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Prime Venture Partners Podcast

Prime Venture Partners Podcast

Hosted by Prime Venture Partners: Early Stage VC Fund

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Episodes

190

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

A podcast for entrepreneurs who are looking to build & grow their startups. Avoid common traps & learn uncommon strategies & tactics from makers & doers of startup ecosystem. Prime Ventures is a early-stage venture fund which focuses on startups that not only need capital but also require mentoring to transform them into disruptive companies. We share a passion for working closely with entrepreneurs and enjoy sharing their journey in a high-frequency, interactive and fun environment.Read more about us at http://primevp.in

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 7, 202644 min

How are Indians investing? Angel One CEO on SIPs, ETFs, AI and wealth creation

India’s UPI moment changed how money moves.But that may only be the first chapter.As millions of Indians become comfortable with digital payments, a bigger question is beginning to emerge: how will they save, invest, and build wealth over the next decade?In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Amit Somani speaks with Ambarish Kenghe, CEO of Angel One, about India’s shift from payment adoption to wealth creation.From his journey across Google, Myntra, Google Pay, and Angel One, Ambarish has seen India’s digital consumer evolve up close. In this conversation, he talks about what changed after Aadhaar, Jio and UPI, why Indian consumers remain deeply value conscious, how SIPs are becoming a default investing habit, and where the next wave of fintech opportunities may come from.The conversation also explores:• Why 2015 became a turning point for India’s digital economy• How UPI changed everyday money movement for consumers and merchants• Why India’s wealth creation story still has massive headroom• What is driving SIP adoption among new investors• How AI could create a personal CFO or family office like experience for more Indians• How Angel One is using AI across products, operations and customer education• Why learning, unlearning and ownership matter when building teamsFor founders building in fintech, wealth tech, AI, or consumer products in India, this episode offers a sharp view of where the market has been and where it may be headed next.👉 Subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more conversations from India’s startup ecosystem.Episode Timestamps00:00 - Introduction02:22 - Why AK came back to India in 2015 after 18 years in Silicon Valley06:26 - The ₹25 checkbox that Myntra shut down in two hours09:41 - What UPI changed beyond transaction volumes11:04 - The Google chef who used to get looted walking home with cash13:12 - India now has million dollar millionaires. What does that mean for wealth creation.15:57 - Where Indian retail wealth actually sits: 50% real estate, 15% gold, 15% FDs16:37 - Equity investing at 5 to 8% in India versus 44 to 45% in the US17:13 - Only 5% of Angel One users trade F&O exclusively21:15 - The real opportunity for founders building in India's wealth space27:30 - The family office for everyone and what agentic AI could make possible29:35 - How Angel One is using AI today with Ask Angel35:10 - What AK looks for when hiring: learn, unlearn, ownership40:58 - The Indian founder worth a billion dollars who spends every Saturday on AI

May 19, 202655 min

Why mChek Failed Before UPI Took Over India | Sanjay Swamy on Building Too Early

Long before UPI, smartphones and Aadhaar transformed digital payments in India, mChek was trying to turn mobile phones into wallets.The vision was ambitious.The execution was complex.And the ecosystem was still years away from catching up.In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Shripati Acharya speaks with Sanjay Swamy, former CEO of mChek and Managing Partner at Prime Venture Partners, about one of India’s earliest attempts at building mobile payments.They discuss what it feels like to build ahead of the market, the hidden cost of ecosystem dependency, and why timing is often the hardest variable for founders to get right.The conversation also explores:• Why being early can sometimes look exactly like being wrong• How telcos, banks and regulators shaped the mChek journey• The operational chaos of building fintech in 2006 India• Why distribution does not always lead to adoption• What changed between mChek, Paytm and the UPI era• Why products depending on too many stakeholders are harder to scale• The difference between having the right idea and having the right timingIf you are building in a market that still feels early, this episode is worth your time.👉 Subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more conversations from India’s startup ecosystem.Episode Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:07 - “Unsuccessful” vs failed entrepreneurs02:25 - Why timing is the hardest thing to judge03:05 - The moment Sanjay saw phones as payment devices05:40 - India’s telecom ecosystem in 200609:49 - The original thesis behind mChek17:14 - The hidden problems nobody anticipated27:35 - Building a payments app inside a SIM card39:00 - The moment Sanjay felt it might not work44:04 - The biggest lesson for founders

April 22, 202645 min

The Psychology of Exceptional Founders | Dr. Julie Gurner, Executive Performance Coach

