Silicon Subcontinent

This clip is taken from Episode 2 of Silicon Subcontinent with Meeta Sengupta

This clip is taken from Episode 2 of Silicon Subcontinent with Meeta Sengupta

Meeta Sengupta is a prolific writer, speaker, and a pioneer in education policy. After a career in banking, she was inspired to work in education policy. In over two decades of experience with education policy in India, England and the US, she has found time to spur the creation of ISB and also write short stories for children. In this episode, we discuss the incentives in the Indian education system and how they shape the entrepreneurs of our country. We also chat about the spaces in education that she's excited about, including AI-enabled learning and biohacking, and how India's entrepreneurial future must be built atop progressive education policy.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro, and Meeta Sengputa’s journey from Banking to Education

13:40 - What Indian Edtech Startups get right and wrong, and how the Govt., VCs, and NGOs affect education in India

26:23 - Indian Govt. announcing that Math and Physics are not ‘essential’ for engineering entrance exams, and the talent arbitrage between India and Western Countries

36:18 - How education policy influences entrepreneurship in India, and whether India should promote risk taking and entrepreneurial skills in its curriculum

49:55 - Future Opportunities in EdTech, and the Moment Where Learning Happens

If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to [email protected]

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

If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to [email protected]