I am excited to have Gaurav Gulati, founder of Innov8, which was acquired by OYO. Gaurav is a GP at Aroa Venture Partners, which he backs startups that deliver strong returns and meaningful impact.

In this conversation, Gaurav Gulati, founder of Aroha Venture Partners, shares his journey from the US to India, his experiences in building startups, and the founding of his mission-driven VC firm. He discusses the importance of a global perspective in venture capital, the challenges of supporting founders, and the evolving landscape of AI and pricing strategies in startups. Gaurav emphasises the significance of partnerships with founders and the need for resilience in the startup ecosystem, and much more.

Timestamps

00:00 The Journey Begins: From the US to India

02:46 Global Perspectives: Shaping Venture Capital in India

05:21 Building and Exiting Startups: Innovate and Purist

08:30 Aroha Venture Partners: The Birth of a New Fund

11:08 Understanding Aroha: The Meaning Behind the Name

13:46 Evaluating Early Stage Founders: Jockey vs. Horse

18:39 Multi-Sector, Multi-Stage Approach: Risks and Rewards

21:29 Supporting Founders: Beyond Capital

26:10 New Venture Programs: What We Look For

27:14 Navigating Startup Programs and Applications

28:25 Identifying Problems and Solutions in Startups

29:28 The Shift in Coding and MVP Development

31:41 The Evolution of Computer Science Education

34:25 The Future of Employment in Tech

36:50 Pricing Strategies for AI and SaaS Companies

39:45 Market Strategies for Indian Startups

42:18 Opportunities in AI and Infrastructure

45:17 Reflections on the Journey and Future Aspirations

Gaurav’s Links 

LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/gulatigr

Website – https://www.aroaventures.com/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/