The Neon Show

CRM is a category often equated with its market leader, Salesforce.Hence, companies and investors question the viability of building a business in this space.Nilesh Patel, founder of Leadsquared, who built a Unicorn in CRM, joins us today.We discuss the category, the business, and its competitors.With Byju’s as their first large deal, Edtech brought over 40% of their customers.Then the industry went through a downfall, but Leadsquared survived by a well timed expansion.From lack of capital restricting entry into the US market, to fast-forward today, where they have gone global.Nilesh shares his thoughts on the skills founders need and the decisions they have to make -on exits, acquisitions, and hiring.Tune in for more!0:00-Trailer1:35 – Building Leadsquared3:19 – First large deal with Byjus7:12 – Fundraising from Private Equity9:58 – CRM as an Undesirable Investment12:10 – Should Co’s enter the CRM Space?13:35 – How to price SAAS in India?15:23 – Diversifying beyond EdTech16:49 – How to build market differentiation?20:29 – Highest annual deal of <$10M23:37 – India spends $500M-$1B on CRM26:39 – Are Indian founders underpricing?28:40 – GTM in the US Market33:26 – What would Leadsquared do differently?47:32 – When Should a Founder Exit?49:03 – How AI Will Transform CRM55:09 – Views on Byju Raveendran56:55 – When founders think like VC’s-------------Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Meet Sharad Sanghi who built India’s first data center, he spent 25 years building Netmagic, India’s largest data center company. He came to India in 1995, worked at VSNL as the country was discovering the internet, and built a company focused on internet for businesses.Now he is building Neysa, an AI cloud startup, which recently raised $50M to help businesses adopt AI, all from India. With Neysa businesses can use AI without writing a lot of code or use five different tools to run it. And do everything—train models, test them, deploy them, and monitor them—in one single dashboard.Sharad has a lot of perspective to share—as someone who was at the forefront while India adopted the internet, and now, the AI wave.If you're building in AI, part of an enterprise exploring AI, or simply thinking about where India is in the AI race—this episode is for you.0:00 – Trailer02:00 – How Neysa makes AI easy & cheap?04:37 – From datacentre to AI06:54 – 1200 GPUs & 15 Clients07:24 – Selling internet to Businesses12:03 – Why India Needs Local AI Clouds13:20 – How Neysa Plans to Stand Out15:14 – Is Scaling a Hyperscaler Easy?19:26 – Can India Shift from IT to AI?26:40 – AI in Large Enterprises vs Mid-Market27:51 – AI Revolution vs Cloud in 200631:06 – What’s the Moat for AI Startups?33:08 – Is Private Data the Real AI Goldmine?35:59 – Why Product & GTM Matter Early On38:06 – Why Scaling must come before Demand42:12 – OpenAI’s edge on Deepseek?44:52 – How should enterprises navigate AI?46:32 – Did Only NVIDIA Predict the AI Boom?48:17 – Founder 1.0 V/S 2.0-------------Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

In this episode of The Neon Show, we bring you into the room with someone who’s spent over a decade backing India’s most ambitious companies.We're joined by Prayank Swaroop, Partner at Accel. With over 14 years in venture capital, Prayank walks us through his journey of discovering and building expertise in specific sectors—from cybersecurity and developer tools to SaaS and marketplaces—and how VCs identify the categories they truly understand.We dive into how Accel chooses best founders, and the balance between backing founder versus business across stages. Prayank shares his candid thoughts on why India has been slow and late to the AI race, and what a realistic way forward could look like for Indian startups.He also offers a glimpse into Accel’s evolving investment thesis around AI, sector by sector, and talks about how the enterprise landscape is changing—and what that means for Indian founders building in this space.Tune in!0:00- Trailer1:45 – Finding Great Founders6:30 – What We'd Do Differently10:16 – Sector Expertise Matters13:15 – Where AI Money Should Go18:00 – Accel’s GenAI Bets21:18 – Sector-Wise Thesis in AI23:24 – Growth means Product in AI26:45 – Rise of Founder-Influencers29:10 – $650million India Fund31:35 – Beyond Roti, Kapda, Makaan34:07 – Why Accel is Big on Content36:03 – 15 Years in VC38:16 – Highs & Lows of VC Ecosystem43:36 – Knowledge Compounds in VC49:45 – Conviction over Consensus51:06 - Conclusion-------------Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Dev Khare, a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners with over 13 years of experience, discusses the changing investment landscape in India. He contrasts two funding models: the traditional Silicon Valley approach with high initial burn rates versus the 'compounder' model that promotes gradual growth and profitability. Khare shares insights on the evolution of Indian startups, the rise of AI in enterprise solutions, and the increasing significance of second-time founders. His experiences highlight the unique challenges and opportunities within India's burgeoning tech ecosystem.

