Vikram Chalana

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝗱, 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Charming, brilliant, and hilarious—Huggy Hayagreeva Rao had the Sand Technologies team glued to our seats during our most recent company-wide "Thursday Late Discussion" session. Huggy is the co-author of "Scaling Up Excellence" and a professor of Organizational Behaviour at Stanford University. So when he speaks, we're all ears. One of the key takeaways that really struck a chord with us was Huggy's perspective on scaling excellence. He described it as "multiplying curiosity with generosity." Huggy pointed out that as companies grow, they often fall into the trap of "addition bias" and "time poverty." We just can't help but pile on more and more, until we're so overwhelmed that our curiosity and generosity take a backseat. Next thing you know, we're just going through the motions, feeling depleted, and lacking that sense of accountability. But the truth is that scaling isn't just about addition. In fact, sometimes it's about smart subtraction. We need to identify and remove the obstacles that stifle our team's ability to be curious and generous. When people are in that mindset, magic happens, problems get solved, everyone brings their A-game, and we all go home feeling energized rather than drained. Also, subtraction is like mowing the lawn: it's not a one-and-done deal—you've got to keep at it regularly. It's not just about efficiency, but about giving our team the gift of time, which inspires them to reciprocate with their best efforts. We have been on a massive scaling journey over the last three years. Our operations have grown from one site to 30 sites and the number of engineers we are developing has grown by 5,000X (which if my math is correct is about 500,000%). We are just getting started, so we’re always curious about what we need to do as an organization to maintain our scale, and not lose quality, dynamism, agility, and our innovative spirit. The team is already lobbying for Huggy to host our TLD every week 😄—a testament to how insightful, thought-provoking, and relatable his lessons are. We have homework, though; time to put these ideas to work and start scaling up excellence.

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🌟 India’s Incredible Contributions to AI in the U.S. 🌟 Did you know that Indian innovators are leading the charge in building some of the largest AI-focused billion-dollar companies in the U.S.? 🇮🇳✨ Here are some remarkable achievements: 🔸 HighRadius – Valued at $3.10 Billion 🔸 Uniphore – Valued at $2.5 Billion 🔸 Eightfold.ai – Valued at $2.2 Billion 🔸 Moveworks – Valued at $2 Billion 🔸 H2O.ai – Valued at $1.5 Billion 🔸 Cambridge Mobile Telematics – Valued at $1.5 Billion 🔸 SparkCognition – Valued at $1.4 Billion 🔸 SeekOut – Valued at $1.2 Billion These companies are transforming industries with cutting-edge AI technologies, thanks to Indian founders and co-founders. India’s talent continues to redefine global innovation in technology and artificial intelligence. 🚀 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #India #Innovation #TechLeadership #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Technology #GlobalImpact #IndianTech

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Don’t mess with the Aunties! Great discussion at The Tech Aunties Podcast -Thank you again! Autonomize AI is leading this transformation of healthcare operations with #AI and we can’t wait to share more stories of how AI can lower the cost of care, improve the quality of care and transform the patient experience! Every industry, and especially healthcare has the opportunity to completely reimagine its business models with AI.

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Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor's book AI Snake Oil reminded me of Epic's epic fail in sepsis prediction, but also renews the question of why health systems continue to believe the 'Epic will do it' mantra. The fact that it didn't work is fine. A lot of things don't work out of the gate. Sepsis is a leading cause of death and this was a starting point for many data science efforts. The fact that Epic was claiming high efficacy of the model when in fact it was barely better than random guesses is certainly more problematic (and we owe some gratitude to UMich for doing the validation work). What's even more unforgiveable, though, was Epic using financial incentives to drive adoption of a useless and potentially harmful prediction model. Why harmful? Well if it's not much better than random guesses then it's likely some patients were miscategorized. Did Epic know and make false claims? Or were they incompetent in their evaluations? Neither is great. This behavior would normally erode trust. But the 'Epic will do it' argument continues, as Epic continues to consume so much of IS budgets while health systems are essentially held hostage to a vendor that may do some things well, but not most things. Addressing both financial and outcome challenges in health systems will require a more informed approach to identifying best in class and a rejection of the 'Epic will do it' mindset. That's still a big hill to climb.

