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These farmers lost around $1.72B in a single morning.
It was all because of tit-for-tat import taxes.
But what really happened and who were these farmers?
It all started when Donald Trump walked into the White House in January 2017, promising to take on what he called “unfair trade” with China.
March 2018, Trump slapped $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, aiming straight at the heart of China’s industrial ambitions—its "Made in China 2025" strategy.
This marked the start of the trade war.
April, 2018, Beijing hit where it hurt—Trump’s voter base.
It announced a 25% tariff on American soybeans, cars, and chemicals.
And it wasn’t just any random pick. China was the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, importing 60% of all U.S. exports.
The markets reacted immediately and soybean prices went into free fall, erasing $1.72 billion in market value by morning.
Farmers who relied on China as their primary buyer suddenly found themselves staring at massive losses.
In this episode of The NEON Show, Matein Khalid, a seasoned financial advisor, shares his fascinating four-decade journey. Starting as a teenage trader in Dubai, he later advised corporate boards and family offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Matein talks about global trade, geopolitics, and economic strategies, providing insights on the US-China trade war, Trump's economic policies, and shifting global power dynamics.
Check out Matein's writings here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mateinkhalid/
Timestamps
00:00 – Trailer
01:17 – Introduction
02:38 – Matein’s early trading and wealth management
04:37 – Trump’s unpredictability in geopolitics
06:04 – Rise of China hawks in US policy
07:40 – India’s edge in US-China tensions
09:50 – Starlink vs. Indian telecoms
10:30 – US Steel and political influence
12:51 – China’s slowdown and unemployment
19:02 – US K-shaped recovery and inequality
21:46 – US debt crisis and risks
26:41 – Adani controversy’s geopolitical angle
31:17 – Possible end to Russia-Ukraine war
33:55 – Israel weakens Iran’s air defense
37:35 – Trump’s isolationist policies
41:02 – Trade and capital flows in forex
42:39 – South Korea’s political turmoil
48:04 – Syria’s proxy wars reignite
52:04 – Modi’s UAE visit boosts financial flows
54:34 – India’s entrepreneurial spirit
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
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This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professioSend us a text
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In this episode of the NEON Show, Boris Wertz, a renowned venture capitalist and entrepreneur, shares his extensive journey through the tech and investment world over the past 25 years. From founding a company that was acquired by Amazon to becoming an investor and backing emerging fund managers globally, Boris offers a rich and unique perspective on the evolution of venture capital.
Timestamp
00:00 - Trailer
01:40 - Introduction and background
03:17 - Journey as a venture capitalist
04:49 - Boris’s first investments in emerging managers
07:32 - Why is Boris so focused on the Indian market?
09:48 - Fund sizes and strategy
13:03 - VC returns and liquidity
16:06 - Boris’s key learnings from successes and failures
21:20 - Themes like AI, crypto, and climate tech
25:00 - India as the next frontier
28:50 - Challenges Indian entrepreneurs face
35:46 - Boris’s concept of minimum viable fund
39:10 - Cycles in venture capital
43:46 - A16z board partner program
48:45 - Evolution of venture capital mindsets
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
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In this episode of the NEON Show, Ashok K. Lahiri, a leading economist and former Chief Economic Advisor, talks about India’s economic journey and the changes in its tax system. Lahiri shares why India has fallen behind some countries, pointing to missed opportunities in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He also highlights the importance of India’s democracy and federal system in shaping its progress.
Check out Ashok K. Lahiri’s book, India in search of glory, https://www.amazon.in/India-Search-Glory-Political-Calculus/dp/067009207X/
Time Stamp
00:00 - Trailer
01:27 - Introduction of Ashok K. Lahiri
03:07 - Ashok’s upbringing and early education in economics
05:27 - Why Ashok went abroad and how UPSC got him back
08:33 - Are you satisfied with GDP growth
12:42 - Education and health lead to long-term economic growth
15:27 - The right to information is important but debatable
18:27 - The govt went overboard in the 70s
20:37 - What happened to West Bengal
24:32 - Improvement will come with liberal society
25:57 - Troubles of taxations
29:42 - Taxing in the Indira Gandhi era
33:27 - People once informed take the right decision
37:32 - Chicken and egg in politics
39:27 - Why India is on the right track
43:27 - Challenges faced by Bangladesh and lessons for India
47:32 - India: union of states
52:07 - Struggle of India to get where it is right now
58:32 - Why we can't blame our ancestors
01:01:52 - Importance of transportation and Connectivity
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
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The world’s largest tech-focused venture capital fund. And the man behind it is Masayoshi Son, often referred to as Masa.
At 16, Masa moved to California, drawn by the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley.
Before he turned 21 years old, Son sold his first company— a multilingual translator bought by Sharp for about $1 million.
