UVC

You can access the CVPE whitepaper [here] and join the CVPE LinkedIn group [here]

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 Introduction to Corporate Entrepreneurship

00:34 Introducing Sebastien Picard and xcube

01:08 Understanding Venture Studios

02:10 xcube's Unique Approach

02:42 The Corporate Venture Portfolio Equity Model

05:40 Real-World Applications and Examples

06:50 Challenges and Solutions in Financial Inclusion

10:27 The Role of Ecosystems in Innovation

13:24 Benefits for Startups, Investors, and Corporations

18:15 The CVPE Model: A New Investment Class

29:13 Psychological Support for Entrepreneurs

32:40 Measuring Success and Future Evolution

39:33 Conclusion and Next Steps for xcube

About

Sebastien Picard is a seasoned entrepreneur known for his expertise in early-stage innovative ventures.

Sebastien has a proven track record of launching and growing multiple successful businesses across Asia, North America and Europe. His relentless determination, visionary and strategic mindset, and humility set him apart as a business leader.

Sebastien founded xcube in 2023, xcube is a Singapore based corporate venture studio specialises in building ventures through a unique ecosystem approach.

Established from Sebastien's entrepreneurial insights and brought to life by a talented core team, xcube embodies his vision and entrepreneurial experiences, paving the way for innovative ventures to thrive.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 Introduction to Big Business and Market Size

01:28 Importance of Identifying Big Markets

03:18 Challenges and Considerations for Founders

05:07 Defining and Evaluating Big Markets

05:58 Insights from Famous Market Examples

09:51 Understanding Customer Experience and Market Dynamics

12:20 Evaluating Unit Economics and Team Dynamics

15:21 Prioritization and Roadmap for Startups

24:09 Challenges of Digital Targeting

25:15 Importance of Customer Experience

26:53 Product and Market Dynamics

27:25 Creating New Markets

31:39 Understanding Customer Problems

37:02 Iterative Product Development

40:17 Surprising Success Stories

44:42 Final Thoughts and Reflections

About

Shiyan Koh is an experienced operator and investor. She is currently a Co-Founder and General Partner at Hustle Fund, a global pre-seed venture fund. Prior to Hustle Fund, she was VP of Business Operations & Corp Dev at NerdWallet (employee #10), growing annual revenue from $1 million to more than $150 million. Before NerdWallet, she was an investor at Institutional Venture Partners and Bridgewater Associates.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:40 - Importance of Managing Finances for Startups

00:08:58 - Compliance Regulation for Startups

00:12:48 - Strategizing on resource allocation  

00:15:48 - Startups offering inflated incentives

00:18:48 - Finding the right talent

00:23:34 - Basic Metrics startups should consider

00:28:36 - Startups operating on Low margins

00:29:33 - Reporting Spends to VC’s

00:34:55 - Investment rejection

00:36:53 - Unexpected challenges startups face

00:41:29 - Are managing Finances a necessity for Startups?

00:42:45 - Conclusion

About

Manoj Agarwal, Co-founder & Managing Partner at SeaFund, has 25+ years of experience in business leadership, investments, and strategy. He co-founded SeaFund, an early-stage venture fund, and currently leads capital raising for its new fund. Previously, he was CEO of Karuturi Global, a top agricultural transnational, and is an advisor to Latize, a Singaporean data management company. Manoj holds a computer science degree and completed an executive program at INSEAD.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode of PitchMeNot, host Rahul, alongside guest VC Michael Blakey, delve into the pioneering world of SoMin, an AI-powered SaaS marketing platform founded by Alex Farseev. SoMin distinguishes itself by optimizing digital advertising and competitor monitoring through advanced data analytics, aiming to significantly reduce costs and boost sales for its clients. The podcast covers SoMin's journey, it's product offerings (SoAds and SoMonitor), market fit, and the challenges it aims to address within the ad tech space, highlighting the annual wastage in ad spend and inefficiencies in ad targeting. Alex shares insights on SoMin's traction, revenue models, funding history, and future aspirations, including potential for IPO or acquisition, driven by a passion for transforming the advertising industry through technology. The episode concludes with a VC debrief, evaluating SoMin's pitch, the clarity of the problem statement, the strength of the founding team, product differentiation, and strategic growth plans.

