Deep Tech Musings PRONOjit Saha

Arjun is the Founding Partner at Speciale Invest, a seed venture capital fund focused on deep science & tech startups in India, the USA, and Israel. He is passionate about working with exceptional entrepreneurs building emerging tech start-ups in the super early stage. His core expertise has been in product development/management, marketing strategy, org building, fundraising, and finance for over a decade.

Prior to Speciale Invest, he spent over 15 years in the technology and Internet start-up ecosystem in India. He started his career with Yahoo! and later joined Ibibo as Product Manager. The entrepreneurial bug led him to start an Edutech startup and also a travel tech startup, Travelyaari. He has led tech and product teams, and strategy and fundraising at all phases of a start-up lifecycle. At Travelyaari, he built the company to achieve revenues of $40mn and raised $12mn in seed, Series A, and Series B funding.



On today’s episode, we discuss


The Founding Story of Speciale Invest & Why It's One of the Best Places for Deep Tech Startups


Understanding VC Firm Structure


Skills and Abilities to Transition into a VC Role


The Role of Networking & Mentorship in Advancing Your Career in VC


Future Trends in the VC Industry and the Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem




For topic-wise episode summary & more, click here - ⁠bit.ly/dtm-as



Links & References:

Arjun Rao- arjunrao (LinkedIn), @raodyboy(Twitter)

Speciale Invest - specialeinvest.com, LinkedIn, Twitter

Eric Newcomers Substack on VC World - www.newcomer.co

Ho Nam, Managing Director of Altos Ventures - Twitter, LinkedIn

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)


Show Notes:

(0:26) Overview of Speciale Invest: Motivation and Investment Thesis

(4:26) Speciale's Impact on Portfolio Startups: A Showcase of Growth and Credibility

(8:35) Transition from a Product Person to a VC: Factors and Inspiration

(17:03) Understanding the Structure of a VC Firm

(20:46) Roles and Responsibilities within the VC Team

(24:03) Key Skills from Product Background Useful in Role as a VC

(27:18) The skill of decision-making in ambiguous situations

(30:41) Acquiring and Developing New Skills During Role Transition

(34:15) Developing Context Switching Skills: Training or Experience?

(36:05) Are Financial Analysis and Valuation Skills Essential for Effective Planning?

(37:23) Mentors and Role Models During a Transition: Reflection and Thoughts

(39:43) Questioning the Existence of a "Right Mentor": Active & Passive Mentoring

(42:58) Transitioning from Product to VC: Recommended Resources and Advice

(44:39) Future Trends in the VC Industry for Individuals Looking to Transition

(48:08) The Future of Indian Deep Tech: Predictions and Projections

Dr. Geetha Manjunath is the Founder, CEO, and CTO of NIRAMAI Health Analytix, and has led the company to develop a breakthrough AI solution for detecting early-stage breast cancer in a non-invasive radiation-free manner. Geetha holds a Ph.D. from IISc and management education from Kellogg’s Chicago. She comes with over 25 years of experience in IT innovation. She has proposed and led multiple AI projects at Xerox Research and Hewlett Packard India. Geetha has received many international and national recognition for her innovations and entrepreneurial work, including CSI Gold Medal, BIRAC WinER Award 2018, and is also on the Forbes List of Top 20 Self-Made Women 2020. She was declared the winner of Women Health Innovation Showcase Asia, Accenture Vahini Innovator of the Year Award from Economic Times, and Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 by BioSpectrum India. Geetha is also an inventor of 20 US patents and more pending grants.

On today’s episode, we discuss,


Unveiling the Genesis of Niramai: A Pioneering Journey


Getting Early Adopters and Gauging Business Model Viability


Mastering the Art of AI Product Development and Fostering Clinician Trust


Navigating the Financial Challenges of Launching an AI Startup


Going Beyond Borders: Internationalizing Your Startup


The Horizon of AI in Healthcare: A Glimpse into the Future




For topic-wise episode summary & more, click here - ⁠⁠bit.ly/dtm-gn⁠


Links & References:

Dr. Geetha Manjunath - geetha-manjunath (LinkedIn), @geethamhp (Twitter)

Niramai Health Analytix - niramai.com, LinkedIn, Twitter

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Manish Singhal is a technologist-turned-entrepreneur-turned-venture capitalist who aspires to help place India on the global DeepTech innovation map through his work at pi Ventures. With over 31 years of experience spanning diverse fields, including the development of cutting-edge technology products on a global scale, mentoring startups, investing in them, and establishing a deep tech venture fund, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table.

