WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

Nikhil Kamath
  • 4.4 (21)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

"WTF is" is a podcast series where Nikhil Kamath hosts friends and industry experts and holds casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations. The podcast covers a broad range of topics of particular current relevance, including technology, social media, renewable energy, electric vehicles, philosophy, gaming, psychology and more.

  1. 13H AGO

    Nikhil Kamath ft. H.E Omar Sultan Al Olama | The Case for Youth in Politics | Special Ep

    I sat down with His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s youngest minister and the world’s first AI Minister, to unpack how modern governments think about the future and the role younger leaders play in shaping it. A last-minute conversation in Dubai that opened up a thoughtful discussion on youth in politics, leadership, and how AI is beginning to influence the way nations are governed. Big thanks to @IndiaGlobalForum for creating the space for conversations like this, and Manoj Ladwa, a dear friend and a rare connector between India and the rest of the world. People like him, through IGF are helping frame the ideas that will define this decade, and bring them to life 00:00 – Introduction  01:24 – Why AI Changes the Power Balance Between Countries  05:05 – Jobs, Intelligence, & What AI Takes Away From Humans  13:20 – Why This Conversation Happened at IGF  15:42 – Making of a Minister  22:18 – Why does anything matter?  24:42 – Machiavelli  30:23 – Fear or love? How are Leaders Remembered?  33:26 – UAE's Legacy & It's Perpetual Importance  38:04 – How UAE goes about it's diasporic Governance  48:13 – Taxes, Value Exchange, and What Citizens Expect  55:09 – Education, Work, and the Path to Government  1:12:19 – The Phone Call That Made Him AI Minister at 27  1:14:22 – Corruption, Incentives, and Power Structures  1:24:46 – AI & Governance  1:27:55 – Global Neutrality, Building Bridges & Restraint  1:37:49 – Blockchain, Discourse, and Closing Reflections  #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast X: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/  #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAE Twitter - [https://x.com/OmarSAlolama] LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae] Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn  Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59  Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th  #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline

    1h 43m

  2. 3D AGO

    The Case for Youth in Politics | HE Omar Sultan Al Olama (One of the World's Youngest Ministers)

    Came for a conversation, Left with a shift in perspective. A solid case to prove that age isn’t the barrier we think it is. A big thank you to  @IndiaGlobalForum  for hosting this dialogue. And to Manoj Ladwa, for being the bridge that makes conversations like this happen.  #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast X: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/  #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAE Twitter - [https://x.com/OmarSAlolama](https://x.com/OmarSAlolama) LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae)  Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th  #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline

    1 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    Tira, Bombay Shaving Co., Inde Wild | WTF is Fueling India's Beauty & Skincare Revolution? | Ep. 25

    Three founders leading India’s skincare wave – Bhakti Modi (Tira), Shantanu Deshpande (Bombay Shaving Company), and Diipa Khosla (Inde Wild) join me to share the highs and lows of building beauty and skincare brands and the trends shaping this booming industry. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:39 - Bhakti’s journey & love story 05:14 - Diipa’s road to Inde Wild 10:34 - Persona’s role in brand building 15:07 - How Shantanu started 20:48 - Valuations & industry secrets 27:30 - Decoding the salon industry 34:58 - How Inde Wild made Champi cool again 38:01 - Market size & shifting narratives 45:14 - Marketing quality & building a community 52:41 - Why fragrance is exploding 1:00:42 - Community’s role in branding 1:08:04 - Cracking the BPC industry 1:22:26 - Omnichannel: A must-have? 1:27:15 - Tariffs, growth & social selling 1:31:00 - Can Indian brands go global? 1:34:51 - Cracking influencer marketing 1:42:15 - Sampling, distribution & minis 1:48:07 - Sustainability: Do founders still care? 1:52:54 - What’s the next wave? 2:04:39 - How the world perceives India 2:09:48 - Tech’s role in customising 2:16:10 - Nikhil’s & Diipa’s tattoos 2:18:14 - Why founders need grit 2:19:47 - Bhakti & Tira’s origin story 2:34:10 - Inside Tira: From concept to customer 2:38:34 - Do celebrity brands work? 2:44:51 - Why Diipa started Inde Wild 2:48:25 - Mass, premium, prestige: Which segment is winning? 3:05:45 - Quick commerce & Tier 2 markets 3:11:11 - Ayurveda: Still a novelty? 3:14:43 - The making of Bombay Shaving Company 3:21:39 - From idea to product: Manufacturing & patents 3:30:14 - Advice to aspiring skincare founders #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: [https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio] (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?even...) Bhakti Modi - CEO, Tira Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhaktim679/... LinkedIn: / bhakti-modi-98a32293  Diipa Khosla - Founder, Inde Wild Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diipakhosla... LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/diipa-khos.... Website: https://india.indewild.com/?utm_campa... Shantanu Deshpande - Founder, Bombay Shaving Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantanudes... LinkedIn: / shantanudeshpandebsc

