Biography of Anuj Srivastava: Co-founder and CEO of Livspace -Entrepreneur
Story of Anuj Srivastava: From Google to Livspace
Anuj Srivastava, Co-founder and CEO of Livspace, has had a
distinguished career that includes serving as the Global Head of Product
Marketing for Google's eCommerce team. He studied at IIT Kanpur and earned his
MBA from the London Business School. At Livspace, he is responsible for shaping
the company's vision, strategy, and growth, transforming how home interiors are
designed and delivered.
A Unique Journey in Entrepreneurship
Srivastava's career path might seem conventional at first
glance: a technology degree, experience with PepsiCo India, an MBA, roles in a
San Francisco tech startup and Google, and then co-founding Livspace in 2015.
However, his approach is anything but ordinary. He embraces the thrill of
entrepreneurship and sees the journey as a series of exciting opportunities
rather than just a list of achievements.
Early Career
Manager at PepsiCo Management Leadership Program
Early in his career, Srivastava participated in PepsiCo’s
Management Leadership Program from 1998 to 2000, focusing on brand management,
business operations, and customer development in India. This experience
provided him with a solid foundation in business management and operations.
Worldwide Head of Product Marketing and Alliances at
Encentuate
Prior to Google, Srivastava was the Worldwide Head of
Product Marketing and Alliances at Encentuate, Inc. (acquired by IBM) from 2003
to 2007. His role involved overseeing global product marketing and forming
strategic alliances, contributing to the company's growth and eventual
acquisition.
Global Head of Product Marketing & Growth at Google
From 2007 to 2014, Srivastava served as the Global Head of
Product Marketing and Growth at Google, focusing on Commerce, Mobile Payments,
Maps/Local, and AdSense. He led the development and scaling of several major
products, including Google Wallet, Google Offers, Google Maps, and Google
Display Ad Network. His work significantly impacted Google’s consumer and
mobile commerce, local services, and advertising strategies.
Transforming Home Design: The Birth of Livspace
Moving into a new house should be a joyful experience, but
often it becomes a stressful and exhausting process. Homeowners face numerous
challenges, from selecting the right furniture and décor to ensuring the
installation is done correctly. They frequently worry about whether they are
getting a fair price and good quality. This common struggle inspired Anuj
Srivastava and Ramakant Sharma, who, as regular homeowners, decided to tackle
these issues head-on. In 2015, they founded Livspace with the goal of making
home design and renovation simpler and more efficient.
The company has developed an industry-first
design-to-manufacturing cloud platform called Canvas, integrating consumers,
designers, and vendors to create beautifully designed spaces. Livspace handles
properties with values over $50K, including homes, offices, co-working spaces,
hotels, and retail stores, through turnkey interiors and renovations. The
company has raised close to $400 million and partners with major investors like
KKR, TPG Growth, Goldman Sachs, and IKEA to reshape how spaces are designed and
reimagined.
Biography of Anuj Srivastava: Co-founder and CEO of Livspace -Entrepreneur/ Success story of Anuj Srivastava/Startup/Life story of Anuj Srivastava
Addressing Industry Challenges
Globally, the home interiors industry faces significant
difficulties in delivering a consistent and high-quality customer experience.
According to Srivastava, this inefficiency often leads to frustration among
homeowners who find it hard to get fair pricing and reliable products and
services promptly. Srivastava and Sharma aimed to address these gaps and bring
a revolutionary change to the home design market.
Innovative Solution: The Livspace Platform
Breaking into the home interiors market was not without its
challenges. The industry’s broken supply chains and lack of infrastructure were
major hurdles. The breakthrough for Livspace came with the development of their
cloud-based platform, Canvas. This platform, combined with physical design
centers, allows certified interior designers to create designs in 2D and 3D,
manage shopping carts, and streamline the fulfillment process, making the
entire design journey more transparent and efficient.
The Foundation of Success
Srivastava credits his entrepreneurial foundation to his
time at London Business School, where he helped establish the LBS Summer
Consulting Club and met influential figures like Peng Tsin Ong. His early
experiences included a significant internship at Encentuate and later work at
Google, where he gained valuable insights into the world of startups and
entrepreneurship. His passion for technology and the internet has guided his
career choices, including his decision to start Livspace.
Building Livspace: A Game-Changer in Home Design
Livspace, a technology platform for interior design,
represents Srivastava's drive to innovate. He humorously compares Livspace’s
mission to Google’s goal of organizing information, saying that Livspace aims
to organize the world’s painters. His vision for the company was inspired by
his love for content and the evolving nature of trust on the internet.
Srivastava emphasizes the importance of corporate culture and finding the right
people who share the company’s values, which he believes is crucial for startup
success.
Impact and Future Vision
In just seven years, Livspace has grown into Southeast
Asia’s largest and fastest-growing omnichannel home interiors and renovation
platform, raising over $200 million in funding. Srivastava is particularly
proud of the platform's impact on creating jobs for 15,000 to 20,000 people,
especially during the pandemic. His motivation extends beyond business success
to making a social impact, with a vision of using Livspace to power and
organize various marketplaces and brands. Srivastava’s journey is driven by a
desire to make a meaningful difference while continuing to innovate in the home
design industry.
A Seamless Experience for Homeowners
At Livspace, homeowners work closely with their designers to
develop and finalize designs for their homes. The payment process is designed
to be flexible, with payments made at various stages instead of all at once.
Livspace handles every aspect of the project, from design to manufacturing and
installation, ensuring a smooth experience for their clients.
Rapid Growth and Success
In just four years, Livspace has made significant strides,
successfully completing over 10,000 projects. The company now welcomes a new
customer every hour. Srivastava reflects on their journey with satisfaction,
noting that their innovative approach has created a valuable platform
connecting homeowners, designers, and vendors.
Investor & Advisor
Srivastava is also an active angel investor and advisor to
numerous startups and venture funds. Since 2011, he has invested in over 150
companies, including 15 unicorns, across regions like India, Southeast Asia,
the USA, and Europe. Notable investments include ZipDial (acquired by Twitter),
Voyagin (acquired by Rakuten), and TravelMob (acquired by HomeAway), among
others. His portfolio spans a range of sectors, showcasing his diverse
investment interests.
Leading the Charge at RISE 2019
Recently, Srivastava shared insights at RISE 2019, one of
Asia’s largest technology conferences, held in Hong Kong. With over 16,000
attendees from around the world, the conference provided a platform for
Srivastava to discuss how technology can disrupt traditional consumer products.
He highlighted how home interior and renovation technology has remained
stagnant for decades, and how Livspace is bridging that gap by offering a
trusted, all-in-one solution for home design and renovation.
Timeline for Srivastava story
1998-2000: Participated in PepsiCo’s Management Leadership
Program.
2003-2007: Served as Worldwide Head of Product Marketing and
Alliances at Encentuate (acquired by IBM).
2007-2014: Worked as Global Head of Product Marketing &
Growth at Google.
2015: Co-founded Livspace with Ramakant Sharma.
2015-2021: Livspace raised close to $400 million, partnering
with investors like KKR, TPG Growth, Goldman Sachs, and IKEA.
2021: Livspace grew into Southeast Asia’s largest
omnichannel home interiors and renovation platform, completing over 10,000
projects.
2011-Present: Actively invested in over 150 companies as an
angel investor.
2019: Spoke at RISE 2019, discussing technology’s role in
transforming traditional consumer products.
