The Neon Show

In this episode, Sharath shares his journey of building two successful AI-driven enterprise solutions.

Sharath Keshava Narayana, founder of Sanas and Observe shares his market-product fit approach of winning enterprise clients in the US- Identifying large, underserved markets and solving their biggest problems. 

He also dives into fundraising stories, from getting into Y Combinator to attracting top VCs, leading to an $8 million seed round.

Sharath emphasizes why founders must be great sellers and how building the right team early on is crucial for scaling a business.

If you're looking to build a SaaS company, expand into the US market, or understand the power of AI-driven enterprise solutions, this episode is a must-watch!
________
00:00 - Trailer
01:50 – Early Entrepreneurial Days: From India to the US
07:10 – Building a US Clientele for an Indian Product
10:55 – Idea Stage of Observe.AI
15:20 – Raising the First Cheque
16:35 – Y Combinator: From Application to Selection
20:38 – Inbound from Top VC’s
24:53 – Meeting the Sanas Co-Founders
27:29 – Raising Funds Pre-Product & Pre-Revenue
30:10 – The Sanas Investment Thesis
34:03 – What Drove Success at Observe & Sanas
38:09 – Drawing Parallels in Building Two Companies
45:00 – Scaling Challenges: Hiring & Team Building
50:15 – Fundraising Lessons: Always Be Ready
54:17 – Market-Product Fit vs. Product-Market Fit
57:10 – Solving the Black Box of Call Centers
59:12 – Solving for Speech-to-Speech in Real Time
1:05:15 – Thoughts on The Neon Fund
1:07:03 – Bengaluru vs. Bay Area
1:11:10 – Founders Must Be Sellers
1:19:42 – Do Indian Founders Underprice?
1:23:13 – Final Thoughts: Likeability as a Founder
---
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
---
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
---
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

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Venture Capitalists on Venture Capital

In this episode we have Alok Goyal and Ritesh Banglani, Partners at Stellaris Venture Partners, one of India’s top VC firms. We go into details on running a VC firm in India. 

We discuss the ambition of Indian founders, what are the next B2B SaaS billion-dollar outcomes, market-first vs. founder-first investments, decision-making process at Stellaris and why DPI (Distributed to Paid-in Capital) is the ultimate measure of success.

If you’re curious about how top VCs invest, what makes a great fund, and what advantages Indian startups have in the AI race then this episode is for you. 

0:00 - Stellaris Venture Partners Introduction
0:50 - How Stellaris Measures Success
3:16 - Deal Sourcing in Venture Capital
5:40 - Coverage Ratio in Venture Capital
7:39 - Contrarian Bets: Mamaearth and Whatfix
9:34 - Independent Conviction in Venture Capital
12:03 - Trust in Venture Partnerships
15:12 - The War Stories Behind Stellaris’ First Fundraise
18:10 - Fundraising during COVID
22:30 - How Stellaris Raised Its Third Fund
26:31 - Stellaris’ Investment Strategy
30:08 - Founder-First Vs. Market-first Investments
36:32 - Strengths of Stellaris’ Four Partners
41:07 - Culture of Open Disagreement in Decision-Making
48:08 - The Ambition Levels of Indian Founders
50:08 - Next Billion-Dollar SaaS Companies From India
56:17 - How Venture Investing in India Has Changed
57:38 - Decision-Making in Stellaris vs. Other VC firms
1:07:43 - Global AI Trends and Stellaris’ Investment Thesis
1:11:31 - Opportunity For Indian AI Startups
1:16:17 - How Stellaris is Evolving with Time
1:17:24 - The Need for Bigger Outcomes in Fund Three

-------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------

Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

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Ganesh Krishnan is the man behind some of India’s most iconic startups, including BigBasket, Bluestone, Homelane, and TutorVista—India’s first ed-tech startup before ed-tech was even a category.

Ganesh explains how he thinks about business opportunities in India, why he keeps it simple, and why Indian entrepreneurs need to keep it simple. He shares candid stories—from raising BigBasket’s first $10M on a flight to successfully exiting an ed-tech company 15 years ago.

If you’re curious about India’s startup ecosystem and want to understand what works in India, this episode is for you!