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🚨Announcement Alert🚨 SaaS Insider is super excited to announce Jaya Kishore Reddy as a speaker for DEVCON24! Jaya Kishore Reddy is the Co Founder and CTO of Yellow.ai.  Yellow.ai provides an AI platform for automating customer support experiences across chat and voice. Jaya Kishore has a strong background in Rapid Prototyping and Scaling. He has previously worked with companies like Myntra, and SemanticBits. Having built and scaled various engineering teams, Jaya Kishore will be bringing valuable insights to DEVCON24! Thank you for coming on board, Jaya Kishore! If you are interested in being a part of the conference, please register using the link in comments. #DEVCON24 #community #founder #investor #saas #tech Hari Akshay

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INSURANCE : IN NEED & READY FOR DISRUPTION ——————————————————————————- We often associate ‘financial exclusion’ with lack of access to banking & credit facilities. However, lack of access to insurance is a significant (larger ?) gap. Insurance underwriting models haven’t evolved much in over a century and are dominated by a handful of reinsurers. A reinsurer sitting thousands of miles away is determining the insurability & insurance premium….. • Top 5 = 43% of total premium ($ 174 bn) - Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re, Canada Life Re & Berkshire Hathaway • Top 10 = 64% ($ 255bn) • Top 20 = 80% Reinsurance market concentration : Top 10 Reinsurers : 1980 = 22% 2022 = 64% This sector is ripe for disruption with #AI - making insurance accessible & affordable to ALL. #FinancialInclusion #insurance #AI #ResponsibleAI #AIforGood #reinsurance

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Insights gleaned from industry leaders is a solid strategy hack, and that’s especially true for this paradigm shift to the dominance of #AI technology. Recently, Manas Human, the CEO of Nagarro spoke with Mark Walker, Editorial Director of The Fintech Times to provide his own perspectives on his company, his life story, and his take on current technological and societal issues. There’s plenty to take away from the profile — but to focus on his take on artificial intelligence specifically, Human likened the advent of AI to electricity, which I think is a unique way to put it. Basically, Human believes AI has the potential to revolutionize various sectors of the industry, but it will not likely replace the need for human collaboration and coordination. #Communication is vital to any workforce, and while AI can expedite processes and automate certain tasks, it cannot provide the #guidance that human wisdom offers. I echo and appreciate Human’s words. A lot of discussion around AI can often be hyperbolic, but his perspective is measured, and fair. He acknowledges AI’s power but also stresses the importance of human perspective, which is the healthiest way to approach this topic. Have you read this conversation between Manas Human and Mark Walker? What are your takeaways?

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🌟 Vinod Khosla is one of the most successful and influential venture capitalists, known for founding Sun Microsystems and Khosla Ventures. He has invested in major companies like Square, Stripe, DoorDash, and Instacart. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐥𝐚: 1. You may be closer to a yes than you think. 2. Get the goose, not the golden egg. 3. Expect resistance to innovative ideas. 4. Remember, your job is to sell. Take a look at the top resources from Khosla below from the link. #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Startups #Leadership

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The journey at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 continues to amaze! 🚀 Today, we connected with WIZ AI, a company revolutionizing conversational AI, and Pranav Foundation, a VR innovator based in Jayanagar, pushing the boundaries of immersive technology. Such interactions reinforce the value of tech summits—not just as a space for innovation but as a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration. Networking here opens up avenues to explore cutting-edge solutions, build strategic partnerships, and drive impactful sales. Excited to see how these connections help Amilo AI scale new heights and contribute to transformative advancements in technology. #BTS2024 #VRInnovation #ConversationalAI #Networking #AmiloAI Advantages of Networking and Collaboration at Tech Summits: Innovative Synergies: Discover complementary technologies and solutions for mutual growth. Lead Generation: Access potential clients or collaborators in niche markets. Local Insights: Collaborate with local leaders like Pranav Foundation to leverage region-specific expertise. Product Evolution: Gain feedback to refine your solutions and make them market-ready. Tech Inspiration: Learn from others’ success stories and apply innovative methods to your domain. Wizard AI

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Unlocking AI Excellence Through GCCs Alex Balazs, CTO of Intuit recently shared how their India Development Center is driving innovation: “Our talented team of ~2,000 in Bangalore has made significant progress in leveraging AI to enhance all aspects of our customer experience… Intuit India is one of our fastest-growing sites, thanks to the deep local talent pool.” I, as part of Intuit, had the privilege of leading the setup of Intuit India Development Center back in 2005, partnering with Zinnov to make it a reality. Today, it’s inspiring to see how the center has become a critical hub for AI, software engineering, and data expertise, shaping Intuit’s global success. For companies looking to accelerate AI adoption, GCCs offer access to skilled professionals, scalable talent pipelines, and the opportunity to build a competitive edge. Why wait? Build your AI teams in a GCC and lead the future of innovation. #AI #GCC #Innovation #GlobalTalent #FutureReady

