The India Opportunity with Shrishti Sahu

Shrishti Sahu
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The India Opportunity with Shrishti Sahu

The India Opportunity Podcast offers a front-row seat to the visionaries shaping India's future. Join us as we unlock the country's potential through insightful conversations with founders, investors, creators, and leaders across various industries. Get a BTS look at what it takes to be at the forefront of building the India story. Hosted by Shrishti Sahu, Managing Director of SSV, an entrepreneur and investor with a background in startups, private equity, and Meta. Shrishti is passionate about building, investing, learning, giving back, and championing women entrepreneurs. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration from those at the forefront of India's growth story!

  1. 5 JUL

    Shankar Sharma's Guide to Global Investing: "There's always a bull market somewhere!" on The India Opportunity Show ft Shrishti Sahu

    My guest today is a man who needs no introduction to anyone who’s followed the Indian markets over the last three decades. Shankar Sharma is one of the most iconic and contrarian investors in India — a true original in the world of capital allocation. From spotting the tech boom of the early 2000s to making bold macro calls before they were mainstream, he’s built a reputation for timing, clarity, and fearless contrarian thinking. He was previously the Managing Director of First Global and is now building GQuant — a firm that blends AI, quant, and deep market insight to create a new model for investing. He’s also an articulate, razor-sharp voice on television and in print, unafraid to challenge consensus or offer uncomfortable truths. This is not just an investor who bets on companies. This is someone who understands the currents of history, policy, and human psychology — and invests accordingly. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:02:47 – What factors led you to exit India & US markets? 00:12:21 – How should investors approach global macro opportunities? 00:19:54 – Why are markets rallying despite geopolitical chaos? 00:26:44 – Will we see major bear markets again? 00:28:14 – Can investors still expect 15–18% annual returns? 00:35:07 – What frameworks should investors follow to play defense? 00:36:08 – Why not pick stocks? Can index investing work globally? 00:37:44 – Where did the “4am stocks” theory come from? 00:42:02 – Can you share real examples of your big contrarian bets? 00:44:53 – What are some unloved spaces that you’re betting on today? 00:47:37 – How do you decide when it’s time to sell a stock? 00:51:14 – Isn’t Buffett’s success just consistent compounding? 00:52:31 – Why do you say sitting on cash is a viable long-term strategy? 00:55:19 – Why do you believe most investors don’t deserve their profits? 00:57:03 – Any final thoughts you’d like to leave the audience with? 01:17:40 – What is one money lesson you learned the hard way? 01:18:30 – What’s one money lesson you think every Indian must know? 01:19:28 – What’s your biggest investing regret? 01:20:09 – What’s one book you’d recommend on money or investing? 01:20:55 – What’s your guilty pleasure? 01:21:10 – What’s a personal finance habit you still struggle with? 01:21:40 – If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead? 01:22:33 – One line that describes your relationship with money?

    1h 31m

  2. 29 JUN

    Warren Buffett’s Principles Applied To Indian Markets: Gautam Baid’s Investing Playbook for Wealth Creation on The India Opportunity Show