    3h 37m

  4. 11/05/2025

    Inside India's Booming Skincare Industry | Ep. 25 Teaser

    Bhakti Modi (Tira), Shantanu Deshpande (Bombay Shaving Company), and Diipa Khosla (Inde Wild) joined forces to answer one question: What should 25-year-old Dilip build next? Bhakti Modi CEO, Tira Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhaktim679/... LinkedIn: / bhakti-modi-98a32293  Diipa Khosla Founder, Inde Wild Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diipakhosla... LinkedIn : https://in.linkedin.com/in/diipa-khos.... Shantanu Deshpande Founder, Bombay Shaving Company Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/shantanudes... LinkedIn : / shantanudeshpandebsc

    2 min

  5. 09/01/2025

    Inside Silicon Valley's VC Playbook | WTF is Venture Capital? - 2025 Edition | Ep. 24

    In this unfiltered conversation, we discuss bad bets, overhyped markets, and where VCs should actually put their money. I sat down with Deedy Das (Principal, Menlo Ventures), Nikunj Kothari (Partner, FPV Ventures), and Niko Bonatsos (Early-Stage Venture Capitalist) to get their hot takes on industries. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Deedy’s journey & the Anthropic story 05:10 - Nikunj’s background 11:32 - Niko’s story 13:31 - Sectors to avoid as an investor 23:17 - Today’s hottest sectors 27:31 - Emerging AI trends 38:37 - Declining birth rates + AI’s role 48:19 - Abundance & capitalism 53:19 - Raising kids in an Instagram world 55:39 - No tech: the next big business? 1:00:55 - The future of dating apps 1:06:52 - Key predictions for the next frontier 1:10:14 - Will urbanisation continue? 1:13:51 - Longevity & wellness industry 1:16:01 - Which sector will boom by 2035? 1:25:59 - Rethinking senior living 1:32:52 - Content vs. product: what builds a brand? 1:43:50 - Individual vs. legacy brands 1:47:30 - EVs & mobility: the road ahead 1:58:03 - Opportunities in beauty & luxury 2:02:17 - Where live events are headed 2:06:14 - Climate tech & its impact 2:11:49 - Data centers: the best bet? 2:15:13 - Vices as an industry 2:24:18 - Wrapping it all together 2:29:02 - Legal AI: opportunities & challenges 2:32:29 - India in the global AI race #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: [https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm9WZVh3cHVTX3JEeGptVjlOZ1R3cW5rVkZJUXxBQ3Jtc0tuekFjWnRXME9XUUVLcDNCTk9YcHd5OU1MV1NMamE0cWE1T25meGJ4VWRMa21OY3VYLWM2T05iOUJtYTNWbWRSLW5YUXNzTTRHUUpjOGdZSGJzNEYxMkt2Y2hmWVNUeU51Nk5MRFVieVNtSTJwMkFXZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g) LinkedIN: [](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGNsNjlxS2NyU3VxOUNIQU1VUmczaWNobmtJd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVmczaDdwdkpMZWlNaVdISk1mQUFfbmhZNVB2al9OU1hwbF9rYTFoMFJGN2FKRnFreXFEaXZhRGttd2xLRHBpQVhIS19XaW5wQTZ3UjB6bm5vazVmdUkwSEdsU0MxS1lXYmJvVnhlekVRczc0RmdTRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g)https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #DeedyDas - Principal, Menlo Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/deedydas LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debarghyadas/ #NikunjKothari - Partner, FPV Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/nikunj LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjk/ #NikoBonatsos - Early-Stage Venture Capitalist Twitter: https://x.com/bonatsos LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonatsos/

    2h 52m

  6. 08/28/2025

    Cracking Silicon Valley's VC Code | WTF is Venture Capital? - 2025 Edition | Ep. 24 Teaser

