The Neon Show

If you’re a startup selling to enterprises, understanding how a CIO discovers and evaluates you can change everything. Most founders believe that cold emails and polished decks drive attention, but Karthik Chakkarapani, CIO of Zuora shares that nearly 80% of the startups he evaluates are found through outbound - while researching solutions, through peers, or even on LinkedIn. For many startups, this alone can reshape how they think about go-to-market.How does an enterprise decide whether to buy from a startup or not? Karthik walks us through Zuora’s three-step buying process. It starts with understanding the problem the startup solves and how quickly the product can show value. If the early signals are strong, the next step is a deeper look at ROI, integration, security and whether the company is mature enough to be a long-term partner. The final stage is legal and procurement, which is where many early-stage startups slow down.If you’re building a startup, this episode offers a practical look into how CIOs think, how they make decisions and what it really takes to go from a first conversation to a signed contract.0:00 – Trailer0:53 – Buying process of startups05:19 – How Zuora’s SaaS portfolio looked 2 years ago09:00 – Inbound vs outbound10:53 – How initial contact with potential customers works13:34 – Startups should be thought partners16:57 – How long it takes to create value for customers19:59 – Where startups draw the line in growth vs efficiency23:06 – Top 5 largest spends24:01 – Why only 1-year contracts for new AI startups?26:12 – Why legal & procurement struggle to understand startups29:46 – 20% of portfolio is 0–5 year old companies30:46 – Are startups not backed by VCs a red flag?34:29 – 60% in growth + 40% in day-to-day37:42 – Learnings from peer CIOs41:38 – Featurely: Case Study45:14 – Atomicwork: Case Study46:55 – Trupeer: Case Study47:51 – How Zuora uses OpenAI & Anthropic49:39 – How AI is helping personal productivity51:26 – How agents will be managed54:02 – Number of SaaS apps will go down, agents will go up55:45 – Building the right security for AI56:31 – India vs US: where founders are building from-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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 engaging discussion, Bhaskar Ghosh, a Partner at 8VC and former engineering lead with 20+ years in Silicon Valley, delves into the transformative impact of AI on India's vast IT services landscape. He highlights the automation of traditional workflows, from call centers to insurance, emphasizing that AI can enhance productivity and redefine service models. Bhaskar also explores the future of AI-enabled services, questioning whether they can scale like SaaS and revealing insights into buying legacy services to drive innovation.

130 IPOs from over 400 startups. IVP is now in its 18th fund, with companies like Perplexity, Glean, Slack, Figma, Twitter, Uber, and Abridge in its portfolio. Somesh Dash, general partner at the 45-year-old firm, has been part of IVP for more than 20 years.We start with something we are both passionate about, building in the US-India corridor. Somesh talks about the group of people who put the silicon in Silicon Valley, the immigrants. From Andy Grove to Elon Musk to Chennai-born Aravind Srinivas.He recalls the first time he met Aravind at a WeWork, when Perplexity had just 20 employees and a beta product or how Dylan (Founder of Figma) had the vision nobody else had on the future of design, way before ai. The early signals Somesh saw in these founders, long before any signs of massive success were visible. He also talks about the companies they missed, giants like DoorDash, OpenAI, and Anthropic.Though this seasoned investor truly believes in AI, he says the sector is due for a correction. The bubble will burst. Most Gen 1.0 AI companies are unlikely to reach billion-dollar valuations or go public. But as always in tech, the lessons from this first wave will shape Gen 2.0 companies. And the teams that understand and adapt from this early wave will build the next generation of successful AI companies. Also, when the bubble bursts, that's the time to invest. Why?Somesh Dash shares in this episode.0:00 – Trailer1:12 – Immigrants who built Silicon Valley4:27 – India’s incredible contribution to the Valley5:30 – How the India–US friction will actually help6:29 – What’s at stake for both countries10:42 – Where India stands in AI11:45 – First meeting with Aravind Srinivas13:47 – Why IVP invested in Perplexity two years ago17:11 – In AI, don’t take product–market fit for granted18:43 – Courage to fail & double down on early wins19:36 – Why multiple investors on a cap table isn’t bad22:14 – How IVP invested in Figma24:28 – IPO is a milestone, not the end25:56 – Why US public markets are not overvalued27:50 – How a VC defines startup success31:08 – The best thing about failed startups32:12 – Why IVP missed DoorDash34:54 – How IVP decides to invest or pass38:27 – The doctor who builds tech45:05 – Future of Content is honesty and vulnerability47:11 – Meeting OpenAI & Anthropic in the early days48:52 – AI “startups” with capex the size of nations49:53 – The power law in venture capital50:45 – Why we’re close to an AI correction54:11 – Gen 2.0 startups are built on Gen 1.0 foundations56:45 – Will the AI bubble burst?1:01:32 – Do high valuations during peaks still make sense?1:05:04 – What keeps IVP strong for five decades1:08:11 – The Co’s making IVP more bullish on India–US corridor-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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-------------Send us a text

