Nakul Mandan

In this conversation with Nakul Mandan, founder of Audacious Ventures, listeners dive into the nuanced world of seed stage investing. Nakul shares his journey from India to venture capital, shedding light on the evolution of the industry since 2010. He emphasizes the importance of blending ambition with empathy in team building and the necessity of innovative systems for success. The discussion also highlights the value of qualitative metrics like shipping velocity for assessing startups, revealing strategies to navigate today's competitive landscape.

Nakul Mandan, founder and partner at Audacious Ventures, brings 18 years of VC expertise to the table. He reveals how a renowned sales leader reshaped his focus from product-market fit to prioritizing founder quality. Nakul shares practical strategies for founders on when to hire sales teams and emphasizes the significance of identifying urgent problems. He also discusses the criteria salespeople should consider when evaluating startups, ensuring that exceptional talent is recognized and recruited effectively.

In a lively discussion, Nakul Mandan, Co-founder of Audacious Ventures, shares his journey from India to Silicon Valley during the financial crisis. He dives into why most VCs struggle with recruiting at the zero to one stage and reveals his innovative approach to building A+ teams. Nakul discusses the significance of resilience in the startup world, particularly in the face of COVID-19. He emphasizes the importance of intentional tech recruitment and how understanding customer urgency can shape effective product development.