DTM E52. Investor's Five Key Questions for Startups, Ideal Startup Pitch, Value Unlocking in Generative AI and more - Sonal, 3one4 Capital

Sonal is currently VP at 3one4 Capital, an early-stage VC which counts in its portfolio the likes of Licious, Jupiter, Darwinbox, and more! 3one4’s exponential growth has been driven by partnering with generational companies to transform market segments across the country. Sonal has built systems and processes at 3one4 Capital to achieve strong coverage without compromising founder or referrer experience, all while maintaining a lean investments team. In addition to managing routine investment workflows, Sonal looks at fintech, enterprise software, and deep-tech focus areas for the firm. He has been an integral part of the firm’s investments in several category-defining companies.

For episode transcript, topic-wise summary, and more – bit.ly/dtm-s3

On the episode we discuss,

(2:15) Investment Thesis at 3one4 Capital

(4:05) Investment Focus and Startup Stage

(5:05) Defining Deep Tech at 3one4 Capital

(6:26) Deep Tech Startups in 3one4 Capital’s Portfolio

(9:48) Role of 3one4 Capital in the Growth of Unique Startups

(10:58) Key Considerations for Investing in Startups by Phases

(14:22) Five Key Questions That An Investor Is Looking To Answer While Investing

(16:19) Assessing the Right Team: How to Identify Potential Flags and Metrics

(17:52) The Key Components of an Ideal Startup Pitch

(19:28) Determining the Amount of Funding Startups Should Raise

(21:38) 3one4 Capital's viewpoint and approach to Generative AI

(26:08) The Importance of Problem-Solving and Faster Iteration in Product Development

(28:19) The Value Unlocking Potential of GenAI Lies in the End Applications

Links:

Sonal Saldhana - sonalsaldanha (LinkedIn), @sonalsaldanha (Twitter)

3one4 Capital - Website

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)