Prime Venture Partners Podcast

Prime Venture Partners: Early Stage VC Fund
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Nov 6, 2025 • 36min

Apple, China, and the New Map of Global Power: What Patrick McGee’s Apple in China Teaches the World and India

Apple’s China story is more than a business case — it’s a mirror of globalization itself.In this eye-opening conversation, Patrick McGee, Financial Times journalist and author of Apple in China, sits down with Pankaj Agarwal to explore how Apple’s greatest triumph became its biggest challenge.💬 In this episode:How Apple helped build modern ChinaThe lessons India must learn as it becomes Apple’s next manufacturing hubThe trade-offs between innovation, control, and national interestsWhat this means for founders, investors, and policymakers shaping India’s tech future📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:11 – Why Patrick Wrote Apple in China03:33 – How Apple Ended Up in China06:25 – Researching the Untold Story08:21 – The Three Phases of Apple in China11:03 – Lessons for Founders on Supply Chains12:26 – The ‘Siren Song’ of China13:13 – Apple’s Moral Dilemmas and Trade-offs16:27 – Innovation, Arrogance & Plateau19:04 – The Economics of Dependence22:27 – What Can India Learn from China?23:53 – Why Does Apple Need India?25:45 – Are iPhones Made in India?26:55 – The Future of Globalization & Supply Chains31:31 – Why Should You Read Apple in China A conversation for those who think beyond valuations — about strategy, sovereignty, and the soul of global business.🎧 Full episode out now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.#PrimePodcasts #PatrickMcGee #AppleInChina #GlobalBusiness #IndiaStartups #Leadership #TechGeopolitics #Apple #China #PrimeVenturePartners
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Oct 15, 2025 • 34min

How Can India Build Its Own Global Smartphone Brand? Conversation with Ex-CEO of Realme and Founder of Ai+ | Madhav Sheth

Madhav Sheth, - the driving force behind Realme, now the Founder of Ai+, opens up about the inside world of smartphone wars, the rise (and fall) of Indian brands, and his vision to rebuild from scratch.🔍 In this episode:• How Realme rewrote India’s smartphone playbook• Why most Indian brands couldn’t survive the global onslaught• The hidden monopoly controlling 60% of the market• The next revolution: AI-powered smartphones built for India• Lessons on leadership, innovation, and staying hungry after success📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction03:00 – Building Realme: From Idea to Global Brand04:15 – The White Space in India’s Smartphone Market06:20 – Understanding Indian Consumers: From Price to Value08:10 – Scaling Through Value, Not Volume10:00 – The Future: Hardware + Software + AI12:00 – Why India Missed the Smartphone Opportunity14:10 – Inside BBK Group: Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus & Realme16:55 – What Killed Indian Smartphone Brands19:05 – Inside the Smartphone Monopoly20:35 – Building NextQ: Madhav’s New Mission23:00 – Leadership Lessons & Founder Mindset25:30 – Advice for India’s Next-Gen Tech Founders🎧 Watch the full episode and discover what’s next for India’s tech future.#MadhavSheth #Realme #AI #IndiaTech #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Innovation #TechRevolution #MadeInIndia #Smartphones #FounderStories #ScaleUp #BusinessGrowth #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #DigitalIndia #FutureOfTech #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast
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Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 5min

Inside the VC Mind: Prime’s Fundraising Masterclass for Founders

Discover the secrets of venture capital from the investment team as they reveal how to navigate the fundraising maze. Learn why not every business is suitable for VC funding and the importance of personalizing your approach. Unpack common pitfalls in pitch decks and the essential elements every founder should include. Explore the interplay of skill and luck in VC success, and find out how to choose the right VC partner beyond just capital. This masterclass is packed with practical insights that could shape your fundraising journey!
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Sep 23, 2025 • 55min

Why India Must Lead in Deep AI Research | Insights from Google DeepMind Director

In this episode, we sit down with Prateek Jain (Principal Scientist & Director at Google DeepMind) for an unfiltered deep dive into:How AI research has evolved from handcrafted features → deep learning → transformers → generativeWhy safety and efficiency matter just as much as scaleIndia’s once-in-a-generation chance to lead in deep AI researchThe founder’s playbook: building sustainable AI-first companiesThe next big bottlenecks — and opportunities — in this spaceThis is more than a conversation. It’s a blueprint for the future of AI. 🚀📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 03:00 – How Prateek stumbled into AI research in college 07:00 – The AlexNet moment and why it mattered 14:30 – GPUs, TPUs & scaling AI 16:20 – The ChatGPT moment & mass adoption 21:40 – Long reinforcement learning: the biggest surprise 24:00 – Bottlenecks in AI: data, efficiency, alignment 26:49 – India’s deep AI research challenge 50:44 – Founder advice for building with AI👉 Watch the full episode now and subscribe for more thought leadership from India’s top founders and innovators.#ArtificialIntelligence #DeepLearning #GenerativeAI #MachineLearning #AIInnovation #TechTrends #FutureOfAI #AIForStartups #IndiaTech #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #GoogleDeepMind  #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast
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Sep 11, 2025 • 49min