00:00 Welcome to Pitch Me Note: The Startup Pitch Podcast

00:12 Introducing Today's Guests and Startup Focus

00:42 Diving Deep into SoMin: The AI-Powered Ad Tech Platform

01:25 Exploring the Core Problem SoMin Solves

01:51 Target Customers and Product Offerings

02:44 SoMin's Traction and Funding Journey

04:14 The Founder's Journey: From Developer to CEO

05:52 Achieving Customer Savings and Business Metrics

07:50 Customer Acquisition Strategies and Sales Cycle Insights

09:36 Leveraging Technology for Competitive Advantage

10:53 Funding Goals and the Vision for Growth

14:44 Transforming the Advertising Industry: A Visionary Goal

16:46 Staying Ahead in the Fast-Paced Ad Tech Landscape

19:31 Navigating Data Challenges in Marketing

19:45 The Importance of Staying Relevant and Innovative

20:19 Addressing the Rising Costs of Customer Acquisition

21:12 Strategic Ad Scaling and Performance Marketing Insights

21:58 Post-Pitch Debrief and Analysis

22:09 Evaluating the Problem Statement and Market Fit

25:54 Investor's Perspective on Ad Tech and Team Dynamics

35:20 Final Thoughts and Investment Considerations

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:31 - The US-India Saas Corridor

00:04:13 - Advantage of building Software in India

00:08:57 - Early GTM strategies for Companies

00:11:46 - How can Indian SaaS Companies compete in the US?

00:14:49 - Will the cost advantage of building software in India persist?

00:16:19 - Challenges faced by Indian Companies in the US

00:21:21 - VC’s expectations before investing

00:23:19 - When should SaaS companies target the US market?

00:28:15 - Finding Product Market Fit

00:32:38 - US Go-To Market Strategy

00:39:01 - Raising Funds in the US

00:42:06 - Building a Great Network in US

00:48:30 - Future of India-US SaaS Corridor

00:50:14 - Conclusion

About

Chanchal Bhoorani is an investor at WestBridge Capital, focusing on US-India Enterprise Software investments from their Silicon Valley office. WestBridge is a multi-stage investment firm with approximately $8 billion in evergreen capital.

Chanchal played a key role in sourcing Physics Wallah for their first round of financing, valuing the company at over $1 billion. She has also been instrumental in the firm's investment in Freshworks and other private deals.

Prior to WestBridge, Chanchal gained experience building large-scale B2B and B2C products. At Ola Cabs, India's leading ride-sharing company, she designed allocation and dynamic pricing algorithms as a product manager. She then led the product team for a fashion e-commerce marketplace in Southeast Asia during their high-growth period.

Chanchal holds a graduate degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an engineering degree from IIT Varanasi. When not working, she volunteers with organizations supporting female education and employment. She also enjoys cheering for underdogs in Formula One racing, hiking, and hosting game nights.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:52 - About J-Ventures

00:02:57 - J-Ventures' VC Model in comparison to Traditional VCs

00:11:56 -  Process of Onboarding LP’s

00:19:16 - Managing the community of LPs

00:20:29 - J-Ventures unique approach in VC

00:26:06 - J-Ventures’ investment mandate

00:30:50 - Value-based Investing in Companies

00:32:12 - Sourcing Companies for Investing

00:38:38 - Criteria for Evaluating Founders

00:42:06 - LP representation on Company Boards

00:46:36 - Needing Support v/s Being Self-Reliant

00:50:01 - Importance of Dialogue and Learning for first time founders

00:59:29 - Community led Model v/s Traditional VC Model of Investing

About

Oded Hermoni is an investor, entrepreneur and journalist. Since 2005, he has invested in over 70 companies (5 of which became Unicorns), as is currently the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the J-Ventures Fund (a "Capitalist Kibbutz") in Silicon Valley. Oded is active in philanthropic organizations and has been a Board Member at the Jewish Federation SF, JFCS, Friends of Hebrew University, ICON, Intro, and more.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

This video is sponsored by Digital Prizm.

