Your email is on its way!
To track your gifted subscription, go to your Account Settings 
We’ve emailed your gift link. Want us to send some more?
Yes, Send more
0 of 0 Subscription available
Not now, thanksArray ( )
Subject : Email Whitelisting
Body : Hi, I'd like to receive all communications from The Ken.
These are one-time fixes to ensure that you don’t miss out on anything interesting.
We currently limit the number of free gift subscriptions per subscriber. You’ll get more when you renew your subscription.
In the meantime, if you want to tell someone about The Ken, gift them a story.
To track your gifted subscription, go to your Account Settings
We’ve emailed your gift link. Want us to send some more?
0 of 0 Subscription available
Not now, thanksRohin is Co-founder and CEO at The Ken. He hosts The Ken's leadership podcast, First Principles, and is the lead writer of the Sunday newsletter on mental models, careers and personal growth, also called First Principles. He is the co-host of the Two by Two and Zero Shot podcasts. He is also a columnist for The Ken's AI series, Zero Shot. Rohin holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and an engineering degree in Computer Sciences from the R.V.C.E., Bangalore.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We've sent a 6-digit code to [email protected]
Having trouble logging in to your account?
Write to us at [email protected]. We'll check and revert.
You can also continue with your password
Signing you in
Click here to try again
Introducing The Ken's brand-new app. Install now by scanning the QR code below
Introducing The Ken's brand-new app. Install now.
We allow only two web login sessions (desktop browser or mobile browser) per subscriber, and you have reached your maximum session limit. If you click continue, you will be logged out on all the other devices.
“There's no greater gift than thinking that you had some impact on the world, for the better.”
– Gloria Steinem
We allow only two web login sessions per subscriber, and you have reached your maximum session limit. If you click continue, you will be logged out on all the other devices.
Account successfully created
Our anti-piracy system has flagged your account for suspicious activity and has temporarily paused your account. This may happen due to a number of reasons.
If you think that this was done in error, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
Top Comments by Rohin Dharmakumar
Unlock all of The Ken’s podcasts on Spotify
Not yet. Integration is only offered by invitation. We are hopeful.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Inside Google’s multi-million-dollar deals with India’s news publishers
To the first part of your question, Rohan, the answer is no, We do not have any sort of partnership or relationship with Google.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
The silver linings to Indonesia’s lost school year
My pleasure, Krishnan. And thank you for understanding.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
The silver linings to Indonesia’s lost school year
Hello Krishnan, at The Ken we've always strived to push the envelopes of what our subscribers might appreciate, even if it isn't narrowly from their sector. For instance, why should a professional working in, say, FinTech, care for what's happening in Healthcare? Or Policy? Our answer has been because there are interconnections that matter. We operate at those intersections. Each of our stories is at the intersection of technology, business and people, at the least. Today's story is important for all our readers because it is about the challenges, opportunities and approaches faced by one of the largest developing economies in Southeast Asia - Indonesia. The problems mentioned are not really all that different from those we've chronicled in India. And we also felt it was doubly relevant because the Education Minister of Indonesia is the 36-year old co-founder of one of the region's largest unicorns, Gojek. We literally have the intersection of Big Tech, EdTech and Education Policy in a country with the largest population of school children in the world, after China and India. We don't publish SEA stories to our India subscribers often. But whenever we do, you can be sure it's because we really feel there is incredible relevance.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
Thanks Rikin. I'll check on this.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
A matter for a different story, Amrit :) Do you have a view? Write to me :)
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
The profit, as I've said in the story, seems to have been a one-off thing. I don't think it was a case of a business truly becoming profitable on an ongoing basis. Thus using a profit multiple to assess the sale valuation may not be accurate.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
Not an easy test. Reliance Retail now needs to retain UL's leadership, invest in it to win back market share and vendor trust, and figure out how to make money in the process :)
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
It was either take a haircut, or face the possibility of UL shutting down and everyone getting zero. The profitability you're referring too was a one time thing. I'm not sure if it was sustainable enough.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Why Urban Ladder became Reliance Retail’s second discount acquisition
At The Ken we tend to report and write on companies than sectors, Dinesh. While we do try and study leading players, it isn't to the same depth. That said, many sources believe Pepperfry was nimbler and faster at moving to both (a) a market place model, and (b) offline stores. Plus, it managed to convince investors and raise money a few times in the last few years, including from domestic strategics like Pidilite. So it's not in as dire a situation as UL. That said, it doesn't make profits. But then, who does?
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
With Instamart, Swiggy wants to create a 7-Eleven in the Cloud
Not weird at all, Varun, because the article is about Swiggy and Instamart. Not every story needs to also be about what Reliance or Jio are doing. We do those stories separately, as a search will tell you.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
With Instamart, Swiggy wants to create a 7-Eleven in the Cloud
I hear you, Daljit. But India is a large enough market for there to be other customers for whom delayed deliveries don't work? I for one order multiple times a week from Swiggy and Dunzo, while still doing the bulk of our grocery shopping on weekends at Namdhari's stores. Swiggy is choosing to cater to a smaller segment of 10-20M people, as they say.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
Inside Google’s multi-million-dollar deals with India’s news publishers
To the first part of your question, Rohan, the answer is no, We do not have any sort of partnership or relationship with Google.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
The silver linings to Indonesia’s lost school year
My pleasure, Krishnan. And thank you for understanding.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO
The silver linings to Indonesia’s lost school year
Hello Krishnan, at The Ken we've always strived to push the envelopes of what our subscribers might appreciate, even if it isn't narrowly from their sector. For instance, why should a professional working in, say, FinTech, care for what's happening in Healthcare? Or Policy? Our answer has been because there are interconnections that matter. We operate at those intersections. Each of our stories is at the intersection of technology, business and people, at the least. Today's story is important for all our readers because it is about the challenges, opportunities and approaches faced by one of the largest developing economies in Southeast Asia - Indonesia. The problems mentioned are not really all that different from those we've chronicled in India. And we also felt it was doubly relevant because the Education Minister of Indonesia is the 36-year old co-founder of one of the region's largest unicorns, Gojek. We literally have the intersection of Big Tech, EdTech and Education Policy in a country with the largest population of school children in the world, after China and India. We don't publish SEA stories to our India subscribers often. But whenever we do, you can be sure it's because we really feel there is incredible relevance.
Rohin Dharmakumar The Ken, Co-founder and CEO