The Neon Show

This week’s episode is once again in discussion with PM Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisor who talks about Kolkata’s Downfall, Bihar’s UPSC Craze & The Indian Dream as we welcome once again, Sanjeev Sanyal to the Neon Show! The Reason Behind India’s Rapid GrowthThe West’s Problem With India!Why Did Jyoti Basu Get Elected As CM?What Led To Bihar’s Downfall?All these juicy topics and more in this UNFILTERED conversation about India’s growth story. A dive into the “poverty of aspiration” that has limited India in the past till recently & why it is now a country that is to be reckoned with… Tune in NOW!___________________________________________________________________________________________________Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/___________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/__________________________________________________________________________________________________CHAPTERS00:00 - Precap01:14 - Welcome Back Sanjeev Sanyal!01:40 - What Is Sanjeev Sir Up To Now?03:00 - Kolkata’s Downfall EXPLAINED In Detail09:04 - Why Did Jyoti Basu Get Elected As CM?10:31 - How “Poverty Of Aspiration” Affected India’s Growth14:31 - Are India’s “Zero Food” Kids A Real Problem?18:10 - REALITY Behind India’s Gender Selective Abortions Crisis23:32 - “1/6th Of The World’s Billionaires Should Be Indian!”25:52 - The Reason Behind India’s Rapid Growth30:52 - The West’s Problem With India32:11 - What Led To Bihar’s Downfall & Its Craze Of Civil Service?35:11 - How Middle-Class India’s Aspirations Are Evolving!37:04 - The Great Indian Dream40:32 - ConclusionSend us a text

This week’s episode is an EXTENSIVE BREAKDOWN about Dark Indian SCAMS - Jamtara, Aadhaar Data, and Dark Web Secrets as we welcome Rahul Sasi, founder of CloudSEK, to the Neon Show!Why Are Scams Originating From Tier 2/3 Indian Cities?The Jamtara Scam DECODEDIs Your Aadhaar Data Safe?!How Many Hackers Are There In India?All these juicy topics and more in this DETAILED conversation. An eye-opener about the millions of cyber threats around us & what danger they carry… A crisp & efficient discussion about everything in the cyber space. Tune in NOW!___________________________________________________________________________________________________Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/___________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/!__________________________________________________________________________________________________CHAPTERS00:00 - Precap01:13 - Welcoming Rahul Sasi, co-founder of CloudSEK!02:27 - What Is Dark Web & CloudSEK's Role?08:50 - Why Dark Web Is So Difficult To Take Down!11:35 - Bangladesh Bank Heist DECODED16:08 - The Role of AI In Cyber Crimes!19:31 - How Many Hackers Are There In India?22:14 - Country With The Best Cyber Security Talent!24:45 - In India, Which Is The Best Cyber Security Company?25:46 - Jamtara Scam DECODED29:09 - Why Are Scams Originating From Tier 2/3 Indian Cities?31:53 - Chinese Loan App Scam EXPLAINED34:46 - How Does Money Laundering Work? 37:06 - Other Deadly Cyber Scams40:01 - Is Your Aadhaar Data Safe?!41:46 - How Do You Gain Practical Knowledge of Cyber Security?44:01 - What Inspired Rahul Sasi To Create CloudSEK?50:23 - Will AI Machines Attack Humans In The Future?52:46 - How Many Jobs Will Be Lost To AI In The Future?55:00 - Understanding What Privacy Entails Legally58:53 - Concluding Remarks on Future of Cyber Security!Send us a text