Read Ganesh Krishnan's latest book: Mastering Disruption: A Practical Guide to Understanding New-Age Business Models

Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer 
01:37 - Introduction to K. Ganesh
02:05 - Ganesh's Entrepreneurial Journey
03:32 - The Growth Story Model
06:28 - Challenges and Successes in Fundraising
09:25 - Case Study: The BigBasket Story
22:12 - Business Models and Market Timing
33:51 - Opportunities in India's Broken Systems
41:44 - The Evolution of Business Models
42:15 - Valuation of Loss-Making Companies
42:51 - Network Effects and Demand Economies of Scale
43:51 - Platform Businesses vs Traditional Businesses
46:27 - Challenges in Platform and Marketplace Ventures
50:36 - Exploring SaaS and FinTech Opportunities
51:41 - Growth and Monetization Challenges
57:44 - Consumer Behavior and Microtransactions
01:06:08 - The Rise of Quick Commerce
01:09:21 - Vertical Software and Generative AI
01:15:43 - What’s Next for India’s Startups

Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the fascinating history of semiconductors, their evolution over the years, the rise of old giants and new disruptors, and explore why India has yet to produce a leader in one of the most important technological races of all time.

Raja Manickam, a serial entrepreneur in the semiconductor industry, shares from his decades of experience about the business and science of semiconductors and offers a glimpse into the future
 
Timestamps
0:00 - Trailer 
1:20 - Introduction
2:10 - History of Semiconductors
2:56 - Raja Manickam’s Journey in the Semiconductor Industry
7:02 - Evolution of Semiconductors Over Time
9:49 - Why Silicon Valley?
11:30 - NVIDIA: A Leader in Chips
14:55 - Competition in the Semiconductor Industry
17:31 - Building Microprocessors
23:08 - The Race for Top Talent
27:41 - NVIDIA’s Journey with CUDA and Artificial Intelligence
32:03 - NVIDIA’s Market Dominance
35:07 - How Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Became NVIDIA’s Key Customers
36:13 - IBM’s Transformation: Market Leader to Reinvention
37:48 - India’s Journey in Semiconductors and IT Services
43:22 - Why India Lacks Semiconductor Giants
48:00 - India’s ₹100,000 Crore Semiconductor Plan
57:28 - IVP: Outsourcing Chipmaking and Focusing on Design
1:01:22 - Cost of Starting a Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
1:05:38 - India’s Vision for Its Semiconductor Future

Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice

Send us Fan Mail

India’s leadership story is a fascinating journey full of lessons for anyone looking to make an impact.

In just two years, opening up the space economy has led to over 100 new startups in aerospace, sparking innovation and fueling the dreams of a new generation of changemakers.

And it doesn’t stop there—India is heavily investing in future-focused areas like green hydrogen, quantum computing, and the blue economy, showing a clear vision for industries that will define tomorrow.

Drawing from its rich heritage, India blends ancient wisdom with modern governance.

Texts like the Arthashastra guide policies that empower people and prioritize collective welfare.

Initiatives like Aadhaar and participatory governance models reflect these principles in action, bringing millions into the financial mainstream and fostering inclusive growth.

Experts believe India’s leadership also addresses the need for decolonization—not just in reclaiming cultural pride, but in rediscovering its intellectual confidence.

This leadership model, rooted in inclusivity, resilience, and innovation, is steering India into a brighter future. 

In this episode of The NEON Show, Dr R. Balasubramaniam, author, member of the Capacity Building Commission (Government of Bharat), and Chairperson of the Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee at SEBI, shares the essence of Indic leadership as explored in his book Power Within.

Time stamp

00:00 Intro
00:12 Dr. Balu’s contributions to rural service
00:41 Current roles: Capacity Building Commission member & Rhodes Professor
00:55 Overview of "Power Within"
01:13 Journey: From physician to policymaker
02:16 India’s traditional wisdom in governance
03:08 PM Modi’s leadership focus in Balu’s analysis
05:24 Modi’s ethos of service (Seva Bhaav)
08:09 Modi’s leadership during Morbi tragedy
10:06 RSS philosophy: Cultural nationalism & service
13:15 Overcoming colonial mindsets to restore pride
17:09 Participatory governance: Janbhagidari & Mission Karmayogi
23:57 Revamping civil services training
26:08 Influence of Ramakrishna Mission’s seva philosophy
28:01 Panch Pran: Vision for a self-reliant India
29:51 Chanakya Niti: Ancient leadership principles
34:38 Decisive actions: Doklam, surgical strikes, Pulwama
38:14 Challenges in implementing farm laws
45:51 Repeal of Article 370: J&K integration
50:05 India’s balanced foreign policy (Russia-Ukraine, Qatar)
52:03 Comparing Modi’s leadership to global icons

-----
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-----
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-----
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Send us Fan Mail

Harish Bhat, ex-Brand Custodian of the Tata Group, joins us to share unique moments from the extraordinary life of Ratan Tata. 