When Shreesha Ramdas left Medallia after a $6.5B acquisition he decided it was time to reinvent.At his 4th startup Lumber, before writing a single line of code, he hired a sales person and ran 200+ interviews across the industry to understand the real pain points. The interviews gave Shreesha the insight that though payments were a problem, it was neither big enough nor urgent. But it was very difficult to hire workers, and even more difficult to retain skilled craft workers. In the U.S alone 41% of construction workers will retire in the next six years, leaving a massive gap in talent and experience. As a big believer in vitamin vs. painkiller, Shreesha is now building where the pain is deepest. We discuss what truly needs to happen before building a startup, the foundation that will shape everything that follows. From his days at Yodlee during the dot-com boom to leading StrikeDeck and selling it to Medallia, he is now building again with clarity and intent for one of the most traditional industries: construction.  But here’s one thing that probably tells you more about Shreesha than the companies he has built and scaled. He said, “My heart beats for other founders. Startup is my world, this community is my tribe.”0:00 – Trailer1:04 – Why build tech for Construction industry?3:54 – 200+ interviews to find the real customer pain5:05 – Big believer in Vitamin vs. Painkiller6:25 – The 2 core problems in this industry7:02 – Repeat founders Know structure better7:42 – First startup during the dot-com boom8:29 – Bay Area is Disney Land for tech founders9:23 – From engineering → sales → marketing10:37 – Founders should trust the team, above everything11:55 – The survey company that banned “survey”12:17 – First startup was all about me; now it’s all about team13:57 – Dream big, but execute in small steps15:47 – The cost of speed in startups16:18 – I’m a marketing-first CEO17:27 – Hire a salesperson before the product exists18:17 – Is Founder-led selling good or bad?19:37 – Mean, lean & go all in23:55 – Don’t bring humility to storytelling27:25 – How the story should evolve as startups scale35:30 – How Lumber will challenge giants in construction38:53 – Do repeat founders build more in verticals?43:39 – How to hire right people from traditional industries44:29 – What wealth unlocked for Shreesha45:34 – Legacy is moving the industry forward46:38 – What the next 20 years mean for software founders49:18 – AI should remove soul-draining work51:19 – “My heartbeats for other founders”-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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