Some founders build solid companies.A few build something far bigger than what looked reasonable at the time.What explains that gap?In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Amit Somani, Managing Partner at Prime Venture Partners, speaks with Dr. Julie Gurner, Executive Performance Coach on the psychology behind exceptional founders.They get into the self belief, audacity, resilience, and invisible rules that shape how far people go.The conversation also explores:• What “maniacal focus” looks like in standout founders• The imaginary rules that limit what founders build, earn, and pursue• Why tying your identity to your company can lead to worse decisions• Why playing to your strengths creates more leverage than trying to do it all• What AI can and cannot do for leaders and foundersIf you are building something and want to understand the mental side of exceptional performance, this episode is worth your time.👉 Subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more insider stories from India’s startup ecosystem.Episode Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:45 - Dr. Julie’s journey into coaching02:55 - Key lessons from psychology & prisons06:11 - Traits of great vs good founders 09:28 – Survivorship bias & real success factors12:33 - “Imaginary rules” explained17:34 - How to identify your limiting beliefs20:32 - Separating identity from your business25:30 - How great founders pivot28:34 - Handling tough days as a founder30:46 - Playing to your strengths33:41 - Why AI is non-negotiable41:03 - Final tips & recommendations👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more real founder stories and insights from India’s startup ecosystem!

April 9, 202653 min

Inside the Dark Stores Behind Blinkit & Zepto | How 10 Minute Delivery Works

Most people think quick commerce is just about delivering in 10 minutes. But it’s not.Behind every Blinkit or Zepto order is a tightly run system of dark stores, pick paths, manpower, and real-time execution that has almost no margin for error.In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Brij Bhushan speaks with Sumit Anand and Rupesh Thakare, co-founders of Inamo, the company building the operational backbone behind India’s quick commerce ecosystem.They break down what it actually takes to make this work at scale, from stores that process orders in minutes to systems designed for speed, consistency, and precision.In this conversation:• What really happens inside a dark store• Why 10 minute delivery is no longer the real moat• The economics behind every quick commerce order• Why platforms are rethinking in-house vs outsourced operations• Why platforms are rethinking in-house vs outsourced operations• Why platforms are rethinking in-house vs outsourced operations👉 Subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more insider stories from India’s startup ecosystem.Episode Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Quick Commerce01:07 - Guests: Sumit & Rupesh from Inamo03:36 - How Inamo Started07:30 - Quick Commerce Growth & COVID Impact10:45 - Dark Stores & Order Fulfillment Explained16:24 - Team Size, Attrition & Training17:57 - Economics & Orders per Dark Store23:51 - Why Outsourcing Dark Stores Works30:50 - Differentiation & Scale Advantages33:09 - Inventory & Demand Management40:12 - Future of Quick Delivery & Innovations44:44 - Consolidated Inventory & Seller-Fulfilled Models46:02 - Market Growth & Long-Tail Opportunities49:02 - Founders’ Vision for the Next Few Years👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more real founder stories and insights from India’s startup ecosystem!#Startups #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #VentureCapital #StartupLessons #Podcast #primeventurepartnerspodcast

March 28, 202640 min

Sushant Junnarkar on Building a Business, Running Out of Runway, and Knowing When to Stop

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, we speak with Sushant Junnarkar, who shares his raw and honest journey of building and eventually shutting down an early-stage startup.Sushant takes us through the complete entrepreneurial roller coaster from early traction and funding to competition, pivots, and the tough decision to shut down.In conversation with Sanjay Swamy, he shares insights on:• The 3 phases of a startup journey• Why startups fail beyond just lack of capital• The funding vs scale dilemma• Founder challenges and decision-making under pressure• Key lessons for early-stage entrepreneursTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:08 - Meet Sushant Junnarkar & The Book02:02 - Sushant’s Background & Career Journey03:11 - The Online Grocery Startup Idea04:16 - Breaking Down the Startup Phases05:46 - Phase 1: Idea, Research & Strategy09:38 - First Orders & Early Traction12:35 - Early Growth & Press Coverage14:34 - Competition Enters the Market16:22 - Tech Challenges & Moving Beyond Jugaad17:23 - Phase 3: Funding Challenges Begin18:30 - Last Attempts to Save the Startup20:45 - When Founder Motivation Declines23:06 - Who Should Read It27:42 - Key Advice: Passion & Product-Market Fit30:31 - Why Startups Fail: Execution34:10 - Capital, Competition & Strategy36:10 - Final Lessons on Entrepreneurship38:22 - Closing ThoughtsThis is a must- watch episode for anyone building or aspiring to build a startup.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more real founder stories and insights from India’s startup ecosystem!#Startups #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #VentureCapital #StartupLessons #Podcast #PrimeVenturePartners