This week’s episode is a HEARTFELT conversation between 2 women founders who discuss beauty standards in India, healthy living, career & much more as Nansi takes over hosting duties while welcoming Yoga Bar founder, Suhasini Sampath, to the Neon Show! How Has The Beauty Industry Impacted India?The TRUTH Behind Low & No-Added-Sugar Products!Prioritising “Needs” Over “Wants”Biggest Lesson Learnt From ITC Acquisition?All these juicy topics and more in this SINCERE conversation. A dive into the mind of one of India’s brightest female founders & one who has beautifully balanced her career & family commitments… Wishing you all a very Happy International Women’s Day! Tune in NOW!CHAPTERS00:00 - Precap01:26 - Welcoming Suhasini Sampath, founder of Yoga Bar!04:51 - Life Growing Up As A “Tam-Brahm”07:52 - Prioritising “Needs” Over “Wants”11:55 - Turning To A Minimalist Lifestyle14:54 - How Does She Balance Her “Multiple Lives”?!15:49 - Beauty Industry’s Impact On India22:23 - Social Media’s Impact On Mental Health26:58 - “Health Taste Ke Bina Nahi Bikega!”28:35 - Unhealthy Products Indians Eat30:35 - “Diabetes Is A REAL PROBLEM In India!”34:36 - 5 Poor Diet Choices Indians Are Making 38:04 - The TRUTH Behind Low & No-Added-Sugar Products!41:22 - SECRET Behind Suhasini’s Drive!44:23 - Motherhood vs Career47:13 - Biggest Lesson Learnt From ITC Acquisition48:55 - Difference Between Institutions vs New-Age Brands54:28 - 5 Brands That Changed Indian Consumer Habits For The Better56:40 - Concept of “VC Hallucination” Explained1:01:12 - Importance Of Supportive Men1:06:00 - Concluding RemarksSend us a text

This week’s episode is an assortment of INSIGHTFUL INFORMATION about stocks in the banking sector, PayTM vs RBI & Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s strategies to becoming generationally wealthy as we welcome once again Deepak Shenoy, founder of CapitalMind, to the Neon Show!What Happened To PayTM?What Is The State of Banking Stocks & Sector in India!Is PM Modi Right About PSU Stocks?Are Startups Going IPO A Good Trend?All these juicy topics and more in this DETAILED conversation. A dive into the psyche of the man who manages over Rs. 1700 crore in the Indian markets… One of the rare times where the conversation never stops being informative & gripping. Tune in NOW!_________________________________________________________________Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/__________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/___________________________________________________________________CHAPTERS00:00 - Precap01:34 - Welcome Back Deepak Shenoy, CEO of CapitalMind!01:52 - What Happened To PayTM? Fintechs vs RBI11:21 - State of Banking Stocks & Sector in India!28:07 - Should You Buy A Banking Stock?34:23 - Is RBI Mis Selling Information?39:07 - Why Are Public Sector Banks Doing So Well?40:10 - Indian Banks’ Bad Lending History!45:07 - ArcelorMittal DRAMA Decoded!52:20 - What Was The Problem With Yes Bank?58:13 - Is PM Modi Right About PSU Stocks?1:08:00 - Is The Indian Stock Market Currently Overvalued?1:11:41 - Are Micro Cap Companies The Best Bet Right Now?1:15:57 - Are Startups Going IPO A Good Trend?1:31:03 - Are Jio Financials A Good Stock To Invest in?1:33:06 - Top 3 Active Stocks In India!1:39:57 - “The Market Goes Up When You Sleep!”1:41:11 - Should Financial Advisors Be Held Accountable?1:48:51 - Is Buying Large Caps The Safe Option?1:50:18 - RaSend us a text

This week’s episode is a case study which explains Bangalore's water crisis and raises the question whether Karnataka government is at fault for how Bangalore has struggled to deal with water issues as we welcome water activist Viswanath Srikantaiah to the Neon Show!Will WW3 Happen Because Of Water Scarcity?Has The Karnataka Government FAILED Bangalore?Why Metropolitan Cities In India Are Unliveable!“The TRAGIC Reality About India Is…”All these EXPLOSIVE topics and more in this BRUTALLY HONEST conversation about India’s long standing relationship with water. A deep dive into how water may lead to the waging of the next big war in the world as well as a special focus on Karnataka & Bangalore's struggles with water… Tune in NOW!___________________________________________________________________________________________________Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/___________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/!__________________________________________________________________________________________________CHAPTERS00:00 - Precap01:46 - Introducing Viswanath Srikantaiah, Bangalore-based water activist!02:19 - Will WW3 Happen Because Of Water Scarcity?05:04 - Indo-China Water War On Brahmaputra Explained!07:22 - Indus Water Treaty Conflict Between India & Pakistan08:53 - Cauvery Water Dispute Decoded!15:14 - Geographical Breakdown of Bangalore’s History22:40 - Has The Karnataka Government FAILED Bangalore?26:43 - Is Urban Architecture At Fault For Water Issues? 31:33 - Will Indian Water Quality Reach Levels Of U.S. & Australia?35:00 - Why Metropolitan Cities In India Are Unlivable!41:40 - Why Is Bangalore Poor At Dealing With Water Issues?45:58 - Can India’s Economy Thrive Like Japan & Singapore?48:26 - History Of Migration In Bangalore!53:48 - Impact of Green Revolution on India1:03:22 - Why India Will NOT Leapfrog China’s GDP!1:06:30 - Social Impact of Water Crisis on Farmers1:09:53 - Is Migration DESTROYING Kannadiga’s Livelihoods?1:13:44 - Impact of Population Explosion on India1:18:42 - “The TRAGIC Reality About India Is…”1:29:42 - Shining Light On The Well Digging Community In Karnataka1:36:31 - Concluding Remarks_________________________________Send us a text

