This week’s episode is about India’s Gold Obsession, Pitching to Anushka Sharma, and Silver Jewellery’s $4 billion Business as we welcome GIVA’s Co-founder Ishendra Agarwal to the Neon Show!

History of Gold & Silver As A Stored Value!

Why Does South India Love Jewellery So Much?!

How Has Perception Of Jewellery Changed?

How Did GIVA Pitch To Anushka Sharma?

All these JUICY topics and more in this HONEST & DETAILED conversation about India’s jewellery industry. A deep dive into how jewellery became such a large part of Indians’ lives & whether silver can eventually take over the jewellery sector in India… Tune in NOW!

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Siddhartha Ahluwalia, Founder, Neon Fund & Host, The Neon Show
Twitter: https://twitter.com/siddharthaa7
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siddhartha_a/

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CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:09] - Introducing Ishendra Agarwal, founder of GIVA
[01:42] - History of Gold & Silver As A Stored Value!
[05:19] - Evolution Of Gold & Silver In India!
[09:04] - % of India That Invests In Jewellery
[12:09] - Early Days Growing Up In Agra
[13:29] - The GIVA Journey
[19:55] - How Did GIVA Become Such A Recognizable Brand?
[22:44] - Pitching To Anushka Sharma! 
[26:13] - Breaking Down India’s Jewellery Sector
[30:02]- Why Are Making Charges So High For Silver?
[32:17] - How Do Silver Brands Solve For Low Average Order Values?
[35:25] - Breaking Down GIVA’s Revenue Structure
[36:55] - Why Does South India Love Jewellery So Much?!
[39:23] - How Has Perception Of Jewellery Changed?
[44:34] - Will Made To Order Be The Future Of The Jewellery Sector?
[46:47] - North India vs South India: Observations On Jewellery
[52:01] - Can Tanishq Take Over Market Share For Jewellery In India?
[56:26] - Concluding Remarks

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*Sponsor Shout Out*

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This week’s episode is in discussion with India’s ex-RBI Governor about Dr. Manmohan’s Legacy, India's 1991 Reforms & Future Economic Plans as we welcome C. Rangarajan to the Neon Show!

What Was Life Like After Independence?

What Was RBI’s Role Before & After Rangarajan Came In? 

Why Did The Partition Of Tamil Nadu Happen?

Was Manmohan Singh A Good Prime Minister?

All these SPICY topics and more in this PREMIUM conversation about India’s economics. A deep dive into how India became a powerhouse economy in the world since 1991 & the man behind reviving India in the 90s… Tune in NOW!

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🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:14] - Introducing C. Rangarajan, ex-RBI Governor of India!
[02:36]- Balance of Payments CRISIS That Led To 1991 Reforms!
[06:23] - Why Did 1991 Economic Reforms Happen?
[07:40] - Socialist India’s Downfall During The Late 80s!
[11:49] - Who Did India Owe Its Default To?
[14:10] - How Did India Overcome Its Current Account Deficit?
[18:27] - Influence of Narasimha Rao & Manmohan Singh
[20:37] - What Was RBI’s Role Before & After Rangarajan Came In? 
[28:43] - RBI’s Biggest Policies During Rangarajan’s Tenure!
[33:57] - Rangarajan’s Childhood Before Partition!
[38:46] - What Was Life Like After Independence?
[41:35] - Could India Have Changed From Socialist Principles Earlier?
[42:50] - Why Did The Partition Of Tamil Nadu Happen?
[45:27] - Reason Why Tamil Nadu Has Become Industrial Hub Of India!
[47:47] - How Terms Like NPA & FDI Get Created!
[50:32] - How Did The Advisory Team To Manmohan Singh Get Assembled?
[53:30] - Was Manmohan Singh A Good Prime Minister?
[59:47] - Why Did Rangarajan Step Down in 2014?
[1:00:59] - His Message To The Youth of India & Where India Is Headed!
[1:09:18] - Concluding Remarks

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*Sponsor Shout Out*

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This week’s episode is an EYE-OPENER for those who want to understand how AI impacts our lives & to be aware of potential AI scams as we welcome Manoj Agarwal, co-founder at DevRev, to the Neon Show!

Can Machines Think For Themselves?

What Jobs Are Most At Risk Due To AI?

Is AI Progression Outpacing Humans?

All these JUICY topics and much more in this DEEPLY INSIGHTFUL conversation about the AI revolution that has taken over the world & how it will impact future generations… Tune in NOW!

