Harnish Shah, Founder, 3 Minds Digital

Harnish Shah, Founder, 3 Minds Digital

Launched in 2016, How Mumbai-based 3 Minds Digital is Crafting Success

The inspiration for launching 3 Minds Digital or 3MD emerged from a combination of personal ambition and a fortuitous collaboration.

Meet Harnish Shah, the Founder & Maverick behind India’s leading digital growth marketing company 3 Minds Digital (3MD). Harnish’s background in design, coupled with his experience working at Deloitte Digital and freelancing throughout college, laid a strong foundation for this venture.

During his time at Deloitte Digital and his subsequent freelance work, he honed skills in various design disciplines. A significant turning point came when he collaborated with Mr. Sanjay Choudhury, an entrepreneur and investor based in the UK. Their productive partnership on several design projects fostered a mutual respect and understanding of each other's work ethos.

The idea of starting an agency crystallized during a face-to-face meeting with Sanjay when he was visiting India. Their shared vision and complementary skills led them to explore the possibility of launching a design-focused agency. Sanjay’s willingness to invest in a venture driven by trust and innovation aligned perfectly with Harnish’s aspiration to create something of his own.

Consequently, 3MD was incepted in 2016. And what’s more exciting is that, the company plans IPO in the next three years. With an IPO on the horizon and a roster of high-prof ile clients including Dabur, Adani, and Xiaomi, Times Group, Jio, ITC etc, the company is clearly making significant strides. The rebranding of Mumbai City FC is particularly impressive, given the team's prominence in Indian football.

Sailing Through Unchartered Waters

Starting 3M Minds wasn’t without its challenges. Here are a few key hurdles the company had to overcome:

Bridging Design and Execution: One of their primary goals was to bridge the gap between design and practical execution. This required to move beyond aesthetically pleasing designs to create functional, user-centered solutions. Ensuring that the designs were not only visually compelling but also practically effective demanded a rigorous, process-driven approach.

Building a Trust-Based Partnership: Establishing a successful partnership with Sanjay required clear communication and alignment of goals and values. This trust-building process was crucial for laying the groundwork for 3MD and ensuring a shared vision for its future.

Developing a Unique Value Proposition: In a competitive market, differentiating 3MD as a design-first company demanded a strong value proposition. The founder focused on the core strengths—UX, UI, branding, and social media—ensuring that design remained at the center of everything they did. Through these challenges, the vision of 3M Minds took shape, grounded in a commitment to exceptional design and a collaborative, process-oriented approach. 

Trends Shaping the Digital Design Industry

Over the years from 2016 to now, several notable changes and trends have shaped the design industry, service expectations, and technology use. Here’s a summary of these shifts as reflected by Harnish from his entrepreneurial journey.

1. The Rise of AI

Trend: AI has emerged as a signiϐ icant force in various fields, including design, automation, andclient interaction. It’s become a buzzword as companies look to leverage AI for efficiencies, insights, and innovations.

Impact: AI tools and technologies are increasingly being integrated into design processes for tasks such as generating design options, optimizing user experiences, and personalizing content. The ability to automate routine tasks and analyze large datasets has transformed how services are delivered and how client needs are addressed.

2. Remote Work & Virtual Collaboration

Trend: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and virtual collaboration tools. What was once a necessity has now become a norm.

Impact: Many clients and agencies have adapted to virtual meetings and online collaboration platforms. This shift has broadened the scope of client engagement, making it possible to work with clients globally without the need for physical meetings. While in-person interactions still hold value, the effectiveness of virtual collaboration has proven that signiϐ icant projects can be managed remotely.

3. Increased Focus on ROI and Budget Efficiency

Trend: Clients are more cautious about their marketing budgets and are demanding clearer returns on their investments.

Impact: There is a heightened emphasis on demonstrating ROI and outcomes for marketing and design services. Clients expect detailed performance metrics and evidence of the value delivered by design and marketing efforts, whether through organic or paid strategies. This shift has driven agencies to reϐ ine their reporting and analytics capabilities to meet client expectations.

4. Emphasis on User Experience and Personalization

Trend: There has been a growing focus on creating highly personalized and user-centric experiences.

Impact: Design strategies now prioritize user experience (UX) and personalization more than ever. This trend requires designers to leverage data and insights to create tailored experiences that resonate with users. Understanding and addressing individual user needs has become crucial for creating effective and engaging designs.

5. Evolving Design Aesthetics & Technologies

Trend: Design aesthetics and technologies continue to evolve, with a growing emphasis on minimalism, inclusivity, and interactive elements.

Impact: Design trends have moved towards cleaner, more minimalist aesthetics that prioritize functionality and user experience. There’s also a greater focus on inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that designs cater to diverse audiences. Emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are beginning to play a role in creating immersive and interactive design experiences.

6. Data-Driven Design Decisions

Trend: The use of data to inform design decisions has become more prevalent.

Impact: Designers and agencies are increasingly using data analytics to drive design choices and improve outcomes. This approach helps in understanding user behavior, preferences, and interactions, leading to more effective and targeted design solutions.

7. Sustainability and Ethical Considerations

Trend: There is a growing awareness and emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices in design and business operations.

Impact: Clients and consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental and ethical implications of design choices. Agencies are responding by adopting sustainable practices and promoting ethical standards in their work, reϐ lecting a broader shift towards responsible business practices. These changes and trends reflect a dynamic landscape in design and service industries, driven by technological advancements, evolving client expectations, and a shifting global environment.

Hitting the Bourses by 2027

With 120 employee strength and a host of A-listed brands as clients, 3MD plans to hit the IPO route within the next three years. The company is headquartered in Mumbai and recently started its branch ofϐ ice in Delhi NCR’s Gurugram. For this, 3MD is diligently working towards meeting all the necessary requirements and positioning itself for a successful listing. 

To enhance the growth prospects and operational capabilities, the company is pursuing strategic partnerships as well with other agencies that share its vision and values. By collaborating with like-minded organizations, it aims to leverage synergies and strengthen market position. Further, 3MD focuses on the following strategies to keep itself agile & relevant.

Tech and Generative AI Investments:

A significant part of 3MD’s strategy involves investing in cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI. The company believes that embracing these innovations will enable it to deliver more advanced and efϐ icient solutions, enhancing its competitive edge.

Expanding Service Offerings:

As Harnish said, “We are exploring opportunities to integrate complementary services into our portfolio. While these services will align with our core competencies, they will offer additional value to our clients and enhance our overall service offering. This strategic expansion aims to provide holistic solutions and meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Focus on Innovation and Growth:

3MD’s commitment to innovation and growth drives every aspect of its strategic planning. By focusing on technology, strategic partnerships, and expanded service offerings, the company is positioning it to achieve long-term goals and maximize value for the stakeholders. Yet, successfully running a design company is not a cakewalk. As Harnish describes, key obstacles that require continuous attention and resolution include: sales & client acquisition, employee retention, maintaining operational efϐ iciency, getting payment on time among others. In his words, “Navigating these challenges is an integral part of our journey as we strive to move forward and achieve our goals.”