In Season 1, Episode 2, we have the OG of OGs, Paula Mariwala, Founder, Stanford Angels and Aureolis Ventures chatting with Maya Chandrasekaran, Co-founder and Partner, Green Artha, Co-founder, Women In Investing Community speaking openly as only she can on her trajectory in the Indian VC landscape. Paula is a trailblazer in the VC ecosystem in India for sure! She speaks of her journey from studying Physics at Stanford and the need to commercialize deep tech ideas that led to her understanding of venture capital.

In this conversation, Paula speaks of the giant leap into venture with her mentor’s backing. Interestingly enough, she speaks of her lack of interest in numbers and business models, all while believing in the potential of technology and what it could do to a country like India. All this way back in 2005! 

More than anything else, Paula traces the highs and lows of the VC and startup ecosystem in India and talks in detail about the changes she’s witnessed and been a part of, all these years. Nostalgia abound with facts - very few have chronicled India’s startup growth with this lens.Also, don’t miss the story of the father-in-law walking up to Paula and asking her not to give his son-in-law any money! A very India story in every way.Listen in to Maya and Paula(link shared in the first comment) to learn more on her investing principles, her unwavering support to women founders and investors, alike. And lots, lots more in this goldmine of a conversation.

Paula plays the role of the chronicler here, and this context is immensely valuable for what we are trying to build here with her support at Women In Investing. A champion all through!