Raja Ganapathy’s Post

This girl COMPLETELY changed my career trajectory. My daughter Emi became 9 years old this week. 9 years ago, I was a little lost at a Y Combinator startup company that I had joined when it was still in the seed stage, operating in a humble office. By then, the company raised close to $100M and grew to have 300 employees. I missed the impact I could make as an individual as much as the appreciation I had to the bigger team. Then, my wife predicted as we felt the kicks in her round tummy. She said I would gain a totally new perspective when the baby was born. She was right. The experience of childbirth had a profound effect on me. I took 11 weeks of paternity leave, although it took a negotiation with the startup management. Then I switched my position to a data scientist so I can do more deep analysis instead of shooting down one product backlog after another as an engineer. Eventually, I left the startup and became a solopreneur to serve more startups with data challenges while enjoying the flexibility of being an independent business owner. Since then, I never missed an important moment with her. Now, she has grown and started to explore more on her own, freeing up my time and energy. But it was the best transformation I experienced, and I made the best decision to start a business. #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #softwareengineering #dataengineering #datascience #startups

🚀 How Shark Tank Changed the Game: Finding the Perfect Co-founder After 3 Years 🚀 Three years of relentless pursuit, countless discussions, and navigating the challenges of a bootstrapped startup... and then came Shark Tank India. Prior to our appearance on the show, I single-handedly managed all operations of DesignTemplate, dreaming of expansion but often held back by budget constraints. Despite my efforts to attract top tech leaders as CTOs, our limited resources often led discussions to dead ends. But Shark Tank changed everything. With a deal secured from the insightful Aman Gupta, doors that were once closed swung wide open. Suddenly, I had the opportunity to assemble a team of 3-5 experienced CTOs, individuals whose expertise had previously been out of our reach due to salary limitations. The negotiations were tough; these professionals commanded six-figure packages, far beyond what our startup could afford. However, one standout candidate, Harish Mahamure, demonstrated unparalleled commitment. Not only did he agree to forgo a salary for the first year or until we generated revenue, but we found a middle ground that allowed him to receive a basic salary, showcasing his belief in our vision. But the blessings didn't stop there. Through our newfound partnership with Microsoft Azure, we received a Microsoft 1Cr credit, empowering us to build a scalable model capable of accommodating millions of users effortlessly. In the startup world, finding the perfect co-founder is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. But thanks to Shark Tank and the journey of the past three years, I can proudly say we've struck gold. Together, we're poised for incredible growth, ready to make waves in the world of design and technology. Grateful for every step of this journey, and excited for what lies ahead. 💼💡 #SharkTankSuccess #DesignTemplate #TechInnovation #CoFounderJourney

My time was up.  At 40 years old, I left a comfortable exec position at a fast-growing unicorn.  Not having a single clue of what my next move was going to be. I knew I did not want to join a startup as an early executive. I knew how brutal this journey had been early on (working 80-100 hours a week) - and how lucky I had been. I knew my personality clashes with CEOs too often, and it takes a toll on me mentally. Becoming a serial startup exec was not a viable career path for me. So I could be a founder, but top echelon founders I had met or invested in (Daniel Yanisse, Ivan Zhao, Sean Harper, Aaron DeBevoise) are obsessed with the problem they are solving and completely fine dedicating 10-20 years of their lives to it. I am not made out of the same cloth.  I don’t have that level of single-focus intensity. I am not as strong a product person as they are. No way I could be that (and I did not know about the bootstrapped movement at the time). So I could become a VC - I had been a good angel investor and dabbled into becoming a more formal investor thanks to Angel List with a small fund. It was interesting, but I was miserable doing it full-time. I missed the camaraderie of Company building. I had FOMO all the time which clouded my assessment of startups. I knew that I did not have the mindset some of the best VCs I observed had. Around the same time, I discovered the framework of the four types of luck - and asked myself: 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳 - 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵? A year prior, I had encountered Constellation Software: they built a really large Company out of acquiring smaller software businesses over a long period of time. They think long term- they buy companies never to sell them - but in the end have built a real Company - just operating hundreds of different software. Stepping back, I thought if I were to stay in tech, it was my path. It took me a few years to figure out how I was going to do it - but this is how I ended-up starting Noosa Labs - finding the right path for me at 45 years old! My message: it’s never too late.