📍Digital Prism, the Singapore-based digital transformation expert which help you transform your business digitally. From product development to enhancing your online presence, they've got you covered! 

🎁The first 10 sign-ups receive a whopping 20 hours of free consultation! Secure your complimentary consultation and unlock your business's digital potential today!!

In this episode you will learn:

00:03:09 - Relationship between Good Founding Teams

00:08:16 - Personality Disorders amongst Founders

00:11:59 - Major Reason for Conflict amongst Founders

00:14:09 - Risk Taking ability of the Founders

00:16:38 - Investor Response to Founder Conflicts Post-Investment

00:20:16 - Resolving Founding Team Conflicts

00:21:58 - Founder Red Flags Investors Look out for

00:25:33 - Tackling Founder Ego

00:27:09 - Impact of Founder Conflict on Company’s Success

00:30:52 - How can Startups navigate Product Market Fit?

00:35:58 - Resources to Educate Founders to tackle Conflicts

00:38:22 - Conclusion

About:

Will Klippgen is a Singapore-based Norwegian entrepreneur and technology venture capitalist who co-founded the price comparison portal Zoomit.com (later merged with Kelkoo, which was sold to Yahoo! in 2004). He served as one of the judges on the television series Angel's Gate, which was broadcast on Channel NewsAsia in 2012. Will is a co-founder and serves as the Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital. He holds an MBA from INSEAD where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence.

He has invested in over 55 startups in Singapore and across the world since 2004. His investments include PropertyGuru, Anacle Systems, ReferralCandy, Nugit, Tickled Media, iXiGO.com, See-Mode Technologies, SensorFlow, GuardRails, BuyMed and Augmentus. 

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

This video is sponsored by Digital Prizm. (https://www.digitalprizm.net) 

📍Digital Prism, the Singapore-based digital transformation expert which help you transform your business digitally. From product development to enhancing your online presence, they've got you covered! 

🎁The first 10 sign-ups receive a whopping 20 hours of free consultation! Secure your complimentary consultation and unlock your business's digital potential today!

In this episode you will learn:

02:30 - Origins of Venture Studios

09:02 - Venture Studios vs Accelerators

13:49 - Higher Startup Success Rates with Venture Studios?

18:43 - Founder Obsession with Idea: Key to Startup Success?

24:35 - Evaluating Founders for Outbound Opportunities

31:44 - Founders: Domain Expertise vs Quick Learners

33:49 - Corporate Collaboration with Venture Studios

39:14 - Equity Ownership for Founders in Venture Studios

45:08 - Challenges Faced by Venture Studios

46:39 - Collaboration with LPs in Venture Studios

53:11 - Managing Multiple Studios within a Venture Studio

59:13 - Who Should Start a Venture Studio?

01:01:43 - Conclusion

About:
Sam is an entrepreneur, venture builder, board advisor and investor. He works with pre-seed and seed-stage entrepreneurs & investors to build startups & venture studios.

In 2017, he founded Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio. Rainmaking APAC is today one of the largest venture development companies in the region, and was acquired by Bain & Company in 2023. 

The companies that have been built and scaled by Rainmaking APAC have generated $880m in funding and hold a combined equity value of more than $9bn. Through his work with Rainmaking APAC, Sam has also pioneered a range of equity-share models of corporate venture building.

Sam’s focus is on building companies, supporting venture build ecosystems, and creating and empowering venture builders. He believes that entrepreneurship is one of the best means that we have of offering fulfilling work and creating the conditions required to unlock the potential in our global workforce at scale. 