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When Gujarat’s leaders stepped onto the national stage, they brought the state’s vision, discipline, and growth-oriented mindset to India. Their leadership not only elevated Gujarat’s presence but also set the foundation for national transformation, proving that strong regional representation can lead to collective progress. Today, in the ICAI elections, Surat has a similar opportunity to shine. With dynamic and capable leaders like Jay Chhaira and CA Ishwar Jivani (Jivani Ishwarkumar Ramjibhai), Surat can bring its unparalleled spirit of innovation, resilience, and growth to the forefront of ICAI’s future. Just as Gujarat’s leaders transformed India, Surat’s representation can transform the ICAI, ensuring progress for members across the country. Let’s make this moment count—vote for Surat, vote for growth, vote for Jay Chhaira and Ishwar Jivani. #LeadershipMatters #SuratForICAI #ICAI2024Elections #VoteForProgress #JayChhaira #IshwarJivani #SuratLeadership #VisionForGrowth #FutureOfICAI #StrongRepresentation #SuratShines #EmpowerLeadership #ICAIChangeMakers #VoteForChange #GujaratToIndia #SuratToICAI #ProfessionalExcellence #LeadersFromSurat #ICAIInnovation #TogetherWeGrow

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Our mission at Glorious is to help care organisations to achieve better outcomes and make aging glorious. So today, Junus and I are stoked to announce that we are working with Dr. Habib Chaudhury and Dr. Heather Cooke as the technology partner to adapt the Person Oriented Environment Tool (POET) for the Asian market. This collaboration will tailor POET to meet the unique needs of care facilities across Asia, aiming to enhance resident care and well-being. 💖 Developed in 2024 by Dr. Chaudhury, Professor at Simon Fraser University, and Dr. Cooke, Manager at the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia, POET assesses physical environments in care settings to identify features that impact residents’ behavior and social interactions. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, POET is designed to improve life quality for long-term care residents. 💖 We see this partnership as key to expanding POET’s impact globally, and believe POET will significantly benefit care facilities in Asia, just as it has in Canada. This partnership allows us to enhance care environments worldwide, and adapting POET for Asia is a major step forward. 💖 The adaptation process will include field testing, cultural reviews, and localized training. Glorious will integrate POET into its software solutions, providing a comprehensive tool for environmental assessment and improvement. This partnership will allow us to rigorously evaluate and refine our AI-powered platform to revolutionize affordable care delivery. The care industry is moving towards value-based care, and Glorious is at the forefront of this shift. By providing validated tools for care, we are building a strong case for positive care outcomes enabled by technology. Key aspects of the study include: ⭐ Assessing improvements in care environments in Asia through Glorious' care network ⭐ Measuring reduction in care worker burnout using validated assessment tools ⭐ Evaluating the effectiveness of Glorious' AI-driven care worker tools About Glorious Glorious provides innovative care operations software to enhance care facility efficiency and effectiveness worldwide. About Dr. Habib Chaudhury Dr. Habib Chaudhury is a Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University, specializing in the impact of environments on older adults in long-term care. About Dr. Heather Cooke Dr. Heather Cooke is Manager of Research & Knowledge Mobilization at the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia, focusing on social and environmental factors affecting individuals with dementia.

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The NASSCOM Innotrek Experience #9 / 101 In 2015, ActOnMagic was selected to participate in NASSCOM Innotrek, a special program where NASSCOM connects startups with global VCs. It was a wonderful program that provided exposure to TiE Silicon Valley and its ecosystem. We visited the offices of Google, Facebook, Y Combinator, and attended insightful sessions on building startups. These experiences were vital and provided founders with much-needed confidence. As a bootstrapping startup, I hustled a lot (like many other founders). I want to thank my friend Sambath and his family for hosting me at their residence for a week. I recall one VC who shared boldly about how VCs make money and how they choose to spend their time. If I remember correctly, VCs get a percentage of the funds they manage. If they return multiple X returns, they make multiples of that percentage. VCs focus on finding companies that can give 10x, 100x returns. At TiE Silicon Valley, the startup booths were very powerful! I learned lots of marketing tips. I remember a guy wearing a big backpack with messages about his startup and contact details on the outer side. Great exposure! An invaluable experience was travelling with other 39 startup founders in the bus, learning from their experiences and NASSCOM volunteers Reference: https://lnkd.in/gHJRXnxs Have a great day! #vc #startupstory #founder #actonmagic #sweetmantra #siliconvalley #Facebook #google #ycombinator #nasscom #innotrek

