Karan Mohla, Chiratae Ventures (Formerly IDG Ventures India)

#100xEntrepreneur #Podcast with Karan Mohla, Executive Director at Chiratae Ventures (formerly IDG Ventures India)“As a VC to add value, keep asking yourself, What are the one or two things which if the company does, based on your experience, they’ll thrive. And then Discuss & Communicate that with the Founders.” - Karan Mohla.After graduating from the University of Michigan, Karan joined Jefferies & Company in Silicon Valley, where he first experienced Capital raising, Strategic Company Analysis & Investment Banking.He was also the Youngest person admitted in the INSEAD Executive MBA program history. In 2010, after his Masters, he joined Chiratae Ventures (formerly IDG Ventures India) as a Senior Associate. Since then during his 9 years journey over there, he moved up the ladder to become Executive Director and Head of Consumer Tech & Media SectorCurrently, Karan is a Board of Member in Bounce, HealthifyMe, LittleBlackBook, POPxo, Tripoto and several other big names in the Indian Startup Ecosystem.In this podcast, Karan shares, about the Opportunities in Consumer Tech & Digital Media, Challenges faced by a Venture Capitalist and more.Notes - 00:50 - From being an Intern at E&Y to becoming Executive Director at Chiratae Ventures07:16 - “There are ways in life through which you can create an Impact, Entrepreneurship is one of them”09:40 - Challenges while Fund-raising as a Venture Capitalist & Being a Venturepreneur14:30 - His first Thesis based investment in FirstCry17:30 - What are the scenarios where Top-down or Bottom-up Strategy are suitable for?19:50 - Which markets & business models have been a big win in the past decade?21:37 - Why most Advertising & Ed-Tech Startups don’t work out in India?23:46 - Three Signs of a Bad Investment Opportunity 26:08 - Potential business models to look out in Consumer-Tech30:43 - Thesis for Digital Media Companies32:50 - Creating a Full Stack Business Model = Content Community + Commerce (not being a force fit)37:10 - Recipe to Scale Fast - Surround yourself with good people early on as an Entrepreneur39:55 - Proper Execution is more valuable than just having a Vision50:45 - Not having personal biases to your role as an Investor51:04 - “While making an Investment Decision, something or the other would always go wrong, it’s better to plan much in advance.”52:33 - Dealing with Uncertainties in the form of delayed results being a VC

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