Relationship Building Playbook: Prachura Padakannaya
Unlike physical assets that depreciate over time, relationships can become more valuable as they mature. Read the story of Prachura Padakannaya, a master-connector for company builders.
June, 2022
DealShare, an e-commerce unicorn valued at $1.8 billion, knew they were in serious trouble.
Their supplier of Nandini milk products had been caught adulterating goods, and the Nandini authorities had tracked the tainted products to DealShare's facilities.
Prachura Padakannaya points out:
“India is a complex country. Building a company is not just about building a business. It is also a question of solving regulatory challenges, and getting an audience with the right people.”
With their reputation on the line and legal consequences looming, the founders turned to Prachura through a mutual friend. Prachura over the years had become adept at saving such tricky situations.
His help navigating the immediate crisis was invaluable, but what happened next transformed their business.
As he worked with DealShare, Prachura identified an opportunity far beyond the immediate problem.
“Why are you relying on someone else to give you those Nandini packets? Let’s take you directly to Nandini.’”
Using his connections at Karnataka Milk Federation, Prachura helped DealShare establish a direct vendor relationship, eliminating the middleman entirely. The results were dramatic:
“Their profits from this line of business grew like almost 5x. Because their fastest moving products was milk, ghee and a couple of other products from Nandini itself.”
This dramatic turnaround—from regulatory crisis to supply chain revolution—exemplifies the unique value Prachura creates through strategic relationship building.
Instead, what might have remained a costly regulatory headache became a transformative business improvement, all through the power of the right connection at the right time.
From Chess Prodigy to Connection Expert
The foundation of Prachura's relationship-building skills can be traced back to his childhood in Bangalore, where he demonstrated an uncanny ability to learn through observation. At just four and a half years old, he absorbed the rules of chess simply by watching his parents teach his older sister.
He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an under-7 state champion and competing in national and international tournaments.
“I played till under 15, under 17. I went for Under-11 and Under-13 World Championships also. One was in Spain and the other was in Greece.”
After completing civil engineering at Dayanand Sagar College in Bangalore, Prachura headed to the University of Michigan for a master's in structural engineering.
“One thing I got clarity once I went there—I knew for sure that I was not ready to work under anyone. I wanted to be my own boss.”
Returning to India in 2016, he launched his first venture, Prasan IT Solutions, developing augmented reality tools for medical students.
Despite having no technical background, Prachura built his team through persistent outreach, discovering an unexpected talent for forming connections.
“Before I started any of my businesses, I considered myself an introvert,” he reveals.
“This PR skillset developed by force. I started slowly realizing in my first business that I was forced to do it. I had to do it for my business. And then I realized that I'm actually good at it.”
This self-discovery—that an introvert could excel at relationship building when motivated by a clear purpose—became the foundation for his eventual transition to relationship-based consulting.
Business x Government x Sports x Entertainment
Prachura's consulting firm, Prachura Group, operates at the intersection of relationship-building and strategic problem-solving.
The company helps clients navigate complex regulatory environments, connect with key decision-makers, and establish partnerships that create sustainable competitive advantages.
Often, the firm also invests in promising startups it is building a narrative around.
Prachura explains:
“We invest in startups we are consulting. We also invest in movies and sports teams.”
The consulting approach centers on leveraging Prachura's extensive network to solve problems that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for clients to address on their own.
By maintaining relationships across government, business, entertainment, and sports, he creates value through strategic introductions and targeted problem-solving.
Unlike traditional consultants who primarily offer expertise, Prachura's core product is access—to people, information, and opportunities that can transform business challenges into strategic advantages.
A Systematic Approach to Relationship Building
What sets Prachura apart isn't just his network, but his systematic approach to building and maintaining relationships. His methodology includes three key components:
1. Build Genuine Friendships
Prachura believes in nurturing genuine friendships through consistent communication and not be transactional at all:
“I make it a point to stay in touch with people I value, reaching out at least once every six months. It’s not reaching out only when I need something—it's about remembering people and caring enough to check in on them regularly.”
This habit developed organically during his daily commutes:
“My drive to work was about an hour each way. Instead of just listening to the same playlist repeatedly, I started using that time to reconnect with people I care about. It became a natural part of my day.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many were feeling isolated, Prachura deepened these connections:
“When everyone was home during lockdown, I made more time for personal outreach. I'd call five or six friends daily just to check in—how they were doing, if their families were safe. I also tried to make new connections by reaching out to one or two new people almost every day. These weren't transactional calls—they were genuine attempts to build relationships during a difficult time.”
2. The Value-First Approach
Prachura always leads with offers of assistance rather than requests:
“When I'm building relationships, I always offer help first,” he explains. “When I offer help, they're like, ‘Okay, this guy's of value to me.’ So I've already established the bond that I'm gonna add value to you. They'll continue the conversation. They'll want to hear my story more.”
This approach creates a foundation of goodwill that makes future requests more likely to be received positively.
3. Persistent Outreach Without Ego
Perhaps most distinctive is Prachura's willingness to continue reaching out despite initial rejection:
“You have to leave your ego aside. You have to be persistent. Just keep knocking and knocking,” he advises.
“People have come and told me, 'Prachura, you're a really persistent man. It is very difficult to say no to you.’”
This persistence has led to connections with numerous high-profile individuals across industries, creating a network that becomes more valuable with each new addition.
The Philosophy Behind the Practice
Prachura's approach to relationship building is grounded in a distinctive philosophy about success and opportunity:
“Success is not earned. It is given. If you don’t ask, you won’t get it.”
This perspective shapes his persistent, value-focused approach to building relationships. By systematically cultivating connections and consistently offering help before requesting favors, Prachura increases the likelihood that when he does ask, the answer will be yes.
He also recognizes the compound returns of relationship building:
“I've just started. Imagine this over a period of five, 10 years, right? It'll compound.”
“Unlike physical assets that depreciate over time, relationships often become more valuable as they mature—particularly when maintained through consistent communication and mutual value creation.”
As businesses navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments and competitive landscapes, the ability to build and leverage strategic relationships becomes a crucial competitive advantage.
In Prachura’s world, relationships aren't just a means to success—they are the business itself.
If you want to work with Prachura Padakannaya or want to know more details about having him as a strategic investor, please email us at banjan@tal64.com.