Rishi Israni

Establishing a deep-tech focused VC fund would greatly benefit entrepreneurs at the idea, seed, pre-Series A, and Series A stages. Moreover, startups also require grants, joint investment opportunities with deep-tech vendors (both public and private), mentorship, orders, timely payment of invoices, prompt approvals, and access to a global knowledge-sharing platform. These supports enable them to build upon existing foundations rather than starting from scratch. Indian entrepreneurs are currently emphasizing the development of consumer-centric products such as food brands and cosmetics, rather than investing to build deep-tech assets that could enhance production capabilities. We anticipate that this will change with the backing of all stakeholders. Startup India | Invest India | Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India | MeitY Startup Hub | SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd | SiriusOne Capital | Angel Scions | O2 VC Fund (fund under process)| o2 Angels Network https://lnkd.in/dtfBpWUF?

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Commoditization of AI models Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of watching Aravind Srinivas' (founder of Perplexity) interview with Aarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan . It's a great interview and I would recommend AI founders to watch it if possible. https://lnkd.in/gnM2NeS8 Couple of things that stuck me from the interview: 1. Aravind believes in the commoditization of AI models in the long run. His take his firms like Perplexity which focus on user problems and solve for it using relevant models will win. Perplexity does it quite well, do check them out if you haven't already. This is something that AI entrepreneurs should think about. Creating foundational models is freaking expensive! and for conservative capital allocators like us it is too risky a bet (not betting on AI is even riskier 😅, I guess we need to learn more) I am going to tag the platform Guru and distinguished IIMB alumnus Sangeet Paul Choudary for his take on this. 2. The initial employees (5-10) have to be truth seekers rather than social affirmers(?) It was great hearing him talk about the culture at Perplexity of seeking the truth through open conversations and arguments on Slack rather than provide positive affirmation. I think it's something that every founder should strive for. Truth will prevail in the longer run. This works in technology, finance, politics, society, anywhere. (Satyamev Jayate is true in itself!) But to be able to have an open conversation, the founders need to have depth themselves. This is something that I feel the Indian ecosystem lacks, as most of the founders seem to be managerial in nature. I find them shifting to jargons rather than simplicity when questioned deeper. (By the way this is a classic test to check whether someone really knows it, people who know what they are talking about will make it simpler, those who don't take the cover of jargons to increase complexity and portray intelligence) I understand my analysis could be biased due to self-selection, and I would love to be proven wrong. It's pretty cool that Aravind chose Larry Page as his favourite entrepreneur due to their common background of coming from academic research to entrepreneurship. What I definitely don't agree with Aravind on The idea that luck doesn't play a role in outcomes. Successful people generally attribute success to their hard work/smartness / enterprise without understanding their privilege. For e.g. A smarter/more hardworking/more enterprising Dalit girl from Bihar will never have the kind of opportunities that I had as a Tam Bram born in a lower-middle class but very well educated family in Chennai. One has tried to solve for it using our Sakhi Scholars programme, which supports gifted girls from underprivileged communities to achieve their dream through financial support. On a lighter note, Aravind is a 2017 IIT-M alum and has already built a $8 billion company, what the hell am I doing with my life? 🤔

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Indian startups struggle to invest in research and development (R&D) due to various challenges. Lack of funding, infrastructure, and short-sighted VC hinder R&D investments. Indian startups focus on scaling existing solutions rather than innovating new ones. The Indian startup ecosystem prioritizes short-term gains over long-term R&D investments. Government initiatives, corporate partnerships, change in VC mindset and tax incentives can encourage R&D investments in Indian startups.

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Digital integration is a major force in India’s medtech sector, driving advancements in medical devices, diagnostics, and patient care. According to the EY Parthenon report, digital integration is associated with over 70% of the innovations being developed by medtech startups across the country. Indian startups are using artificial intelligence, IoT, and cloud computing to democratise healthcare with portable devices, remote monitoring, and screening tools. Valued at US$12 billion in 2023, the medtech sector in India is projected to reach US$50 billion by 2030, with an estimated CAGR of 20.1% from 2020 to 2030. With digital integration becoming essential for improving patient outcomes and streamlining healthcare operations, IAN Group (formerly Indian Angel Network) actively supports medtech startups through funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. With continued support, these startups are likely to drive the next wave of healthcare advancements, making quality healthcare accessible to all. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g49WXxGT #DigitalHealth #MedTechInnovation #HealthTech #Startups #FutureOfHealthcare