Masa returned to Japan and founded SoftBank as a software distribution company.
In 1995, Masa made one of his first bold investments— a $100 million for a 30% stake in Yahoo.
In 1999, Masa made an even bigger move, investing $20 million in Alibaba, a year-old e-commerce startup.
Over 23 years, that investment turned into a $72 billion gain, making it one of the most successful tech investments ever.
In 2014, he brought in Alok Sama who had a key role in some of SoftBank’s biggest successes, like the $32 billion acquisition of ARM and the $59 billion Sprint-T-Mobile merger.
In this episode of the NEON Show, Alok Sama, takes us behind the scenes of his journey at SoftBank, where he played a crucial role in shaping the group's global investments and strategy. He shares insights into working alongside Masa, managing the Vision Fund, and the challenges of betting on transformative entrepreneurs.
Check out Alok Sama’s book, The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble - https://www.amazon.in/Money-Trap-Alok-Sama/dp/9361134337
Timestamps
0:00 - Trailer
1:13 - Alok’s career, and Money Trap
2:20 - Transition to SoftBank and the motivation behind Money Trap
3:29 - what Alok thinks about Nikesh Arora and Masayoshi Son
5:07 - Masayoshi Son’s visionary mindset and why Alok admired him
6: 40 - Why Alok values intellectual curiosity in people and himself
7:50 - Alok’s entrepreneurial journey post-Morgan Stanley
09:30 - The meaning behind Money Trap and reflections on money
12:30 - Masa Son’s struggle growing up and the freemium coffee model
17:00 - Alok’s last year at SoftBank and decision to leave
18:08 - Alok’s relationship with Nikesh Arora
20:10 - Delhi roots, and family time
21:20 - Alok's view on vulnerabilities
27:20 - Masa Son’s character and commitment to backing entrepreneurs fully
31:10 - Valuation lessons in technology investments
34:20 - Son’s early bets on AI and his timing challenges
37:30 - Joined SoftBank to impress Alok’s teenage son and connect with family
40: 10 - experience of writing a book
43:10 - Masa’s thesis on India
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-----
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This show is for informational purposes only. The vSend us a text
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Why does 50% of India’s workforce remain in agriculture while the U.S. has just 2%?
Despite all those hands in the soil, the sector contributes just 15-18% to the GDP.
While countries like the U.S. and Europe shifted quickly from agriculture to industry, India's progress was pretty slow. So, is it too late for India to catch up and move on from agriculture?
Although India did build textile mills and steel plants, its industrialization lagged behind faster-growing Asian economies like Japan, South Korea, and China, which aggressively pursued manufacturing.
So, what happened?
Well, India’s focus remained on agriculture, missing the chance to build a strong industrial base that could absorb its large agricultural workforce. But there’s a new hurdle—manufacturing isn’t the job creator it once was.
Experts like Subhash Garg argue India may have missed the industrialization train. With automation reducing labour needs, ramping up manufacturing might not create enough jobs for India’s vast workforce.
In this episode of The Neon Show, Subhash Garg, former Secretary of Economic Affairs, shares his unique perspective on India's economic ambitions and the journey toward the $10 Trillion Dream.
Check out Subhash Garg's book, The Ten Trillion Dream Dented, https://www.amazon.in/Ten-Trillion-Dream-Dented-2019-2024/dp/0143467433
Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer
01:25 - Subhash Garg’s background in economic affairs
03:27 - Why has India's "10 Trillion Dollar Dream" dented
10:04 - India’s current GDP
12:50 - Need to shift labour from agriculture to high-value sectors
16:48 - Why India missed industrialisation
20:26 - The global manufacturing train left—and India missed it
21:55 - Why should you invest in services for real growth
26:55 - Sports, gaming, and entertainment are hidden gems for rural jobs
29:54 - Why is agriculture unreformed
31:34 - The impact of subsidies: is it a dead-end for farmers?
36:47 - Garg explains GDP with the “potato chip” example
42:42 - Why is farmers’ share of the final product small
47:10 - India’s manufacturing needs a tech boost
48:22 - Why India’s PLI schemes aren’t hitting their targets
52:58 - How India’s service sector thrived due to minimal regulation
1:01:57 - Garg’s positive take on brain drain
1:10:10 - Millionaires on the move
1:11:50 - Support for short sellers as market correctors
1:13:12 - Announcement of Garg's book, expected in October
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
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This video is for informational purposes onSend us a text
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In India, financial security often seemed just out of reach, especially when it came to insurance. For many, insurance was complex, filled with hidden terms, and often mis-sold.
That’s exactly what happened when an engineer-turned-consultant discovered that his father had been duped by insurance agents into purchasing a policy that was both confusing and overpriced.
Instead of just shrugging it off, this experience sparked an idea: why not create a platform where people could get straightforward, honest information about insurance?