In this episode, Avnish Bajaj, Founding Partner at Z47 (formerly Matrix Partners India), shares what it takes to build one of India's most competitive VC firms and land the best startup deals.With over 20 years of experience, Avnish has been at the forefront of India’s venture capital industry. He co-founded Matrix Partners India in 2006 after a successful entrepreneurial journey with Baazee.com, which he later sold to eBay, serving as its Chairman & Country Manager.From founder to angel investor to VC, Avnish has done it all—scaling businesses, backing category-defining startups, and navigating the challenges of venture investing. His portfolio includes Ola, Razorpay, Country Delight, Practo, Quikr, and many more.Tune in as we dive into his insights on winning the best deals, building a top-tier VC firm, and the evolving startup ecosystem in India.0:00- Introduction2:58 - How Founders Should Choose VCs?9:02 - Z47 as an Operator-Led VC15:32 - Generalist vs. Specialist VCs20:24 - India’s VC Ecosystem in Last 20 Years6:38 - First-Time vs. Second-Time Founders31:48 - Founder-Market Fit Explained35:18 - How LPs Allocate Money in India?46:22 - How Investors Bet on Countries & Assets52:09 - Can Tech Founders Run Multiple Businesses?57:06 - Is India’s Market Ahead of Entrepreneurs?1:01:10 - Rapid Fire: How Z47 Picks Founders1:03:44 - Is Seed Stage Funding the Only Battle?1:11:21 - When VCs Like the Founder, Not the Market1:14:11 - Z47’s Work Ethic----Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.----Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7----This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Sharad Sharma, founder of iSPIRT and a key player in India's digital innovation, dives into the future of India's digital landscape. He discusses the rise of UPI, its transformative effect on transactions, and the necessity for strategic autonomy in tech. Sharma highlights the challenges of maintaining first-mover advantages and critiques reliance on foreign payment systems. He also underscores the importance of collaboration in building effective AI ecosystems and the need for robust regulatory frameworks to secure India’s leadership in global technology.

Vishal Jain, CEO of Zerodha Fund House, brings over 20 years of experience in India's financial markets. He discusses the evolution of mutual funds since the 1960s and highlights the pivotal role of index funds and ETFs in retail investing. Jain reveals why two-thirds of retail investors remain hesitant and underscores the importance of demystifying investments. He also shares his philosophy rooted in India's growth narrative and the cultural significance of gold as a hedge. Can passive investing truly dominate the market? Tune in to discover!