How Humans + AI Will Reshape Startups & Enterprises? The Co-Intelligence Revolution with Prof. Venkat

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, host Jerome Manuel sits down with Prof. Venkat Ramaswamy, Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business, and a globally recognized thought leader on innovation and co-creation.Prof. Venkat is the co-author of the seminal The Future of Competition with C.K. Prahalad and the new book, The Co-Intelligence Revolution.In this conversation, they discuss:Why the next decade will be shaped by co-intelligence — humans + AI co-creating valueHow experience innovation is transforming industries across the worldReal examples from Indian farmers to L’Oréal & SiemensWhat startups, founders, and enterprises must do to thrive in the AI era💡 A must-watch episode for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators building in the age of AI.Episode timestamps00:00 Introduction01:03 The origins of co-creation with C.K. Prahalad02:37 Humans vs AI - subjective experiences 04:24 Opportunities for entrepreneurs in co-intelligence05:32 Jugalbandi case: WhatsApp assistant for farmers using AI + government services17:36 L’Oréal’s AI in beauty 19:30 Porso example: AI transforming consumer beauty experiences25:31 The Intelligent Enterprise: AI transforming how businesses operate29:16 Siemens case: digital twins & industrial AI ecosystems30:00 Enterprises and ecosystems 39:00 Risk-managed value - how enterprises evaluate startups43:24 Power of prototyping for startups 45:00 AI’s role in startup speed & compressing time-to-value📕 Learn more about Prof. Venkat’s book The Co-Intelligence Revolution: https://www.penguin.co.in/book/the-co-intelligence-revolution/📌 Subscribe for more such content.#TheCoIntelligenceRevolution #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #CoCreation #ExperienceInnovation #FutureOfWork #BusinessStrategy #VentureCapital #Leadership #TechTrends #DigitalTransformation #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast
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Aug 28, 2025 • 48min

The Man Who Built Hotmail and Sold it to Microsoft for $400M | Prime Venture Partners Podcast

In this PrimeVP Podcast episode, we go back to the roots of the internet with Sabeer Bhatia, the man who gave the world Hotmail. 📧From his Hotmail journey to his bold perspectives on today’s most pressing themes, Sabeer shares unfiltered insights on:1️⃣ How an email problem at work sparked the idea that changed global communication forever2️⃣ Why communication skills — not just capital — make or break founders3️⃣ Why health & discipline matter more than hustle in the long run4️⃣ Why India’s education system needs urgent reinvention to foster critical thinking5️⃣ Why AI today feels like the early days of the internet — and what it means for the future⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction02:50 – The serendipity behind Hotmail’s creation06:40 – Storytelling vs. features: what consumers really buy09:00 – The importance of thinking like a consumer12:30 – The $99 smartwatch that beats Apple Watch15:00 – Communication as a founder’s superpower17:37 – From supercars to bicycles: redefining success19:37 – Why AI will be bigger than the internet20:00 – Critical thinking as the #1 future skill24:30 – AI in medicine & education disruption38:37 – Health as the real wealth for entrepreneurs44:00 – Advice to young founders💡 Top Takeaways for Founders & Professionals:✔️ Simplicity + storytelling beats features every time✔️ Health & discipline > hustle culture✔️ Communication is the most underrated startup skill✔️ India must prioritise critical thinking to stay globally competitive✔️ AI’s impact will rival the internet revolution💡 A must-watch for founders, operators, and anyone curious about what it takes to build, scale, and stay relevant across decades.🎙 Hosted by Amit Somani#SabeerBhatia #Hotmail #PrimePodcast #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast #Entrepreneurship #IndianStartups #CriticalThinking #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #FutureOfWork #FounderMindset #CommunicationSkills #HealthAndWealth #Leadership
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Aug 20, 2025 • 53min