So in 2008, Yashish Dahiya, along with co-founders Alok Bansal and Avaneesh Nirjar, launched Policy Bazaar.
Today, Policy Bazaar has grown into India’s largest insurance aggregator, with an annual run rate of 100 million visitors.
In 2022, The platform accounted for 93% of online insurance sales in India, holding 25% of the country’s life insurance cover and 7% of retail health insurance cover.
In this episode of The Neon Show, Yashish Dahiya, co-founder and Chairman of Policy Bazaar, shares his journey of building India’s leading online insurance platform.
Drawing from personal experiences, including his family’s army background, Yashish explores the challenges of creating financial security for India’s middle class, when not taking risk is the biggest risk and the HUGE India opportunity.
Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer
01:18 - introducing Yashish Dahiya
02:18 - Policy Bazaar’s rise as India’s top online insurance platform
03:26 - India’s rising costs and financial aspirations
05:11 - Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s early investments in Policy Bazaar
06:43 - India’s economy as a mix of Bahrain, UK, Brazil, and Africa
07:49 - Financial inclusion across India’s diverse social structure
11:53 - Why does mass class movement happen
16:20 - Institutional strengths drive GDP
19:38 - Why Policy Bazaar outperformed its competitors
25:22 - Daily discipline and the importance of consistent execution
28:36 - How Yashish built team trust and values at Policy Bazaar
31:38 - Things changed when I got married
33:40 - Managing family life across India and the UK
36:36 - Why the value system is important
41:48 - What is stress exactly for an entrepreneur
46:18 - Sanjeev view on Policy Bazaar
49:40 - Policy Bazaar’s vision for social impact
53:58 - Consistent values pre-and post-IPO
57:33 - Why did Policy Bazaar go public
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the inSend us a text
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Ever heard of the M Document?
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, an economist in govt of India, saw that India needed to make some big changes to keep up. So, he started working on what would become the M Document.
The M Document suggested bold reforms. Many government officials thought these ideas were too radical.
Then, something unexpected happened: the M Document got into the hands of journalist Ashok Desai, who saw its potential, and gave it the now-famous name, the M Document.
Even though the document was just meant for internal review, the leak sparked public debate on how India’s economy could be modernized.
Though it didn’t lead to immediate changes, the M Document planted seeds that grew in a few years.
In this episode of the NEON Show, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a renowned economist and former Deputy Chairman of India's Planning Commission, shares insights from his pivotal role in shaping the 1991 economic reforms and reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the influential "M document" and how it ultimately shaped India’s approach to liberalisation.
Check out Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s book, BACKSTAGE: The Story behind India’s High Growth Years, https://www.amazon.in/BACKSTAGE-Story-behind-Indias-Growth-ebook/dp/B084P4Y3VW/
Time stamps
00:00 - Introduction to Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia
01:04 - Early life and family’s experience post-partition
05:11 - Winning the Rhodes Scholarship
06:14 - Early career at the World Bank
07:15 - Returning to India as an economic advisor
09:02 - Washington invitation and Planning Commission role
13:02- 1991 economic reforms
18:40 - Committees for economic reform
22:00 - High import controls as an economic issue
26:34 - Challenges in policy reform
28:38 - V.P. Singh asks Montek to write the document”?
31:36 - How did the “M document" leak
38:40 - Maruthi engine block story
48:35 - SEBI and financial system reforms
58:25 - Moving past the “Tonga mindset.”
1:01:20- Why controlled imports are tax on exports
1:09:00 - How do exchange rates impact imports and exports?
1:12:04 - Discovery of Roman gold coins in South India
1:16:50 - Narayana Murthy’s import struggles
1:22:25 - Politicians should openly support beneficial policies
1:32:55 - Montek’s vision for India’s next decade
1:39:58 - Final thoughts on India’s future
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
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After India’s big economic shift in 1991, each state grew at different rates—but they didn’t all get there at the same speed.
Western and southern states saw major benefits, while many in the east and north struggled to keep up. In fact, by 2021-22, the per capita income in the top five states was 3.3 times higher than in the bottom five—a clear sign of the widening divide.
So, what does this uneven growth look like?
In the 1960s, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal were leading India's economy with contributions of 14.4%, 12.5%, and 10.5% of GDP, respectively. Today, Uttar Pradesh's share has fallen to 8.4%, and West Bengal's to 5.6%, but Maharashtra remains a top contributor.
Gujarat's share grew from 6.4% in 2000-01 to 8.1% in 2022-23, driven by strong industry and urban centres. Southern states like Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala now make up about 30% of India's GDP, boosted by cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
In this NEON Show episode, economist and policy advisor Sanjeev Sanyal discusses India’s economic journey and why growth has been so uneven across states. He explains why some regions have surged ahead while others have lagged behind, touching on the role of anchor cities and old policies like the Freight Equalization Policy that held back Eastern states.
