Meet Abhishek Marla—The Scale Factory’s New Partner for India

India’s scale-up landscape is one of the most promising yet complex markets in the world. For many, expanding here comes with significant challenges—navigating diverse regional dynamics, understanding the local business culture, and establishing the right partnerships. To strengthen our support for scale-ups entering this market, we’re excited to welcome Abhishek Marla as our newest partner at The Scale Factory.

Abhishek brings years of experience in market expansion across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, with a strong focus on helping businesses establish themselves in India. Over the years, he has worked with early-stage companies, guided their growth, and built lasting relationships across multiple markets. He has also been active as an angel investor, backing SaaS companies and gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities and hurdles that come with scaling in the B2B tech space. Now, he’s bringing that expertise to The Scale Factory, helping scale-ups successfully enter and grow in India.

A Natural Fit for Market Expansion

Abhishek’s interest in business expansion started early. A conversation with his father during his college years left a lasting impression: “Abhishek, you’re a natural salesperson. The most exciting path for you would be to help a company establish a strong presence in new markets.”

That advice stuck with him and shaped his career. Over the years, he has worked with early-stage companies, guided their expansion, and built strong relationships across different regions. While he has explored entrepreneurship and investments, he finds the most fulfillment in working closely with small and mid-sized companies, helping them scale in a way that is sustainable and strategic.

“When I met the team at The Scale Factory, I knew it was the right fit,” Abhishek shares. “The way they work with scale-ups—hands-on, strategic, and with a clear focus on results—aligned completely with how I approach market expansion.”

Making Expansion Work in India

India is a dynamic market, but scaling here requires a deeper understanding of the landscape. Abhishek has worked with businesses navigating these challenges and has seen what makes the difference between companies that establish themselves successfully and those that struggle to gain a foothold.

“In my experience, three things are essential,” he explains. “First, building strong relationships—business here is built on trust, and that takes time. Second, understanding the local economic landscape—India is made up of many distinct regions, each with its own market dynamics. And third, adopting a value-based selling approach—companies that focus on long-term value, rather than just selling a product, are the ones that succeed.” These principles have shaped his approach to market entry and have helped companies turn India into a key market for their business.

A Track Record of Growth

Abhishek’s background spans sales, entrepreneurship, and market expansion, with a focus on high-growth markets. His time at AccelerAsia gave him deep insights into international expansion, while his role as the Channel Partner for Chartbeat saw him successfully grow their presence across multiple Asian markets, particularly in India.

“My strengths lie in persistence, building strong partnerships, and structuring sales for long-term growth,” he says. “I’ve worked with companies at different stages of their expansion journey, and I’ve seen how the right strategy—executed with the right local knowledge—can make all the difference.”

What’s Next

With Abhishek leading The Scale Factory’s efforts in India, we’re strengthening our ability to help scale-ups enter and grow in one of the world’s most promising markets. His experience, combined with our commercialization-as-a-service (CaaS) model, will help companies navigate India’s complexities and turn them into real growth opportunities.

We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to what’s ahead!