Rahul Dravid Shares Practical Advice for Entrepreneurs After Backing Bombay Shaving Company

Rahul Dravid, the former India captain and head coach who recently guided the national team to the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, has stepped into the investment arena by backing Bombay Shaving Company in its latest Rs 136 crore ($16 million) funding round. The round, led by Sixth Sense Ventures and joined by the Patni Family Office, GII, founder-CEO Shantanu Deshpande and several high-net-worth individuals, values the men's grooming brand at a stage where it has already crossed a Rs 550 crore annual revenue run-rate and turned profitable.

In a widely shared Instagram conversation with Shantanu Deshpande, Dravid delivered a measured yet powerful message to India's startup generation. “Everyone wants to start a company like Shantanu,” he said, “but you should also learn like Shantanu.” Stressing that curiosity is the most undervalued asset in today's information-overloaded world, Dravid argued that while hard work and creativity are non-negotiable, an insatiable desire to meet people, ask questions and absorb knowledge separates enduring founders from the rest.

Deshpande, visibly moved, responded that he has consciously tried to remain a “student of the game” the way Dravid was throughout his 16-year Test career — constantly analysing, adapting and preparing. The Bombay Shaving Company founder credited this mindset for helping the brand carve a niche in a brutally competitive market dominated by global giants, using direct-to-consumer channels, sharp pricing and relentless product iteration.

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The investment marks Dravid's growing portfolio outside cricket; he already advises several early-stage ventures and serves on boards that focus on education and sports technology. For Bombay Shaving Company, his association adds immense brand equity at a time when it is preparing the groundwork for a public listing, potentially within the next 18–24 months.

Dravid's words come at a moment when India added over 1,000 new unicorns and soonicorns in the last five years, yet burnout and failure rates remain high among first-time founders chasing quick scale. His emphasis on lifelong learning over overnight success resonates deeply in startup circles, where the glamour of fundraising often overshadows the grind of building sustainable businesses.

As the grooming and personal care market in India races toward a projected $30 billion valuation by 2030, Dravid’s quiet entry into the space — paired with his timeless advice — serves as both endorsement and gentle warning: trophies and term sheets are fleeting, but curiosity, discipline and the will to keep learning are what build legacies, on the field and in the boardroom.

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