Corner Office Conversation With Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-Founder, Fractal

Aug 29, 2024

Srikanth Velamakanni, co-founder of Fractal, shares insights from his journey leading India’s first AI analytics unicorn. He discusses the company's remarkable rise, facing a leadership crisis, and ultimate IPO prospects. The conversation delves into the role of AI in enhancing public safety, such as reducing railway accidents. Velamakanni also navigates the challenges and ethical implications of AI, stressing the need for responsible development and regulation. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of technology.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Navigating Mind and Market

03:15 • 10min

Transforming Lending with Statistical Models

13:05 • 4min

Understanding Credit Scores and Inquiries

17:28 • 2min

Predictive Models for Public Safety

19:54 • 7min

Strategic Growth and Acquisitions in Entrepreneurship

26:26 • 15min

Navigating AI's Complex Landscape

41:08 • 22min

Fractal, India’s first AI analytics unicorn, is poised for an IPO at a reported valuation of $3 billion. From being founded 24 years ago long before AI became a buzzword every business wanted to log on to by five IIM batchmates, the company quickly gained traction amongst Indian and international clients. Within a few years however, it faced a leadership crisis with two of its founders exiting Srikant Vellamakani, whose CEO ship was the centre of a raging debate among the founder group, however, took the setback as not a “Why me?” lament but a “Why not me?” lesson instead. Soon enough he made a comeback as the CEO and 2022, the company entered the unicorn club with a $360 million investment from TPG. Along the way it came up with some ground breaking solutions for clients spread across more than 10 industries and 170 plus enterprises-including a solution that reduced railway track crossing accidents in Mumbai by a whooping 75%. In this corner officer conversation, host Arijit Barman talks to Srikanth Velamakanni about AI of today, tomorrow and the future. Will it be responsible or regulated? From maths to machine and the mind here is a freewheeling conversation, up, close & personal.

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If you like this episode, check out more Corner Office Conversations from the podcast: S. Jaishankar, Ravi Kant Jaipuria, Arjun Nohwar, Manoj Chacko, G.V. Prasad, Dara Khosrowshahi, Henry Kravis, Campbell Wilson, Warren K. Harris, Nithin Kamath, Corner Office Conversation With Monika Shergill, VP, Content, Netflix India and more!

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