Ankur Jain

🌿✨ Embracing AYUSH: Empowering Health Naturally! 🌟 Did you know? Recent data from the survey on AYUSH conducted by National Sample Survey Office, India reveals that 50% of Indians used AYUSH healthcare system in the last year! 🔹 AYUSH system of medicines refers to the use of one or more of the system(s) of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy 🔹 95% of rural and 96% of urban folks are aware of AYUSH traditions. 🔹 85% of rural and 86% of urban households practice Medicinal Plants/Home Remedies/Local Health Traditions. 🔹 Nearly half of rural (46%) and over half of urban (53%) individuals used AYUSH in the last year for health benefits. We at SaveIN work with several leading alternate medicine providers like Dr Batra’s Healthcare Jiva Ayurveda Madhavbaug Homeocare International among others, and are witnessing tremendous demand for alternate therapies, especially for chronic diseases and lifestyle disorders. Let's continue to explore the power of traditional wisdom in promoting holistic wellness alongside adopting the latest in healthcare! 🌱💪 #AYUSH #HolisticHealth #WellnessJourney #TraditionalMedicine #Healthcare #Lifestyle

21

India’s Oyo, once valued at $10 billion, is finalizing new funding at a $2.5 billion valuation. This marks a steep decline from its $10 billion valuation in 2019. The startup, which has raised over $3 billion from backers like SoftBank, Peak XV Ventures, Lightspeed, Airbnb, and Microsoft, has struggled to attract institutional investors. In recent months, it has aggressively pitched to high-net-worth individuals after withdrawing its IPO application twice in the past four years. Once a red-hot Indian startup active in markets including the U.S. and Europe, Oyo has now scaled back its international presence. #venture #downround https://lnkd.in/gE2GjYnM

5

Sage advice

6

Founder to VC transition as a mother of two super active kids has been an incredibly amazing journey for me. Has it been demanding? Yes. But it’s been equally rewarding in terms of learnings, growth and new fun challenges. Thus, thought I would share my experiences and insights on balancing these dual roles and what I've learned along the way. .. First up, managing time effectively has been crucial. Balancing investor meetings, due diligence processes, and strategic discussions with school runs, homework help, and playtime requires meticulous planning and prioritization. I've learned to be present in the moment, whether I’m at a pitch meeting or attending my kids’ PTMs. .. Also, raising young kids, especially a teenager and a young child, teaches you patience and empathy. Especially because children are unpredictable. But, so is the startup world. The ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances has been a valuable skill in both my personal and professional life. Flexibility and resilience are key to navigating the ups and downs of both parenting and investing. Thus, as they say, I’m exploiting synergies :) .. But, most important thing of all? Setting clear boundaries and priorities. Knowing when to step back from work to focus on family and vice versa ensures that neither role suffers. This balance is a continuous process and requires constant adjustment. And here, having a strong support system has been invaluable. My husband, family, and a network of supportive friends have played a critical role in helping me manage my responsibilities. .. However, my biggest motivation has been my kids. Being a role model for my children is important to me. Demonstrating that it’s possible to pursue a demanding career while being there for them sends a powerful message. It’s about showing them the value of hard work, dedication, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions. .. No doubt, there’s immense joy in watching my daughter navigate her teenage years and my son’s boundless energy. Similarly, there’s a unique satisfaction in helping startups grow and succeed. Embracing and finding joy in both aspects of my life has been incredibly fulfilling. And, the transition from founder to VC has been a transformative journey, enriched by my role as a mother. .. All of that said, we at Dexter Ventures ($50k-$500k early-stage investments) and Dexter Capital Advisors (advise $3MM-$100MM) are always eager to work with like-minded founders, angels and other members of the PE/VC/Family Office ecosystem. Do reach out to us at deals@dexter[dot]ventures keeping anuradha@dexter[dot]ventures in CC if there is anything we can help you with :) Best, Anuradha Tags: Devendra, Jayant