You rarely meet someone who has built and sold five companies. Sachin Aggarwal is now building his sixth, Stackgen. The depth of lessons from someone who has been through that journey five times and still chooses to build again is simply unmatched. Even after five successful exits, he still builds like a first-time founder. He studies every new domain from scratch, speaks to 60 or 70 people before committing to an idea, and surrounds himself with people who are smarter than him. What stood out most is his mindset. That is what truly sets him apart. We have always been told that time is money, but he believes timing is money. Founders should time everything, including their exits because the best startups are always bought, not sold. From building his first company during the Asian Financial Crisis in Indonesia, to creating a healthcare startup that grew with Obamacare, to pioneering cloud security before it became mainstream, Sachin has mastered the art of timing. 0:00 – Trailer0:46 – From KPMG to becoming an entrepreneur2:05 – Why the best startups are bought, not sold4:30 – Does luck play a role in repeated success?5:24 – Why is timing money?6:46 – Exit at $8M ARR in just 18 months8:10 – The first exit that gave financial freedom10:14 – 26-year-old who bought an Indonesian Co.12:42 – What drives repeat founders?13:53 – Co’s are either Born secure or they’re not19:40 – Founders must master timing21:24 – How tech-savvy should a tech founder really be?22:35 – The right way to time your exits27:07 – How to observe new markets to build?28:30 – The process behind starting a company29:32 – How to find the right co-founders?31:53 – What really builds trust?33:05 – What founders learn building across industries35:25 – How Stackgen’s founders met43:36 – Industries with the best Timing today44:41 – Where should young founders build?48:06 – Winning InMobi as a customer51:11 – What AI agents are doing at Stackgen55:14 – How Stackgen could be a billion-dollar opportunity?=-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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

India is the 2nd largest startup ecosystem now. But, can it be at par with Silicon Valley?With 37 years of experience in the valley, Avanish sahai believes it can. But what made Silicon Valley the ultimate startup ecosystem? It was investors, universities and an environment where people dreamed to come live and work. And, in the last 25 years India has been going through the same transformation. And the changes are nothing short of  admirable.Avanish started his career from a Mckinsey office in 1999 which ideated India’s software dream,  with policy changes the country needed to lead in Technology. Since then, he’s held senior roles at Oracle, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Google Cloud, and served on HubSpot’s board through its journey from $500M to $2B.Avanish talks with great passion about startups that are disrupting the world today, taking lessons from small companies that took over legends who were believed to be indestructible. Even with all the hype around AI, Avanish reminds us that ultimately it's all about people. 0:00 – Trailer1:13 – 37 years in Silicon Valley2:33 – McKinsey’s “Vision 2020” for India (in 1980)7:30 – When only $8 was allowed for migrants to the U.S.?9:48 – “India is the ultimate definition of a startup ecosystem”11:30 – How openness to the world has changed India13:08 – India’s tech stack should go global14:09 – Why “India is hot” right now17:41 – Global disruptors building for the world19:48 – Think big and fail often24:09 – HubSpot: Single product → multi-product → platform27:11 – How today’s startups can compete with legends30:45 – Salesforce had APIs from day one (in 1999)35:51 – How AI is redefining Legends vs. startups41:51 – Life as a Stanford DCI fellow42:53 – How should the world adapt for 20–25 extra years?45:29 – How to spot the right wave and players in Career45:16 – Get mentors, stay curious, and take risks48:00 – Why it’s still all about PEOPLE51:53 – How AI could disrupt vertical SaaS industries-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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