#StartupNews 🚀: After leading FrontRow, Ishaan Preet Singh takes the investor's seat, rejoining Lightspeed India. Shifting Gears: Ishaan Preet Singh, co-founder of edtech startup FrontRow, is transitioning from entrepreneur to investor. He's rejoined Lightspeed India, where he'll focus on identifying and supporting promising early-stage ventures across consumer internet and AI sectors. Back to his Roots: Singh's entrepreneurial journey sparked a passion for helping others build companies. He shared, "During my sabbatical after FrontRow, I found myself drawn back to the world of investing. Mentoring and supporting friends building their dreams solidified my desire to be back on the investment side." Lightspeed Gains Momentum: Singh's appointment comes at a time of change for Lightspeed India. Abhishek Nag, a former partner, stepped down two months ago. Singh's expertise and fresh perspective will undoubtedly add value to the firm's investment strategies. What's Next?: This move signifies Singh's continued dedication to the startup ecosystem. His experience as an entrepreneur combined with his investment background positions him well to identify and support future game-changers. Stay tuned to see which innovative startups capture his attention at Lightspeed India. #IshanPreetSingh #LightspeedIndia #Investment #EarlyStage #ConsumerInternet #AI #Buildingbusinesses #BPlanadvisors

Ask anyone who's prepped for VC interviews, and odds are they'll mention Blume Ventures' resources as their cheat code for understanding venture capital before landing the role. These resources helped me (and many others) ace interviews and gain a clear view of what working in VC is all about 🙏🏼 Thrilled to host Sajith Pai, Partner at Blume Ventures, for an AMA on Grapevine this Thursday at 7 PM! Sajith’s writings have inspired countless founders, investors, and operators to rethink what it takes to build a high-growth startup in India. A great example is the anticipation around his famous Indus Valley Report—most founders, operators, and investors dive into it the moment it's dropped every year! Founders, operators, and VC enthusiasts, this is your chance to ask Sajith anything: from fundraising advice to his views on PMF to his take on the evolving VC landscape in India. Thursday, 7 PM – Ask Sajith Anything, only on Grapevine! :) Grapevine App: Work, Salary & News

I hit rock bottom in 2022. After pitching our startup to over 85 investors, rejection became a daily routine. Sales were up, we were cash-positive, but nothing materialized. The doubt started creeping in—had I made the wrong call? Was this dream really worth the sacrifice? Back in 2017, Azelerator Mobility Private Limited was just an idea I kept refining in the background. Countless business plans, insights from automotive leaders, and years of planning were wrapped up in it. But there was no movement until I crossed paths with Mr. Rajesh. RAJESH M wasn’t just interested in hearing about Azelerator; he wanted in. This wasn’t a small decision for him—he was giving up a stable career, a reputation he had spent years building, and a comfortable life. But his passion for technology and willingness to take a chance convinced me that this was the right moment. In April 2022, we both took the leap. We quit our jobs, put everything on the line, and got to work. But things didn’t go as planned. Despite our early success, securing investment proved impossible. After months of effort, we had zero funding and were on the verge of giving up. Then, a twist of fate happened. Mr. Vasu Guruswamy, a seasoned venture capitalist who had once torn apart my business plan in a four-hour masterclass, stepped back into the picture—this time as an investor. His belief in our mission reignited the fire within us, and soon after, we closed our pre-seed round. The lesson? It’s not just the idea that matters; it’s about finding the right people who believe in the journey, even when things look bleak. RAJESH M is that person for me—a co-founder who transformed a daunting dream into a shared mission. We’ve only just begun, but Azelerator Mobility Private Limited ‘s story is proof that the real magic happens when you refuse to quit. 💡 #startup #entrepreneurship #resilience #founders #automotive #venturecapital #teamwork