    Today on The India Opportunity Show, we’re joined by someone who represents the rare blend of deep investing wisdom and relentless self-education. Gautam Baid is the Founder of Stellar Wealth Partners and the best-selling author of The Joys of Compounding — a modern classic that blends the philosophies of Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, and Indian ethos into a timeless guide for building long-term wealth. What makes Gautam’s story remarkable is that he’s self-made — a night-shift hotel clerk who taught himself the principles of value investing by reading thousands of pages late into the night. From India to Wall Street and now back, Gautam’s journey is a testament to what compounding can achieve — not just in capital, but in character, relationships, and knowledge. Today, he runs a SEBI-registered advisory firm and a U.S.-based hedge fund — both grounded in long-term, value-driven principles. In a world of short-term noise, Gautam is one of the few voices reminding us that the real opportunity lies in patience, discipline, and deep work. We’ll talk about his investing frameworks, how he sees India’s capital cycle unfolding, and what it really means to live a compounding life. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:02:41 – Meaning of Compounding 00:04:19 – Building Patience 00:05:37 – Meeting Warren Buffett 00:07:15 – Interacting with Global Value Investors 00:16:11 – Getting 3 Jobs After 15 Months of Rejection 00:17:14 – India vs USA: Market & Geography 00:18:59 – India’s Growing Investment Opportunities 00:20:55 – US Sentiment Towards Change 00:22:15 – Key Investment Risks 00:23:59 – 3 Timeless Principles of Value Investing 00:27:02 – Value Investing in Practice 00:29:26 – Mindset for Bear Markets 00:32:36 – Navigating Market Cycles 00:34:24 – Important Investment Metrics 00:36:35 – Bajaj Investment Case Study 00:38:01 – Knowing When to Sell 00:39:20 – Spotting Investment Opportunities 00:41:48 – How to Discover Good Stocks 00:44:08 – Evolution of Investment Framework 00:45:40 – Hard Metals Outlook 00:47:02 – Future of India’s Defence Sector 00:49:36 – What is Real Value Investing? 00:52:29 – Fossil Fuels in India 00:54:54 – Sources of Investing Ideas 01:00:00 – Current Investment Process 01:03:44 – Sectors to Avoid 01:08:25 – Thoughts on India’s IPO Boom 01:10:24 – Private Sector Investment Trends 01:12:47 – Power of Compounding in Life 01:17:00 – Role of Gratitude in Success 01:18:41 – Indian Investors to Follow 01:22:07 – Influences on His Investing Style

    1h 25m

  3. 6 JUN

    MASTERCLASS on Value Investing with Prof. Sanjay Bakshi on The India Opportunity Show with Shrishti Sahu | RARE INTERVIEW!

    Today’s guest is someone who has deeply shaped the intellectual foundations of value investing in India — a teacher, philosopher, and investor whose thinking has stood the test of time. Professor Sanjay Bakshi is one of India’s most influential voices in behavioral finance, mental models, and value investing. A Distinguished Adjunct Professor at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, he has inspired an entire generation of investors and thinkers through his legendary course Behavioral Finance & Business Valuation — widely regarded as the closest India has come to a “Charlie Munger-style” curriculum. Beyond the classroom, Prof. Bakshi is a successful practitioner, serving as Managing Partner at ValueQuest Capital, where he invests with a long-term, high-conviction mindset. His writings — published on his blog Fundoo Professor — reflect a rare blend of investing wisdom, first-principles thinking, and deep philosophical insight. He has often emphasized not just how to invest, but how to live — with integrity, curiosity, and equanimity. In today’s conversation, we go beyond the markets. We explore timeless investing principles, personal transformation, the role of suffering in shaping wisdom, and the pursuit of inner compounding — the kind that changes not just your portfolio, but your life. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:02:44 – Multidisciplinary mindset 00:09:28 – Frameworks in business models 00:13:41 – Asymmetric bets in VC 00:14:50 – 6x return story 00:23:24 – Judging capital allocators 00:26:08 – Founders in crisis 00:28:11 – Spotting quality businesses 00:30:33 – Misconceptions in value investing 00:33:05 – Influence of Charlie Munger 00:43:08 – Future of fossil fuels 00:44:18 – Market bubbles 00:52:30 – Red flags in founders 00:54:56 – Inculcating founder discipline 00:59:39 – Peer pressure & investing 01:01:24 – Meditation for investors 01:05:40 – Portfolio destroyers 01:10:06 – Identifying moats 01:15:23 – When to sell 01:18:19 – Outlier sectors 01:22:57 – Investing in your 20s 01:30:20 – Top 3 books for kids 01:34:45 – Most underrated investor skill 01:40:17 – Market cycle bruises 01:44:05 – F&O & early mistakes 01:48:15 – Fulfillment through investing