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[Funding Announcement] We are excited to announce our third funding round in Digireha’s fourth year, under the pre-Series A2 designation. This round of funding was underwritten by One Capital, Beta Venture Capital, Kamakura Investment, Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, and Hibishin Capital. Our total funds raised to date have now reached 440 million yen. We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with new investors who resonate deeply with our vision. They are investors who wish to experience with us the process of launching a business, building a team, delivering products, growing revenue, and creating a shared worldview with our customers. Reaching the point of investment execution after months of exchanging ideas and intensive discussions was only possible thanks to the invaluable efforts of not only these investors and myself but also our management, sales, research, development, and international expansion teams, along with the board members. Now in our fourth year, Digireha, which once set sail on a seemingly fragile ship, has begun to gain momentum and is ready to expand beyond Japan to the global market. No matter how large we grow, we are committed to serving both each individual in front of us and envisioning a path toward reaching 2.4 billion people worldwide that needs rehabilitation. Thank you for your continued support! Main Investors: One Capital, Beta Venture Capital, Kamakura Investment, Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Hibishin Capital, Taliki, Value Create, Hachijuni Capital, Future Venture Capital (Shinshu Startup & Succession Support Fund, Higashi Nihon Bank Regional Business Revitalization Fund, Kanshin Business Succession & Future Fund GP), Paramount Bed (PARAMOUNT BED-SBI Healthcare Fund No.1), Seibu Shinkin Capital. https://lnkd.in/gH45AQJ8

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🚀 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐀𝐈! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce the launch of RagaAI Inc 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭, an automated evaluation platform with state-of-the-art metrics that show 93% alignment with human feedback. RagaAI Catalyst offers GenAI builders three key capabilities off the shelf 👇 1. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐋𝐌 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 - Evaluation metrics that align with human feedback and are optimized for cost. 2. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 - Coverage across all risk factors associated with LLM applications like hallucinations, safety, security and robustness with actionable recommendations 3. 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐧-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - Seamless installation and integration for the enterprise in minutes RagaAI's F500 customers are already deploying GenAI solutions with confidence using RagaAI Catalyst. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 www.raga.ai to learn more and 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 to access RagaAI Catalyst. #AIEvaluation #GenAI #LLM #RagaAI #AIQuality #AIInnovation #TechLaunch #AIExcellence #AITesting #RAG

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Gaming is notoriously hard for vendors to break into - so why did Modulate choose to start our journey there? It really comes down to two reasons: 1. Strategically, gaming is *hard mode.* There are few challenges in conversational understanding tougher than distinguishing between desirable banter and trash talk vs genuine harm. So by starting here - and continuing to keep a top priority of solve these problems incredibly well for top brands like Call of Duty and Rec Room - we've been able to prove to the world that our AI is truly built different. 2. Even more fundamentally, though, it comes down to passion. We're a team of gamers who have all personally experienced the incredible moments and connections gaming can bring - as well as with the ways games can be co-opted by bad actors to ruin that experience. There are lots of other applications that we're excited to pursue and unlock, but few things that can create as much personal joy as helping the games we all love to offer an even richer experience.

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Interesting and relatable piece by Nutgraf / The Ken Praveen Gopal Krishnan in my inbox today. Few VCs balance this line well, even fewer can project an authentic narrative of what they actually do. In my observation of actions, a VC is a financier first and last, and anything else is marketing until proven otherwise. #vc #startups #india #founder

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Today's the day! Leading a 90-minute workshop on Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) hosted by Fluxgen in collaboration with JOP. This interactive session will bring together a dynamic group of founders to explore practical strategies for effectively implementing OKRs within their organizations. Special thanks to our client FluxGen & Ganesh Shankar for organizing this. Looking forward to a productive session! #OKRs #Workshop #Fluxgen #JOP #GoalSetting #BusinessStrategy

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