Manish has played a pivotal role in advancing technology in India. He contributed significantly to the development of GPS systems for the Indian Army. Furthermore, he made substantial contributions to the MPEG 4 standard, authoring a chapter that played a crucial role in its commercialization, revolutionizing digital media and communication technologies.

Actively engaged in India's startup ecosystem for the past several years, Manish founded pi Ventures in early 2016 with the vision of accelerating the growth of AI startups in India. Prior to that, he co-founded LetsVenture.com, rapidly transforming it into the premier marketplace for startups and early-stage investors in India. Preceding his involvement with LetsVenture, he served as the India country manager for Sling Media Inc, a Silicon Valley-based consumer electronics startup. During his tenure, he spearheaded the establishment of the R&D and product team in India from the ground up, ultimately achieving a successful acquisition.

On today’s episode we discuss,


The founding story of pi Ventures & its investment thesis


How pi Ventures helps Deep Tech Startups grow


Key criteria for investing in Deep Tech startups


pi Ventures seminal Deep Tech themes report - Deep Tech Shift 2026


The experience of raising an INR 702 cr fund for Deep tech, remotely during the pandemic


For episode summary & more, click here - ⁠bit.ly/dtm-mp




Links & References:

Manish Singhal - smanishsinghal (LinkedIn), @manish_saarthi (Twitter)

pi Ventures - piventures.in, LinkedIn, Twitter

Deep Tech Shift 2026 Report - Link

pi Ventures DeepTech: Emerging Frontiers Mini Blogs - Link

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)





Show Notes:

(00:31) Founding story of Pi Ventures. What was its motivation?

(4:05) Investment Thesis and Focus Areas

(5:29) Pi Ventures: A Catalyst for Growth in Deep Tech Startups

(9:18) Key Criteria for Investing in Deep Tech Startups

(11:09) Positioning of Indian Startups in Solving Global Problems

(14:35) The Visibility of Deep Tech Startups and Media Attention in the Local Indian Perspective

(16:22) Experience of Raising the INR 700cr Second Fund for Deep Tech Startups

(19:22) Motivation behind the Deep Tech Shifts 2026 Report

(20:45) Exploring the Themes and New Thesis in the Deep Tech Industry

(25:59) The Future of Generative AI: Exploring Its Potential and Layers of Development

(29:21) "Considerations for Taking a Deep Tech Startup to Success"

(31:05) How can deep tech startups position themselves and acquire their first ten customers?

Rob stands at the intersection of AI innovation and business strategy. He is the insightful author of the 'Investing in AI' newsletter, providing invaluable perspectives to investors and tech enthusiasts alike. He previously co-founded Backupify, then Talla, then was a General Partner at PJC. Rob has an intricate understanding of the startup ecosystem and the role of AI in shaping the future of industries. Currently steering the ship as the CEO of BrandGuard.ai, an AI tool to protect & boost your brand, and also a Partner at the AI Operator's Fund, which makes pre-seed investments in AI startups. He continues to be a driving force in AI's integration into the business world. He is an angel in 100+ early-stage companies, mostly AI companies. On the show we discuss,


How Rob Comes Up With Amazing Content for 20 Years


Synthetic Users and Why Real User Feedback Matters Less in an AI World


Why Horizontal Will LLMs Will Loose


The New Age Customer Acquisition Channels and Achieving “Agent-Market Fit”


Why AI Will Kill Most Forms of Long-Term Competitive Advantage



For episode summary & more, click here - bit.ly/dtm-rb



Links:

Rob May - robmay (LinkedIn), @robmay (Twitter), rob@aiinnovators.com (Email)