90

2 Comments

The shift in Series A to Series B graduation rates is a stark reminder of how the startup landscape has evolved, particularly post-2020. The "sugar rush" analogy fits well—easy access to capital led to rapid growth and inflated valuations. But as interest rates have gone up and funding has become more selective, startups are now having to return to solid business fundamentals. For MedTech and FemHealth startups, the journey from Series A to Series B was never easy, even in more favorable times. Now, with the additional pressure of financial conservatism, these companies must show not only potential but tangible progress in product-market fit, regulatory paths, and revenue generation. This is where smart money, strategic partnerships, and a clear focus on health outcomes can differentiate those startups that are essential from those just chasing the next round. With venture capital taking a closer look at impact and sustainability, founders should focus on aligning with investors who understand the long-term value of innovation in healthcare. For founders currently raising, it's about knowing that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, the competition is tough, but it also means there's an opportunity for those who stay nimble, pivot intelligently, and keep an eye on profitability and growth potential without sacrificing the mission. What do you think will help startups stand out the most as they aim for Series B in today's market? 🚀 Thank you Peter Walker for your incredible insights!! #MedTech #FemHealth #VCFunding #SeriesA #SeriesB #HealthInnovation #Founders

15

Successful Product Engineering requires a strong sense of Ownership. You focus more on doing things right even when nobody is watching: Integrity. You are not bothered by the gray and can comfortably deal with it: Creativity. You take the initiative and do not wait for instructions. You are okay if proven wrong and are open to making mistakes: Empowerment. You do not limit yourself to technology; you gather domain knowledge and are driven towards solving the business problem: Efficiency. You are keen to understand and solve the user's problem to the best of your ability: Empathy. I am proud to be surrounded by a team of Product Engineers who want to create an IMPACT.

30

Only TWO days left to apply for the RippleX Fellowship program! If you are a student/dropout/recent grad building a b2b software company in Canada/US, this is the program for you. In our last batch we had some amazing mentors like: - Braden Ream (CEO, Voiceflow): Mastering storytelling and navigating selling into enterprises - Rahul Parmar (Prev. Senior Director of Sales, Drata): Sales 101 – Converting pilots to real revenue, creating urgency among buyers, and best practices to manage a sales process - Nicholas Chepesiuk (CEO, OnCall Virtual Care, now part of Qualifacts): Striving towards product-market fit, utilizing creative outbound strategies, and the importance of building trust with customers in the early days - Justin Sky (CEO, Rose Rocket): Identifying venture-scale markets, learning when to pivot, and building strong organizational culture - Josh Gray (CEO, Artemis): Conducting customer validation, segmenting your ICP, and advice for young founders Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2iAu6vi

19

2 Comments

🚀Beyond #FounderMode vs #ManagerMode: The Art of Scaling Leadership ⚖ The idea of this rigid dichotomy between management styles is false. Great founders blend both approaches. Silicon Valley is buzzing with talk of 'founder mode' vs 'manager mode', sparked by Paul Graham (Y Combinator) and Brian Chesky (Airbnb) advocating founders need to stay in founder mode for success 🔗https://lnkd.in/g_iDpzfT 💡Founder Mode: Hands-on, detail-oriented, micro-management (think Steve Jobs) 👨‍💼 Manager Mode: Delegation-focused, high-level oversight ⚖ The idea of this rigid dichotomy between management styles is false. Great founders blend both approaches. *The True Path of Effective Founders* 👓Clear Vision: Know where you're going and why 🔊Communication: Be able to effectively communicate that vision to every single person in your company (be that <10 people or 500+) 👯 Team Building: Hire great and good people. Try not to hire mediocre or poor performers (you will, but respectfully move them on and learn from it). Unite the entire team behind executing your vision, and know how to get the best out of them. Build a culture around that vision so that everyone owns their part in realising it. 🧠 Strategic Involvement: Know when to delegate and when to dive deep. Know when you need to make the call on key decisions, and when the decisions are not key to strategy and can be delegated 🎓 Continuous Learning: Listen, and seek feedback, critique and new ideas and get your ego out of your own way. Transition from founder to scale-up leader ⚠ Warning Signs The transition from solely 'founder mode' to enabling growth and scale is one of the hardest shifts a founder can make. Some can't do it and insist on being involved in every detail, unable to identify and prioritise when they need to get into the weeds, and when they can leave the detail to others. But learning to delegate early is essential for scaling. ⚠"It's faster if I do it myself" ⚠Inability to delegate any aspect of "your baby" ⚠Trying to "do it all" and don't see the opportunity cost (at the cost of growth) The Scaling Mindset 🥇The best founders (I'm looking at you!) focus on their unique skills, lead with vision, know what and when to prioritise getting into the weeds and when not to, and they always empower and support others. 📈 Remember: true scaling happens when you grow both your company and your leadership style. Together, you’ll scale far beyond what you could achieve alone. If you are or know someone eager to learn entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in healthcare - CICA Lab - Clinician Incubator Clinician Accelerator next cohort kicks off next week. Only a few places remain! #StartupLeadership #FounderJourney #ScalingUp #Startups #Entrepreneurship #FounderMode #Leadership #Scaling #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #PaulGraham #StartupCulture #VC