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Some themes that I'm keen on looking into, hit me up if you're building in this space: - Manufacturing Efficiency Software (MES): I'm very bullish on trends in this space, with manufacturing being a key driver in the #india growth story over the next decade. Our 2023 exports were pegged at $447 billion, with exports projected to grow at ~7% CAGR. To support this, improving the efficiency of the manufacturing industry, focusing on niche verticals (Steel, Chemicals, Electronics, Textiles) will become a key area of growth. - AI ( 😂 ): Yes, this will end up making most VCs lists. That being said, I'm keen on folks building around proprietary data sets, moving towards conclusions, especially with a merger of hardware. Good examples would be Biofourmis and SixSense (which is a mix between MES and AI). Use cases across agriculture and maintenance of infra are also on my radar. - Vertical Marketplaces: I love B2B marketplaces, it's a space I feel has endless potential to grow. I'm keen on niche focused marketplaces driven by industry expertise, this is a sector that requires a deep and detailed understanding of dynamics to be able to win. - SaaS ( 🙄 ): Can't help it, the ability and efficiency that SaaS businesses can scale at makes them mouthwatering to VCs. That being said, it's definitely still a build-in-India, sell-global model that interests me. - India 2.0: With the changes in trends across India, there's an opportunity to build unique India focused models. Fresh Bus is a great example of this, as is Aliste Technologies . Each business is building with a unique lens on India, Fresh Bus creating higher quality dependable EV bus routes between cities with a focus on customer experience, Aliste creating subscripton-based smart home automation, with devices designed to withstand the Indian condition (power cuts, fluctuations in current etc) ❗❗As always, I'm open to chat and help everyone, however if you want to connect while actively raising then please mention that. "Hi let's exchange views" followed by an intense funding pitch is a BIG no no with me. #startups #venturecapital #founders

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Here is a QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN HAUNTING ME FOR LONG. Please share your thoughts in the comments. My sojourn into full-time teaching (along with my work!) started in 2009 when one of the Professors, Dr K Chandrasekaran (a rare academic with a mind for product design!), requested I take a course on CREATIVE DESIGN and later got extended to EMBEDDED SYSTEMS and ELECTRONIC PACKAGING (this course encouraged me to write a book on the same topic. I was taking these courses for about five years before my job made me shift to Vizag. However, I have been teaching various forms focusing on basic System Design, Engineering, electronic manufacturing and EVs (last 5 years). During this duration, I saw many types of courses, starting from a textbook-based manufacturing course to ML/AI. But what surprised me was most of these courses were a collection of topics and applicability in practice is a big issue. I have been searching for a course "how to design hardware for an ML engine in practice. My search often led to a dead end. Most of these courses are theoretical and don't deal with "how and why". Mostly dealing with "What" only. None of these so-called courses ever teach you the basics so that application becomes easy. Are you facing a similar situation? Let me know in the comments. This problem is acute in IoT & Connected Vehicles.

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🌟 India’s Incredible Contributions to AI in the U.S. 🌟 Did you know that Indian innovators are leading the charge in building some of the largest AI-focused billion-dollar companies in the U.S.? 🇮🇳✨ Here are some remarkable achievements: 🔸 HighRadius – Valued at $3.10 Billion 🔸 Uniphore – Valued at $2.5 Billion 🔸 Eightfold.ai – Valued at $2.2 Billion 🔸 Moveworks – Valued at $2 Billion 🔸 H2O.ai – Valued at $1.5 Billion 🔸 Cambridge Mobile Telematics – Valued at $1.5 Billion 🔸 SparkCognition – Valued at $1.4 Billion 🔸 SeekOut – Valued at $1.2 Billion These companies are transforming industries with cutting-edge AI technologies, thanks to Indian founders and co-founders. India’s talent continues to redefine global innovation in technology and artificial intelligence. 🚀 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #India #Innovation #TechLeadership #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Technology #GlobalImpact #IndianTech

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Rebalance is India's first angel community that's 51% women with 27 investments across fintech, biotech, consumer, drones, Gen AI, deeptech healthcare, climate, energy, edtech and more. 🔥 Aishwarya is hosting a limited-seating, candid chat for women who invest in startups (would like to invest with Rebalance) and for women who want to learn about startup investing. No question is too trivial or small, this is a safe space to ask anything about startup investing! When: 26 May 2024 [Sunday] Where: Somewhere in Delhi ☕ Timings: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm 2 days to go!! RSVP here: https://shorturl.at/EoYLN If you're already an investor or not based in Delhi/Gurgaon - you can directly sign up here to be part of the investing community: https://lnkd.in/g7taCdkc