March 5, 202654 min

How Basil Built a Premium Kids Brand in a ₹60,000 Crore Market | loved by 1.5+ Lakh Families

In this episode, the founders of Basil share how they spotted an opportunity in India’s school essentials space and built a design-led brand trusted by over 1.5 lakh families.After careers at Uber and Amazon, they set out to solve a simple but overlooked problem. Kids' essentials did not have to be boring, low-quality, or purely functional.We discuss• Identifying whitespace in consumer categories• Designing for both children and parents• Marketplace-led growth• Building operational depth in hardware• Lessons for founders building in D2CThis is a must-watch episode for entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone building consumer brands.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:00 – Founders’ Backgrounds03:00 – Inspiration Behind Basil04:20 – Explaining Basil to Kids06:00 – Why Start a Startup07:00 – Early Product Challenges08:30 – Market Response & Pricing Insights11:40 – Design-First Philosophy13:00 – Manufacturing & Scaling19:57 – Who Really Buys: Kids vs Parents22:56 – Designing Products for Children25:10 – Smart Product Design for Organic Growth31:05 – Building a Brand That Can’t Be Copied35:09 – Power of User Observation40:13 – Amazon-Inspired Processes45:21 – India’s ₹60,000 Crore Kids Market45:23 – Building Consumer Love51:28 – Closing Thoughts📺 Listen to the full conversation and subscribe to the podcast.#Basil #D2C #ConsumerBrands #BrandBuilding #Entrepreneurship #Startups #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

January 29, 202655 min

How Propelld Helped 4 Lakh+ Indian Students Achieve Their Dreams | Prime Venture Partners

In this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, we speak with Victor, the Co-founder and CEO of Propelld, a company that has revolutionised education financing in India. Victor takes us through the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, from starting his first startup in 2014 to building one of India’s largest education financing platforms. Propelld has already disbursed ₹4,000 crores in loans, helping over 400,000 students achieve their educational dreams.He shares insights on:The genesis of Propelld and its mission to make education financing accessible to allHow they manage risk in education financing through data-driven solutionsThe role of AI in underwriting and loan collectionAdvice for early-stage founders on fundraising and navigating the journey of entrepreneurshipThis is a must-watch episode for aspiring entrepreneurs and those interested in the future of education financing.👉 Don't forget to subscribe to the Prime Venture Partners Podcast for more founder stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes playbooks from India’s most exciting startups!#Startups #EducationFinancing #Entrepreneurship #AI #RiskManagement #Podcast #Fundraising #PrimeVenturePartners

January 21, 202655 min

2026 Predictions - AI, Robots, Biotech, Unicorns & the Next 5 Years | Prime Ventures Podcast

In this special episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, the Partners come together to discuss how AI, new business models, and shifting global dynamics are reshaping startups and what founders should be preparing for as we head deeper into 2026 and beyond. From pragmatic AI adoption to new opportunities in services, SaaS, climate, and governance, this is a grounded conversation on what’s actually changing and what still matters.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:30 – What Prime Is Willing to Bet On03:20 – AI Models vs Real Value Creation07:35 – Automation, Services and Opportunity11:30 – Moats and Distribution in an AI-First World20:00 – Why Fundamentals Still Matter24:05 – SaaS, Services and India’s Global Opportunity28:25 – How AI Will Change Venture Capital37:40 – Predicting the Defining Startups of 203042:05 – Climate, Energy and Big Problems Becoming Solvable45:40 – Boards, Governance and AI Ethics52:10 – Closing Thoughts for Founders Building in 2026🔥 What You’ll Discover:How founders should think about AI in 2026Why services + AI could unlock product-like margins and global opportunitiesHow India’s startup ecosystem is evolving as customers begin paying serious money for softwareWhat venture capital, boards, and governance might look like in an AI-first future🎧 Key Takeaways:Why solving the right customer problem is still a binary outcome, regardless of the AI model you useHow SaaS, services, and AI are converging into new business modelsWhat founders should expect as old cost advantages disappear and new ones emergeWhy long-term company building, discipline, and fundamentals still winAs the startup ecosystem enters its next phase, this episode offers founders, operators, and investors a clear-eyed view of what’s ahead and how to prepare for it.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on startups, venture capital, and building enduring companies.👇 Join the conversation - What do you think founders should focus on most in 2026?#2026Predictions #IndianStartups #VentureCapital #AI #PrimeVenturePartners #StartupEcosystem #FutureOfWork #SaaS #Services #ClimateTech #Entrepreneurship #CompanyBuilding

