Join Aman & Shryans in their conversation with Nikunj, a Berkeley graduate from India working as a quant at Bridgewater Associates. As an investment associate at the world’s largest hedge fund, Nikunj knows a thing or two about the financial markets and how they shape human behavior. In this episode, we discuss the millennial mindset in India, how Indian startups compare to their American counterparts, and what Indian businesses a future billionaire should start, among other things.

Timestamps: 

00:10 - Introduction

01:28 - Working remotely (and going on a cross country trip while at it)

03:20 - Are more companies likely to continue remote work after lockdowns are lifted?

05:08 - Life before Berkeley for Nikunj

07:41 - Deciding between Berkeley and an IIT after getting a good JEE rank

11:45 - If given the opportunity, should someone study in India or the US?

13:52 - Why the India's Education System is more 'rigid' compared to the American System

15:30 - Experience while double majoring at Berkeley, the path from Apple to Bridgewater, and the applications of an engineering mindset to various fields

21:10 - Did people at Bridgewater anticipate the GameStop incident?

23:15 - Comparing the startup scene in India and the US

26:56 - The consumer mindset in India, and the shift from the previous generation to this one

30:00 - Indian businesses implementing India-specific solutions

31:05 - The opportunity for a new generation to use new ideas for the Indian market

32:05 - More capital available for Indian businesses due to the US-China Trade War, and the Government easing regulations in response

35:28 - What are the biggest areas of opportunity for new businesses in India?

41:19 - Is there scope for a quantitative hedge fund in India, that trades the Indian markets?

52:13 - Outro

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