The Art of Publicity: Vaishal Dalal, Co-founder & Director of Excellent Publicity

An Exclusive Interview with Vaishal Dalal, Co-founder & Director of Excellent Publicity, a Media Planning and Advertising Agency

In this insightful interview, we connect with Vaishal Dalal, Co-founder and Director of Excellent Publicity. With a keen eye for innovative marketing strategies, Vaishal has played a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s success.

He shares his journey, the challenges faced, and the vision that drives Excellent Publicity in today’s dynamic landscape.

Can you share your journey from being a Chartered Accountant to becoming an entrepreneur? What motivated you to make that transition?

Vaishal Dalal: Clearing Chartered Accountancy in the first attempt was a milestone, but I always knew I wanted to build something of my own.

While CA gave me structure, discipline, and an understanding of business fundamentals, I was curious about problem-solving beyond spreadsheets.

The idea of creating something from scratch, of building a brand that could scale and evolve, was incredibly motivating. So, instead of choosing the conventional corporate path, I chose to take a risk, learn on the go, and create opportunities where none existed.

With an initial investment of ₹75,000, what were the first steps you took to establish Excellent Publicity?

Vaishal Dalal: Initially we started with a platform like Zomato through which people would be able to book tables. Even though we started small, but with big conviction. After that our idea was a magazine called On Wheels placed inside rickshaws and taxis.

We handled everything, design, writing, printing, and even building shelves for rickshaws ourselves. While that idea didn’t take off commercially, it opened our eyes to the potential of transit media, and that pivot became the foundation of Excellent Publicity.

Our first real campaign involved branding 500 autos for a local sweet shop. From there, we just kept building, learning, and growing.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while scaling the business, and how did you overcome them?

Vaishal Dalal: After the trial and errors we started with zero capital, we used to stand on panjarapol with hoarding in hands for advertising, I used to stay awake whole night as the internet was free only in the night hours in 2010’s, used to create a data base from various websites and send emails to get the leads which was the initial struggle.

Scaling without a background in advertising meant learning everything on the go. Building trust, hiring right, and ensuring consistent delivery were early challenges.

We overcame them by staying client-focused, being quick to adapt, and investing in strong systems and talent that could support long-term growth.

We faced financial hits too, including getting conned for ₹7 lakhs early on, but we took those lessons, stayed persistent, and kept the momentum going.

Working with over 1,300 clients, including major brands like Google and Amazon, what strategies do you employ to build and maintain strong client relationships?

Vaishal Dalal: We’ve always believed that transparency, agility, and consistent delivery form the foundation of trust. With clients like Google, Amazon, Spotify, and others, it’s not just about executing campaigns; it’s about anticipating needs, understanding market dynamics, and being solution-driven.

Our internal culture is built around responsiveness and ownership, and I think that reflects in the way we serve our clients. Also, our in-house tech innovations, like our AI-integrated ad self-serve platform, have added real value to the client experience.

How do you see the future of media buying evolving in India, and what role do you envision Excellent Publicity playing in that future?

Vaishal Dalal: Media buying is evolving rapidly with the rise of data, automation, and digital-first strategies. Traditional silos between offline and digital are collapsing. Advertisers today want real-time insights, performance-based spending, and scalable tools.

At Excellent Publicity, we’re building India’s first AI-integrated media buying ecosystem, where brands can explore, plan, and execute campaigns across formats in a few clicks. We see ourselves not just as a media agency, but as a tech-driven advertising enabler for the future.

In your opinion, what are the key qualities that an entrepreneur should possess to succeed in today’s competitive market?

Vaishal Dalal: Adaptability, curiosity, and resilience. The market will change, industries will evolve, and sometimes your original idea may not work at all.

But if you stay curious, are willing to learn and unlearn, and keep showing up through discomfort, growth will come. Also, humility, listening to your team, your customers, and your mistakes, is what turns good entrepreneurs into great leaders.

What are your future plans for Excellent Publicity, and are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re particularly excited about?

Vaishal Dalal: We’re aiming to scale to a ₹1000 crore turnover in the next few years, with a sharper focus on tech innovation and global expansion.

We’re currently refining our ad self-serve platform to make it the go-to destination for advertisers, especially MSMEs, startups, semi-corporates and corporates.

We’re also growing our presence in markets like Dubai and Southeast Asia, and working on partnerships that will allow us to offer full-stack advertising solutions, powered by automation and data intelligence.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience about your journey, your company, or the advertising industry?

Vaishal Dalal: One thing I’ve learned is that success in advertising doesn’t just come from creative flair or big budgets. It comes from consistency, trust, and the willingness to evolve.

At Excellent Publicity, we’ve built a culture of listening, whether it’s to the market, our clients, or our own team.

That, more than anything, has helped us grow. Advertising is about impact, and that impact comes when people feel understood, something we try to deliver every day.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the adtech space or start their own businesses?

Vaishal Dalal: Don’t wait to be ready. Start small, start rough, but start. The landscape is changing too fast to wait for perfection. Focus on solving a real problem, build trust with your team, and invest in systems that scale.

And most importantly, know that failure is not the opposite of success; it’s part of it. The adtech space is crowded, yes, but there’s always room for fresh thinking, ethical execution, and genuine value creation.

Vaishal Dalal’s passion for effective communication and strategic thinking has positioned Excellent Publicity as a leader in the industry.

His insights reveal the importance of adaptability and creativity in public relations. As he continues to innovate, Vaishal inspires future marketers to embrace change and strive for excellence in their endeavors.

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