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We sent out three robots yesterday to Blr, Erode, and Rajkot, with an AOV of around 60k+ per order. We are competing with a massive Chinese factory—check out their scale in the video attached to this post. We have no funding or grants of any nature, are completely bootstrapped, and I have no formal engineering background—I studied commerce! Many do not understand how complex it is to build a machine with three BLDC motors, three servo motors, one stepper, and various sensors, all working seamlessly with custom firmware, a mobile app, and a backend server—all of which I personally wrote, with help from brilliant interns who assisted me with mechanical and electronics work. Add to that the moving parts and mechanical complexities of accurately sending the ball out, processing input from sensors, and ensuring precise control—all this while working from a 10x15 room at the top of my house. We might be one of the few Indian companies that can say we're truly competing with a Chinese giant, and we're doing it with cutting-edge technology. Let's see how it goes. #Robotics #Innovation #India

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When you find a practical use of AI in an area that has strong tailwinds in the India growth story, you know this is a venture that has a high potential not just for value creation but for job creation in the country. Delighted to back TraqCheck founders Jaibir Nihal Singh, Armaan Mehta and @rishabh jain as they make it easier for over 200 corporations to embrace the new way of work. Traqcheck's Ai-enabled background checks of employees is way, way faster and far more reliable than traditional methods of background verification. Pankaj Bansal (पंकज बंसल)Karann Mittal Danish Dogra Aman Khan Yukta Kelkar Atreyi Dass

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Indian Government’s support for Future AI and democratization of AI will be a game changer. For instance, availability of GPUs at cheaper rates will enable high growth. The ministry aims to secure over 10,000 Graphic Processing Units, the chips that power most AI technology, to increase the country’s computing capacity; provide finance for local startups; increase access to high-quality datasets; expand access to AI educational opportunities for Indians; and develop its own state-of-the-art AI models. Our focus at Randev Ventures (Family Office) remains focused on backing the next gen of Indian entrepreneurs. We continue to fund companies in #Deeptech, #Biotech, #Cleantech. Portfolio: www.randevventures.com #IndiaAi #NextGen #India #Bharat #AI #GPU #RnD INDIAai MeitY Startup Hub Government of India Digital India Programme Ashwini Vaishnaw Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology STPI - Software Technology Parks of India Invest India Department of Science and Technology Atal Innovation Mission Official https://lnkd.in/drEzwYXs

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As someone who hires and works regularly with designers of all sorts (industrial & product, UI/UX, graphics, experiential/environmental) at ION Mobility, this demo shows how human creativity is going forth from here towards next Cambrian explosion. I’m forever thankful to my background in EE/CS with a specialization in digital signal processing for helping me to understand more deeply the value creation that is possible from faster compute, optimised algorithms, data processing, etc, that permits machine/deep learning, natural language processing, transfer learning, large-scale compute, etc, to give us our current forms of Artificial Intelligence. In essence, they have built a tool that “looks ahead” and proposes an interpolation of vector 2D into spatial 3D models. I’m curious how deep/dense details-wise the models can get to right now, given the vector basis. https://lnkd.in/gfBNqHjA Now, imagine the 2D->3D interpolation, shift into time-series domain of 3D->4D. What new forms of “sorcery” or “magick” can we enable with data types beyond training data drawn from text, photos, audio and videos? (link credits to my high school nerds group on WhatsApp; you know who you are 😉

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Humble vs. Arrogant CEOs : A Tale of Two Leadership Styles Recent #public interactions by two notable tech #CEOs bring out the stark contrast between #humble&arrogant approaches to leadership. Aravind Srinivas CEO of Perplexity AI, faced tough questions at TechCrunch #Disrupt with calm #professionalism. Rather than deflecting, he focused on articulating Perplexity’s mission and vision, #emphasizing transparency and ethical practices. He openly acknowledged areas for #improvement, responding with humility and respect even under intense scrutiny. This approach reinforced his dedication to customer trust and constructive dialogue, a hallmark of effective leadership. In contrast, Bhavish Aggarwal CEO of Ola recently responded to #criticism on social media with #aggression, making #personal attacks against a critic and dismissing valid #customer concerns. His #resistance to feedback and escalation of the #conflict drew attention not to his #leadership but to his #unwillingness to address issues thoughtfully. Such an approach can shift focus from growth and improvement to defensiveness and division, potentially #undermining trust. The contrast couldn’t be clearer. #Great #CEOs #listen to #feedback, especially when it’s challenging, and they respond with a focus on product improvement and #customer #satisfaction. By #admitting mistakes and #recognizing areas for growth, they lead with humility and set a powerful example under pressure. In the end, #humility is not about weakness; it’s about recognizing that no leader is perfect, and #growth often comes from difficult conversations. Which leadership style do you believe is more #effective for long-term success? How can leaders #cultivate humility while still driving results? #Leadership #CEOAdvice #HumbleLeadership #GrowthMindset

