EP#9 Melissa Frakman – The Indian fintech opportunity, tapping global markets & adopting a collaborative approach to scale your startup

In today’s episode, Melissa Frakman, Founding Partner @Emphasis Ventures (EMVC), joins our host Digjay, and talks about the Indian fintech ecosystem, the importance of having advisors/investors that have diverse perspectives & access to global networks and why adopting a collaborative approach is a good bet when building for a complex market like India.

EMVC is an early-stage VC fund that invests in fintech startups in India and other high-growth markets. Melissa brings 15 years of experience participating in India’s digital revolution and is a sought-after advisor for Indian founders interested in going global. Named on the “Global Fintech PowerList” by Innovate Finance, Melissa has led Asia early stage investments, supported new market strategy, and built partnerships for several Fortune 100 companies. Melissa also serves as a mentor to accelerators like Techstars India and Village Capital. She is based in Washington, DC and Mumbai. You can connect with her on Linkedin / Twitter

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Show notes –

1. (01:35) Melissa’s connect with India’s fintech ecosystem

2. (03:22) Starting Emphasis Ventures (EMVC) with focus on providing global connectivity to early stage startups in India

3. (05:10) Why is it important to have access to a cross-border network and advisors with diverse viewpoints?

4. (08:40) Backing founders with unconventional backgrounds and those who do not have a proven track record; Approach for such founders to stand out and attract attention from top VCs

5. (12:30) What should founders focus on when building a fintech product in India?

6. (15:10) Adopting a collaborative approach to scale up & survive the fintech competition

7. (17:30) Focus areas for early stage founders 

8. (19:15) Key strengths and areas of improvement for the Indian startup ecosystem vs it’s peers

9. (22:10) Fintech domains that Melissa is excited about

10. (24:30) Rapid fire and closing remarks