At first glance, the ventures of Abhishek Vyas seem wonderfully distinct. How does a massive influencer marketing agency relate to an NFC-powered smart business card or a top-ranked podcast for entrepreneurs?
In our exclusive Abhishek Vyas interview, the serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and marketing specialist revealed the powerful, unifying thread. For Abhishek, it’s all one interconnected ecosystem.
From My Haul Store, which grew to a 70-crore turnover in five years by connecting over 100,000 influencers with brands, to Rich Kardz, a venture aimed at revolutionizing networking, his core mission remains the same: “people, impact… and empowerment”. He builds ventures to “democratize opportunity” and “reduce friction,” making it easier for creators and founders to be seen, connect, and grow.
We spoke with Abhishek about his entrepreneurial path, the strategies that fueled his explosive growth, and the one quality he believes all successful founders share.
Name: Abhishek Vyas
Known For: Podcaster, Entrepreneur, and Influencer Marketing Specialist
Key Ventures: My Haul Store, Rich Kardz, The Founders Dream (Podcast), The Powerful Humans (Podcast)
Mission: To “democratize opportunity” and empower “young minds… towards growth.”
Key Takeaways from Our ‘Taalk’
On His Personal Brand: “Whether I’m hosting a podcast or building a company… I’m always thinking about how to share narratives, build connections, unlock value… So yes, distinct roles, but they feed into one ecosystem.”
On His Unifying Philosophy: “The connecting point of all my ventures is people, impact they bring and empowerment… Every product or business I build aims to reduce friction: making it easier for someone to be seen, to connect, to learn, to grow.”
On Scaling vs. Authenticity: “The challenge is in balancing scale with authenticity. As the network grows, more influencers become available, but their audience quality, content style… and engagement vary hugely.”
On Advice for Young Entrepreneurs: “A common mistake is the constant need for perfection, overvaluing ideas, and underestimating execution… My advice is, start small, test, get feedback, pivot fast. It is okay to fail, but you should learn to stand tall again.”
The Founder’s Ecosystem
Taalk: Your profile describes you as a podcaster, entrepreneur, and influencer marketing specialist. How do you manage these distinct roles?
Abhishek Vyas: Over time I’ve come to see all of these roles as one. I had always dreamt of starting my own venture, and ever since I started my first business, there’s no moving back. Each role demands different timelines, skill sets, and energies. The same values guide how I run My Haul Store, launch Rich Kardz, and host The Founders Dream. So yes, they are distinct roles, but they feed into one ecosystem.
Taalk: Which of your ventures came first, and what core problem were you passionate about solving?
Abhishek Vyas: After my B.Tech and MBA, I tried a range of jobs and even co-founded a firm, but things didn’t work out as I hoped. The real turning point came in 2018 when I, with my friend Nitish Kalra, launched My Haul Store.
We had very little capital (about ₹1.82 lakh, most of it borrowed). We were driven by a simple problem: many talented influencers were not getting brand deals, and many rising brands didn’t know how to tap into the creator economy. That venture was my first big bet. Solving that asymmetry—helping creators monetize and brands scale—was what fired me up.
Taalk: From an influencer marketplace like My Haul Store to a tech product like Rich Kardz, your ventures are very different. What common vision ties them all together?
Abhishek Vyas: The connecting point is people, their impact, and empowerment. Whether it’s an influencer platform, a smart NFC business card, or a podcast, I’m looking at how technology and creativity can democratize opportunity. Every product I build aims to reduce friction, making it easier for someone to be seen, connect, learn, and grow.
Inside “My Haul Store” & The Creator Economy
Taalk: My Haul Store grew to over 100,000 influencers and a 70-crore turnover in just five years. What was the most critical factor in that rapid growth?
Abhishek Vyas: The biggest driver was mastering network effects early on and building trust. On one side, we built genuine relationships with influencers. We offered training and support, which meant they remained loyal, produced better content, and became ambassadors themselves.
On the other side, we focused on performance and results for brands (measurable ROI, authenticity, delivering on our promises). This meant word-of-mouth and repeat business.
Also, hyper-local and regional influencers became a key strategy. By expanding into Tier 2-3 markets and using multilingual campaigns, we tapped large, underserved audiences.
Taalk: With so many influencers, what’s the biggest challenge in matching the right influencer with the right brand?
Abhishek Vyas: The challenge is balancing scale with authenticity. As the network grows, audience quality, content style, and engagement vary hugely. If you match solely on follower count, things can go wrong—misalignment of values, audience disconnect, and poor results. The harder work is in vetting: understanding genuine engagement, content history, and niche credibility, not just numbers.
Taalk: You don’t just connect influencers; you provide training and support. Why is upskilling creators so important to you?
Abhishek Vyas: Because connecting is just the first step. Long-term success for everyone—brands, influencers, and My Haul Store—depends on quality. When influencers are better equipped (in content creation, storytelling, engagement), their output and credibility improve.
Upskilling creates a win-win: brands get better content, influencers get better earnings, and the platform builds a stronger reputation. It’s part of the belief that influence should be more than transactional; it can be a tool for economic empowerment.
On Podcasting & Smart Tech
Taalk: What was the moment that inspired you to create Rich Kardz and revolutionize networking with NFC technology?
Abhishek Vyas: The moment came from observing how outdated and wasteful traditional visiting cards are. Details change (company, phone, social handles), but a paper card can’t adapt. I also saw people fumbling with stacks of cards or running out. Plus, there was the environmental motivation, with millions of trees cut annually for paper.
Combining tech (NFC, QR fallback), sustainability, and premium design is how Rich Kardz came about. It’s a card that lasts, can be updated, and makes networking seamless.
Taalk: You host two very different podcasts: The Founders Dream for entrepreneurs and The Powerful Humans for personal growth. What is the different purpose for each show?
Abhishek Vyas: With The Founders Dream, the goal is outward-facing: to showcase the journeys, strategies, mistakes, and wins of entrepreneurs. It’s about sharing practical insights and showing others the roadmap and the pitfalls.
The Powerful Humans, on the other hand, leans inward: mindset, personal growth, emotional resilience, spirituality, and purpose. It’s about helping people grow not just in business but as human beings. One is tactical, and the other is transformational.
The Final Word: Advice for the Next Generation
Taalk: As the host of India’s Number 1 Podcast for Founders, what is the one quality you’ve noticed all successful founders share?
Abhishek Vyas: Be it unicorn CEOs or first-time entrepreneurs, the one quality everyone should embrace is consistency. Schedule your weekly and monthly plans; it helps align your tasks and keeps you consistent.
There will be times when things don’t go as planned or funds run low. What differentiates successful founders is not whether they faced obstacles (they all did), but how they responded: with humility, flexibility, and learning. Alongside consistency is clarity of purpose—knowing “why this matters”.
Taalk: You’re passionate about mentoring Gen Z and Millennials. What is the single biggest mistake you see young entrepreneurs make, and what is your advice?
Abhishek Vyas: A common mistake is the constant need for perfection, overvaluing ideas, and underestimating execution. Many wait for the “perfect” idea or immediate success. My advice is, start small, test, get feedback, and pivot fast. It is okay to fail, but you should learn to stand tall again.
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