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Had a fascinating discussion with Vinod Khosla, the visionary founder of Sun Microsystems and Khosla Ventures. His insights on entrepreneurship and innovation were truly inspiring. Grateful for the opportunity to learn from a true pioneer in both tech and healthcare industries. Having closely followed Vinod's insights, I've distilled his top 10 timeless pieces of advice for entrepreneurs: 1. Embrace Failure: He advises entrepreneurs to see failure not as the end, but as a stepping stone to success. Learning from mistakes is crucial for growth. 2. Think Big: Vinod encourages entrepreneurs to think beyond the status quo and aim for ambitious goals. Bold visions drive innovation and transformation. 3. Focus on Impact: He emphasizes the importance of creating products and solutions that have a meaningful impact on people's lives and society as a whole. 4. Iterate Rapidly: Vinod advocates for a culture of rapid iteration and experimentation. Iterate quickly, learn fast, and adapt to changing market dynamics. 5. Stay Resilient: Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster ride, and Khosla stresses the need for resilience. Persevere through challenges and setbacks to ultimately achieve success. 6. Surround Yourself with Great Talent: Building a strong team is paramount. Khosla advises entrepreneurs to surround themselves with talented individuals who complement their skills and share their passion. 7. Stay Customer-Centric: Always keep the customer at the forefront of decision-making. Understanding their needs and pain points is essential for creating valuable solutions. 8. Embrace Disruption: He encourages entrepreneurs to disrupt existing industries and challenge conventional wisdom. Disruption creates opportunities for innovation and growth. 9. Be Adaptable: In today's fast-paced world, adaptability is key. Vinod advises entrepreneurs to remain agile and flexible in response to market changes and emerging trends. 10. Never Stop Learning: Continuous learning is essential for staying ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape. Vinod encourages entrepreneurs to be curious, seek knowledge, and never stop growing. Thank you Vinod for sharing your wisdom! #VinodKhosla Vinod Khosla #TechInnovation #technology #healthcare #VC #investment #MachineLearning #deeplearning #Entrepreneurship American Association for Precision Medicine (AAPM) #aapmhealth #aapm_health #artificialintellience #ai #news

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Gukesh created history yesterday by becoming the youngest World Chess champion It perhaps marks the culmination of a chess journey and meteoric rise that started just over a decade ago when a young Gukesh saw his Idol and later, mentor Vishy Anand lose the very title he won today A few years later one of his videos where he said he wants to be the youngest World Chess Champion became viral And he scaled some amazing peaks while getting here Youngest 2750 3rd youngest GM Olympiad 🥇 Asian Youth Championship 🥇 World Youth Championship 🥇 Candidates 🥇 And now this Don’t follow Chess ardently but his post match interview struck a chord and reminded me of an equally beautiful articulation of a topic that’s now close to me: Dreaming in Decades Life actually is quite long in the grand scheme of things, we just don't use our time wisely. When we dream, we often dream in years and forget about the decades. A year feels short yet a decade is a profound a period of time. You can do a lot in a decade. We overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in a decade. Dream in decades. A year away can be forecasted, but a decade can't. You can do anything you want in a decade if you work towards it. So expand your horizons and think where you want to be in ten years. The possibilities are endless, then take the actions needed today to get one tiny step closer. When you dream that far in the future, your ambition can grow in orders of magnitude. You don't constrain yourself, because literally anything is possible in that time frame. We don't zoom out enough. We are often laser-focused on what is in front of us and don't take the time to look at things from broader perspective. So, take time to think that far in the future. What person do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? It's exhilarating to reflect upon. You can master skills, leave your mark on the world, and totally uproot your life. It's thrilling. Forget about the short term. Set yourself up for the long term. Imagine the possibilities and always keep them in mind. Today may feel like slog or you may not have done what you wanted so far this year. Incrementally improve. Zoom out. You can do anything as long as you keep the decades in mind. Keep dreaming. Note to #Self and the good people @ Sanlayan #FeelGoodFriday #FridayReads #TGIF