What makes a great venture capitalist — luck, timing, or the ability to see what others miss?Brij Bhushan (Prime Venture Partners) and Pratik Poddar (Nexus Venture Partners) talk about the long game of venture capital; the waiting, the lessons hidden in mistakes, and the emotional ride of backing founders through years of uncertainty.With Pratik, we dive into some of the biggest names in the Nexus portfolio: his first meeting with Rapido’s founder before he even joined Nexus, the Meesho pitch that became a big miss, and his first call with Zepto’s founders. Nexus was one of Zepto’s earliest investors and has backed the company in every round since. Pratik speaks with great clarity about conviction, timing, and what truly defines great investing.Brij reflects on his decade of building Magicpin, what it means to “build the same company three times,” and how that journey reshaped the way he now works with founders. Having lived through the chaos of scaling, near-failure, and reinvention, he brings the founder’s perspective back into venture capital.Together, Brij and Pratik capture the essence of the VC game — how the industry is evolving, why consensus rarely creates outliers, how real decisions are made inside funds, and why the best founders often seem “too early” rather than too late. We talk about everything that shapes a VC’s everyday life, and above all why Brij and Pratik believe it’s still the best job in the world.0:00 – Trailer01:59 – Biggest learnings from 10 years as a VC05:00 – Rapido as a counterintuitive bet06:49 – Meesho was a big miss10:20 – Why Venture capital is the best job?12:35 – Every meeting could be life-changing14:54 – Knowing you are NOT in an Operating role16:55 – How often are VCs wrong about market size?18:58 – Where to invest in Consumer companies?25:33 – How consumer VCs bet on behavior change27:12 – Is e-commerce truly built for young users?28:10 – How do Investors deal with Bias?30:04 – Are VCs only remembered for success stories?37:45 – Why good deals rarely come from Consensus?39:24 – The first call with Zepto’s founders41:10 – How often do you meet truly exceptional founders?43:45 – Should VCs react to market shifts?46:42 – How long VC’s take to make an investment decision?50:53 – How founders should approach fundraising54:27 – Can India produce 50 decacorns in the next few years?55:51 – Best way to play VC game is to have right fund size56:42 – Not Knowing is a pre-requisite for a VC1:00:41 – Exceptional founders have this superpower1:02:02 – Where Indian founders have a real edge1:05:14 – Building AI in India: local maxima or global maxima?1:09:00 – When will Indian Co’s acquire Indian startups for $Billions?1:11:55 – Why Zomato & Swiggy aren’t true Consumer Co’s?-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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/siddharthaa7Send us a text

When RateGain went public, it made history as India’s first SaaS listingFounder Bhanu Chopra talks about what went into that call, how investors saw it, and what it revealed about the Indian capital market. He shares how RateGain built its global presence before turning to India, and why he bet big on a $250 million acquisition.Today, travel is changing faster than ever with travellers planning differently, hotels pricing dynamically, and APAC leading the global recovery. Bhanu breaks down how RateGain powers this, from AI that talks directly to hotels and travellers, to India’s hospitality industry that aims to grow 100% every year.Valued at nearly $1Billion with over $120 million in annual revenue, RateGain counts some of the biggest names in travel among its customers including Airbnb, makemytrip, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Expedia, and Booking.com. From taking RateGain from zero to IPO and growing revenue tenfold in a decade, Bhanu’s journey offers a grounded view of what it takes to build companies that last. This episode is about more than travel or tech, it’s about how India’s next generation of founders can think global.0:00 — Trailer1:00 — How RateGain became India’s first SaaS IPO6:31 — Was India ready for a SaaS IPO?7:31 — The $250M acquisition that cost 25% of market cap10:58 — Why Indian SaaS is listing locally14:48 — Travel is booming in APAC15:34 — RateGain’s business Explained19:09 — AI that talks to consumers and hotels21:00 — Building a billion-dollar company is totally possible23:03 — Why the hotel industry is too complex for LLMs25:40 — $300M of $7.5B TAM26:45 — Indian hotel chains aims to grow at 100%29:39 — Travel trends across the US, Europe and APAC32:25 — How travel behaviour changed after COVID?33:34 — The 0→1, 1→10 and 10→100 journey37:57 — What growth means to Bhanu as a founder-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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

