Deep Tech Musings

Before founding CynLr in 2019, Gokul began his career at National Instruments (NI) and worked as an SW Architect & Specialist in Vision, RF, and Embedded systems. He was responsible for designing algorithms serving customers across Europe, Taiwan, and India. After a consulting stint and successfully solving 70+ customer problems that were previously unsolved vision conundrums, Gokul & Nikhil started CynLr in 2019 to productize their Vision approach. At CynLr, Gokul along with Nikhil, is building the org to address technology & industry gaps in achieving the idea of Universal Factories. This requires foundationally rebuilding Vision from the understandings of neuroscience to custom building imaging systems involving 400+ unique parts, 200+ partners from across the globe and reinventing the industry framework to handle these operations, unique supply chain, internal tools, processes and talent. From a 2-member team CynLr has grown to a 50+ member team with a design center in Switzerland, Robotics lab in India & Sales office in US. CynLr is $5M funded and will be further growing into a 120+ member team. CynLr will be reaching a revenue of $18M in 2027. This is a goldmine of an episode for anyone interested in AI and in particular the computer & machine vision industry, its past present and future and its real life applications. Do not miss it! On this episode we discuss, Gokul’s personal journey and what motivated him & Nikhil to start CynLr Founding story of CynLr Vision as we know it: history of computer vision, drawing parallels with human vision, shortcoming in current vision applications What is the state of the art in machine vision now and what is CynLr doing to bridge the gap between machine vision and human vision CynLr’ Vision foundational stack and major technologies at play What does it mean to have machines that are intuitive about objects The ChatGPT moment for vision How would the vision industry evolving in the next 3-5 years? What's in the immediate future for CynLr? Links & References: Gokul N A- n-a-gokul (LinkedIn) Cynlr - cynlr.com, LinkedIn Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Vasan Churchill SC is an Investment Analyst at TDK Ventures, focusing on deep tech in industrial and advanced manufacturing sector. Prior to TDK Ventures, he co-founded a company in the field of robotic additive manufacturing software, where he led business development efforts, nurturing his passion for startups, business, and finance. Prior to his startup ventures, Vasan worked as a senior scientist at RISE, Sweden, which is equivalent to national labs in the USA. He led a variety of projects at the intersection of materials and manufacturing. Before RISE, he worked in GE Global research, India in wind and aviation domains. He has 2 patents granted in wind turbine blades. He has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware and 3 peer-reviewed publications. On this episode we discuss, Founding story of TDK Ventures and its investment thesis TDK Venture’s foray into India TDK Venture’s deep tech portfolio and the value it brings for startups What does TDK Venture looks for in a deep tech startup? Vasan’s personal journey and transition into the VC industry Key skills to be successful in the VC industry Future opportunities in Deep Tech domain Links & References: Vasan Churchill- vasanchurchillsc(LinkedIn) TDK Ventures - tdk-ventures.com, LinkedIn Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Varun Khare, CEO of NimbleEdge and a tech entrepreneur with a rich background in machine learning research, discusses the innovative approach behind NimbleEdge's on-device ML platform. He reveals the gap in the market that led to its creation and how it enables real-time personalization while preserving privacy. Varun shares insights on the success of Dream11, explaining how edge computing optimizes user experience during peak times. He also explores the future of generative AI at the edge, promising transformative potential for mobile applications.

Naveen Verma, Ph.D., is the Co-founder and CEO of EnCharge AI. At Encharge, he leads a team of engineering veterans from NVIDIA, Intel, Qualcomm, IBM, and AMD who are commercializing a revolutionary AI chip that solves the energy, scalability, and cost constraints of existing AI compute technologies. Naveen spent the last six years leading the cutting-edge research behind EnCharge AI’s core technology as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton University, where he has done pioneering research in a range of emerging technologies and systems since 2009, including with DARPA funding. His breakthrough, peer-reviewed discoveries in next-generation in-memory computing have been widely recognized and have led to demonstrated step-change increases in performance and efficiency that are the foundation of Encharge AI’s full-stack commercial AI chips. Links & References: Naveen Verma- naveen-verma (LinkedIn) Encharge - encharge.ai, LinkedIn Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter) On today’s episode we discuss, The Inspiring Journey of Encharge.ai: From Founding Story to Breakthrough Innovation The Problem Encharge is Solving: Why existing chips are not very efficient for handling extreme compute workloads Solving the Problem from First Principles Thinking: Encharge's breakthrough innovation combining analog+digital Major Technologies Comprising Encharge's Innovation How Encharge is Uniquely Positioned: The insight Can’t NVIDIA Build These Chips?

