UVC: Chirag Gupta from 8X Ventures on investing in deep-tech startups in India and beyond, what Industry 4.0 could mean for the developed and the developing world, and why a ‘Founder-CEO’ is not the best option for a deep-tech startup Understanding VC

Understanding VC is a deep dive on how venture capitalists work. In this episode, I speak to Chirag Gupta, managing partner at 8X Ventures, a VC fund based in Dubai and investing in deep-tech startups globally. The podcast begins with Chirag talking about his decision of quitting 500 Global to start 8X Ventures to capitalise on the opportunity of investing in deep-tech startups in India and beyond. He talks about the process of his fund's operation throughout the globe and the way it works with the funds that are geographically closer to the deep-tech startups in Europe and the US. Chirag also gives his perspective on why VC funds that were initially making investments in only deep-tech startups, have since expanded into other sectors, which brings him to an insightful discussion about ‘Industry 4.0’ and its possible impact on industries and the workforce worldwide. At the end of the episode, Chirag elaborates why a ‘Founder-CEO’ is not the best option for a deep-tech startup in the long term.