This week’s episode is about India’s Gold Obsession, Pitching to Anushka Sharma, and Silver Jewellery’s $4 billion Business as we welcome GIVA’s Co-founder Ishendra Agarwal to the Neon Show!History of Gold & Silver As A Stored Value!Why Does South India Love Jewellery So Much?!How Has Perception Of Jewellery Changed?How Did GIVA Pitch To Anushka Sharma?All these JUICY topics and more in this HONEST & DETAILED conversation about India’s jewellery industry. A deep dive into how jewellery became such a large part of Indians’ lives & whether silver can eventually take over the jewellery sector in India… Tune in NOW!___________________________________________________________________________________________________Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon ShowTwitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/!__________________________________________________________________________________________________CHAPTERS[00:00] - Precap[01:09] - Introducing Ishendra Agarwal, founder of GIVA[01:42] - History of Gold & Silver As A Stored Value![05:19] - Evolution Of Gold & Silver In India![09:04] - % of India That Invests In Jewellery[12:09] - Early Days Growing Up In Agra[13:29] - The GIVA Journey[19:55] - How Did GIVA Become Such A Recognizable Brand?[22:44] - Pitching To Anushka Sharma! [26:13] - Breaking Down India’s Jewellery Sector[30:02]- Why Are Making Charges So High For Silver?[32:17] - How Do Silver Brands Solve For Low Average Order Values?[35:25] - Breaking Down GIVA’s Revenue Structure[36:55] - Why Does South India Love Jewellery So Much?![39:23] - How Has Perception Of Jewellery Changed?[44:34] - Will Made To Order Be The Future Of The Jewellery Sector?[46:47] - North India vs South India: Observations On Jewellery[52:01] - Can Tanishq Take Over Market Share For Jewellery In India?[56:26] - Concluding Remarks___________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high-conviction, high-support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/!___________________________________________________________________________________________________Send us a text

This week’s episode is in discussion with India’s ex-RBI Governor about Dr. Manmohan’s Legacy, India's 1991 Reforms & Future Economic Plans as we welcome C. Rangarajan to the Neon Show!What Was Life Like After Independence?What Was RBI’s Role Before & After Rangarajan Came In? Why Did The Partition Of Tamil Nadu Happen?Was Manmohan Singh A Good Prime Minister?All these SPICY topics and more in this PREMIUM conversation about India’s economics. A deep dive into how India became a powerhouse economy in the world since 1991 & the man behind reviving India in the 90s… Tune in NOW!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________🎇CHAPTERS[00:00] - Precap[01:14] - Introducing C. Rangarajan, ex-RBI Governor of India![02:36]- Balance of Payments CRISIS That Led To 1991 Reforms![06:23] - Why Did 1991 Economic Reforms Happen?[07:40] - Socialist India’s Downfall During The Late 80s![11:49] - Who Did India Owe Its Default To?[14:10] - How Did India Overcome Its Current Account Deficit?[18:27] - Influence of Narasimha Rao & Manmohan Singh[20:37] - What Was RBI’s Role Before & After Rangarajan Came In? [28:43] - RBI’s Biggest Policies During Rangarajan’s Tenure![33:57] - Rangarajan’s Childhood Before Partition![38:46] - What Was Life Like After Independence?[41:35] - Could India Have Changed From Socialist Principles Earlier?[42:50] - Why Did The Partition Of Tamil Nadu Happen?[45:27] - Reason Why Tamil Nadu Has Become Industrial Hub Of India![47:47] - How Terms Like NPA & FDI Get Created![50:32] - How Did The Advisory Team To Manmohan Singh Get Assembled?[53:30] - Was Manmohan Singh A Good Prime Minister?[59:47] - Why Did Rangarajan Step Down in 2014?[1:00:59] - His Message To The Youth of India & Where India Is Headed![1:09:18] - Concluding Remarks_____________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text