December 18, 20251 hr 2 min

A Time Machine Roundtable: Inside India’s Startup Journey (2010 to 2025)

🚀2025 feels like a turning point for the Indian startup ecosystem.In this special year-end episode of the Prime Venture Partners podcast, we take a step back and look at the journey from the early days of 2010 to where we are today and what lies ahead.We talk about:• The wild early years when founders were figuring things out as they went• How Aadhaar, UPI and cheap data quietly changed everything• What COVID revealed about founder resilience• How AI is being used inside real companies today• Why India’s startup ecosystem took longer to take off, but is now scaling bigger than expectedThis is a candid, experience-led conversation from the Prime partners, shaped by nearly two decades of building and investing in Indian startups.🎙 Episode Timestamps00:00 Introduction03:17 The Three Phases of the Indian Startup Ecosystem05:16 Early Founder Reality (2010–2015)08:09 What It Was Like to Be an Investor in Early 201011:36 When No One Even Talked About Exits12:49 Early Unicorns and the First Belief Shift15:05 Founders We Underestimated and Why It Changed Our Thinking19:07 Backing People Over Plans23:29 India’s “Too Operational” Companies That Scaled Big27:46 Jio and the Moment the Internet Became Affordable29:33 When the Internet Truly Reached Bharat31:43 Aadhaar, India Stack, and Building at Population Scale35:16 COVID: Revenue to Zero and Zero-Based Accounting39:00 Crisis Decisions, Calm Leadership, and Founder Resilience43:20 The Crypto Wave: Knowing What Not to Chase46:34 Practical AI Use Cases Inside Real Companies54:07 Lessons From 15 Years of Venture Investing58:59 India’s Startup Ecosystem in One Minute If you care about startups, founders, or the future of technology in India, this episode will resonate.#IndianStartups #VentureCapital #FoundersJourney #StartupEcosystem #IndiaStack #UPI #StartupLessons #Entrepreneurship #TechInIndia #InvestingInsights #PrimeVenturePartners 

December 3, 202554 min

The Holy Grail of Business AI: Uniphore's $2.5 Billion Playbook with Umesh Sachdev

Umesh Sachdev, cofounder and CEO of Uniphore, joins Shripati Acharya for a deeply insightful and very real conversation about what it actually takes to build and scale enterprise AI. Whether you are a founder, a product leader or someone thinking seriously about enterprise AI, this episode will give you clarity on business AI you won’t find elsewhere.What you’ll take away:• A clearer understanding of what Uniphore does as an end-to-end enterprise AI and data platform• Why so many AI pilots “fail” at first and how that failure can actually be meaningful progress• How enterprises are achieving predictable outcomes using unitary agents, workflow orchestration, guardrails and fine-tuned SLMs• The inside story of Uniphore’s strategic raise and why some of the world’s biggest AI and data companies chose to back them⭐Episode Timestamps00:00 Introduction03:00 – What Uniphore Actually Does 05:47 – Why Enterprise AI Struggles to Scale Beyond Pilots10:08 – The Determinism Problem: Why AI Gives Different Answers Each Time12:32 – Unitary Agents and Workflow Orchestration for Predictable AI14:00 – Small Language Models vs Large LLMs for Enterprise Use Cases15:25 – Why Guardrails and Governance Matter in Real Deployments16:39 – One Big Agent Fails but Ten Small Agents Work Better20:40 – Why AI Pilots Fail and Why That Is a Good Thing22:20 – Converting Experiments into Enterprise-Scale Adoption24:26 – 35,000 Invoices a Week with Only Four Humans: ROI Case Study26:25 – What Enterprises Really Look for in AI Systems28:45 – Lessons from Building Across India and the US32:51 – Why Founders Must Be Close to Their Biggest Market34:44 – Structuring Teams Across Geographies for Global Scale38:10 – The Journey of Building Uniphore Over Seventeen Years42:36 – Hard Lessons Learned Along the Way46:45 – Why NVIDIA, Snowflake, AMD and Databricks Invested51:17 – How the Strategic Round Came Together52:22 – Closing NoteIf this conversation resonates with you, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments and subscribe for more in-depth founder and VC discussions.#EnterpriseAI #Uniphore #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAgents #SmallLanguageModels #AIInnovation #AIinBusiness #FounderInsights #StartupLessons #TechLeadership #GlobalScale #FutureOfWork #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

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