    1h 52m

  4. 22 MAY

    Ajai Chowdhry on how he built a $50 Billion company HCL, India's Quantum Mission & Deep-Tech Future ft Shrishti Sahu

    India’s tech journey has many heroes — but only a few visionaries who laid its very foundation. Today’s guest is one such pioneer. Ajai Chowdhry is one of the founding fathers of the Indian IT hardware industry and one of the six co-founders of HCL — a company that started in a Delhi garage and went on to become a multi-billion dollar global enterprise. From selling calculators door-to-door in the 1970s to building one of India’s earliest indigenous computer companies, Mr. Chowdhry has seen the evolution of Indian tech firsthand — and in many ways, he’s shaped it. He has served on countless policy panels, led the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, and has been a relentless advocate for making India not just a consumer but a producer of high-end electronics and semiconductors. He’s also the author of the book ‘Just Aspire’, a deeply personal account of his entrepreneurial journey, policy battles, and the bold bets that defined HCL and Indian electronics. As an investor, mentor, and thought leader, Ajai Chowdhry continues to shape the future of India’s innovation economy. Today, we dive deep into his life’s lessons, India’s product and manufacturing opportunity, the rise of semiconductors, and what it really takes to build institutions that last. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:53 – What did you get right early on without external funding? 04:02 – How did you manage cash flow back then? 06:30 – How can the government support Indian startups today? 07:34 – Why hasn’t the ESOP issue been resolved? 08:17 – What’s missing in India’s startup mentoring? 09:03 – Why do startups fail at finance and sales? 10:48 – What’s the future of deep tech and quantum in India? 12:46 – How does government protect big startup investments? 14:37 – Why is full-stack innovation in semiconductors important? 16:45 – What is tech sovereignty and why does India need it? 18:14 – How urgent is chip self-reliance and tech security? 22:12 – What should India do to not depend on other economies? 23:45 – What can India learn from post-WWII US R&D strategy? 27:39 – Why no global-scale Indian tech giants yet? 30:33 – Where should global-minded founders start? 33:14 – Can India leverage aging global economies? 34:34 – Why avoid Chinese technology? 35:15 – Should India lead an Asian semiconductor alliance? 36:02 – What are key risks from dependency on China? 40:08 – Why aren’t governments buying Indian-made tech? 41:25 – How can AI be made more accessible to Indians? 44:19 – Why must founders adopt AI top-down in companies? 45:32 – What needs to change in India’s startup culture? 47:41 – Why so much investment in e-commerce still? 51:52 – How should family offices approach startup investing? 53:36 – What’s your hope for Indian talent today? 54:29 – What mindset shift does India need to lead? 56:00 – What timeless principles still apply in business? 59:11 – How did people-first leadership help HCL? 01:01:56 – Final thoughts on India’s AI and tech future?

    1h 2m

  5. 16 MAY

    Manish Chokhani Unfiltered: Money, Power & Wealth Creation in Stock Markets on The India Opportunity Show

