What’s the most "foolishly brave" gamble you've ever taken in your career?

For Parag Naik, a serial entrepreneur and holder of 50 international patents, it was betting nearly 75% of his family's life savings to keep his semiconductor startup, Saankhya Labs(https://www.tejasnetworks.com/), afloat during a tough period.

That single moment of conviction is just one of the powerful stories he shared on the latest Chai & Chips episode. This conversation goes far beyond the technicalities of chip design; it's a deep dive into the heart and mind of a serial entrepreneur who has seen it all.

We discussed:

🔹 The Anatomy of Risk: The thin line between a brave bet and a foolish gamble when building something truly new in a capital-intensive industry.

🔹 Nurturing Mavericks: Why true innovation requires leaders who can create a space for brilliant, unconventional minds to thrive without being constrained by corporate structures.

🔹 The Spiritual Journey of a Founder: How the pressures of entrepreneurship force you to discover facets of your own personality—both the good and the bad—that you never knew existed.

🔹 India's Real Opportunity: Parag’s sharp analysis on why design and OEMs, not just manufacturing, hold the key to India’s long-term success in the global semiconductor landscape.

This isn't just a tech talk; it's a profound lesson in conviction, resilience, and the human side of building a legacy. A must-listen for anyone who has ever dared to build something from scratch.

Resources:

Find Parag on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parag-naik-38a5944/

Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/   

Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya

What is the real strategy for India to win in the global semiconductor industry? 

It's not just about money; it's about mindset, market knowledge, and mastering the 'boring' details.

In the latest episode of Chai & Chips, I had the privilege of sitting down with GS Madhusudan, Co-founder & CEO of InCore Semiconductors (https://incoresemi.com/) – India’s first processor IP company. Madhu is one of the pioneers behind the Shakti RISC-V processor project.

This isn't just another high-level discussion. Madhu breaks down a complex national ambition into an actionable game plan.

The 5 Verticals: Why we must stop treating semiconductors as one industry and start creating specific, measurable goals for Design, Product, Packaging, Foundry, and Equipment.

The 25/25 Formula: A bold and brilliant vision for India's immediate future - Capturing 25% of the world's sub-$25 chip market. This is where the real volume is.

Redefining Atmanirbharata (self-reliance): Madhu’s most powerful insight – "Atmanirbharata is not just doing stuff locally; it's believing in yourself." He argues that the cultural shift is as important as the capital investment.

Focus on the Foundation: Why success lies in mature nodes, building a robust supply chain, and fostering deep market empathy before chasing the bleeding edge.

This episode is essential listening for founders, policymakers, engineers, and investors in the #DeepTech and #MakeInIndia ecosystems.

Resources:

Find Madhu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsmadhusudan/

Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/

Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya

Is India on the verge of becoming a global Deep Tech powerhouse? 

What will it take to get there?

In our latest Chai and Chips episode, I sit down with Manish Singhal, Founding Partner of pi Ventures(https://www.piventures.in/), one of India's pioneering Deep Tech VCs, to unpack this very question. His journey from a hands-on engineer to a leading investor provides a uniquely grounded perspective on the ecosystem.

We covered critical ground for any founder, investor, or technologist in this space, including:

🔹 The Evolution Curve: How Deep Tech in India has matured from a misunderstood concept to a mainstream focus.

🔹 The Real Engine of Innovation: Why startups, not large corporates, are currently driving India's most significant technological advancements.

🔹 The Founder's Duality: Manish’s core advice for entrepreneurs—balancing a deep love for your technology with the pragmatic ability to build a compelling business narrative.

🔹 Simplifying for Scale: The single most important thing India needs to do to accelerate its journey—cutting through the "red tape" to foster grassroots innovation.

His vision for India's place on the global map is both pragmatic and incredibly optimistic. This is a must-listen for anyone building or investing in the future of technology in India.

Resources:

Find Manish on LinkedIn: Manish Singhal | LinkedIn

Find Manish on X:  Manish Singhal (@manish_saarthi) / X

Find Prakash on LinkedIn: Prakash Mallya | LinkedIn

Find Prakash on X: Prakash Mallya (@PrakashMallya) / X

How does a top executive who helped build India's semiconductor industry pivot to fight one of the world's biggest health crises?

On the new Chai and Chips episode, I sit down with Dr. Anand Anandkumar, Cofounder & CEO of Bugworks. He shares his extraordinary journey from designing complex microchips to inventing new drugs against untreatable "superbugs"—a silent pandemic the WHO calls a top global threat.

This isn't just a story about technology; it's a masterclass in purpose, resilience, and building what truly matters.

🔹 The deeply personal story of survival that fuelled his mission to make his life "count."

🔹 Why the world hasn't had a new class of antibiotics in over 60 years and the broken economics behind it.

🔹 How AI is revolutionizing drug discovery, turning traditional biotech into cutting-edge "Tech Bio."

🔹 His powerful vision for India to become a global leader by solving its own problems with affordable, deep-science innovation.

If you want to understand the future of science in India and be inspired by a leader who defines what it means to innovate for humanity, this episode is for you.

For decades, India has been a powerhouse of engineering talent. But the next chapter isn't just about supplying talent—it's about becoming a global hub of innovation that solves critical challenges for the world.

How do we make that leap?

In this conversation, Rose Schooler draws from her rewarding career at Intel and her current role on the board of Arm to lay out a powerful roadmap.

She offers a rare, unfiltered perspective on:

🔹 The Global Leadership Void: How India, as the world's largest democracy, can step up and lead on everything from AI governance to digital trust.

🔹 The Non-Negotiables: The foundational pillars India absolutely must get right to build a thriving semiconductor ecosystem capable of global impact.

🔹 Making Engineering Cool Again: Why inspiring the next generation requires a new narrative—one focused on solving problems in healthcare, climate, and beyond.

This isn't just a conversation about chips; it's about shifting a nation's mindset from fulfilling demand to creating the future. 

Dr. Sridhar Mitta, Wipro’s first R&D hire and longtime CTO, shares the inside story of transforming Wipro into a global innovation powerhouse. We dive into the early days of Wipro, developing defence-grade tech, and how to build a deep‑tech company that matters. 

Tune in for sharp entrepreneurial insights, the pillars of a thriving ecosystem, and a visionary’s take on what it takes to lead in global tech.

Join us to learn from one of India’s most influential builders in semiconductor and R&D history.