Time stamps
00:00 - Trailer
02:40 - Banking Reforms and Creative Destruction
03:20 - Process vs. Structural Reforms
05:33 - Bureaucratic Challenges Affect Efficiency
14:09 - Autonomous Bodies and Obsolete Institutions
16:02 - Is it time to rethink outdated National Monuments?
26:06 - What Does Data Reveal About Indian States
35:03 - Did “Freight equalization” Rob Kolkata of its Competitive edge?
36:25 - East vs. West: Is this India’s true economic divide?
37:32 - Southern and Western India's Success
42:42 - High Growth States Rely on Anchor Cities
44:01 - Reviving Kolkata and Eastern India
45:12 - Local policies that can make or break state economies.
49:11 - Tourism Has Made Sikkim and Goa Economic Stars.
53:35 - India Needs to Modernize the Shipping Sector
01:00:36 - India Needs a Healthy Clash of Ideas
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
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The breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a game-changer for India, shaking up its economy, defence strategy, and foreign relations.
For years, the USSR had been India’s largest trading partner, pumping in vital support through the rupee-ruble trade agreement. But then, December 25, 1991, arrived, and the Soviet Union collapsed.
While the Soviet Union’s collapse seemed like a disaster at first, it actually pushed India to evolve—fast.
In this episode of The NEON Show, a former diplomat with a 36-year career in the Indian Foreign Service, Rajiv Sikri examines India’s complex ties with neighbouring countries exploring issues like Kashmir, economic interdependence, and political dynamics. He also sheds light on the impact of global powers, especially the US and China, on India’s strategic choices.
Check out Rajiv Sikri’s book Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India's Foreign Policy: https://www.amazon.in/Strategic-Conundrums-Reshaping-Indias-Foreign/dp/0143464574
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Timestamps
00:00 -Host Siddharth Ahluwalia introduces The Neon Show.
00:43 - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.
01:04 - Pakistan’s economic/political issues.
05:06 -Pakistan's ties with the West, China, and the military's role.
08:40 -Kashmir conflict and India-Pakistan relations.
12:06 - Pakistan's internal political dynamics.
15:24 - Bangladesh's identity and India relations.
18:00 - India-Bangladesh economic interdependence.
26:06 - India’s strategic geographic position.
29:52 - India’s foreign policy after the Berlin Wall’s fall.
33:40 - Economic impacts and India-US relations.
37:52 - US-Russia relations and the Ukraine conflict.
42:12 - Russia-Ukraine war’s effect on India.
48:16 - US dominance and unilateral actions post-1989.
52:04 - Challenges to US hegemony.
56:00 - India-US relations amidst strategic concerns.
1:01:20 - BRICS and global multipolarity.
1:04:40 - Dollar dependency and US financial power.
1:08:20 - Concluding thoughts on India’s foreign policy.
-------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/
Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7
-------------
Sponsor shout out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies. To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
-
From Baker's Son to Global Investment Legend.
Mark Mobius is known as a foundational figure in emerging markets investing. He is the chairman of Mobius Emerging Opportunities Fund. Before that, he led the Templeton Emerging Markets Group for over 30 years, during which the group's assets under management grew from $100 million to over $50 billion.
In this episode of The NEON Show, Mark shares his rules for wealth creation, why India is his top investment pick, his reasons for pulling investments out of China, what keeps him at the top of his game at the young age of 87, two ways to lose money fast, and why understanding art and creativity is more important than finance when it comes to making money.
Connect with Mark Mobius
LinkedIn | Twitter
To learn more from Mark check out his The Book Of Wealth
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Timestamps
00:00 - Trailer
00:00 - Early Lessons in Money & Creativity
04:13 - Becoming a Professional Student
05:43 - The Road to Mark’s First Million
08:04 - The First Emerging Markets Fund
11:03 - To Make Money Don’t Focus on It
12:38 - Making 10 Million Dollars
14:20 - Mark’s Early Investment Assets
15:56 - Power of Compounding: Reaching $100 Million
16:51 - Mark’s Success with Investing in Asia
19:22 - Why Mark is Not Bullish on China
22:44 - How Mark Invests in India
25:01 - Why Mark is Bullish on Taiwan
25:56 - Mark’s 3 Reasons to Invest in India
28:19 - When will India Surpass China?
30:51 - From Emerging Markets to Emerging Opportunities
32:37 - It’s All About Liquidity
34:27 - Mark’s Principles of Wealth Creation
35:49 - How Mark Invests in Startups
37:33 - How Not to Lose Money
38:43 - Make Friends & Learn From Them
39:38 - What Mark Learned From John Templeton
40:54 - Why Invest in Emerging Markets
42:10 - Who are the Best Political Leaders
42:50 - Why Mark Shifted to Dubai
44:02 - No Recession Anytime Soon
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Connect with Siddhartha on:
LinkedIn | Twitter
-------------
Sponsor shout out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies. To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
-------------
ThisSend us a text
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In 1947, India gained independence with a per capita of around $2000(adjusted with inflation).
