Cookd CEO Explains His Marketing & Sales Strategy for D2C Success ft. Aathitiyan V S | Epaphra

🎙️ In this episode of Explore with Epaphra, Cookd CEO Aathitiyan breaks down the exact strategies that helped him build a food brand rooted in deep customer understanding, smart marketing, and powerful distribution systems.

If you’re building a D2C brand, selling to Indian households, or trying to scale a product people actually trust, this conversation is packed with the real insights you need.

From understanding the Indian consumer mindset to designing a content-first sales funnel, Aathithiyan shares:

How Cookd used people psychology to drive brand loyalty

The sales and distribution playbook that scaled nationwide

Why trust and consistency beat ad spend

How to market without sounding like you’re selling

This isn’t just theory — it’s a step-by-step breakdown of what actually worked for Cookd in the Indian market.

🔥 Watch till the end, take notes, and subscribe for more founder-first, insight-driven episodes only on Explore with Epaphra.

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Host🎙️ Epaphra
TheThirdLane Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/4q3YzOx6wq0qc8WtfqgGyp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorewithepaphra/ | https://www.instagram.com/thethirdlanepodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/explorewithepaphra/

Guest🎙️Aathitiyan V S
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aathitiyan/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aathitiyan/

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WHO AM I?
If we haven’t met before – I’m Epaphra, a storyteller, entrepreneur, and content creator with a passion for help create awareness to people about different opportunities. Through my videos, podcasts, and writing, I share transformative insights, practical strategies, and powerful stories to inspire you to grow, take action, and create a life filled with purpose and meaning.

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⏱️Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Trailer
00:01:50 – When did you gain clarity to run a business?
00:05:49 – The unglamorous side of Aathithyan’s life
00:07:40 – “I wanted to be a businessman since childhood”
00:09:15 – Why Kongu region produces so many entrepreneurs
00:11:00 – My thirst for business has always been high
00:14:17 – Why prioritization is key for entrepreneurs
00:15:30 – What is Founder-Market Fit?
00:22:20 – Aathithyan’s biggest fear
00:23:33 – How to understand consumer insights
00:30:50 – Why analytical thinking matters
00:32:00 – The power of people understanding
00:33:30 – A brand should be bigger than its founder
00:39:15 – People connect more with emotion than branding
00:41:00 – “I’m a proud salesman”
00:45:34 – How to actually sell a product
00:50:00 – The real importance of marketing
00:51:50 – Practicality is very different from learning theory
00:53:00 – Cookd’s revenue model explained
00:54:43 – How to get into quick commerce
00:58:13 – Is quick commerce more expensive than retail?
01:00:30 – Understanding unit economics
01:04:50 – What is the role of a D2C founder?
01:10:20 – Branding beyond content — other strategies
01:14:55 – The content game plan behind Cookd
01:23:07 – Advice for startup founders
01:28:40 – What keeps Aathithyan motivated?