21

3 Comments

Why Great Operators Often Make Terrible Founders Last week, while recording the Skip Podcast with Shreyas Doshi (https://lnkd.in/gja2PeuZ), I shared an insight that explains why some of the most successful operators struggle as founders, while others with seemingly less impressive track records thrive. It all comes down to two pens on your desk: black and red. 🖊️ The Red Pen Operator: - Excels at refining existing ideas - Masters the art of strategic improvement - Thrives in scaling environments - Commands high compensation - Builds on existing momentum 🖋️ The Black Pen Creator: - Faces the blank whiteboard fearlessly - Embraces the vulnerability of first drafts - Generates original hypotheses - Builds without existing tailwinds - Creates their own momentum Here's the career-defining insight: Your success as an operator might actually be inversely correlated with your potential as a founder. Why? Because large companies pay a premium for red pen skills. The higher you climb, the more you're rewarded for your ability to spot flaws, refine strategies, and optimize existing systems. You become masterful at surfing waves – but founding requires you to create the wave itself. A personal example: I've watched a brilliant CPO struggle mightily as a founder, while a "less polished" product manager built a $100M business. The difference? The CPO had mastered the red pen but feared the blank whiteboard. The PM embraced the messy first draft. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: If you find yourself frustrated in large organizations because you prefer creating from scratch rather than refining others' work – you might have the founder gene. 🔑 Key Takeaway: Your success as a founder doesn't depend on your ability to perfect existing systems. It depends on your comfort with imperfect creation. Want to dive deeper into this framework? Join Shreyas and me as we unpack the complete matrix for operator-to-founder transitions. Full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gAdgtm3x 💡 Follow me for more insights on the intersection of product leadership and founding success.

571

40 Comments

New podcast episode with Varun Anand co-founder at Clay We talked about how he joined Clay as a co-founder ~3 years in (see clip below), Clay's journey from $0 revenue and no PMF to 2+ years of 10x growth and next-level PMF. This company and product has some of the most insane PMF I've ever seen. Also covered a a few other topics with Varun including: - How he cold-emailed his way into a job on Hillary Clinton's campaign - Tech career pre-Clay - Why B2B SaaS is boring but his first time using Clay's product felt like Magic - Joining Clay 3 years into the companies journey as an advisor and eventually becoming a co-founder. (not a typical path to being a founder) - The initial customer vertical that led to Clay's early PMF. - Why focus is a super-power. - His views on commitment in life and career. + more... --- One thing especially stood out to me about Varun. In preparation for the interview, I asked multiple mutuals with Varun for ideas on questions / topics to discuss with him. I was blown away at how many people loved and respected this guy. Multiple folks told me that he's dramatically impacted their lives for the better or had some story about him going out of his way to help them. Rare to see that. This conversation with Varun is one of the best episodes we've recorded so far in my opinion. Check it out and let us know what you think. Full links to Youtube, Spotify, Apple, etc. in the comments. 👇

58

17 Comments

I am always amazed when someone discovers whitespace in B2B SaaS that is eligible for pre-seed funding. It's interesting to see that Chiratae Ventures led Pre-Seed round for Pepsales. Pepsales is trying to help B2B SaaS companies improve their sales by creating personalized product demos using AI and ML. The pain point they are trying to address is that most demos don't impress buyers because they tend to be generic and one-size-fits-all. Congrats Ajay Singh and Abhinandan Sahgal! Source: INC42, Entrackr, VCCircle #VentureCapital #B2BSaas