But over the next few decades, the govt adopted socialist policies, emphasising self-sufficiency and state-led development. As a result, India’s economy grew at a slower pace of 3.5% per year.
In 1991, India introduced a series of reforms— liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation. India’s growth rate picked up, and by 2023, India’s per capita GDP was back to $2,600, driven by market-friendly policies and increased global trade.
In this episode of the NEON Show, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Executive Director at the IMF, explains how India can become a $55 trillion economy by 2047.
To learn more read India @100 : Envisioning Tomorrow’s Economic Powerhouse
Connect with Krishnamurthy Subramanian
Linkedin | Twitter
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Timestamp
01:20 – The power of compounding in GDP
04:55 – Chess game story that explains the power of compounding
06:19 – Rule of 72 to understand how money doubles
09:06 – How India will become a $55 trillion economy by 2047
12:33 – Thalinomics to understand inflation
14:20 – What is money in economic terms?
17:22 – Why was the inflation-targeting regime introduced post-1991?
20:30 – Inflation's effects on currency
26:42 – How does a currency react to economic shocks?
30:34 – India’s GDP in 1947 vs today
31:28 – How socialist policies potentially held India back
34:40 – Capitalism has always been in India's DNA
44:31 – How socialist policies have hurt Indian farmers
57:22 – Is agriculture a state subject?
59:59 – How India's growth is linked to productivity
01:09:30 – China’s GDP vs India’s GDP
01:16:48 – Why India is a top investment destination
01:26:10 – Indian startups should innovate differently
-------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Follow Neon:
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Connect with Siddhartha:
LinkedIn | Twitter
------------
Sponsor shout out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit primevp.in
------------
This episode is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of theSend us a text
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How the 1991 crisis got India to rethink its economic approach.
By early 1991, India’s reserves were nearly gone.
The government took a desperate step—it sent 67,000Kg of gold abroad to secure a loan from the IMF.
This was a last-ditch effort to avoid default, but it only bought a little time. But soon, the govt collapsed again, leading to a new election.
In June 1991, P.V. Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister, and he chose Manmohan Singh as his Finance Minister— and things changed.
Rao and Singh quickly implemented reforms: they removed restrictive licensing, welcomed foreign investment, and eased machinery imports.
The 1991 crisis forced India to rethink its economic approach—it highlighted the risks of heavy borrowing and too much government control. But it also showed that when things get tough, bold decisions can turn a bad situation into an opportunity.
In this episode of the NEON Show, Rajrishi Singhal, a senior journalist, banker, shares his deep insights into India's economic reforms and financial sector. Singhal offers a nuanced perspective on why India's economic progress hasn't met expectations, touching on issues from private sector investment to the success of reforms during coalition governments.
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Timestamp
00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and guest, Rajrishi Singhal.
01:23 - Corruption in India and its impact on the economy
05:30 - how demonetization was not to take out corruption
07:06 - Rajiv Gandhi was the original ‘Accidental Prime Minister’
12:29 - What pushed us into the 1991 crisis
14:45 - Raids on reliance industries
18:57 - How India almost went bankrupt
21:45 - Complexities of India’s banking system
19:15 - What are regional rural banks (RRBs)
25:26 - Corruption's impact on investments.
28:41 - Why doesn't India have more new banks
32:00 - Why private sector investments in India have been limited
34:25 - Success of reforms during coalition governments
40:26 - Foreign investors' concerns about sudden policy changes in India
41:26 - Impact of demonetization on the Indian economy
-------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
-------------
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
-
In the competitive world of online grocery shopping, BigBasket is a name that stands out.
But how did they get here?
By 2011, smartphones were everywhere, and you could buy almost anything online—except groceries. The co-founders decided to try the grocery game online again, leading to the birth of BigBasket.
In 2015, BigBasket pioneered the dark store model, using small, strategically placed warehouses to speed up deliveries and roll out express delivery services.
In May 2021, Tata Digital, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, acquired a 64% stake in stake in BigBasket for about $1.5-2 billion from major shareholders, including Alibaba and Actis.
In this episode of Neon Show, Vipul Parekh, the visionary co-founder of BigBasket, shares his invaluable insights and experiences from his entrepreneurial journey. Vipul shares candid insights on the recent disruption in the online grocery space with the rise of quick commerce.