This week’s episode is an EYE-OPENER for those who want to understand how AI impacts our lives & to be aware of potential AI scams as we welcome Manoj Agarwal, co-founder at DevRev, to the Neon Show!Can Machines Think For Themselves?What Jobs Are Most At Risk Due To AI?Is AI Progression Outpacing Humans?All these JUICY topics and much more in this DEEPLY INSIGHTFUL conversation about the AI revolution that has taken over the world & how it will impact future generations… Tune in NOW!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________🎇CHAPTERS[00:00] - Precap[00:48] - Introducing Manoj Agarwal, co-founder of DevRev[01:25] - Journey At Nutanix & Building DevRev[10:18] - Why Is AI At The Heart Of Innovation Today?[12:34] - Can Machines Think For Themselves?[17:51] - Why Is ChatGPT So Monumental?[21:19] - AI & Geopolitics[22:38] - BIGGEST Problem With Enforcing Laws on AI[25:19] - Is AI Progression Outpacing Humans?[27:07] - What Jobs Are Most At Risk Due To AI?[29:59] - What Jobs Will Be Created Due To The AI Revolution?[33:14] - How Is Gen Z Using AI Today?[34:40] - How Do AI Models Ensure There Is No Confirmation Bias?[37:35] - Why Are Indian Engineers/Developers More In Demand Now?[40:45] - Is India’s Talent Pool The Best In The World?[42:51] - Difference Between AI Focused Companies In The Past vs Now[47:00] - How AI Is Making Day-To-Day Life Easier[49:53] - The Concept Of “Hallucination” In Technology[53:51] - Concluding Remarks____________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/_____________________________________________________________________________________________________Send us a text

This week’s episode is a MUST WATCH for Indians abroad as we welcome Saravana Kumar, co-founder at Kovai.co, to the Neon Show!Why Are Expats Coming Back To India?Is a Masters' Degree Abroad Still the Best Option For Indians?Why Hasn’t India Produced A Company As Big As Microsoft or AWS?All these INFORMATIVE topics and more in this DEEPLY INSIGHTFUL conversation about the exponential changes taking place in India and why Indians abroad are eager to make their way back to their home country… Tune in NOW!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________*Sponsor Shout Out*Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.To know more, visit https://primevp.in/_____________________________________________________________________________________________________🎇CHAPTERS[00:00]- Precap[00:46] - Introducing Saravana Kumar, co-founder of Kovai.co[02:06]- Middle-Class Upbringing in Coimbatore![04:18] - Biggest Learnings From Childhood To Now[06:14] - “They Put a Team of 18 People To Replace Me![10:24] - Why Are Expats Coming Back To India?[12:19] - Reasons For “INDIA SHINING”[13:46] - Why InfoSys Is The McDonald’s of India![20:56] - Is a Masters' Degree Abroad Still the Best Option For Indians?[28:34] - Creating Silicon Valley In Coimbatore[30:48] - Secret Behind His Efficiency & Speed![33:44] - Will ChatGPT & AI Kill Many Indian Startups?[38:09] - Why Hasn’t India Produced A Company As Big As Microsoft or AWS?[42:29] - What Indian Founders Need To Unlearn![48:11] - What Kind Of Leader Is Saravana?[49:17] - Is Narayana Murthy’s 70 Hr Week Policy Correct?[53:58] - Will Bangalore Continue To Be Tier-2 India’s First Choice Of Escape?[58:49] - How Many SaaS Companies Are In Coimbatore?[59:11] - The Future of Kovai[1:03:30] - Concluding Remarks____________________________________________________________________________________________________Send us a text

This week's episode features Ashish Fafadia, Partner at Blume Ventures, discussing the history of venture capital in India and the necessary skill set for the VC ecosystem. They explore topics like raising funds from large institutions, Blume Ventures' journey, and the challenges of entitlement and instant gratification. The chapter descriptions cover early days of venture capital in India, forming endowments, converting institutions into investors, portfolio growth, investing in overcoming challenges, and selling and marketing in the VC industry.