16

5 Comments

Here's my two cents takeaway from the contrast between ride-hailing players like Uber/Ola and #NammaYatri. While #Uber and #Ola have often leaned towards ambiguity in their offerings (not showing the riders whether the #cab would allow for the AC to be turned On or Not) - I guess to likely avoid deterring customers or impacting their brand image - Namma Yatri has taken the transparent approach. How? Namma Yatri clearly distinguishes between AC and non-AC cabs on its platform, giving #customers the chance to make an informed choice upfront. This move though seemingly small is a refreshing change from the lack of clarity that has sometimes plagued the larger players in the space.  Note: Having the AC on in cabs not defined as "AC cabs" would mean the cost is passed on to the drivers, thereby lowering their margin. Whereas cabs marked "AC Cabs" are slightly more expensive with no room for ambiguity.  This article highlights how Namma Yatri, by being upfront about their offerings,  empowers customers to make the best decision for their needs, rather than trying to obscure the details. This emphasis on transparency is a smart strategic move --also, you would see less fights over AC between drivers and riders! P.S. this in no way defines which service is better overall; just a spotlight on a feature that seems to be making life easier for both riders and #drivers. Read the full story 👇 https://lnkd.in/gDhGUXSm

6

✨ Chet Kapoor ✨ is quite the Silicon Valley legend. Three-time founder and currently the CEO of DataStax his wisdom for founders is incredibly spot-on ✅ and timeless ⏰ ! In this most recent and probably best-ever episode of The Enterprise GTM podcast, Chet discusses what it takes to build enduring tech companies. Some 🎤 soundbites 🎤 from our conversation: 👩‍🏫 The quality of people influences the outcome of your startup the most. 🔥 You do not need smart people who sit around and pontificate. ☄ Momentum is everything. Never underestimate it. 🌟 Having complete clarity of thought at any given time is very important--who are you doing this for, and how will it change their lives? 🌈 One of the best ways to create a large company is to create a parade or join one. ☝ Know who you are. There's a high likelihood that the company will become more like who you are rather than who you want to be. 🛑 Don't make the mistake of hiring sales execs too soon. Be extra cautious about partnerships. 📣 Tune in to hear about what he has to say about AI startups getting started today, the future of the data layer, the evolving importance of data roles (data science, data engineering), and so much more! #devtool #founder #startup #data #ai https://lnkd.in/gW-58nvE

31

1 Comment

Weekly Recap 1. Recorded an episode with Arun Antony of YE Stack - They have a very interesting hypothesis 2. Talked with Arav Behl building BuilderCast podcast 3. Talked with Adil building WeCrack Cohort 4. Preparing for a big episode today Ft. Co Founder of Blume Ventures 5. Received a really kind message from an upcoming guest 6. Received an encouraging message from Amrit Sheneva building Flashmates, Hiremart, and more Next week is going to be an interesting one

8

2 Comments

if you know, you know Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures. nerd. founder. wise. man. been there done that sv. wisdom. it's missing. let's face it. it's always been missing over time. for.ever. so it's a blessing truly to have an o.g. that keeps it for reals. yes we are a fan. much like Jensen Huang Fei-Fei Li ilya sutskever ...and other good people in sv. they are the ones who make this place so special. indeed they do. here https://lnkd.in/exWqey9K we have sam i am that's all that i am sam (alt)man having a 1-1 with the man. this is a must watch to provide a foundational (no llm required here) mindset as to how sv is at it's best (and worse). caution. watch out for the truth bombs. vinod is (in)famous for this style and we <love> him for it. thank g-d he exists. if you meet the dbags in sf/bayarea your experience you will be quickly lonely, dazed and confused. best to listen to these wise words from vinod and from that determine your spot in the sv landscape. with an insight on the sv playbook from a master. well. need i say more. it's about the very spirit of sv that makes it so special. and this is indeed embodied in a few who are masters. deserve our attention. yeah. yeah. i know attention is all you need. although what happens if your attention is being distracted from building. being in the company of those who will join your mission ala brian chesky of Airbnb. missionaries. search for the good missionaries in sv. keep away and keep in mind of the mercenaries. they are there. pg. he's another gift (as opposed to the grifters) paul graham wrote about this too https://lnkd.in/eEYmQwqZ - being a chesky-esque missionary. these are good things to follow on the path of achieving escape velocity as an (ai) startup. oh. hollywood has entered the ranks of sv. yes it has. so there is a bit of performance art that is required. not enough that you've created something that's novel (truly, novel). also requires a bit of showmanship. audacious in fact. it's a well known sentiment that audacious ideas motivate people. sun microsystems. audacious. juniper. audacious. OpenAI. vinod as an early investor. audacious. Vinod Khosla was born audacious. so fitting he found a place in this world where many have benefitted from this sentiment. perhaps years ago a bit on the abrasive side. now with those white hairs. the elder statesman. non-diplomat. rules, the roost of that which allows for others to flourish. note if you manage to thread the needle of vinod means that it's a very very very good beginning. nothing is guaranteed of course. as my lawyer 'friends' like to say. * buyer beware. be aware. Vinod Khosla is. are you (ai)? are you?? perhaps yes. perhaps, non. < . >