A seasoned investor who ran India's Finance Ministry.This week on The Neon Show, we welcome Jayant Sinha—Investor, Policy Maker, and former Minister of Finance & Civil Aviation.Mr. Sinha shares how the government builds innovative investment solutions for startups and large-scale funding programs for institutions.He played a key role in launching a ₹2,000 crore Fund of Funds, which invests in startups through domestic VCs. He was also instrumental in establishing India’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, managing ₹39,000 crore in assets as of 2024.As Civil Aviation Minister, he worked on policies like UDAN to make aviation more inclusive and played a key role in DigiYatra, driving digital transformation in air travel.Mr. Sinha is focused on policies that drive India’s economic growth in a climate-conscious way. From research to action, he is working across policy, investment, and technology to shape India’s path towards Net Zero.Read Jayant Sinha’s Latest book : “India’s Green Startups:Entrepreneurs That are Driving Growth” - https://www.amazon.in/India%EF%BF%BDs-Green-Startups-Entrepreneurs-Paperback/dp/9353458633  00:00 - Highlights03:01 – Growing up in a diplomat household05:34 – Working at McKinsey06:48 – The Opportunity cost of a political career08:03 – From Harvard to Hazaribagh09:18 – Exposure to Policymaking & elections11:52 – First electoral win in 201414:37 – Twice chosen as Union Minister15:33 – Arun Jaitley: Also an Excellent Advocate16:55 – India’s Sovereign Wealth fund18:17 – Higher Education Financing Agency19:32 – Taxation of Alternative Investment Funds20:17 – Fund of Funds for Domestic VC’s21:47 – Aviation Reforms: UDAN & Digiyatra30:26 – Privatization of Air India33:32 – India’s vision to lead globally35:42 – India's path to a green future39:31 – The CO₂ blanket effect42:04 – Nuclear fusion as a zero-carbon solution44:24 – Why land will be hotter46:13 – How climate change affects Economy48:57 – India’s Net Zero Goals50:04 – $1 Trillion Investment to Finance Net Zero55:00 – Scaling green businesses in India56:26 – Global North’s carbon responsibility vs India’s emissions1:00:52 – Chronic health effects of pollution on children1:02:07 – What India can learn from Beijing1:06:42 – India’s Net Zero Bill & global legislation1:08:08 – Personal connection to The Environmental Cause1:12:47 – Trump’s impact on the global green mission1:15:05 – Why India must invest in R&D---Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.---Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7---This video is for infoSend us a text

In this episode, Sharath shares his journey of building two successful AI-driven enterprise solutions.Sharath Keshava Narayana, founder of Sanas and Observe shares his market-product fit approach of winning enterprise clients in the US- Identifying large, underserved markets and solving their biggest problems. He also dives into fundraising stories, from getting into Y Combinator to attracting top VCs, leading to an $8 million seed round.Sharath emphasizes why founders must be great sellers and how building the right team early on is crucial for scaling a business.If you're looking to build a SaaS company, expand into the US market, or understand the power of AI-driven enterprise solutions, this episode is a must-watch!________00:00 - Trailer01:50 – Early Entrepreneurial Days: From India to the US07:10 – Building a US Clientele for an Indian Product10:55 – Idea Stage of Observe.AI15:20 – Raising the First Cheque16:35 – Y Combinator: From Application to Selection20:38 – Inbound from Top VC’s24:53 – Meeting the Sanas Co-Founders27:29 – Raising Funds Pre-Product & Pre-Revenue30:10 – The Sanas Investment Thesis34:03 – What Drove Success at Observe & Sanas38:09 – Drawing Parallels in Building Two Companies45:00 – Scaling Challenges: Hiring & Team Building50:15 – Fundraising Lessons: Always Be Ready54:17 – Market-Product Fit vs. Product-Market Fit57:10 – Solving the Black Box of Call Centers59:12 – Solving for Speech-to-Speech in Real Time1:05:15 – Thoughts on The Neon Fund1:07:03 – Bengaluru vs. Bay Area1:11:10 – Founders Must Be Sellers1:19:42 – Do Indian Founders Underprice?1:23:13 – Final Thoughts: Likeability as a Founder---Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.---Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7---This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

Alok Goyal and Ritesh Banglani, Partners at Stellaris Venture Partners, share insights from their successful $300 million fundraising journey. They dissect the ambitious nature of Indian founders and discuss strategies for recognizing potential billion-dollar B2B SaaS companies. The duo emphasizes the importance of decision-making dynamics and independent conviction in their investment choices. They also explore the shifting landscape of venture capital in India and the growing relevance of AI in shaping future investments.