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Ishdeep Sawhney, CEO and Founder of Banihal.com
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ST: When did you decide to take the path of entrepreneurship?
Ishdeep Sawhney: I was
obsessed with marrying someone who was the right match for the next 60 years
and someone who would be there to enjoy the journey of life while building a
family and a fulfilling personal life.
obsessed with marrying someone who was the right match for the next 60 years
and someone who would be there to enjoy the journey of life while building a
family and a fulfilling personal life.
I was excited about starting my professional life
working on smartphones and it was a rich environment to learn about innovation,
technology and management at Microsoft. At the same time, I was also getting
calls from family in India to get married and settle down now that education
and career had been on a strong footing.
working on smartphones and it was a rich environment to learn about innovation,
technology and management at Microsoft. At the same time, I was also getting
calls from family in India to get married and settle down now that education
and career had been on a strong footing.
The next step was to recognize a great match when
you meet one. A method for making better decisions is to take the outside view
rather than your own inner view.
you meet one. A method for making better decisions is to take the outside view
rather than your own inner view.
Looking at the statistics for marriages: 40-50%
of marriages in the US end in divorce. The divorce rate in the US increased
after “no fault” divorce law was passed and this would be true for marriages
starting in 2005 and later. Second marriage divorce rates are 60% and third
marriage are 70%. We do not learn from our mistakes. The top 3 most stressful
events for a person are – Death of a spouse, Divorce and Marital separation The
conclusion of the 75 year Harvard Grant study which followed people from
college to their retirement was “warmth of relationships throughout life
have the greatest positive impact on ‘life satisfaction’”.
of marriages in the US end in divorce. The divorce rate in the US increased
after “no fault” divorce law was passed and this would be true for marriages
starting in 2005 and later. Second marriage divorce rates are 60% and third
marriage are 70%. We do not learn from our mistakes. The top 3 most stressful
events for a person are – Death of a spouse, Divorce and Marital separation The
conclusion of the 75 year Harvard Grant study which followed people from
college to their retirement was “warmth of relationships throughout life
have the greatest positive impact on ‘life satisfaction’”.
This was a clear indication that getting married
to the right partner over the long term was someone who intuitively thinks like
you. Having spent a year focused
on one person felt like a huge setback and brought increased pressure from
family to get married. I then started developing an algorithm to use more of
the information that is used when we meet in person to know very quickly within
a 1 hr phone call if there is a potential match.
to the right partner over the long term was someone who intuitively thinks like
you. Having spent a year focused
on one person felt like a huge setback and brought increased pressure from
family to get married. I then started developing an algorithm to use more of
the information that is used when we meet in person to know very quickly within
a 1 hr phone call if there is a potential match.
I started building a questionnaire based on the
neuroscience research published about decision making in the human brain and
towards the second half of 2008 had a clear way to evaluate objectively how
good in compatibility a match was from the answers.
neuroscience research published about decision making in the human brain and
towards the second half of 2008 had a clear way to evaluate objectively how
good in compatibility a match was from the answers.
In 2009, I was introduced to my wife and after
the 1 hr interview over the phone, I was ecstatic because she was 20 on a 10
point scale. Ishdeep took 3 more days to talk and follow up on a few things
that came up in the first conversation. On the 4th day, I called my dad in
India and asked them to prepare and come to get married.
the 1 hr interview over the phone, I was ecstatic because she was 20 on a 10
point scale. Ishdeep took 3 more days to talk and follow up on a few things
that came up in the first conversation. On the 4th day, I called my dad in
India and asked them to prepare and come to get married.
I lived with my decision and saw it work in real
life where communication was easy because I was intuitively aligned with my
wife. In 2012, I quit my job at Apple and started Banihal in Cupertino, CA.
life where communication was easy because I was intuitively aligned with my
wife. In 2012, I quit my job at Apple and started Banihal in Cupertino, CA.
ST: Please tell us more about your venture briefly.
Ishdeep Sawhney: Banihal.com, a neuroscience-based recommendation engine for finding the perfect life
partner. The service caters to the aspirations of those for whom traditional
ways of finding a life partner simply doesn’t work. It has made neuroscience research and
advanced search technology the centerpiece of its matchmaking service to
deliver objective and accurate results.
partner. The service caters to the aspirations of those for whom traditional
ways of finding a life partner simply doesn’t work. It has made neuroscience research and
advanced search technology the centerpiece of its matchmaking service to
deliver objective and accurate results.
Incorporated in 2014, Banihal Inc is
based out of Cupertino, CA.. It was while I was trying to find my perfect
partner that I felt the need to conceive the idea for a service like Banihal.
This was when I realised the need for a platform that allows you to assess
yourself and your needs in an objective way and helps you decide who the right
person for you really is. Imbued by this realization, I developed the algorithm
that enables young, independent and self-willed Indians to make the most
important decision of their lives.
based out of Cupertino, CA.. It was while I was trying to find my perfect
partner that I felt the need to conceive the idea for a service like Banihal.
This was when I realised the need for a platform that allows you to assess
yourself and your needs in an objective way and helps you decide who the right
person for you really is. Imbued by this realization, I developed the algorithm
that enables young, independent and self-willed Indians to make the most
important decision of their lives.