----------------
Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Reflections on building BigBasket for 13 years
02:21 Admitting wrong predictions about online grocers
03:25 Analysis of online grocery delivery changes in India
05:30 Factors behind quick commerce success in India
07:45 Quick Commerce's success in India vs. other countries
09:22 Profitability challenges for dark stores
11:52 BigBasket's market share and transition plans
13:06 Leveraging Tata Group synergies in retail
15:36 Shift in household behaviour towards quick commerce
21:53 Why India doesn't have its own Walmart-equivalent
23:15 Learnings from Big Basket
28:22 Tata's long-term approach to business
30:04 BigBasket founders' future involvement
31:47 Lessons from Tata
33:00 Implementing financial governance at BigBasket
36:08 Trillion-dollar question
39:49 Potential for $100B Indian Startups
45:18 Building financial independence through startups
49:15 Hard work Vs Luck
52:20 Vipul's background
55:40 Time in Wipro and meeting VS Sudhakar
-------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
-------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
-------------
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
-------------
This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
-
Every entrepreneur dreams of turning a small startup into a global powerhouse. But how do you do it without following the typical "build a product, get funding, scale it, and exit" playbook? Luca Ferrari, founder and CEO of Bending Spoons, did just that— their journey is anything but conventional.
It started in 2013, when their first-ever startup Evertale flopped and left them with just $40,000. After Evertale missed PMF, they pivoted, bootstrapping Bending Spoons by focusing on acquiring digital products with solid market fit but untapped potential.
Bending Spoons has mastered the art of turning underperforming digital businesses into powerhouses using operational tweaks, AI, and machine learning.
In this episode of Neon Show, we sit down with Luca Ferrari in the heart of Milan, at the headquarters of a tech company that's rewriting the rules of how digital businesses scale.
Discover their bold acquisition strategy behind major deals like Evernote and Splice, and how they’ve managed to serve 150 million monthly active users with just 400 employees!
Timestamp:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Who is Luca and what's Bending Spoons?
02:32 Bending Spoons by the numbers: Users and revenue
03:05 Recent funding rounds: 2023 and 2024
04:59 Profitability and use of debt
07:27 Luca's previous startup experience
10:17 The birth of Bending Spoons in 2013
13:35 The secret sauce: Product-market fit and talent
15:29 First acquisition: iPhone keyboard app
18:28 Top revenue generators: Remind, Evernote, Splice
20:26 Future acquisition strategy debate
24:24 Price range for acquisitions
33:29 Transforming acquired products like Evernote
37:00 Competing with giants: Evernote vs. Notion
42:32 Plans to enter enterprise software
45:07 Luca's take on product-market fit
47:58 Luck vs. skill in Bending Spoons' success
51:30 AI's Impact on Bending Spoons
54:42 Why Italy for Bending Spoons?
59:08 Going public: Future plans
1:00:32 Luca's journey: From small town to tech CEO
1:04:27 Why aren't more tech companies starting in Europe?
1:10:54 Bending Spoons' unique hiring approach
1:14:35 Future growth areas for Bending Spoons
1:16:47 The art of pricing in acquisitions
1:21:49 How accurate are Bending Spoons' acquisition predictions?
-----------------------
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
—---------------------
Check us out on:
Website: https://neon.fund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww
—---------------------
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/
—---------------------
DisclaimerSend us a text
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To say that India needs to create more jobs, is a downplay - what we need are 20 million jobs every year. But jobs can’t be created out of the wishing well.
We have resources, but not proper skills. We have opportunities, but not proper initiatives to boost on the employment elasticity. We need a shift from Tier 1 to Tier 2 cities. We need a shift of capitals. We need immigration-based jobs for our youths, and we definitely need the women workforce landscape to improve at the earliest. But, will this be enough?
Check out our latest podcast where we are in a conversation with Sridhar Krishna, a senior scholar at the Takshashila Institution, to know more!
Timestamps
00:00 -
00:47 - The Karnataka Job Reservation Bill
04:19 - The impact on the recruiters/builders
07:00 - Public Transport and Women in Karnataka
09:16 - Bangalore is not just for startups!
09:27 - Government’s performance: what we have done well & where can we improve?
11:19 - India needs 20 million jobs each year
12:00 - How to create jobs in India?
13:16 - Annual PLF data on unemployment - truth or facade?
14:12 - Have “100 million people joined the workforce” truly?
14:52 - Labor productivity in India vs in the US
15:22 - Statistics on how to grow employment elasticity
16:25 - 1800 people apply for 10 vacancies in Gujarat - why?
17:23 - ILO reports on job skills and job vacancy mismatch
18:56 - Is manufacturing & services good options to transition from agriculture?
20:32 - Shridhar talks about his take on Raghuram Rajan’s book “Breaking the Mould”
21:26 - Are PLIs unable to craft job growth?
22:30 - Rebuilding big cities - a solution for employment growth?
