What does it take to build a category-defining real estate company in India—starting from scratch, without hype, and going truly all in?

In this episode of the Blume Podcast, Karthik Reddy sits down with Tanuj Shori, Co-founder & CEO of Square Yards, to unpack the long, invisible journey behind one of India’s largest real estate and financial services platforms.

This is not a story about overnight success or fundraising theatrics. It’s about:

• How brutal work ethic during the Global Financial Crisis reshaped ambition
• Why exposure to China’s Lianjia helped connect the dots for Square Yards
• The moment obsession turned into a 48-hour decision to quit banking
• What “going all in” really meant—selling homes, including their parents’
• Building only where you have a clear right to win

Today, Square Yards moves ~₹18,000 Cr of real estate annually while refusing to chase adjacencies without category leadership.

If you’re building for decades, thinking about conviction, or wondering how founders cross the line from comfort to commitment—this episode is a masterclass.

🔔 Don’t miss more founder stories from Season 4: Destiny Avenged.

⏱️ Timestamps (Weekday Episode)

00:00 — “What is equity?”: early career confusion and learning the hard way
04:10 — Lehman, GFC, and why hard work changed everything
07:30 — China’s Lianjia, angel investing, and connecting the dots
11:40 — Going all in: selling homes and building Square Yards with conviction

Season Partners

This season is brought to you by IDFC FIRST Bank and Ultrahuman.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this content are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. References to companies or outcomes are illustrative only and should not be construed as endorsements. Past performance is not indicative of future results.