It targets working professionals in the age group of roughly
25-30 years who have their own unique definition of an ideal marriage and are
looking for someone who is on the same page as them. It’s primarily an
aspirational brand that seeks to offer fulfilment to the top 10% of the
population in metros, specifically aiming at people who are well-educated and
are successful in their careers. These individuals are not on dating sites or
matrimonial sites but are looking for something like Google to answer the
question of how they can build a fulfilling family life.
25-30 years who have their own unique definition of an ideal marriage and are
looking for someone who is on the same page as them. It’s primarily an
aspirational brand that seeks to offer fulfilment to the top 10% of the
population in metros, specifically aiming at people who are well-educated and
are successful in their careers. These individuals are not on dating sites or
matrimonial sites but are looking for something like Google to answer the
question of how they can build a fulfilling family life.
Users need to fill up a comprehensive profile based on which
Banihal makes the best-possible recommendations to them. The service also
encompasses a secure communication medium wherein users don’t have to share
their email or phone number. In order to offer maximum value to its users,
Banihal suggests five best matches for each profile. In the initial phase, the
service is free of cost.
Banihal makes the best-possible recommendations to them. The service also
encompasses a secure communication medium wherein users don’t have to share
their email or phone number. In order to offer maximum value to its users,
Banihal suggests five best matches for each profile. In the initial phase, the
service is free of cost.
ST: How big is your team at present? Are you planning to
increase your team size?
increase your team size?
Ishdeep Sawhney: We started as two co-founders and then had our first hire as VP,
Engineering. We have an extended team of 10 full time and contract people
working together. We are planning to double the team in 2017. Hiring people is
incredibly important and we look at people who can contribute independently to
build significant parts of the product and company.
Engineering. We have an extended team of 10 full time and contract people
working together. We are planning to double the team in 2017. Hiring people is
incredibly important and we look at people who can contribute independently to
build significant parts of the product and company.
ST: What is view about the opportunities in matrimonial business
in India?
in India?
Ishdeep Sawhney: The matrimonial business is still unorganized and run the
traditional way and will be transformed significantly over the next 5 years.
The entire business from matchmaking to how people plan their weddings will
transform and India has 500 million people under the age of 35, making it the
youngest population worldwide. Finding a
match will be completely transformed by artificial intelligence and in 5 years
people will meet highly qualified matches recommended by smart algorithms like
Rae developed by Banihal. Indian wedding services market is $36 Billion and it will see more
innovation and diversity by creating more unique experiences and will be a
platform for creative people to showcase their talent.
traditional way and will be transformed significantly over the next 5 years.
The entire business from matchmaking to how people plan their weddings will
transform and India has 500 million people under the age of 35, making it the
youngest population worldwide. Finding a
match will be completely transformed by artificial intelligence and in 5 years
people will meet highly qualified matches recommended by smart algorithms like
Rae developed by Banihal. Indian wedding services market is $36 Billion and it will see more
innovation and diversity by creating more unique experiences and will be a
platform for creative people to showcase their talent.
ST: Which are the countries you are focusing on at present? Are
you planning to increase your footprint into multiple countries in near future?
you planning to increase your footprint into multiple countries in near future?
Ishdeep Sawhney: We are focusing only on metro cities in India as of now; Mumbai,
New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. We see significant demand from tier 2 cities
coming organically and will be expanding their in the coming year. Our focus
remains India and US at present.
New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. We see significant demand from tier 2 cities
coming organically and will be expanding their in the coming year. Our focus
remains India and US at present.
ST: What are the challenges that an entrepreneur has to face in
early stages?
early stages?
Ishdeep Sawhney: At the early stages you have a vision that feels like reality to
you and other people still see it as an intellectual possibility. The
entrepreneur has to show the new possibility to the users and also explain it
in a very simple fashion. There are significant shortcomings in any business
when it is started and even though entrepreneurs are optimistic about the idea,
it takes significant work to solve or implement all aspects of the business.
There are always questions about the areas which have still not been
implemented so questions about their risk and how they will play out remain
uncertain. This is just part of the growing up phase in a startup.
you and other people still see it as an intellectual possibility. The
entrepreneur has to show the new possibility to the users and also explain it
in a very simple fashion. There are significant shortcomings in any business
when it is started and even though entrepreneurs are optimistic about the idea,
it takes significant work to solve or implement all aspects of the business.
There are always questions about the areas which have still not been
implemented so questions about their risk and how they will play out remain
uncertain. This is just part of the growing up phase in a startup.
ST: What tips would you like to give to the aspiring
entrepreneurs?
entrepreneurs?
Ishdeep Sawhney: Entrepreneurs
are naturally absorbed with an inside view of their project and absorbed by the
technical, design and sales side of the product. It is far more important to
take an outsider’s view like that of a VC and evaluate if this is a big enough
market and if this is really a problem worth solving. Doing this as a
continuous exercise makes the company adapt better and also increase the market
opportunity for the company.
are naturally absorbed with an inside view of their project and absorbed by the
technical, design and sales side of the product. It is far more important to
take an outsider’s view like that of a VC and evaluate if this is a big enough
market and if this is really a problem worth solving. Doing this as a
continuous exercise makes the company adapt better and also increase the market
opportunity for the company.
Interviewed by Startup Terminal Bureau