Arjun is the Founding Partner at Speciale Invest, a seed venture capital fund focused on deep science & tech startups in India, the USA, and Israel. He is passionate about working with exceptional entrepreneurs building emerging tech start-ups in the super early stage. His core expertise has been in product development/management, marketing strategy, org building, fundraising, and finance for over a decade. Prior to Speciale Invest, he spent over 15 years in the technology and Internet start-up ecosystem in India. He started his career with Yahoo! and later joined Ibibo as Product Manager. The entrepreneurial bug led him to start an Edutech startup and also a travel tech startup, Travelyaari. He has led tech and product teams, and strategy and fundraising at all phases of a start-up lifecycle. At Travelyaari, he built the company to achieve revenues of $40mn and raised $12mn in seed, Series A, and Series B funding. On today’s episode, we discuss The Founding Story of Speciale Invest & Why It's One of the Best Places for Deep Tech Startups Understanding VC Firm Structure Skills and Abilities to Transition into a VC Role The Role of Networking & Mentorship in Advancing Your Career in VC Future Trends in the VC Industry and the Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem For topic-wise episode summary & more, click here - ⁠bit.ly/dtm-as Links & References: Arjun Rao- arjunrao (LinkedIn), @raodyboy(Twitter) Speciale Invest - specialeinvest.com, LinkedIn, Twitter Eric Newcomers Substack on VC World - www.newcomer.co Ho Nam, Managing Director of Altos Ventures - Twitter, LinkedIn Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter) Show Notes: (0:26) Overview of Speciale Invest: Motivation and Investment Thesis (4:26) Speciale's Impact on Portfolio Startups: A Showcase of Growth and Credibility (8:35) Transition from a Product Person to a VC: Factors and Inspiration (17:03) Understanding the Structure of a VC Firm (20:46) Roles and Responsibilities within the VC Team (24:03) Key Skills from Product Background Useful in Role as a VC (27:18) The skill of decision-making in ambiguous situations (30:41) Acquiring and Developing New Skills During Role Transition (34:15) Developing Context Switching Skills: Training or Experience? (36:05) Are Financial Analysis and Valuation Skills Essential for Effective Planning? (37:23) Mentors and Role Models During a Transition: Reflection and Thoughts (39:43) Questioning the Existence of a "Right Mentor": Active & Passive Mentoring (42:58) Transitioning from Product to VC: Recommended Resources and Advice (44:39) Future Trends in the VC Industry for Individuals Looking to Transition (48:08) The Future of Indian Deep Tech: Predictions and Projections

Dr. Geetha Manjunath is the Founder, CEO, and CTO of NIRAMAI Health Analytix, and has led the company to develop a breakthrough AI solution for detecting early-stage breast cancer in a non-invasive radiation-free manner. Geetha holds a Ph.D. from IISc and management education from Kellogg’s Chicago. She comes with over 25 years of experience in IT innovation. She has proposed and led multiple AI projects at Xerox Research and Hewlett Packard India. Geetha has received many international and national recognition for her innovations and entrepreneurial work, including CSI Gold Medal, BIRAC WinER Award 2018, and is also on the Forbes List of Top 20 Self-Made Women 2020. She was declared the winner of Women Health Innovation Showcase Asia, Accenture Vahini Innovator of the Year Award from Economic Times, and Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 by BioSpectrum India. Geetha is also an inventor of 20 US patents and more pending grants. On today’s episode, we discuss, Unveiling the Genesis of Niramai: A Pioneering Journey Getting Early Adopters and Gauging Business Model Viability Mastering the Art of AI Product Development and Fostering Clinician Trust Navigating the Financial Challenges of Launching an AI Startup Going Beyond Borders: Internationalizing Your Startup The Horizon of AI in Healthcare: A Glimpse into the Future For topic-wise episode summary & more, click here - ⁠⁠bit.ly/dtm-gn⁠ Links & References: Dr. Geetha Manjunath - geetha-manjunath (LinkedIn), @geethamhp (Twitter) Niramai Health Analytix - niramai.com, LinkedIn, Twitter Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Manish Singhal is a technologist-turned-entrepreneur-turned-venture capitalist who aspires to help place India on the global DeepTech innovation map through his work at pi Ventures. With over 31 years of experience spanning diverse fields, including the development of cutting-edge technology products on a global scale, mentoring startups, investing in them, and establishing a deep tech venture fund, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Manish has played a pivotal role in advancing technology in India. He contributed significantly to the development of GPS systems for the Indian Army. Furthermore, he made substantial contributions to the MPEG 4 standard, authoring a chapter that played a crucial role in its commercialization, revolutionizing digital media and communication technologies. Actively engaged in India's startup ecosystem for the past several years, Manish founded pi Ventures in early 2016 with the vision of accelerating the growth of AI startups in India. Prior to that, he co-founded LetsVenture.com, rapidly transforming it into the premier marketplace for startups and early-stage investors in India. Preceding his involvement with LetsVenture, he served as the India country manager for Sling Media Inc, a Silicon Valley-based consumer electronics startup. During his tenure, he spearheaded the establishment of the R&D and product team in India from the ground up, ultimately achieving a successful acquisition. On today’s episode we discuss, The founding story of pi Ventures & its investment thesis How pi Ventures helps Deep Tech Startups grow Key criteria for investing in Deep Tech startups pi Ventures seminal Deep Tech themes report - Deep Tech Shift 2026 The experience of raising an INR 702 cr fund for Deep tech, remotely during the pandemic For episode summary & more, click here - ⁠bit.ly/dtm-mp Links & References: Manish Singhal - smanishsinghal (LinkedIn), @manish_saarthi (Twitter) pi Ventures - piventures.in, LinkedIn, Twitter Deep Tech Shift 2026 Report - Link pi Ventures DeepTech: Emerging Frontiers Mini Blogs - Link Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter) Show Notes: (00:31) Founding story of Pi Ventures. What was its motivation? (4:05) Investment Thesis and Focus Areas (5:29) Pi Ventures: A Catalyst for Growth in Deep Tech Startups (9:18) Key Criteria for Investing in Deep Tech Startups (11:09) Positioning of Indian Startups in Solving Global Problems (14:35) The Visibility of Deep Tech Startups and Media Attention in the Local Indian Perspective (16:22) Experience of Raising the INR 700cr Second Fund for Deep Tech Startups (19:22) Motivation behind the Deep Tech Shifts 2026 Report (20:45) Exploring the Themes and New Thesis in the Deep Tech Industry (25:59) The Future of Generative AI: Exploring Its Potential and Layers of Development (29:21) "Considerations for Taking a Deep Tech Startup to Success" (31:05) How can deep tech startups position themselves and acquire their first ten customers?