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🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[00:48] - Introducing Manoj Agarwal, co-founder of DevRev
[01:25] - Journey At Nutanix & Building DevRev
[10:18] - Why Is AI At The Heart Of Innovation Today?
[12:34] - Can Machines Think For Themselves?
[17:51] - Why Is ChatGPT So Monumental?
[21:19] - AI & Geopolitics
[22:38] - BIGGEST Problem With Enforcing Laws on AI
[25:19] - Is AI Progression Outpacing Humans?
[27:07] - What Jobs Are Most At Risk Due To AI?
[29:59] - What Jobs Will Be Created Due To The AI Revolution?
[33:14] - How Is Gen Z Using AI Today?
[34:40] - How Do AI Models Ensure There Is No Confirmation Bias?
[37:35] - Why Are Indian Engineers/Developers More In Demand Now?
[40:45] - Is India’s Talent Pool The Best In The World?
[42:51] - Difference Between AI Focused Companies In The Past vs Now
[47:00] - How AI Is Making Day-To-Day Life Easier
[49:53] - The Concept Of “Hallucination” In Technology
[53:51] - Concluding Remarks

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*Sponsor Shout Out*

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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This week’s episode is a MUST WATCH for Indians abroad as we welcome Saravana Kumar, co-founder at Kovai.co, to the Neon Show!

Why Are Expats Coming Back To India?

Is a Masters' Degree Abroad Still the Best Option For Indians?

Why Hasn’t India Produced A Company As Big As Microsoft or AWS?

All these INFORMATIVE topics and more in this DEEPLY INSIGHTFUL conversation about the exponential changes taking place in India and why Indians abroad are eager to make their way back to their home country… Tune in NOW!

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*Sponsor Shout Out*

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in/

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00]- Precap
[00:46] - Introducing Saravana Kumar, co-founder of Kovai.co
[02:06]- Middle-Class Upbringing in Coimbatore!
[04:18] - Biggest Learnings From Childhood To Now
[06:14] - “They Put a Team of 18 People To Replace Me!
[10:24] - Why Are Expats Coming Back To India?
[12:19] - Reasons For “INDIA SHINING”
[13:46] - Why InfoSys Is The McDonald’s of India!
[20:56] - Is a Masters' Degree Abroad Still the Best Option For Indians?
[28:34] - Creating Silicon Valley In Coimbatore
[30:48] - Secret Behind His Efficiency & Speed!
[33:44] - Will ChatGPT & AI Kill Many Indian Startups?
[38:09] - Why Hasn’t India Produced A Company As Big As Microsoft or AWS?
[42:29] - What Indian Founders Need To Unlearn!
[48:11] - What Kind Of Leader Is Saravana?
[49:17] - Is Narayana Murthy’s 70 Hr Week Policy Correct?
[53:58] - Will Bangalore Continue To Be Tier-2 India’s First Choice Of Escape?
[58:49] - How Many SaaS Companies Are In Coimbatore?
[59:11] - The Future of Kovai
[1:03:30] - Concluding Remarks

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This week’s episode requires that you watch this podcast before you apply for a Venture Capital job, as we welcome Ashish Fafadia, Partner at Blume Ventures, to the Neon Show!

The History of Venture Capital in India!

Is Obsession Required To Be A Successful Founder?

What Is The Right Skill Set Required To Be In The VC Ecosystem?

All these INFORMATIVE topics and more in this MASTERCLASS conversation about the inception of venture capital in India, what the DNA of a successful fund is & how to succeed in the VC ecosystem… Tune in NOW!

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*Sponsor Shout Out*

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[00:54] - Introducing Ashish Fafadia, Partner at Blume Ventures!
[02:03] - The History of Venture Capital in India!
[17:10] - Blume Ventures’ Inception
[24:19] - Do Investors Have FOMO?
[29:03] - Food Chain Model in Venture Capital
[32:57] - Blume’s Fund 1 & 2 Journey
[37:46] - Why A DNA Change Was Necessary For Blume!
[42:18] - How To Raise Funds From Large Institutions
[52:54] - $102 Million Fund 3 Journey!
[55:55] - $290 Million Fund 4 Journey!
[1:02:25] - Top 5 Investments Made By Blume Ventures
[1:10:04] - Biggest Learnings From Investing!
[1:14:58] - Is Obsession Required To Be A Successful Founder?
[1:19:45] - Future of The India Opportunity
[1:23:47] - Want A Job In VC? Watch This!
[1:28:25] - The Right Skill Set Needed To Be In A Fund!
[1:30:35] - How To Succeed In The VC Ecosystem!
[1:34:26]- “Fund Is A 5 Muscle Job!”
[1:37:21] - Concluding Remarks

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This week’s episode is about why India as a country loves seeking status, as we welcome Ankush Sachdeva, co-founder of ShareChat, to the Neon Show!