From creating India’s first indigenous car, Tata Indica, to his on-ground response during the 26/11 Taj Hotel attacks, to the Tata Finance crisis, to leading India’s fight against cancer, Ratan Tata led from the front.

Harish shares how he first met Ratan Tata and the personal note he received, highlighting Ratan Tata’s integrity, humility, and more-than-a-businessman philosophy.

Tune in to know more about one of India’s greatest icons.

Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer
02:20 – Introduction
02:39 – Reflecting on Jamshedji Tata’s Legacy
04:13 – Celebrating Ratan Tata’s Life
05:46 – First Meeting with Ratan Tata
08:26 – The Birth of Tata Indica
16:31 – Ratan Tata’s Dedication to Healthcare
19:23 – Handling the Tata Finance Crisis
25:19 – Ratan Tata’s Response to 26/11
29:05 – A Story of Grace and Dignity
31:33 – A Personal Note from Ratan Tata
33:20 – Defining Characteristics of Ratan Tata
34:03 – Influences and Inspirations
35:49 – Ratan Tata’s Vision for the Tata Group
37:53 – Fondness for Dogs and Bombay House
40:01 – Legacy and Transformation of the Tata Group
43:31 – Philanthropy and Nation Building
46:18 – Reflections on Ratan Tata’s Leadership
52:50 – Lessons and inspirations from Ratan Tata’s life

Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Send us Fan Mail

In 2010, Facebook opened its first office in India, four years after it went online.

They needed someone bold to lead their journey in India which had a major customer base potential.

That someone was Kirthiga Reddy.

Under Kirthiga’s leadership, Facebook not only grew its user base but also planted deep roots in a complex and rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.

Today, India has the most Facebook users with over 448 million, followed by the US (258 million).

After six years of phenomenal growth at Facebook, Kirthiga decided it was time for a new challenge.

In 2018, she became the first female partner at SoftBank Vision Fund, managing over $5 billion in investments.

Today, Kirthiga leads her own venture, Verix, focusing on trust, transparency, and community-driven solutions.

In this episode of the NEON Show, Kirthiga Reddy shares her inspiring journey. From a small-town upbringing in India to building Facebook in India, Kirthiga takes us through the challenges of scaling operations, transforming workplace culture, and driving growth. She also opens up about her transition to SoftBank. From leading the fund’s first investments in quantum computing and additive manufacturing, Kirthiga shares how she worked closely with founders to shape strategies and scale businesses.

Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer 
01:51 - Intro
02:09 - Kirthiga’s career from Facebook India to SoftBank
03:17 - Childhood in Nanded shaping values
04:46 - Early career programming for Let Us C
06:20 - Masters in the US and arranged marriage
08:33 - Syracuse University and joining its Board
09:30 - Silicon Graphics high-tech projects
12:20 - Stanford MBA and transition to business
17:58 - Startup role in product management
21:20 - Motorola acquisition and return to India
23:08 - Meeting Sheryl Sandberg
27:32 - Joining Facebook as its first Indian employee
28:50 - Facebook’s 100-100-100 strategy
30:40 - Building a Facebook culture
35:30 - Personally hiring Facebook India’s first 100 employees
36:45 - Success stories of early hires
37:50 - Leaving Facebook to balance family and career
45:20 - Joining SoftBank & managing $5B in investments
47:19 - Key investments in IonQ and 8fold.ai
52:38 - Transition from SoftBank to new ventures
56:14 - Founding Verix and Virtualness
57:00 - AI-first companies and tech vision
01:00:28 - India’s thriving tech ecosystem
01:03:51 - Vision for Verix, Virtualness, and social impact

Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-----
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-----
This show is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

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How a 1,500-Year-Old Game Became an Online Sensation

It started as a simple idea in 2005—a hub for chess enthusiasts to connect, chat, and share their love for the game.

Erik Allebest and Jay Severson, two college buddies with a shared passion for strategy, had just purchased the domain Chess.com for $55,000. 

Initially, it was a forum, but then the demand for online play began to soar.

In 2007, they launched the first subscription-based version of Chess.com. 
Within a few years, the platform began to gain members and marked its place as the go-to site for chess lovers.

In 2023, it hosted the first-ever Champions Chess Tour, offering a record-breaking $2 million prize pool.

Last year alone, 12.5 billion games were played on Chess.com—an astonishing 35 million games per day.