I'm officially launching my new business today: Early Stage Labs. We help Seed and Series A startups level up with fractional execs in finance + growth. If you need the horsepower and execution of an experienced operator but don't want to add heavy FTE burn to your runway, I'd love to see if we can support you. We have been quietly building in 2024 and are up to 11 CFOs and 5 growth folks on the team. We can't wait to roll up our sleeves and get into it. Learn more about what we're doing here: https://lnkd.in/eddDSWCn -- I was out on a walk with my wife back in 2018. I had been running a bootstrapped startup for a few years and was talking to her about a pivot we were making. She asked me what it was that I loved about the business I was building. Simple question, but I paused and had to spend a few days thinking about it. I remember coming back to her and telling her how much I love the art and the act of creating something from nothing. How it’s difficult and nuanced and sometimes even feels impossible. But how - when you get it right - man, it can feel like magic. I’ve built and sold a few businesses since then. We sold our last one to Healthline in 2021. I then jumped to the other side of the table and I’ve been the General Partner of a seed-stage venture fund since 2022. I love deals. I love getting into the hard and dirty parts of a business that can really move the needle. And I love delighting customers. I’m a scrappy, gritty founder who loves finding high impact + low burn ways to move businesses forward, and I think I’ve found that here. I think we’re really doing that for our customers. Early Stage Labs is a love letter, of sorts, to this beautiful, treacherous, wondrous world of startups that I’ve - for some strange f’ing reason - made my home over the last two decades. Here’s to the ride.

Have a burning question about startup life? Each month Sequoia Capital's Zoe Jervier Hewitt answers a question submitted by a Sifted reader: 👉 What's a portfolio career and do I want one? 👉 Should I quit my job? 👉 How do I get a job in VC? 👉 How do I get a job at a startup? 👉 I was recently laid off by my startup. What should I do? Links to Zoe's responses in comments. Send your questions to: [email protected] #startuplife

This post may hurt your sentiments if you are an early stage investor, read at your own emotional risk 🤖 . . . . . Looks like there is a rat-race going into the early stage VC ecosystem of India, every random tom, dick and harry is a self-claimed early-stage investor, with some cool dudes from Top B schools and engineering institution's students as analysts, who don't seem to enthusiast in understanding what to ask as a quality screening questions, rather than they keep bubbling into their own limited knowledge, and some rehearsed script 😅 Initially when we tried to go on fundraising in 2022, I met with many early stage VC firms so called "analysts", I was so pumped with excitement, and thought I am going to nail it, but as soon as I interacted with these guys, I have realised that: - They mostly don't come on the calls on time (Punctuality is missing), and provides a baseless reason of their delay. - They don't study your pitch deck before coming to calls, and ask vague basic questions, which was already available in the deck (only if they have looked 😅) - They don't understand business model, the complex SaaS market, and if you are tech-first company, voila, you are done!! I ditched the whole fundraising fiasco and had an aha moment: why not focus on bootstrapping and wooing customers instead? Selling your product is way more fun than playing dumb-dumb dodgeball with clueless vc folks, don't you think? I'm sure every startup founder has played this game at least once. Interestingly, I thought of doing this again (you know human instincts 😃 ), It's funny how human instincts work, isn't it? and saw that earlier it was fresh graduates, and now these analysts are "interns", and I dropped the whole process again 😄, oh god! Well, lightning doesn't strike the same place twice, they say. So, I promptly waved goodbye to the whole circus once again. Who needs a sequel to that comedy of errors? 😅 Ever found yourself caught in a deja vu loop in the world of fundraising? Share your tales of déjà vu and fundraising follies! #fundraise #startups #vcfirm

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