23:22 - Lavasa, Maharshtra failed - why?
25:02 - Utlising AI to analyse the nature of jobs in other countries
27:08 - Career Impact Bonds - What’s that?
33:14 - 6 pillars as proposed by the recent Eonomic Survey
33:49 - Focus needs to shift from Tier 1 to Tier 2 cities
34:40 - Women workforce participation better in Bangladesh than India?
39:57 - India losing significant GDP due to fewer women in the workplace
Follow Sridhar Krishna -
Linkedin - / sridharkrishna
X - https://x.com/sridhar_kri?
___________________________________
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
__________________________________
Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
__________________________________
Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text
-
Over the last decade, we have been getting news updates, social media highlights, and WhatsApp forwards about India being the “fastest growing economy” in the world. IMF, World Bank, and ADB have confirmed this. The question is, in the face of demonetisation, GST, and the drastic shift of focus to the organised sector from the unorganised one, is this data a true reflection of India’s economic reality?
Today, Neon talks about these facts with Professor Arun Kumar, a renowned author of economic titles and an Economic Professor at JNU.
Watch the episode to know more!
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
0:14 - Introducing Economist Arun Kumar
0:40 - Current scenario of India’s Economy
1:25 - South East Asian countries' growth from 1947 as compared to India?
3:31 - Proof of India’s failure in education system
5:20 - How can India develop education & health?
8:48 - Does India really have “TOO MANY” billionaires & why is it a concern?
9:24 - The journey from becoming a “developing” nation to a “developed nation.”
10:51 - The “Bottom-Up Approach” - What’s that?
14:00 - Growing chasm between high-earning & low-earning category?
15:22 - Is the current budget failing to fund labour-intensive sectors?
17:03 - What’s the unorganised sector in India?
17:47 - What are the Micro, Small & Medium Sectors in India?
18:33 - Robot uprising vs human employment!
21:03 - What are the 4 types of unemployment in India?
23:27 - 60k jobs and 47 lakhs applicants ?
27:20 - Is GDP a proxy of the organised sector for the unorganised sector?
30:03 - Demonetisations hits the unorganised sector
32:12 - Is IMF, World Bank & ADB’s version of India’s fastest economic growth true?
34:25 - Black economy = Digging holes & filing holes
40:40 - India should have been 8X its current economy - how & why did we fail?
42:31 - Are we really a 3.6 trillion dollar economy?
51:11 - How can we help the unorganised sector generate more income?
1:01:48 - Bottom economy = 40% of the Goverment’s vote bank & yet not the focus of development & growth? Why?
1:05:26 - Why does the government want to help the organised sector?
1:11:38 - How will India transform into a “developed” nation or double the GDP per capita?
___________________________________
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
__________________________________
Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
__________________________________
Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https:Send us a text
-
SaaS is Dead. There is Too Much SaaS.
The two most common proclamations about SaaS these days. But where is the truth?
In this episode we analyse the State of SaaS in 2024. We discover new truths and uncover fundamental truths.
From where is the money in SaaS to where is the market. From the challenges first time founders face to the mistakes second time founders make. We cover the heavy cost of not understanding brand marketing, why PMF is not a science, IPOs in India, The India SaaS Advantage, Pricing Innovation and so much more.
Tune in for insights to power your SaaS strategy in 2024 and beyond.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:06 - Where is SaaS in 2024
2:08 - Delivering Value is the Most Important Thing
3:57 - AI is a Tool not a Magic Wand
5:04 - SpotDraft's Super Growth
5:36 - Is There Too Much SaaS?
9:49 - Where is the Money?
12:22 - Metrics, Metrics But No Vanity Metrics
14:50 - Is There an India advantage for SaaS IPOs?
17:18 - Pallav's lessons from Investing in 50+ SaaS companies
23:30 - What First: Feature Parity or Pricing?
25:24 - Where Are Category Creators SaaS Startups in India?
28:02 - Has AI Changed Buyer Expectations
30:24 - The Next SaaS Unicorns From India
32:35 - Exploring Exit Options for Indian SaaS Unicorns
35:01 - So Much to Learn From SaaS Startup Community
37:19 - Why Do Second Time Founders Fail
40:39 - PMF is Not a Science
44:14 - SaaS is Dead?
48:55 - Digital Marketing or Billboards?
51:02 - The Cost of Not Understanding Brand Marketing
54:44 - Is Europe a Good Market for SaaS Startups?
59:36 - How to Expand Globally
1:01:30 - To Be a US HQ or India HQ Company?
1:05:01 - Pallav on Fusion Charts and Presentations dot ai
1:09:00 - Discussion on replacing established SaaS products
1:15:11 - Success in SaaS: Product vs Distribution
___________________________________
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
__________________________________
Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
__________________________________
Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text
-
150 Years of Greatness in 50 Minutes.
There is much talk about John D Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie but not much about India’s first business Titan, Jamshedji Tata.