How Have Indian Consumers Evolved In The Last 10 Years?

India vs Bharat Argument

Are Majority Of Indian Products Aimed At Tier-1 Cities?

All these CAPTIVATING topics and more in this FREE-FLOWING conversation about how social media has played a part in the consumer behaviour of Indians. A deep dive into why Indians are so status-driven rather than wealth-driven… Tune in NOW!



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🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:02] - Introducing Ankush Sachdeva, co-founder of ShareChat!
[01:45] - Siddhartha & Ankush’s Friendship Journey!
[03:44] - Setbacks Ankush Faced Before ShareChat
[04:39 ]- Previous Companies Ankush Tried Building!
[09:48] - Lessons Learnt From His 14 Previous Failures
[13:30] - ShareChat’s Untold Story
[17:45] - India vs Bharat Argument
[20:26] - Why India LOVES Seeking STATUS!
[24:20] - Are Bharat’s Audience Poor Spenders? 
[28:57] - How Have Indian Consumers Evolved In The Last 10 Years?
[34:50] - How Far Is ShareChat From Profitability?
[39:23] - How TikTok’s Ban Affected ShareChat!
[45:14] - Does China Have Better AI Algorithms Than India?
[53:04] - Why Is Generative AI Taking Over The World?
[57:03] - Will AI Read Human Minds In The Future?
[58:47] - Can AI Capture Human Desire?
[1:02:19] - What Categories Does India As A Country Love To Consume?
[1:09:33] - Are Majority Of Indian Products Aimed At Tier-1 Cities?
[1:13:09] - Will Mainstream Professions Like Doctors & Engineers Change In India?
[1:16:55] - Concluding Remarks
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*Sponsor Shout Out*

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To know more, visit https://primevp.in/

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This week’s episode is about the most important tips required to get a good night’s sleep as we welcome Ankit Garg, co-founder of Wakefit, to the Neon Show!

Why Do Indians Sleep So Poorly?

Misconceptions Indians Have About Sleep!

Will Quality Of Sleep Get Better Or Worsen In 10 Years?

All these JUICY topics and more in this EYE-OPENING conversation about sleep cycles in a country like India. A deep dive into why India’s ambitious goals come at a loggerhead with the amount of sleep it gets… Tune in NOW!

🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:09] - Happy New Year Neon Tribe!
[01:38] - Introducing Ankit Garg, co-founder of Wakefit!
[02:22] - Why Do Indians Sleep So Poorly?
[04:56] - Gen Z’s Relationship With Sleep
[06:40] - Why Is Quality Of Sleep Going Down But Focus On Health Going Up?
[08:45] - How Has The Indian Consumer Changed Over The Years?
[11:50] - Ankit’s Backstory & Its Influence On Creating Wakefit
[15:53] - Sleep Patterns That The Highest Performers Across Business & Sports Have!
[18:39] - Which Cities In India Sleep The Best?
[20:57] - Steps Required To Get Good Sleep!
[29:14] - Will Quality Of Sleep Get Better Or Worsen In 10 Years?
[30:28] - What Is REM? Various Phases Of Sleep?
[34:39] - Misconceptions Indians Have About Sleep!
[38:36] - Is The Neck Pillow Industry Operating On A Placebo Effect?
[41:19] - Will People Go Back To Buying Cheaper Mattresses In The Future?
[43:16] - Wakefit’s Agenda
[46:19] - Concluding Remarks

*Sponsor Shout Out*

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To know more, visit https://primevp.in/

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This week’s episode is about Building Snapdeal, IIT Delhi - 2006 Batch & India’s Positive Future as we welcome Rohit Bansal, co-founder of Snapdeal & Titan Capital, to the Neon Show!

What Sells & Doesn’t Sell In India?

Have Aspirations Of Young India Changed In The Last 20 years?

The Most Common Misconceptions About Investors!