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Yeshwanth Pulijala’s journey from dentist in a coastal suburb of Karnataka, India, to founder and CEO of a healthtech startup in London, has many waypoints. I am guessing that it was his time at The Glasgow School of Art (he’s an artist too) that spurred Pulijala’s interest in medical imaging and visualisation, leading to his short-lived venture with VR specialist Edward Miller (now a product manager at Meta’s Reality Labs) developing surgical simulation tools for medical students and trainees to practice fundamental skills for Laparoscopic surgery. Pulijala’s current venture, Scalpel, founded in 2017 with computer vision researcher Shahnawaz Ahmed (CTO), melds together medical imaging with digital twinning to identify and track surgical instruments. The idea is that Scalpel generates digital twins for surgical instruments and tracks them through the supply chain, from vendor to operating theatre. Surgeons scan the instrument tray in the operating theatre to check they have the right tools for the job – and that they are all present and correct after sewing up the patient. I have no idea how far Pulijala and Ahmed have got with this over the past seven years, as there’s no pics of imaging kit or any product detail on the Scalpel website. Maybe that will change now that Mercia Ventures have led a £3.8m funding round for Scalpel, with participation from Tensor Ventures and private investors. The idea is worthy. I just have the sense – perhaps unwarranted – that grand ambition and noble intent may fall foul of the practicalities of development and delivery.

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India is on the brink of a SpaceTech revolution, driven by innovation, ambition, and an unwavering spirit of exploration. Here’s a look at the most promising trends and pioneering Indian startups leading the charge into the cosmos. 1. Advanced Earth Observation Technologies 🛰️ Pixxel and SatSure are transforming how we monitor and manage our planet. Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging captures data beyond the visible spectrum, aiding in precise agricultural monitoring and environmental conservation. The global Earth observation satellite market is projected to reach $10.5 billion by 2026. 2. Space-Based IoT Networks 📡 Skylo Technologies and Astrome are connecting remote regions through satellite-based IoT networks. This technology enhances logistics, agriculture, and asset tracking, crucial for creating smart cities and connected vehicles. The satellite IoT market is expected to grow from $1.1 billion in 2020 to $5.2 billion by 2027. 3. Reusable and Affordable Launch Systems 🚀 Skyroot Aerospace and AgniKul Cosmos are developing reusable launch vehicles, significantly reducing the cost of space access. The reusable rocket market is expected to reach $3.3 billion by 2025. These advancements make frequent and affordable launches feasible, accelerating space exploration and commercialization. 4. Space Manufacturing and Resource Utilization 🌑 TeamIndus - Axiom Research Labs and Bellatrix Aerospace are pioneering lunar exploration and resource utilization. The space mining market is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2025. These startups focus on mining and constructing habitats using local materials, marking the beginning of a new industrial revolution in space. 5. Quantum Communications and Cryptography 🔒 QNu Labs is leading the charge in quantum cryptography, ensuring ultra-secure data transmission. Rising concerns over data security and the need for secure communication channels make these technologies crucial for national security and financial transactions. 6. Space Debris Management and Sustainable Practices 🌍 Digantara is addressing the critical issue of space debris. With the number of satellite launches increasing, managing space debris is essential for safe operations. The space debris management market is expected to grow from $610 million in 2020 to $2.5 billion by 2030, ensuring a cleaner and safer space environment. The next decade holds immense potential for Indian SpaceTech. By supporting these pioneering startups, we can shape a brighter, more connected, and sustainable future. Let’s embrace this journey with pride and optimism, knowing that the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.

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Excited to Share My Interview In this conversation, I was asked about why we started BigEndian now and how we see the future of Indian semicon industry. #Bigendiansemi #SemiconIndia #DLI #madeinindia #vertexventures

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Another notable thing from the new Budget: Space sector gets 1000 cr ($120M) VC Fund allocation. This is a very important signal, even though the numbers are small in the context of capital requirement by the sector. I am a big believer of India owning the space sector worldwide over time in a manner similar to how we have owned the Technology services market. The talent pool and infrastructure (thanks to ISRO), emerging technologies around miniaturization, and evolving supply chain makes it one of the few spaces where India has a ‘right to win’. Strongly recommend more Entrepreneurs to participate in this area. Given the high capital requirements in the initial days (before monetization), it is a hard place for VCs to play but we will see innovation in capital structure over time (the Government allocation being one such evolution). And I am not only saying this, I actually brought a company to our Investment Committee (where I am also a member) making a case for Investment. We continue to look at the space and hope to cross the line sometime. https://lnkd.in/gzB9UUb8

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