In this episode of the NEON Show, Erik Allebest, co-founder of Chess.com, discusses his journey from a chess enthusiast to creating the world's largest online chess platform. He talks about his entrepreneurial start, the hurdles in building a sustainable business, and key moments in Chess.com’s success, including lawsuits, early VC rejections, a $600 million valuation, and scaling during the pandemic.

Timestamp
00:00 - Introduction
02:06 - Family influence on Erik’s entrepreneurial mindset
05:00 - Falling in love with chess at 18 through books
07:25 - Selling an e-commerce business to fund chess.com
09:00 - Founding challenges and initial growth struggles
13:50 - Why conventional careers didn’t suit Erik
18:30 - Settling lawsuits, including the vodka-based case
21:50 - Persevering despite doubts about the chess market
22:55 - General Atlantic’s investment in chess.com
26:10 - Key insights learned from investor partnerships
29:56 - Shifting from entrepreneur to CEO
33:24 - Erik’s passion for creating products
37:18 - How media boosted chess’s popularity globally
44:23 - The downsides of rapid monetization
46:53 - Managing chess.com’s pandemic-driven growth
50:06 - Erik’s focus on sustainability and future growth
56:00 - India’s cultural impact on global chess
59:24 - Erik’s views on digital security risks
01:03:40 - Why employees stay for passion, not just pay
01:07:26 - Erik’s belief in chess’s continued global growth
01:09:00 - Embracing errors as learning opportunities
-----
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-----
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-----
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Send us Fan Mail

These farmers lost around $1.72B in a single morning.
It was all because of tit-for-tat import taxes.

But what really happened and who were these farmers?

It all started when Donald Trump walked into the White House in January 2017, promising to take on what he called “unfair trade” with China.

March 2018, Trump slapped $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, aiming straight at the heart of China’s industrial ambitions—its "Made in China 2025" strategy. 

This marked the start of the trade war.

April, 2018, Beijing hit where it hurt—Trump’s voter base.

It announced a 25% tariff on American soybeans, cars, and chemicals. 

And it wasn’t just any random pick. China was the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, importing 60% of all U.S. exports.

The markets reacted immediately and soybean prices went into free fall, erasing $1.72 billion in market value by morning.

Farmers who relied on China as their primary buyer suddenly found themselves staring at massive losses.

In this episode of The NEON Show, Matein Khalid, a seasoned financial advisor, shares his fascinating four-decade journey. Starting as a teenage trader in Dubai, he later advised corporate boards and family offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Matein talks about global trade, geopolitics, and economic strategies, providing insights on the US-China trade war, Trump's economic policies, and shifting global power dynamics.

Check out Matein's writings here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mateinkhalid/

Timestamps

00:00 – Trailer
01:17 – Introduction
02:38 – Matein’s early trading and wealth management
04:37 – Trump’s unpredictability in geopolitics
06:04 – Rise of China hawks in US policy
07:40 – India’s edge in US-China tensions
09:50 – Starlink vs. Indian telecoms
10:30 – US Steel and political influence
12:51 – China’s slowdown and unemployment
19:02 – US K-shaped recovery and inequality
21:46 – US debt crisis and risks
26:41 – Adani controversy’s geopolitical angle
31:17 – Possible end to Russia-Ukraine war
33:55 – Israel weakens Iran’s air defense
37:35 – Trump’s isolationist policies
41:02 – Trade and capital flows in forex
42:39 – South Korea’s political turmoil
48:04 – Syria’s proxy wars reignite
52:04 – Modi’s UAE visit boosts financial flows
54:34 – India’s entrepreneurial spirit
------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the NEON Show, Boris Wertz, a renowned venture capitalist and entrepreneur, shares his extensive journey through the tech and investment world over the past 25 years. From founding a company that was acquired by Amazon to becoming an investor and backing emerging fund managers globally, Boris offers a rich and unique perspective on the evolution of venture capital.

Timestamp
00:00 - Trailer 
01:40 - Introduction and background
03:17 - Journey as a venture capitalist
04:49 - Boris’s first investments in emerging managers
07:32 - Why is Boris so focused on the Indian market?
09:48 - Fund sizes and strategy
13:03 - VC returns and liquidity
16:06 - Boris’s key learnings from successes and failures
21:20 - Themes like AI, crypto, and climate tech
25:00 - India as the next frontier
28:50 - Challenges Indian entrepreneurs face
35:46 - Boris’s concept of minimum viable fund
39:10 - Cycles in venture capital
43:46 - A16z board partner program
48:45 - Evolution of venture capital mindsets

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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys. 

Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.

We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
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Check us out on:

Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww

Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
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This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

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