How do the best CEOs think, prepare, and leave a lasting legacy? Shiv Shivakumar, former CEO of PepsiCo and Nokia reflects on decades of leading some of the most iconic companies. He shares insights on what makes a great leader, from the mindset required to the qualities that define people with a fighter’s instinct.Shiv explains why commitment and curiosity often matter more than degrees or pedigrees, and why only about 7% of those who aspire to be CEOs actually become one. He also discusses how to navigate co-founder disagreements, knowing when a company needs you, and how to hire the right people for lasting impact.Through stories from his own journey leading companies across sectors, Shiv highlights why unit economics, honest market sizing, and investing in innovation rather than cutting prices are critical for founders. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding culture, asking the right questions, and building trust in shaping a company’s success.Whether you are an aspiring founder, a manager, or simply curious about how leadership works in practice, this conversation with one of India’s most experienced CEOs is for you.0:00 – Trailer0:55 – 3 qualities of people with a fighter’s instinct2:40 – The biggest sin of a CEO: Past forward5:51 – How a CEO of 20 years prepare using data?7:56 – Why the information pyramid today is upside down8:55 – If it doesn’t surprise competition, it’s waste of time9:53 – The art of asking great questions10:28 – Brands shouldn’t age: keep your core, but stay relevant12:28 – Why Shiv calls himself a Brand person?13:40 – Rich buy brands for vanity, poor for security15:03 – Manyavar: Nationalism reflected in buying choices17:15 – The Suta story18:10 – Clothing Industry is waiting for innovations19:28 – Brand person vs. Manufacturing person21:27 – Why only 7% become CEOs23:08 – CEOs Shiv admires23:47 – Be the best prepared person in any room24:09 – Always stress-test your assumptions25:04 – Sending letters to great professors of the 90s29:32 – Opportunities in India vs. abroad36:59 – Understand culture before joining any company40:11 – What young people should expect from work?41:04 – People who leave a legacy42:49 – How to hire the right people?45:43 – Be a full-number, not decimal-point manager46:25 – Never hire for degree or background48:54 – Building relationships for the company’s interest51:07 – How co-founders should handle disagreements?52:56 – Be honest about your addressable market54:00 – Founders overestimate idea, underestimate rigour54:30 – ID Fresh: Founder & Opportunity57:06 – The business model in publishing needs to change58:58 – Is ghostwriting alright?1:02:00 – The old model of distribution: Nokia Story1:04:09 – Why CEOs should work across industries?1:09:12 – When you need the company vs. when it needs you1:15:31 – Future hiring: soft skills first, train hard skills-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter:Send us a text

From a last-minute YC application to a $5 billion Company built on deep technical insight.In this episode, Viral Bajaria, Co-Founder and CTO of 6sense, takes us back to the very beginning. He recounts his early days at Hulu, where managing massive data systems during the Super Bowl taught him how data could drive real business decisions.Joining one of Y Combinator’s early batches, Viral recalls being interviewed by Sam Altman and Garry Tan, and how the team quit their jobs after getting in, moved into a small townhouse, and began writing code. While most startups begin with small customers, 6sense started with some of the biggest enterprise logos. Viral explains why repeatability and implementation are harder when selling only to large accounts, and how those lessons shaped their approach to building sustainable growth. He also reflects on the difficult years when growth stalled, when the company had to rebuild its product, and when they learned that great technology means little without strong go-to-market execution. It is a story about timing, conviction, and the patience to build for what will not change.0:00- Trailer 02:26- First job at Hulu & exposure to big data06:36- YC interview by Sam altman & Garry tan08:22- Quitting job for YC11:07- First version: Big data analytics platform12:12- Getting in YC batch that downsized from 130 to 4713:27- The need & opportunity for a Merger15:49- Why Founders should learn to let go & avoid slow death16:07- Why everybody at YC advised against the merger?18:16- A VC next door that chased 6sense20:18- Rebuilding the product for B2B20:57- How this startup started with the biggest logos?21:59- Repeatability is hard when selling only to enterprise22:47- There were lot of startups, with lot more money23:32- How to build for things that won't change in 10 years?29:24- Ad platforms only targeted People, Not companies32:02- Why did 6sense get a new CEO?33:50- Funding rounds that led to $5Billion37:20- What 2013 Co’s were doing can be done with 1% today38:39- When competition raises a $100M round39:40- If you build a company on LLM, there is no data moat42:02- What is the extent of guard rails for Agents?43:59- Viral’s Investments in India & US Companies54:44- Co’s should raise money to appear bigger than you are56:55- Vibe spending: People are spending money to try AI59:52- Is there a right time for vibe mode for every industry?01:02:00- Service as a software is selling agency to customer01:03:58- Why co’s in the US-india corridor will succeed?01:17:27- Why Viral invested in Neon?-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------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