Aiyo Labs: Varun Kapoor on the Power of Conversational Tools and Ethical Entrepreneurship
In an era where every business interaction seems to happen on a messaging app, Varun Kapoor, Co-founder of Aiyo Labs, is building the infrastructure to make those conversations more powerful. But his journey isn't just about code and APIs; it's a deeply reflective path that explores the ethics of technology, the responsibility of founders, and the transition from a service-based consultancy to a scalable product-first startup.
Varun's story began in Bangalore, followed by an education in the UK at Bournemouth University. His early career took him to Avon Protection, a company making gas masks for the US military. While the work was exciting for a fresh graduate, the proximity to defense and war didn't sit well with him. This moral compass led him back to India in 2013 to start his first venture, UI Design, a service consultancy. "The first company wasn't a startup; it was services. Just buying and selling time," Varun reflects candidly. "My heart wasn't in making things for other people."
The WhatsApp Revelation
The insight for Aiyo Labs came from a place of frustration. While running his consultancy, Varun realized that everything—from project management to client updates—was happening on WhatsApp. "Everybody has about a hundred work-related WhatsApp groups," he notes. In 2018, during the Karnataka elections, he saw how central WhatsApp was to communication at a population scale. This "Wonderful space" became the foundation for Aiyo Labs, which Varun envisions as a cross between Twilio and Mailchimp.
The Power and Perils of Big Tech
Having been exposed to Western philosophies of privacy and individual decision-making, Varun offers a unique perspective on the Indian digital landscape. He expresses concern over the lack of stringent regulation compared to Europe's GDPR. "The technology is powerful, for better or for worse," he observes. "Initially, I turned a blind eye and said, 'I'm just the tech guy,' but we can't be ignorant of the message. Any tech provider that feels they are just a medium is purposefully turning a blind eye."
This awareness extends to the societal impact of social media and the "habit patterns" people fall into. Varun admires those who use entrepreneurial vigor to affect societal change without necessarily seeking a monetary outcome, though he admits he is still finding his own way to contribute effectively to that front.
Lessons in Privilege and Resilience
Candid about his own background, Varun acknowledges coming from a privileged position that provided a "cushion" to fall back on. "I hope India as a society can eventually afford people the luxury to make mistakes without it meaning their life is over," he says. However, privilege didn't shield him from the brutal realities of entrepreneurship. Early in his career, he faced a debilitating legal battle with a company in Saudi Arabia that took a massive mental toll. "It took six months away from my life and made me question if I was cut out for this," he recalls.
These experiences shaped his philosophy on team building and delegation. He credits pure luck for finding his first few team members—brave individuals who joined him when the company was just an empty house. Today, his co-founder is someone who started as an employee in his first company, a testament to long-term trust and shared vision.
Varun's Core Entrepreneurial Lessons
- Let Go of Control: Slowly trusting others and avoiding micromanagement is essential for both personal well-being and business scale.
- Ethics First: "One day you will win, and when you look back, you don't want to hate yourself for doing something not clean. You might as well die poor and happy than rich and shitty," Varun advises.
- Leverage Low Execution Costs: Technology has brought down the cost of starting an idea. You can nurture an entrepreneur in yourself quite easily today.
- Pick Something That Matters: Don't just do it for the money. What you do with your time matters societal-wise.
Building for the Future
As Aiyo Labs matures, the focus has shifted from navigating survival to the "nicer problems" of scaling, hiring better, and prioritizing global clients. Varun remains optimistic about the next generation of entrepreneurs, believing that the lack of traditional structure in current education systems will encourage them to set their own paths and question norms more deeply.
Aiyo Labs Journey
- Inception: Born out of the need for better business communication on WhatsApp.
- Vision: Combining the ease of Mailchimp with the power of Twilio.
- Current Focus: Scalable WhatsApp API solutions for businesses worldwide.
About the Guest
Varun Kapoor is the Co-founder of Aiyo Labs and the former founder of UI Design. An alumnus of Bournemouth University and the Valley School, Varun has a background in software engineering and consultancy. He is a thoughtful leader who balances the technical requirements of building a cloud-based conversational tool with a deep interest in ethics and societal impact. Based in Bangalore, Varun is actively involved in the local startup ecosystem and is a proponent of trust-based leadership.
Aiyo Labs is a cloud-based conversational platform that provides businesses with powerful WhatsApp API tools. By simplifying complex communication workflows, Aiyo Labs enables companies to engage with their customers more effectively and at scale, bridging the gap between personal messaging and professional service.