In this episode of The Spotlight, Akshay Datt speaks to Vishesh Rajaram, co-founder of Speciale Invest. Vishesh shares some amazing stories about his journey in the venture capital scene in India, starting from his early days at Venturis back in 2007.

Vishesh talks about how he’s helped shape innovative startups and why thinking big—like really big—is key in this game and how relationships play a huge role in finding great investment opportunities and what the future of AI might look like for new businesses. 

 Listen to this episode if you’re curious about what it takes to be a venture capitalist or just want to hear some cool insights about deep tech investing in India

In this episode of The Spotlight, we delve into the world of air quality innovation with Dmitry, the visionary founder of Airvoice. This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the transformative solutions Airvoice is pioneering to address air quality challenges in urban environments.

Dmitry shares his personal journey and how his experiences have shaped his passion for creating healthier indoor environments. He describes the "smell of freedom" he associates with his work and how it has influenced his decision to make this country his home for the next few years.

Listen to this episode as Dmitry, explains Airvoice's cutting-edge products, including advanced air filtration systems and indoor air quality monitors, designed to enhance both air quality and energy efficiency in buildings.

In this episode, we delve into the intriguing world of venture capital through the eyes of Nao Murakami, a seasoned expert in the field. 

From his early days in investment banking to spearheading Incubate Fund Asia, Nao shares invaluable insights about the startup ecosystems in Japan, India, and beyond. 

Founded to capitalize on the thriving Indian startup scene, this sector agnostic fund has interests in B2B supply chains, FinTech, D2C brands, DeepTech, SpaceTech, and GreenTech. It has grown from a modest $3 million fund to launching a $200 million FinTech Growth Stage fund.

This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone curious about the venture capital landscape.

Inspired by his Gujarati family's business background, Kulin Shah of Onsurity, shares his entrepreneurial journey. His journey began during his college days, where he and a colleague attempted to start a business in exporting wedding cards and an EdTech platform, both unsuccessful.

In this episode he shares how he pivoted  from the early business ventures and his roles at Aditya Birla group and Reliance, Free Charge and Acko to create Onsurity, a holistic platform for health and wellness, including mental wellness plans, gym memberships, and insurance options.

Kulin shares his key learnings that helped him to understand the financial realities and  how he differentiated in a competitive market by adopting unique positioning strategies.

Listen to the episode to learn more about how Kulin built Onsurity.

Ghost kitchens are a hot trend in the food scene, and Karan Tanna, Founder and CEO of Ghost Kitchens, is here to guide you through it. Listen in to learn about how this former automobile engineer and successful F&B entrepreneur launched Ghost Kitchens after scaling and exiting two startups. In this episode, Karan reveals his exciting journey, offers insights into the franchising model and fulfillment partner program, discusses celebrity collaborations, and shares how he bounced back after being forced to shut down his kitchens during COVID.

Modern washrooms in airports and corporate offices have evolved into style statements, offering both an elegant look and an exceptional user experience.

In this episode, Viknesh Jain, CEO & MD of Euronics, shares how a chance brainstorming session with a distributor sparked the creation of India’s largest washroom automation brand.

With around 600 SKUs and ₹200 crores in revenue for the last financial year, discover how this bootstrapped company leveraged Bollywood celebrity endorsements, embraced technology to better understand customer needs, and capitalized on the surge in demand for automated accessories driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to VAMA, India's top astrology and mandir app, you can now experience the convenience of performing pooja, mandir darshan, and more, all from the comfort of your home.

In this episode, Manu Jain  discusses the opportunities and challenges within the Indian spirituality market, particularly emphasising how COVID-19 spurred the adoption of such virtual astrology and pooja services. Tune in to understand how VAMA is disrupting the conventional offline model of spiritual businesses, making it more easily accessible and convenient than ever before.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your smartphones and laptops and EV batteries after they hit their end of life or become faulty? Join us to discover how the passion and perseverance of two engineering students catalyzed the birth of India’s leading lithium-ion battery recycling startup, BatX Energies. Through innovative manufacturing processes and strategic initiatives, BatX Energies leads the industry in transforming old batteries into sustainable energy solutions. Tune in to explore their incredible journey and pioneering contributions to a cleaner, greener future.

The consumer landscape in India has dramatically evolved with the rise of e-commerce and a digital-savvy Gen Z cohort, shaping new consumer behaviors. Discover how Piyush transitioned from an Equity Research Analyst to founding Prath Ventures, an early-stage VC fund renowned for nurturing over 20 consumer brands, many of which have successfully gone public. Learn all about making informed investment decisions, understanding the nuances between PE and VC, identifying the right time for companies to go public, why private equity delivers exceptional returns, and crafting a rewarding career in the PE/VC industry.

Legacy businesses endure through generations by adapting to change while preserving their essence. Delhi-based Pansari Group is a quintessential example that has evolved into a multi-crore enterprise.Shammi Agarwal shares the group's inception story, recounting the many ups and downs—from the family's accidental foray into manufacturing to his strategic initiatives in shifting Pansari Group towards branded products, leveraging its heritage while innovating to meet modern consumer demands and expanding its market reach.