Chai & Chips Podcast

How does an economist view the complexities of the semiconductor supply chain? While engineers build the chips, it is economics, policy, and geopolitics that determine who leads the industry.

In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, a seasoned economist and Fellow - NITI Aayog. We move beyond the technical specs to discuss the macro-level levers India must pull to transition from a service provider to a global technology architect.

From the "snowball effect" of India’s electronics exports to lessons learned from Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, Dr. Badri provides a unique "30,000-foot view" of the ecosystem. We also dive into the symbiotic relationship between AI and chip manufacturing, the future of work, and why we need to move from "Zero-Sum" geopolitics to "Infinite Sum" geo-economics.

Topics Covered:

 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The Economist's View on Semiconductors
02:30 - India’s Tipping Point: From "Doing Nothing" to Exporting Billions
07:36 - Learning from Taiwan: The Power of Education and Industry Promotion
13:13 - The China & Vietnam Playbook: Supply Chains and Investment Incentives
19:17 - From Policy to Execution: The Need for R&D and State Coordination
22:15 - The AI-Semiconductor Symbiosis: How AI is Reshaping Chip Design
27:32 - The Future of Work: Navigating the AI Disruption in India’s Job Market
39:49 - Lightning Round: Economics, Innovation, and Skills for the Future
46:43 - Geo-Economics: Balancing Tariffs, Trade, and Global Alliances
59:37 - Vision 2047: India as a Global Technology Architect

Resources:
Find Badri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/badrinarayanang/
Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  
Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya
Find Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcast
Find Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411
All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

What does it take to walk away from the corner office at the peak of your career? In this episode of Chai & Chips, we sit down with Rahul Agarwal, the former CEO & MD of Lenovo India, who did just that to build his "second innings" in life.
Under Rahul's leadership, Lenovo India became the #1 brand in PCs and tablets worldwide. But his journey is about more than just corporate success. We dive deep into the philosophy and courage required to make a radical life change, the surprising joy he found in "being nobody," and the hard-earned lessons from his 25-year career.
Tune in for a candid conversation on:

The Mindset of the Indian Consumer: Why they "want it all" and what it takes to win in this unique market.

Real-World Leadership: The tough decisions that shaped his journey, including the jump from marketing to running a half-billion-dollar P&L.

Make in India: A pragmatic look at the challenges and opportunities of building a manufacturing ecosystem in India.

The Courage to Quit: The personal planning and mindset shift required to leave a high-profile corporate life behind.

This episode is a masterclass in business strategy, leadership and the art of the career pivot.
Resources:
Find Rahul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-agarwal-1973476/
Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  
Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya
Find Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcast
Find Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411
All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

Chapters:

02:45 - The Pivotal Decisions That Shaped a Leader
09:10 - Cracking the Code: The 5 Things the Indian Consumer Demands
13:55 - Leadership Philosophy: Building Culture & High-Performing Teams
22:46 - The Philosophy of Quitting: Finding Joy After the Corner Office
36:15 – Rapid Fire: Chai, Tech Predictions, and Life Advice
41:32 - "Make in India": A CEO's Unfiltered View on the Challenges
46:45 - The Roadmap for True Manufacturing Success in India
55:22 - The Mindset That Separates Good from Great Performers
58:24 - The Final Question – Vision of India

"Great companies exist because of great people."
It's a common saying, but what does it mean in the high-stakes, capital-intensive world of chips?

In the latest episode of the Chai & Chips podcast, I had the honour of speaking with Raja Manickam, a true legend of India's semiconductor industry and the founder of Tessolve and iVP Semi.

This isn't your typical success story. Raja offers a candid and deeply insightful look into the realities of building a deep-tech company in India. We discussed why he started his latest venture at 68, his unfiltered take on the ecosystem, and his powerful leadership philosophy that "you work for your people, they don't work for you."
Tune in to learn:
🔹 Why the "rest of the world" supply chain is India's game to win.
🔹 The critical difference between objective vs. emotional bonding in leadership.
🔹 His bold advice for Indian policymakers and large corporations on how to truly foster innovation.
🔹 Why he believes the semiconductor industry needs India more than India needs it.
This is a must-listen for anyone in tech, leadership, or policy-making who wants to understand the soul of building something that lasts.
Resources:
Find Raja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manickamworldt2/
Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  
Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya
Find Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcast
Find Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411
All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: The Legacy of a Semiconductor Pioneer
01:46 - The Personal Journey of a Serial Entrepreneur
04:51 - India's Grand Opportunity in a Fracturing World
16:35 - The People-First Leadership Philosophy
28:43 - Lightning Round with Raja Manikam
36:26 - The Next Wave of Innovation: Power, AI, and Local Solutions
48:42 - A Call to Action: The Role of Policy and the Private Sector
59:34 - Building the Foundation: Lessons on Talent & Ecosystem
1:03:08 - Concluding Vision: India's Inevitable Seat at the Global Table

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.

Key takeaways from our conversation:
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.
In this conversation, you will learn:
🔹 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.