Founder blows up $22bn edtech startup to zero. 0️⃣ Founder runs away and hides in Dubai. 🛩 👻 Founder blames investors. 😯 In this situation, what words other than f*%k come to your mind? 👇 👇 👇 I present to you Loot and Thug - today’s Indian origin words that are commonly used in the English language. This is the 4th weekly edition of such words. Please repost and share with your friends if you like this. Words from the last 3 weeks are at the bottom of this post. LOOT: The term loot is primarily derived from the Hindi word lūṭ, which means "booty" or "spoils of war." The Hindi term can be traced back to the Sanskrit words loptra meaning "booty" or luṇṭ which translates to "to rob" or "plunder". Loot can be used as a noun as in booty (not that booty), or as a verb to carry off or take something. The adoption of this word into English occurred when India was a British colony. The earliest recorded use of loot in English dates back to 1802, when it was defined in a military context as an "Indian term for plunder or pillage." By the 1920s, its figurative meaning had developed further within American English. An example of its use in modern slang is “stash the loot.” THUG: Originates from the Hindi word ṭhag meaning "swindler, thief, cheat" and is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word sthaga meaning "cunning, fraudulent." The first use of the term goes back to the 14th century and referred to a gang or network of criminals operating around India’s main roads. The first recorded English use was in 1810 to refer to members of the Thuggee gang. Like loot the adoption of this word occurred when India was a British colony. In modern usage it typically refers to a violent criminal or bully. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the UK used it to describe everyone from unruly football fans to people involved in race riots. The word thug actually rebounded in American popular culture, thanks in part to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It has also been adopted in hip-hop culture since the 1990s, sometimes with more positive connotations of resilience, like by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. But it continues to retain strong negative connotations as well outside of its original cultural context and use PLEASE REPOST AND SHARE with friends if you enjoyed reading this. Last week we covered Musk and Juggernaut. In previous weeks we have talked about Orange, Candy, Khaki, Shampoo, Jungle and Pepper... all words of Indian origin commonly used in the English language. You can find the previous posts on my timeline. In closing, did the edtech founder do something wrong? Until the courts decide, he is innocent until proven otherwise. CAN YOU GUESS WHO IS THIS FOUNDER?

30

11 Comments

Sometimes I see team members in startups row in different directions, or the target keeps changing, or worse, the CEO blows in with a fresh and shiny idea and redirects energy away from work already in progress. These are all symptoms of needing a more thoughtful approach to setting priorities. Some prompts below to help leaders think through how to talk about this subtle but important part of the business:

15

4 Comments

Aspiring entrepreneurs often ask me about that 'one thing' that can make a business successful, and I respond with the question - "What is that 'one problem' you are solving?" In my latest opinion article for Times Now, I articulate the essential need for a clear purpose to propel your business forward along with ways in which modern-age data science and technology can contribute to creating an impact-driven business within the healthcare industry. Do read the full article now! https://lnkd.in/g7ca7SjQ #timesnow #opinion #entrepreneurship #business #data #AI #purpose #healthcare #healthtech 

46

2 Comments