Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Karthee Madasamy, the Managing Director of MFA Partners, to discuss his journey from chip designer to venture capitalist in the world of deep tech.

About the Episode:

This episode explores Karthee's transition from a technical background in semiconductors and wireless communication to a successful career in venture capital. He shares his experiences at Qualcomm Ventures, where he led investments in companies like Waze and MapMyIndia, and discusses his current focus on deep tech companies at MFA Partners. Karthee provides valuable insights into the evolution of venture capital, the challenges of raising a fund, and the exciting potential of technologies like AI, robotics, and quantum computing.

Karti dives into the nuances of investing in deep tech, sharing his investment thesis for MapMyIndia and highlighting the importance of understanding technology commoditization. He also discusses the incentive structures within corporate venture capital versus traditional VC firms, and offers advice for those considering a career in the field.

About the Guest and Host:

Karthee Madasamy: Managing Director of MFA Partners, previously Managing Director and Vice President at Qualcomm Ventures. 

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartheemfv/

Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor. 

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/

→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam

→ Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠

→ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:51 - Karthee's Journey into Venture Investing

02:46 - First Job in Venture Capital

04:52 - Early Deals and Learnings

07:34 - Identifying Technology Commoditization

09:56 - Investment Thesis for MapMyIndia

13:32 - Incentives in Corporate vs. Traditional VC

18:09 - Starting MFA Partners and Fundraising Challenges

23:37 - Lessons Learned from Fundraising

25:01 - The State of Deep Tech

32:42 - Investing in PsiQuantum and the Future of Quantum Computing

43:34 - Staying Updated and Influential Content

45:54 - Key Learnings about Investing

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