How Khadim Batti Built Whatfix Into a ~$900 Million Global SaaS Leader | Podcast

How do you pivot from an early idea that didn’t work ➝ to building a global SaaS leader trusted by 700+ enterprises?In this full episode of the Prime Podcast, Khadim Batti (Co-founder & CEO, Whatfix) reveals the raw founder journey:The pivot moment that sparked WhatfixHustling with 500 cold emails to close first customersLanding a Fortune 10 client at $25/month (and why logos matter more than price)Why product-market fit keeps evolvingScaling SaaS from India ➝ US with 85+ Fortune 500 clientsRaising $270M and turning investors into growth partnersHow AI is shaping the future of digital adoption📌 Hosted by Gaurav Ranjan, Principal at Prime Venture Partners📌 Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 02:40 – Creating a Category Before It Existed 08:30 – PMF as a Moving Target 12:20 – 500 Emails & First Customers 15:50 – Why Focus on the US Market 18:40 – Fortune 10 Customer at $25 22:10 – Narrowing Down GTM 25:00 – Selling to Enterprises 30:00 – India vs US Sales Teams 37:00 – Fundraising Lessons 44:20 – How AI is Changing Digital Adoption 47:19 – Making Investors Work for You📺 Subscribe for more founder journeys #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #Whatfix #Founders #StartupJourney #VentureCapital #ScalingStartups #IndiaToGlobal #DigitalAdoption #Leadership #StartupEcosystem #FounderLessons #CategoryCreation #PrimeVenturePatnersPodcast
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Aug 12, 2025 • 46min

Mahesh Joshi on H.I.T. Investing: Building Profitable & Impactful Startups

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Sanjay Swamy hosts Mahesh Joshi, Head of Asia Private Equity at BlueOrchard and author of H.I.T. Investing.He shares powerful insights on how companies across India and Asia are solving critical problems like:Financial inclusion for underserved Kirana storesGender equity in small business financeClimate resilience through tech and EV adoptionLeveraging UPI, DPI, and IndiaStack to scale affordable services📌 Key themes:- What HIT investing really means (High Impact + Tech)- Why India is the perfect testbed for scalable impact- How founders with deep domain knowledge are creating billion-dollar       outcomes- ESG vs HIT: The execution gap📣 Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or policy watcher — this is an essential conversation on the future of purposeful capitalism.🔔 Subscribe to our channel & hit the bell so you never miss an episode.📌 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574450955885LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in#ImpactInvesting #HITInvesting #StartupIndia #ClimateTech #TechForGood #FinancialInclusion #ESGInvesting #SocialImpact #FounderStories #MaheshJoshi #BlueOrchard #StartupPodcast #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast
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Jul 30, 2025 • 21min

He coached Virat, Dhoni, D Gukesh & 25+ World Champions - Paddy Upton's Secrets

Paddy Upton, a renowned performance and mental skills coach, shares invaluable insights from his experience with elite cricketers, including strategies for success in sports and startups. He emphasizes the importance of transitioning from individual contributor to leader, discussing mental fitness fundamentals like sleep and nutrition. Upton highlights key lessons from legends like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, particularly the necessity of detaching self-worth from outcomes and the power of self-awareness in leadership. A must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their game!
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Jul 15, 2025 • 35min

Snapfish to Aadhaar to MoneyTap to AI: Bala Parthasarathy on Building Across Eras

🎙️ Bala Parthasarathy - Chairman & Co-founder, Freo, Director at People+AI, Senior Adviser, EMK Capital (London) -  joins us for one of our most insightful episodes.In this full conversation, Bala discusses:🔹 Snapfish’s dotcom-era growth, crash, and acquisition by HP🔹 Building Aadhaar from the ground up with Nandan Nilekani🔹 The truth about raising and deploying venture capital🔹 What’s broken (and what’s working) in fintech🔹 The founder's mindset in the age of AIIf you're a founder, investor, or operator, this episode is packed with lessons, stories, and perspective.📌 Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Bala’s background & Snapfish origins03:00 – Dotcom boom, bust & Snapfish acquisition06:30 – Understanding VC: what founders often get wrong10:00 – Building Aadhaar at scale with Nandan Nilekani13:00 – Freo, fintech & operating in regulated markets16:00 – AI disruption & founder readiness23:00 – How every function is being reshaped by AI28:00 – Founder life: balance, energy & playing the long game📌 Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primevpTwitter: https://twitter.com/primevp_inWebsite: https://primevp.in👇 Subscribe for more insights from top founders & investors.#BalaParthasarathy #Startups #AI #VentureCapital #Aadhaar #FintechIndia #Entrepreneurship  #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast 

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