Helping Small Businesses Win on Social Media: The Story of Deshik & Outstrip
Deshik saw a common challenge- small businesses struggle with social media growth. This led him to build Outstrip, a platform that helps businesses grow online with data-driven insights. Read more.
With 16+ years of experience working at companies like HSBC, IBM, and Flipkart, Deshik has spent his career helping businesses grow. His journey began by assisting small shop owners, eventually leading him to Flipkart, where he worked with SMEs during its early days.
Seeing the struggles businesses faced in building their digital presence, he took the leap and founded Outstrip- a platform that helps small businesses grow online without big budgets.
I’ve always been a hungry soul- hungry to solve problems, hungry to create impact. Seeing people grow, thrive, and find happiness because of something I built is what drives me every single day.
From my early days, I wanted to help businesses in my community. I used to assist my neighbours who owned small shops but weren’t educated enough to understand customer acquisition. I would help them create offers and discounts, manage their accounting, and even support their business development. Without realising it, I was getting closer to understanding the real challenges that small businesses face.
My Corporate Stint & The Flipkart Experience
I started my career while I was still in college. Over the years, I worked with companies like HSBC, IBM, and Flipkart. When I joined Flipkart, it wasn’t the giant it is today. My job was to help small and medium businesses grow and generate revenue. I was there when Flipkart launched its first Big Billion Day, and I saw firsthand how businesses scaled overnight.
During my time at Flipkart, I helped a small toy business grow and sell successfully. The founder of that business once told me, "If you could do this for me, you should be helping out other startups like mine." That line stuck with me. It made me think- if someone who built a business believes in my ability to help others, why shouldn’t I take the leap? And that’s what I did!
Taking the Leap with Outstrip
I decided to go all in. I quit my stable corporate career and started my own company. Initially, I built small tools and automated processes and helped businesses scale. That’s when I realised a common problem- many Indian businesses had great products but didn’t know how to position themselves on social media.
For small businesses, advertising budgets are tight, and digital presence often takes a backseat. I started helping them identify their target audience, craft marketing strategies, and improve their social media game. Initially, I generated reports manually. Soon, I automated the process by providing detailed reports on their social media presence, and that’s how Outstrip was born.
I worked on the idea and its conceptualisation for a year. In 2024, I finally launched Outstrip, which culminated everything I had learned while working with multiple brands.
Outstrip has generated over 4,000 reports, providing businesses with the insights they need to grow on social media. Today, we’re proud to have expanded globally, working with 50+ clients to scale 2x their digital presence and achieve real results.
Moving forward, I see Outstrip integrating AI more, reaching more customers, adding powerful features, and hopefully, gaining national and global recognition.
The Toughest Part: Not Giving Up
The hardest part of being a founder? Waking up every day and choosing not to give up. There were plenty of moments when things didn’t go as planned, and people around me questioned my decision to leave a stable job for an unpredictable journey. However, this was my time to build something that truly mattered.
Failures are inevitable, but I’ve always told myself that it’s better to try and fail than to never try.
My Way of Celebrating Wins & Dealing with Failures
When things go great, I love celebrating with my team, family, and the people who supported me- usually with a big feast! But when things go wrong, I take it upon myself. I don’t usually share my struggles with others. Instead, I turn to music; it’s my companion through tough times.
Having a co-founder now has helped a lot, though. There’s something reassuring about having someone in the trenches with you- someone who understands the weight of tough decisions and the pressure of uncertainty. It makes the highs more fulfilling and the lows a little easier to bear because you’re not carrying them alone.
If Not This, Then What?
If I weren’t building a startup, I’d probably be a movie director. Back in college, I directed a short film that won an award. That passion for storytelling still lingers; it just found a new outlet in building a business.
In many ways, running a startup isn’t all that different from directing a film- you have to set the vision, assemble the right cast (team), adapt to unexpected challenges, and keep the audience (customers) engaged.
Advice to Founders
Not every rough patch means your idea is bad. Don’t build for income or validation- build for customer satisfaction and value. The rest will follow. If your customers are happy, your business is a success.
The founder’s journey is often isolating, and the odds are rarely in your favour. But once you decide to move forward, you have to adapt, learn, and keep pushing!
And, when things go wrong, don’t worry; that’s when you should be at your calmest. Never lose track of who you are because of what’s happening to you. Keep pushing forward, and eventually, things will fall into place.
At Razorpay Rize, we take pride in spotlighting founders who are making a real difference, and Deshik is a shining example.
His journey started with something simple- helping small shop owners in his community attract customers. This encouraged him to take the leap and build Outstrip, a platform designed to help small businesses grow online without burning a hole in their pockets. We are proud to have founders like him in our community, creating a real impact.
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