    Today’s guest is someone who doesn’t just invest in companies — he invests in ideas, people, and purpose. Manish Chokhani is one of India’s most respected financial thinkers — the former Managing Director of ENAM, a legendary investment banking firm that helped shape the trajectory of India Inc. Over the years, he’s been an investor, advisor, board member, and mentor to some of the country’s most iconic promoters and entrepreneurs. But what truly sets him apart is not just his capital allocation track record — it’s his rare ability to connect the macro with the moral, the markets with meaning, and wealth with wisdom. In this conversation, we go far beyond stock picks or market predictions. We explore: How India’s next 20 years could reshape global capital flows What he’s learned from decades in boardrooms The spiritual and emotional dimensions of money And why character — not IQ — is the real edge in investing This isn’t just an episode — it’s a philosophical masterclass in how to live, lead, and allocate. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Teaser 00:02:47 – India’s Wealth Creation Future 00:04:15 – Investing Advice for Indians 00:06:19 – Why India Lacks Global Leaders 00:07:56 – Future of New Age Companies 00:11:34 – Spotting Market Cycles Early 00:14:33 – Current Cycle Analysis 00:20:48 – Risks to the India Growth Story 00:25:08 – Justifying Indian Valuations 00:30:05 – Balancing Growth & Governance 00:35:40 – Ideal Founder Traits 00:38:09 – Evolving View on Wealth & Power 00:44:39 – Early Realization of Calling 00:52:16 – Earning Trust of Top Companies 00:58:06 – Emotions Behind Enam’s Exit 01:01:16 – Fund Management’s Shift 01:03:46 – Lessons from Mentors 01:10:47 – Message for Hustling Youth 01:12:19 – Asymmetrical Bet Strategy 01:21:28 – When to Exit Investments 01:27:17 – Role of Luck in Success 01:29:47 – Investing in a Disruptive World 01:34:28 – Founder Evaluation Checklist 01:36:13 – Future of Investing 01:39:07 – Thoughts on Legacy

    1h 41m

  6. 8 MAY

    Lowest Paid Harvard MBA Who Built HDFC & CRISIL | Pradip Shah’s Untold Story on The India Opportunity Show ft Shrishti Sahu

    Today’s guest is someone whose influence quietly underpins some of India’s most iconic financial institutions. Mr. Pradip Shah is the founding Managing Director of CRISIL — India’s first and largest credit rating agency — and was a key architect in bringing global rating standards to India. He’s also the founding board member of HDFC, and played a foundational role in building India’s mortgage financing ecosystem as we know it. Mr. Shah has been a guiding force behind pioneering initiatives in financial services, private equity, and infrastructure development. From co-founding IndAsia Fund Advisors to shaping the boards of leading companies like Pfizer, BASF, and Bajaj Auto, his career reflects a rare blend of foresight, governance, and capital stewardship. It’s an absolute privilege to sit down with someone who’s been a builder at the intersection of India’s capital markets, institutions, and trust — long before it became fashionable. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:08 – Harvard MBA Learnings & Choosing India Over Abroad 04:07 – The Untold Story Behind HDFC’s Founding Model 08:28 – The Struggles of Raising ₹10 Cr Seed Capital 10:02 – Building a Corruption-Free Lending Institution 12:01 – The Origin of CRISIL & Its Global Inspiration 14:41 – Everyone Said It Would Fail (But He Didn’t Listen) 17:58 – Ensuring Confidentiality and Integrity in Ratings 20:12 – A Powerful Motivational Moment from Mr. Vaghul 22:17 – Corporate Governance: What Great Boards Do Right 25:53 – What are the timeless principals you've learnt from founders? 27:29 – How CEOs Should Handle Uncertainty & Global Disruption 30:56 – A Changing World Order: India's Role Going Forward 32:41 – Real Risks That Can Derail India’s Growth Story 34:17 – What Makes a Business Model Truly Scalable? 36:23 – Red Flags in Startups: When to Stay Away 37:32 – Managing Investor Expectations the Right Way 38:48 – Public vs Private Markets: Where He Spends Most Time 39:44 – What Kind of Entrepreneurs Truly Excite Him 40:45 – Final Message: Money Is a Tool, Not the Purpose

    43 min
  7. Conviction Over Chaos: Aashish Somaiyaa’s Playbook for Building Long-Term Wealth | The India Opportunity ft Shrishti Sahu

    1 MAY

    Conviction Over Chaos: Aashish Somaiyaa’s Playbook for Building Long-Term Wealth | The India Opportunity ft Shrishti Sahu