Rob May, CEO of BrandGuard.ai and experienced angel investor, dives into the evolving landscape of AI and user feedback. He shares insights on why traditional user feedback is becoming obsolete in an AI-driven world. Rob discusses the innovative use of synthetic users and achieving 'Agent-Market Fit' in customer acquisition. He also highlights the challenges for large language models and the diminishing long-term competitive advantages in the age of AI. His expertise paints a vivid picture of AI's impact on brands and startups.

Avnish is an innovator, strategist, and technology evangelist with 30 years of extensive experience and track record around market making, growth hacking, corporate innovation, digital transformation, and leadership development for Top 500 Fortune clients in both mature and emerging markets. In his current role as MD of Accenture Ventures, he is responsible for leading open innovation programs, building a deal pipeline for investments and acquisitions, academia partnerships, and originating deals in selected segments and accounts. For the episode transcript and topic-wise summary click here - bit.ly/dtm-aa On the show we discuss, (0:56) Jumping Career S-Curves: From Armed Forces to Corporate World (4:16) Accenture Ventures: Motivation and Role in the Indian Startup Ecosystem (5:50) Building a Zero-to-One Initiative: Not Just for Startups (6:35) Defining Deep Tech and Highlighting Portfolio Deep Tech Startups (9:48) The Role of Accenture Ventures in the Growth of Startups (13:18) Forming Effective Partnerships with Large Corporations: How can Deep Tech Startups Collaborate with Corporations? (17:54) Accelerating Startup Growth: Strategies for Deep Tech Startups (25:25) Key Criteria for Evaluating Startups for Partnerships or Investments: 2-inch wide and 20-inch deep (27:44) Approaches to Foster a Culture of Innovation in Startups (31:23) The Importance of Learning from Failures in Startups (33:05) Accenture Venture's Perspective on Generative AI (34:49) Initiatives by Accenture in Generative AI Links: Avnish Sabharwal- avnishsabharwal (LinkedIn) Accenture Ventures - Website Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Sonal is currently VP at 3one4 Capital, an early-stage VC which counts in its portfolio the likes of Licious, Jupiter, Darwinbox, and more! 3one4’s exponential growth has been driven by partnering with generational companies to transform market segments across the country. Sonal has built systems and processes at 3one4 Capital to achieve strong coverage without compromising founder or referrer experience, all while maintaining a lean investments team. In addition to managing routine investment workflows, Sonal looks at fintech, enterprise software, and deep-tech focus areas for the firm. He has been an integral part of the firm’s investments in several category-defining companies. For episode transcript, topic-wise summary, and more – bit.ly/dtm-s3 On the episode we discuss, (2:15) Investment Thesis at 3one4 Capital (4:05) Investment Focus and Startup Stage (5:05) Defining Deep Tech at 3one4 Capital (6:26) Deep Tech Startups in 3one4 Capital’s Portfolio (9:48) Role of 3one4 Capital in the Growth of Unique Startups (10:58) Key Considerations for Investing in Startups by Phases (14:22) Five Key Questions That An Investor Is Looking To Answer While Investing (16:19) Assessing the Right Team: How to Identify Potential Flags and Metrics (17:52) The Key Components of an Ideal Startup Pitch (19:28) Determining the Amount of Funding Startups Should Raise (21:38) 3one4 Capital's viewpoint and approach to Generative AI (26:08) The Importance of Problem-Solving and Faster Iteration in Product Development (28:19) The Value Unlocking Potential of GenAI Lies in the End Applications Links: Sonal Saldhana - sonalsaldanha (LinkedIn), @sonalsaldanha (Twitter) 3one4 Capital - Website Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)