The Desi VC
Features Indian and South Asian venture capitalists sharing insights on investing and innovation.
E140: Sagar Kochhar (Co-Founder & CEO, Eatsure, Rebel Foods)
The post curates three recent podcast episodes that serve as masterclasses for entrepreneurs and investors: Material Security’s founders turned the 2016 election hack into a billion‑dollar email‑security startup by designing protection assuming breaches, Kevin Carter explains why India’s massive, young, digitally‑savvy population makes it the leading emerging‑market for public‑equity tech investments, and VC partner Arun Penmetsa shares the strategies behind seven exits in ten years, emphasizing founder‑fit, operator‑advisor involvement, and a focus on healthcare SaaS. Key takeaways include building security layers that work even after a breach, capitalizing on India’s rapid digital consumption, and leveraging deep domain expertise to identify and scale high‑growth startups. The author presents these conversations as actionable insights for anyone looking to launch or fund the next billion‑dollar venture.
E139: Karthik Prabhakar (Managing Partner, PeerCapital)
The post introduces "The Desi VC" podcast, hosted by immigrant founder Akash Bhat, which aims to bridge the Indian and US venture‑capital ecosystems by sharing stories of desi founders and investors. It highlights episode E139 featuring Karthik Prabhakar, Managing Partner at...
E138: Aditya Nambiar (Co-Founder, Fennel AI)
In episode E138 of The Desi VC, host Akash Bhat sits down with Aditya Nambiar, co‑founder of Fennel AI, to explore how the AI‑driven startup is navigating the US‑India venture landscape. Nambiar shares the origins of Fennel AI, the challenges of...
E137: Mayuresh Raut (Managing Partner, Seafund)
The post introduces "The Desi VC" podcast, which bridges the India‑US startup ecosystem, and spotlights episode E137 featuring Mayuresh Raut, Managing Partner at Seafund, who shares insights on cross‑border investing, cultural fluency, and how Seafund helps Indian founders tap US capital....
E136: Swati Bhargava (Co-Founder, CashKaro.com)
The post introduces episode E136 of "The Desi VC with Akash Bhat," featuring Swati Bhargava, co‑founder of CashKaro.com, and frames the podcast’s mission to bridge Indian and US startup ecosystems through immigrant perspectives. It highlights the show’s broader lineup, including episodes...
E135: Anish Achuthan (Co-Founder & CEO, Open Financial Technologies)
In this post, Akash Bhat introduces "The Desi VC" podcast—a platform that connects Indian and US startup ecosystems by featuring immigrant founders and investors sharing their journeys, challenges, and insights. The highlight is episode E135 with Anish Achuthan, co‑founder and CEO...
E134: Edul Patel (Co-Founder & CEO, Mudrex)
The post introduces "The Desi VC" podcast, which connects Indian and US startup ecosystems, and spotlights episode E134 featuring Edul Patel, co‑founder and CEO of Mudrex. It emphasizes Patel’s perspective on building a crypto‑trading platform, navigating regulatory challenges, and leveraging cross‑border...
E133: Navin Honagudi (Managing Partner, Elev8 Venture Partners)
In episode E133 of "The Desi VC," host Akash Bhat sits down with Navin Honagudi, Managing Partner at Elev8 Venture Partners, to explore how Indian‑origin investors are shaping the US startup ecosystem. Honagudi shares insights on navigating cross‑border deal flow, the...