In this episode, we sat down with Harish Bhat, Former Brand Custodian of Tata Group, and dive deep into Tata Group and its legendary founder. The founder who kept community at center and nation first, who brought the best to India and built the best in India with fire in his eyes and kindness in his heart. And the giant which never stops, the Tata group, from building India’s first steel plant to India’s first airlines.
Tune in to hear lesser-known but must-watch stories about what it takes to build great companies with mission and purpose.
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - The Story of A Titan
07:31 - Lessons From An Entrepreneur With Purpose
09:41 - The Value of Values
13:22 - Great Founders Are Always in The Room
17:56 - Because Right Decisions Matter
20:37 - The Everything Company: From Textiles to Telecom
23:08 - The Great Digital Evolution
24:46 - How Tata Group Created India’s First Cancer Hospital
29:35 - Building The Best With Fire in Eyes & Kindness in Heart
37:15 - What Makes Someone a Patriot
39:31 - Great Leaders Are Great Readers
43:42 - How India Started Flying
50:32 - Always Be Learning
___________________________________
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
__________________________________
Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
__________________________________
Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text
-
Success Starts with Belief. And Belief Comes from Actions.
Indians and the world are optimistic about India. But what actions has India taken that inspire this belief? And what actions does India need to take to keep up the momentum?
From independence to today, India has increased its GDP 40x, its per capita income 8x, its literacy rate 6x, and its electrification 300x, among many other achievements. But the ambition of its people has also grown manifold.
In this episode, we talk about India's journey from a survival mindset to a thriving mindset, and its road to becoming a developed nation. From entrepreneurs everywhere to numerous IPOs. From brain drain to reverse flipping. And what the government needs to do to what we, the people, need to do.
Tune in and let us know what are you optimistic about.
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - The Hero’s Journey Of India
03:31 - Doing Business Is Not A Bad Thing
07:02 - India Is More Ambitious Than Ever
09:10 - Entrepreneurs Everywhere: From IITs To Tier 2 Cities
11:59 - What’s NAAMM?
12:47 - India's Pivot From Socialism To Capitalism
16:07 - India Story Vs China Story
20:47 - How Flipkart’s Acquisition Changed Everything
22:46 - How Much Should Regulators Regulate?
26:56 - IPOs, IPOs and More IPOs
28:36 - The Era of Reverse Flipping
30:28 - The $10 Trillion Dollar Economy Goal
31:14 - India is Growing But Are All Indians Too?
33:08 - Will SaaS Be India’s Next Growth Lever?
34:52 - What Inspires Us At Neon?
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Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
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Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
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Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text
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China is the 2nd largest economy. India is on its way to become the 3rd largest economy. Few decades ago both were at the same level. Is there anything for India to learn from China? Or we will have our own unique journey?
In this episode of The Neon Show we explore the nuances behind the economic and political landscapes of India and China. From becoming the world’s biggest factory to now shifting to high-end manufacturing. From economic liberalisation to now back to being heavily controlled by the government. From boom to bust.
China & India are two very unique countries. But are there any similarities between these two Asian giants? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on two of the world’s most important economies.
00:00 - Introduction
01:02 - Similarities and Differences Between India and China
08:49 - How China Became The World’s Factory?
16:04 - Do Indian & Chinese Cities Face Same Challenges?
21:45 - What Caused The Real Estate Bubble in China?
30:24 - Why is China Shifting to High-End Manufacturing?
36:03 - Charlie Munger on India Vs China
42:11 - Does India Have The Right Industrial Policy?
46:09 - The Right Job For The Right People
49:36 - The Power of Good Infrastructure
___________________________________
Hi, I am your host Siddhartha! I have been an entrepreneur from 2012-2017 building two products AddoDoc and Babygogo. After selling my company to SHEROES, I and my partner Nansi decided to start up again. But we felt unequipped in our skillset in 2018 to build a large company. We had known 0-1 journeys from our startups but lacked the experience of building 1-10 journeys.
Hence was born The Neon Show (Earlier 100x Entrepreneur) to learn from founders and investors, the mindset to scale yourself and your company. This quest still keeps us excited even after 5 years and doing 200+ episodes.
We welcome you to our journey to understand what goes behind building a super successful company. Every episode is done with a very selfish motive, that I and Nansi should come out as a better entrepreneur and professional after absorbing the learnings.
__________________________________
Visit our Website: https://neon.fund/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNeonShoww
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/
__________________________________
Sponsor Shout Out
Looking to build a differentiated tech startup with a 10X better solution? Prime is the high conviction, high support investor you need. With its fourth fund of $120M, Prime actively works with star teams to accelerate building great companies.
To know more, visit https://primevp.in/Send us a text
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