BrandGuard.ai - Website

Investing in AI Newsletter - Substack

AI Innovator’s Podcast - Apple, Spotify

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)



Show Notes:
(0:53) How does Rob come up with great quality content every week, year after year?
(2:03) The Inefficiencies in the Current AI Development Process: User Feedback
(7:14) The Role of Product Development in a World of AI
(12:08) The implications of horizontal LLMs losing in the AI industry.
(16:54) The Role of Agents as New Customer Acquisition Channel: Achieving “Agent-Market Fit”
(24:01) The Impact of AI on Long-Term Competitive Advantage
(28:15) The True Competitive Advantage in an AI First World: Customer Relationships and Brand
(30:50) Using BrandGuard.ai to Protect the Identity of Brands
(34:33) AI Innovators Community
(38:02) Crypto: What Gives?

Avnish is an innovator, strategist, and technology evangelist with 30 years of extensive experience and track record around market making, growth hacking, corporate innovation, digital transformation, and leadership development for Top 500 Fortune clients in both mature and emerging markets. In his current role as MD of Accenture Ventures, he is responsible for leading open innovation programs, building a deal pipeline for investments and acquisitions, academia partnerships, and originating deals in selected segments and accounts.



For the episode transcript and topic-wise summary click here - bit.ly/dtm-aa



On the show we discuss,


(0:56) Jumping Career S-Curves: From Armed Forces to Corporate World
(4:16) Accenture Ventures: Motivation and Role in the Indian Startup Ecosystem
(5:50) Building a Zero-to-One Initiative: Not Just for Startups
(6:35) Defining Deep Tech and Highlighting Portfolio Deep Tech Startups
(9:48) The Role of Accenture Ventures in the Growth of Startups
(13:18) Forming Effective Partnerships with Large Corporations: How can Deep Tech Startups Collaborate with Corporations?
(17:54) Accelerating Startup Growth: Strategies for Deep Tech Startups
(25:25) Key Criteria for Evaluating Startups for Partnerships or Investments: 2-inch wide and 20-inch deep
(27:44) Approaches to Foster a Culture of Innovation in Startups
(31:23) The Importance of Learning from Failures in Startups
(33:05) Accenture Venture's Perspective on Generative AI
(34:49) Initiatives by Accenture in Generative AI



Links:

Avnish Sabharwal- avnishsabharwal (LinkedIn)

Accenture Ventures - Website

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)

Sonal is currently VP at 3one4 Capital, an early-stage VC which counts in its portfolio the likes of Licious, Jupiter, Darwinbox, and more! 3one4’s exponential growth has been driven by partnering with generational companies to transform market segments across the country. Sonal has built systems and processes at 3one4 Capital to achieve strong coverage without compromising founder or referrer experience, all while maintaining a lean investments team. In addition to managing routine investment workflows, Sonal looks at fintech, enterprise software, and deep-tech focus areas for the firm. He has been an integral part of the firm’s investments in several category-defining companies.


For episode transcript, topic-wise summary, and more – bit.ly/dtm-s3



On the episode we discuss,

(2:15) Investment Thesis at 3one4 Capital

(4:05) Investment Focus and Startup Stage

(5:05) Defining Deep Tech at 3one4 Capital

(6:26) Deep Tech Startups in 3one4 Capital’s Portfolio

(9:48) Role of 3one4 Capital in the Growth of Unique Startups

(10:58) Key Considerations for Investing in Startups by Phases

(14:22) Five Key Questions That An Investor Is Looking To Answer While Investing

(16:19) Assessing the Right Team: How to Identify Potential Flags and Metrics

(17:52) The Key Components of an Ideal Startup Pitch

(19:28) Determining the Amount of Funding Startups Should Raise

(21:38) 3one4 Capital's viewpoint and approach to Generative AI

(26:08) The Importance of Problem-Solving and Faster Iteration in Product Development

(28:19) The Value Unlocking Potential of GenAI Lies in the End Applications



Links:

Sonal Saldhana - sonalsaldanha (LinkedIn), @sonalsaldanha (Twitter)

3one4 Capital - Website

Pronojit Saha, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)