    My guest today is one of India’s most respected voices in fund management — someone who’s built a legacy of performance, integrity, and conviction in an industry often driven by noise. Aashish Somaiyaa has led two of India’s most admired investment institutions — ICICI Prudential and Motilal Oswal AMC — and today, he’s building WhiteOak Capital into one of the most strategically differentiated firms in the country. This conversation is a masterclass in long-term thinking: from identifying overlooked sectors before they boom, to navigating fraud risks in pre-IPO markets, to resisting the temptation of launching fads like small-cap funds — Aashish shares the frameworks, filters, and philosophies that separate true investors from opportunists. We talk about the emotional discipline it takes to manage money at scale, the impact of AI and macro shifts on Indian capital markets, and why building trust is harder — and more important — than chasing returns. If you want to understand how India’s best allocators think — this is the episode. Chapters 01:55 — Moving from ICICI Prudential to Motilal Oswal 05:24 — Defining professional entrepreneurship 07:12 — Finding the balance between risk-taking and stability 08:51 — Lessons from working with founders 11:45 — Evolution of White Oak Capital 14:45 — Strategic differentiation in a crowded industry 18:57 — Standing apart by not launching a small-cap fund 20:09 — Building trust through disciplined decisions 23:51 — The impact of AI and tech on investing 27:27 — Passive vs active investing in India 33:31 — Fraud and risk in the pre-IPO space 36:42 — Building a personal investment portfolio in your 20s & 30s 39:05 — Key metrics for evaluating businesses 45:58 — Finding overlooked sectors before they boom 49:51 — Lessons from investing in real estate 56:30 — Gold as a strategic asset class 59:06 — The evolving macro landscape and geopolitical risks 1:03:20 — Should you hold cash in your portfolio? 1:06:48 — India investors who want to Invest in China 1:11:56 — How one should go through Market Correction 1:17:15 — Surprising Insights about the Market 1:21:24 — How one should manage and regulate their emotions

    1h 23m

  8. 25 APR

    Journey of Building a Single Family Office In India ft Yash Poddar on The India Opportunity Show

    Joining us today is Yash Poddar — a new-age investor carrying forward a remarkable entrepreneurial legacy through his family office. His family built Ashirvad Pipes into a market leader, culminating in one of India's largest private business acquisitions. Now, Yash is carving his own path through his family office, thoughtfully investing across public markets, private equity, and emerging opportunities. His journey blends deep-rooted business values with a forward-looking vision for India's future. I'm excited to uncover his insights on building sustainable wealth, navigating new asset classes, and lessons from a legacy built on resilience and innovation. Chapters 02:15 Starting the family office journey 04:30 Learning to build a family office before it was common 08:05 Early mistakes and lessons from setting up 10:36 Things to avoid in the first few years 12:28 Navigating 30–40% portfolio drawdowns 15:27 Family vs CIO-led capital allocation 17:30 Building conviction for high equity exposure 19:05 Diversifying beyond the family business 20:43 Capital stewardship as a next-gen responsibility 24:14 Exploring private markets alongside public 27:25 Managing deal flow and inbound opportunities 30:23 Impact of improving deal quality 32:30 Return benchmarks for private investments 34:45 Private vs public market decision-making 36:10 Evaluating fund managers effectively 40:32 Perspective on operator-turned-VCs 42:05 Global investment journey beyond India 47:52 Structuring family capital across geographies 51:15 In-house team vs outsourcing to MFOs 55:28 Building an institution for 200 years 58:16 Thoughts on raising external capital 58:56 Approach to direct stock picking in public markets

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The India Opportunity Podcast offers a front-row seat to the visionaries shaping India's future. Join us as we unlock the country's potential through insightful conversations with founders, investors, creators, and leaders across various industries. Get a BTS look at what it takes to be at the forefront of building the India story. Hosted by Shrishti Sahu, Managing Director of SSV, an entrepreneur and investor with a background in startups, private equity, and Meta. Shrishti is passionate about building, investing, learning, giving back, and championing women entrepreneurs. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration from those at the forefront of India's growth story!

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