Prior to launching Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio, Sam was a founder and early team member in startups in Europe, and invested in startups through an early-stage accelerator. These experiences as founder, operator and investor shaped the thinking, philosophy, process and governance structure that he now applies to venture building at scale in the Rainmaking APAC Venture Studio.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:42 - Optical vs Quantum Computing

00:03:11 - Basics of Photonic Computing

00:07:15 - Challenges in using Optics for Compute

00:09:44 - Under-utilization of Compute for Data Transfer

00:13:19 - Segments and Opportunities in Photonics

00:20:08 - Lumai's Approach in Optical Processing

00:21:55 - Importance of Optical Computing in AI Progress

00:27:21 - Industries Benefiting from Optical Computing Breakthroughs

00:30:10 - Talent and Startups in Optical Computing

00:33:12 - Backgrounds of Optical Computing Founders

00:34:09 - Do we need Quantum Computing?

00:41:09 - Challenges of Optical Computing

00:43:29 - Investment Opportunities in Optical Computing

00:45:07 - Business Models for Optical Computing Startups

00:50:54 - Exits and Acquisitions: Problem Size and Tech Maturity

About

Denis Kalinin, serving as the Asia Business Development Manager at Runa Capital since 2020, plays a pivotal role in advancing Runa's initiatives across Asia. His primary focus lies in facilitating the entry of portfolio startups into Asian markets, with a special emphasis on China. Denis actively seeks out suitable technological and distribution partners for these startups, while also contributing to the scouting efforts for B2B SaaS, Deep Tech, and Fintech startups in the Asian region.

Before joining Runa, Denis led an investment project in China and co-founded a startup dedicated to assisting high-tech companies in navigating the Chinese market. Holding an M.S. degree from the University for International Business and Economics in Beijing, Denis also gained valuable international exposure through an exchange program at the Free University of Berlin. Notably, he served as the chairman of a student Energy Club during his academic tenure.

Fluent in English, German, and Chinese, Denis has a penchant for watching series and reading books in these three languages. Beyond his professional pursuits, Denis exhibits a keen interest in space exploration, having authored several articles comparing various space industries.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com

In this episode you will learn:

00:00 - Introduction

01:54 - Talent Investing & Fundamentals 

03:28 - Talent Investing vs. Recruitment

05:10 - What Talent Investors Look For

08:11 - Characteristics of Great Talent Investors

14:14 - Early Discovery of Exceptional Individuals

16:22 - Finding Exceptional Talent

17:58 - Characteristics of a Great Founder

23:48 - Challenges in Finding the Right Founders

26:37 - Fear of Failure

31:07 - Role of Family and Childhood

34:02 - Decision to Become a Founder

37:54 - Co-Founders with Complimentary Skillsets

42:09 - Increased productivity w/ a Co-Founder
52:18 - EF’s Ecosystem 

54:36 - EF's Graduate vs. Core Programs

01:01:17 - Conclusion

About

Rahul Samat, Partner and India Head at Entrepreneur First, brings over 14 years of experience as a founder, builder, and mentor. He holds a Master's in Science from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a scholarship program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Rahul started his career in banking at Barclays Investment Bank and later joined Capital One. In 2014, he co-founded InnerChef, a VC-backed startup, and in 2016, he became the Head of Private & Strategic Brands at Swiggy. In 2022, Rahul joined Entrepreneur First to lead and expand the team in India, focusing on supporting entrepreneurs from the pre-idea stage to fundraising through EF's investor network.

🔗 Follow us:

🏠Website : https://understandingvc.com/

🤝🏻LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/understanding-vc/

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/1q7DxW3FEyP7EhH8m0VvAD

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/understanding-vc/id1551524895

 

💌 Connect with Rahul: 

🤝🏻 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

📩 Email : [email protected]

🐣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/rahul0720

 

📍 About: 

Understanding VC is a podcast that provides founders with the knowledge and resources they need to understand venture capital. Our goal is to create the best and most comprehensive resource on venture capital on the internet, so that founders can make informed decisions about their businesses and secure the funding they need to succeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uvcmedia.com