All these JUICY topics and more in this MASTERCLASS conversation about India’s e-commerce industry. A deep dive into how India has grown incrementally in the e-commerce industry over the last 15 years & what it takes to create a great product-market fit in the e-commerce space… Tune in NOW!


🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:18] - Introducing Rohit Bansal, co-founder of Snapdeal!
[01:50] - Small-Town Upbringing in Rural Punjab!
[04:33] - Further Education in DPS, R.K. Puram & IIT Delhi
[06:49] - Meeting Kunal Bahl & Sacrificing Their U.S.-Based Jobs
[10:13] - Have Aspirations Of Young India Changed In The Last 20 years?
[12:32] - Rohit & Kunal Bahl’s Top 3 Ever Investments!
[16:48] - Qualities Titan Capital Looks For In Indian Entrepreneurs!
[22:30] - The Iconic 2006 and 2007 Batches of IIT Delhi!
[27:24] - Changes In Indian E-Commerce Over Last 15 Years
[33:20] - E-Commerce: India vs China!
[35:42] - What Sells & Doesn’t Sell In India?
[46:23] - Why Are Copycat Companies So Common In India?
[49:15] - How Would Rohit Describe India’s Growth In The Last Decade?
[54:10] - What Has Changed About Startups In India Since The Early 2000s?
[57:19] - Can People Go Into Angel Investing Full-Time?
[1:01:19] - Why Titan Capital Is So Successful!
[1:04:08] - Common Misconceptions About Investors
[1:06:33] - Concluding Remarks

*Sponsor Shout Out*

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in/!

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This week’s episode is in discussion with PM Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisor who talks about Kolkata’s Decline, Amrit Kaal & India’s $10 Trillion Economy as we welcome Sanjeev Sanyal to the Neon Show!

What Changed in India After Liberalisation in 1991?

Does Being World’s Largest Population Help or Hinder India’s Growth?

Sanjeev Sanyal’s Role In Reforming The Banking Systems

All these JUICY topics and more in this ROUSING conversation about India’s economics. A deep dive into how India became a powerhouse economy in the world since 1991 & where it aims to be as a country by 2050… Tune in NOW!

🎇CHAPTERS

[00:00] - Precap
[01:01] - Introducing Sanjeev Sanyal, PM Modi’s Economic Advisor
[01:31] - “Kolkata DIDN’T DIE. It Was MURDERED!” Sanjeev’s Childhood Days
[05:08] - Life In India After Independence & Before 1991!
[08:37] - What Changed in India After Liberalisation in 1991?
[10:42] - Why India’s Banking System Was Reformed Post Modi!
[15:32] - Sanjeev Sanyal’s Role In Reforming The Banking Systems
[21:01] - How India Maintained Its Stability Even After Covid!
[23:08] - 5 Influential Economic Reforms Sanjeev Has Been Part Of!
[30:35] - Can India Become Top 5 Nation In The Ease Of Doing Business Index?
[36:21] - Does Being World’s Largest Population Help or Hinder India’s Growth?
[41:24] - India’s Amrit Kaal: The Global Factors That Could Play A Role
[46:01] - India’s Growth Rate vs China’s Growth Rate
[50:55] - Can India Become a $20 Trillion Economy In The Near Future?
[52:22] - Will India’s Population Continue to Grow In the Next 50 Years?
[53:22] - What Economic Reforms Can Indians Expect In The Next Few Years?
[56:43] - What % Of The Indian Economic Advisory’s Time Goes Into Propelling Startups?
[59:59] - Concluding Remarks


Sponsor Shout Out

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in/

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This week’s episode is about Chandrababu Naidu's influence, the inception of ISB Hyderabad & Rajat Gupta's Case Study as we welcome Pramath Raj Sinha, founding member of ISB & Ashoka University, to the Neon Show!

Chandrababu Naidu’s Role In Building ISB Hyderabad!

Why Is ISB Unable To Break IIT’s Monopoly In The Educational Sector?

What Makes US Education STAND OUT From the Rest Of The World?

Would ISB Have Happened WITHOUT Rajat Gupta’s Involvement?

All these CAPTIVATING topics and more in this MASTERFULLY INFORMATIVE conversation. A deep dive into where India is headed as a country & how important education will be in propelling it to new heights… Tune in NOW!


Sponsor Shout Out

Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.

To know more, visit https://primevp.in/

Send us Fan Mail