The Neon Show

Join us on this exciting episode of The Neon Show as Siddhartha Ahluwalia hosts an insightful conversation with Sanjay Swamy, Shripati Acharya, and Amit Somani, Managing Partners at Prime Venture Partners.We discuss the past, present and future of Venture Capital in India. In this unfiltered conversation we cover the struggles, successes, opportunites and failures as well.From MakeMyTrip IPO to the evolution of the Indian market. From why talent left India to why it is coming back now. From building a career in venture capital to the nuances people miss. And so much moreDon't miss this episode if you want to gain a deeper understanding of venture capital in India from seasoned experts.___________________________________*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/___________________________________Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShowwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/___________________________________Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 01:12 - The Origin Story of Prime Venture Partners04:00 - India’s Place In The Global Macro04:56 - MakeMyTrip IPO and The Evolution of the Indian Market07:41 - Why Is Talent Returning to India13:07 - What’s Unique About The Indian Tech Ecosystem18:57 - Why More Global VC Funds' Are Not Coming To India22:11 - Prime Venture Partners' Strategy and the India Opportunity27:37 - The Magic Four-Letter Word (Exit) In Venture Capital35:24 - Building A Career in Venture Capital43:26 - The Nuances of Venture Capital People Miss50:06 - The Venture Capital Opportunity In India53:45 - Lessons Learned From Companies That Didn't Succeed1:01:07 - Secrets of Top VCsSend us a text

In this episode, Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Managing Partner at Neon Fund, sits down with Sri Batchu, Chief Marketing Officer at The RealReal. Sri has had an impressive career, having held key positions at highly successful companies like Opendoor, Instacart, and Ramp.Sri shares his thoughts on career pivots, the debate between founder-operators and career VCs, the relevance of operator experience over time, and transitioning from big companies to startups.Sri also shares valuable insights on identifying the right tech companies, constructing the perfect investment round, and the current AI cycle.Don’t miss this episode if you are an operator, founder, or an aspiring investor.___________________________________*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/___________________________________Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShowwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/___________________________________Timestamps:01:03 - Sri Batchu's Career Journey From Opendoor, Instacart, And Now The RealReal05:04 - Career Pivots & Choosing The Right Tech Company To Join15:33 - Founder-Operator Or Career VC?25:32 - The Half life Of An Operator 29:30 - What Do People Get Wrong About The Venture Capital Profession30:55 - The Best Investor Sri Batch Has Worked With33:00 - What Is The Ideal Career Stage For Transitioning To VC35:55 - Starting Up Vs Starting a VC Fund38:02 - Sri Batchu's Angel Investing Framework45:40 - Angel Investing Vs Venture Investing51:42 - New Funds Vs Top-Tier VCs58:46 - How Founders Can Build A Perfect Round1:06:13 - How Al Will Impact Consumer And B2B MarketsSend us a text

Meena Ganesh is the founder of Portea, India's largest platform for delivering healthcare services at home.On the episode Meena's shares her vision and passion for improving healthcare accessibility and quality. Meena shares her journey of founding Portea, the challenges faced by healthcare startups, and the opportunities available for entrepreneurs. Learn about the evolution of healthcare infrastructure in India, the rise of home healthcare, and the role of digital transformation in the sector.Finally, Meena provides insights into the pharmaceutical industry, medical devices, and the future of healthcare in India.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:15 - Meena Ganesh's Journey Building Portea06:53 - How is Healthcare Technology Adoption in India11:16 - Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Healthcare21:07 - Building Sustainable & Profitable Healthcare Companies37:44 - Digitisation of Healthcare In India by Government43:26 - The Evolution of Indian Pharma Industry 51:04 - Challenges and Opportunities in Health Insurance55:22 - Growth of Medical Tourism in India1:00:02 - Innovations in Medical Devices and Equipment in India___________________________________*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/___________________________________Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShowwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/___________________________________Send us a text

On this episode of The Neon Show we have Laura Raggl, a distinguished partner at ROI Ventures. Based in Europe, ROI Ventures is renowned for its strategic investments in B2B SaaS companies globally.In this episode, Laura shares her extensive experience and insights into early stage investing. With a portfolio of 18 diverse investments, Laura discusses ROI Ventures' approach to angel investing, their investment criteria, and how they nurture long-term growth without initial revenue or traction requirements.We also explore the intricacies of the European startup ecosystem as Laura highlights the unique challenges and opportunities it presents, especially in contrast to other major markets.Whether you're an investor, a startup enthusiast, or someone curious about the venture capital world, this episode offers valuable lessons and insights into venture capital and angel investing.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:02 - The Journey  of ROI Ventures07:23 - What's Happening In The European Startup Ecosystem12:30 - Understanding B2B SaaS Dynamics in Europe25:12 - How Investing In Europe Differs From The World31:18 - The Growth of Indian Startup Ecosystem & Public Markets42:06 - Why Focus on B2B SaaS Investing46:58 - B2B Investing Vs B2C Investing51:55 - Family Office Dynamics & Venture Investing----------------------------------Sponsor Shout OutLooking 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

