EP#60 Madhu Shalini Iyer – Leveraging data science to invest in startups and the global investment perspective at Rocketship VC

In this episode, Madhu Shalini Iyer (Partner, Rocketship VC), joins our host Digjay, to talk about her path leading up to Rocketship VC, genesis of Rocketship VC and its unique data-led approach to investing in startups, incorporating qualitative inputs from past deals to refine data algorithms, combining data with the human element to make the final investment decision, outlier founders from Rocketship’s portfolio, cross-geography learnings for founders given Rocketship’s global portfolio, how Madhu’s global experience has shaped her personality and more.

Rocketship VC is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that uses machine learning and data science to identify & invest in startups around the world. The firm recently closed their 3rd fund at $125mm & has invested in 14 different countries in marquee startups like Khatabook, BukuWarung, Splitwise, Moglix, Apna, Sary, Yulu and more.

Prior to Rocketship, Madhu was the Chief Data Officer at Gojek. She started the Singapore office and helped grow the business into a $1 billion unicorn. Prior to Gojek, Madhu was an operating partner at a $150 million private equity fund building startups across South East Asia. She was part of the founding team of Intuit’s Quickbooks Lending Platform where she helped grow the platform to $300 million and holds 3 patents in the areas of user data augmented algorithms for financial inclusion. You can connect with Madhu here on Linkedin

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Show notes –

1. (01:54) Madhu’s background & path leading up to Rocketship
2. (06:54) Genesis of Rocketship VC
3. (10:54) Unique data-led approach to investing in startups
4. (14:59) Incorporating qualitative inputs from past deals to refine the data algorithms 
5. (18:11) Combining data with the human element to make the final investment decision
6. (24:19) Key deal breakers despite the data checking all the boxes
7. (30:00) Reverse pitch to founders to win outbound deals
8. (32:41) Identifying investment trends before they become mainstream
9. (35:29) Outlier founders from Rocketship’s portfolio
10. (38:24) Cross-geography learnings for founders given Rocketship’s global portfolio
11. (43:14) How has Madhu’s global experience shaped her personality?
12. (49:29) Rapid fire and closing remarks

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