S5E7: Rathna Sharad, CEO and Founder of FlavorCloud is Unlocking International Supply Chains and Shipping for Startups

In The Room with Rathna Sharad, Founder, and CEO of FlavorCloud. With the constant growth of social media and the impacts of the pandemic, more businesses and brands are looking to export or import internationally. And since consumer expectations are only increasing, there is immense pressure on independent companies to unlock access faster. Enter, FlavorCloud, who takes care of the whole cross-border shipping process, including all customs requirements, wherever you’re shipping to. In this episode, CEO and co-founder, Rathna covers topics such as unlocking “anywhere to anywhere” shipping, the increasingly higher expectations of online consumers, and theories on how the supply chain issues will shape up this year. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.  3:34 - Where did Rathna grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?5:24 - When Rathna was growing up did she want to be a founder?7:04 -  What did the logistics ecosystem look like in the early 2000s?9:31 - What challenges did Rathna face when switching from B2B to B2C?13:02 - How did Rathna’s first company, Runway to Street, inform what is now FlavorCloud?18:45 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in FlavorCloud?19:41 - Who is the target customer of FlavorCloud?20:57 - Which international markets are growing the fastest and where would Rathna recommend retailers expand?25:25 - How will the supply chain shape up next year?29:09 - What advice does FlavorCloud have for businesses that manufacture and distribute in multiple countries?32:06 -  How has consumer expectation shifted the need for logistics to become faster and faster? And how have the supply chain constraints stunted e-commerce growth?34:40 - What’s next for Rathna?35:00 - Who is a woman in Rathna’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career? Be the first to know when new episodes drop - Receive Our Newsletter Season 5 of The Room Podcast is sponsored by our friends at Silicon Valley Bank and Cooley. WX Productions