Hunter Somerville is a partner at StepStone, one of the largest fund investors globally with over $600 billion in capital responsibility and $100 billion in AUM.Hunter shares deep insights into the factors that make StepStone different, their extensive global coverage, and the strategies that drive their success.You'll also discover what it takes to succeed as an emerging manager, the importance of building long-term relationships, and how StepStone navigates the complexities of fund investing, direct investments, and secondary markets. Plus, Hunter provides a candid look at the challenges and opportunities in the venture capital landscape, particularly in emerging markets like India.Join us for an enlightening conversation filled with valuable lessons on venture capital, fund management, and the nuances of building a successful investment platform.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction02:15 - Hunter Somerville's background and history with Greenspring Associates05:40 - The evolution and strategy of StepStone09:20 - Differences between StepStone and other fund investors13:45 - Global coverage and geographic focus of StepStone17:10 - Insights on venture capital management20:50 - Strategies for emerging managers25:30 - Building long-term relationships in venture capital30:15 - Navigating fund investing, direct investments, and secondary markets35:40 - Challenges and opportunities in the venture capital landscape40:00 - StepStone's approach to investing in emerging markets, particularly India45:20 - Importance of relationship building and pattern recognition50:10 - Characteristics of successful fund managers55:30 - Advice for new fund managers1:00:00 - Closing remarks and final thoughts----------------------------------Sponsor Shout OutLooking 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

Listen to this episode to learn about:0:00 - Intro1:22 - The Life and Challenges of an IAS Officer3:34 - Distinguishing Roles: Finance Secretary vs. RBI Governor6:57 - Populism vs. Fiscal Responsibility: A Balancing Act15:01 - Rethinking IAS Recruitment: Criteria and Challenges17:38 - The Judicial Process: Why It Feels Like Punishment19:24 - Civil Servants and Their Respect Tied to Power21:47 - The Effectiveness of British Administrative Systems24:08 - IAS Officers and the Legacy of Colonial Policies26:08 - Exemplary Duty and Loyalty of District-Level Staff28:44 - Contrasting Worlds: Scarcity in India vs. Plenty in the US35:04 - Has the IAS Failed the Nation? An Introspective Look39:10 - Andhra Pradesh’s Growth: A Tribute to Visionary Leadership41:15 - Tribal Development and the Impact of Land Transfer Bills48:34 - Key Decisions and Reflections as RBI Governor-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShowwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sponsor Shout OutLooking 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

Listen to this episode to learn about:01:14 - Neon’s Journey From Podcasting to Investing11:00 - Important Factors When Building a VC firm20:34 - Exciting Portfolio companies: Atomic Work, SpotDraft, Gallabox & Infeedo25:30 - Working with Ambitious & Humble Founders 30:12 - Key Questions and Important Metrics For Founders & Investors36:08 - Key People who helped in Neon's journey39:22 - Changes in the investing world40:42 - What makes Neon the best place for founders?42:28 - Fun question: If not an investor, who would Siddhartha be?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShowwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sponsor Shout OutLooking 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 is in conversation with Arjun Sethi, co-founder of Tribe Capital, about Chamath Palihapitiya, FTX Failure, B2B Saas And how it is India’s Century!What Makes India An Exciting Prospect For Investments?Is Enterprise SaaS Crowded?Will US Companies Engage In M&A With Indian Companies?First Time Founders vs Second Time FoundersWatch this fascinatingly insightful conversation about where India’s SaaS ecosystem is headed and why venture capital in India will soon face a boom… 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/Send us a text

Delve into the intricate world of India's public policy with discussions on UPSC disillusionment, Mumbai mafia origins, and the role of government in everyday life. Explore state capacity, elite influence, unintended consequences, historical interventions, and economic policies impacting sectors like agriculture and electronics manufacturing. Unravel the complexities of India's public policy landscape, covering topics from cold wave management to liberal social science education.

This week is in conversation with A.K. Bhattacharya, the Editorial Director of the Business Standard, about India’s economic reforms of the 90s through a close-up view of the many disruptions that took place in that decade!Most Iconic Finance Minister Of India?How Can Government Incentivize Billionaires To Stay?Why Couldn’t India Match Singapore/China’s trajectory?Banking System Scam Of 1992 EXPLAINEDWatch this fascinatingly insightful conversation about the role that the finance ministry plays in India's economic growth and how they have shaped up the lives of crores of people in India… Tune in NOW!Sponsor Shout OutLooking 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 - Precap01:04 - Introducing A.K. Bhattacharya To The Neon Show!02:02 - The Role Of The Finance Ministry In India04:48 - Most Iconic Finance Minister Of India? 10:05 - Banking System Scam Of 1992 EXPLAINED16:48 - Why Demonetization In India Happened in 1978!24:29 - Balance Of Payments Crisis in The 80s!27:12 - Sanjay Gandhi’s Role In Indian Political History30:59 - Was The 1991 Finance Team The Best?33:24 - Why Couldn’t India Match Singapore/China’s trajectory?40:05 - The History Of Taxation In India42:51 - How Can Government Incentivize Billionaires To Stay?45:17 - The Role Of The RBI52:21 - Sanjay Gandhi’s Role In Maruti’s Inception!1:00:03 - P. Chidambaram & Pranab Mukherjee As Finance Ministers1:04:01 - Issues Of Duopoly In The Telecom Industry 1:10:15 - How Aspirations Have Changed India’s Rate Of GrowthSend us a text