    What industries will die out in the next decade? I sat down with three venture capitalists from Silicon Valley to decode. #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: [https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm9WZVh3cHVTX3JEeGptVjlOZ1R3cW5rVkZJUXxBQ3Jtc0tuekFjWnRXME9XUUVLcDNCTk9YcHd5OU1MV1NMamE0cWE1T25meGJ4VWRMa21OY3VYLWM2T05iOUJtYTNWbWRSLW5YUXNzTTRHUUpjOGdZSGJzNEYxMkt2Y2hmWVNUeU51Nk5MRFVieVNtSTJwMkFXZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g) LinkedIN: [](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGNsNjlxS2NyU3VxOUNIQU1VUmczaWNobmtJd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVmczaDdwdkpMZWlNaVdISk1mQUFfbmhZNVB2al9OU1hwbF9rYTFoMFJGN2FKRnFreXFEaXZhRGttd2xLRHBpQVhIS19XaW5wQTZ3UjB6bm5vazVmdUkwSEdsU0MxS1lXYmJvVnhlekVRczc0RmdTRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #DeedyDas - Principal, Menlo Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/deedydas LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debarghyadas/ #NikunjKothari - Partner, FPV Ventures Twitter: https://x.com/nikunj LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjk/ #NikoBonatsos - Early-Stage Venture Capitalist Twitter: https://x.com/bonatsos LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonatsos/

    2 min
  7. Nikhil Kamath ft. Police Comm'r & Traffic Police Comm'r of Bengaluru | WTF is Policing? | Special Ep

    05/12/2025

    Nikhil Kamath ft. Police Comm'r & Traffic Police Comm'r of Bengaluru | WTF is Policing? | Special Ep

    As someone from Bangalore, I’ve been a bit bothered by how much flak we get, especially about traffic. So I set out to see if the criticism is fair, and what’s actually being done about it.In this episode, I spend the day with two of Bengaluru’s top police officers — B. Dayananda, IPS (Commissioner of Police) and M.N. Anucheth, IPS (Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic) — to understand what’s really happening in the city.We get to know how the police are using AI and other technology to manage traffic more effectively, and what’s the future of urban transport. But this episode isn’t just about traffic. We delve into the reality of being a police officer, how they’re portrayed in movies, and the push-pull between politics and policing. We also discuss the rise in cybercrime and how you can protect yourself online.If you’ve ever complained about traffic, considered joining the force, or just want a closer look at how the system works, this episode is for you.Timestamps:⁠00:00⁠ - Intro & visit to the Office of the Commissioner of Police⁠2:31⁠ - Tracking calls at the Integrated Command & Control Centre⁠5:57⁠ - What police medals & uniforms represent⁠07:07⁠ - Police hierarchy & recruitment exams⁠12:36⁠ - Why is Bengaluru criticised & what’s the future of transport?⁠15:40⁠ - Are traffic fines a deterrent or government revenue?⁠17:41⁠ - How does Bengaluru use AI & data to improve traffic flow?⁠23:13⁠ - How cameras catch traffic violations⁠26:41⁠ - Combating bribery⁠29:35⁠ - Exploring the traffic police museum⁠31:26⁠ - The push-pull between politicians & police⁠33:00⁠ - B. Dayananda’s journey to policing⁠35:28⁠ - Should VIPs be above traffic rules?⁠38:47⁠ - Challenges & rewards of becoming a policeman⁠43:45⁠ - How MN Anucheth decided to enter the force⁠45:41⁠ - The sacrifices of policing & balancing family⁠48:32⁠ - How policemen cope with retirement⁠51:23⁠ - Kannadiga representation in government⁠53:48⁠ - Can policemen transition to politics?⁠55:39⁠ - Skills & talents of a good policeman⁠57:19⁠ - So low budgets force police to accept bribes?⁠58:31⁠ - Is there a solution to Bengaluru’s traffic problem?⁠1:02:22⁠ - What needs to change in India?⁠1:06:57⁠ - Nikhil's focus on building an Indian-first brand ecosystem⁠1:07:56⁠ - How accurately do movies depict police realities?⁠1:10:40⁠ - B. Dayananda’s love for bike rides: redefining the policeman’s image⁠1:14:05⁠ - Bangalore police’s growing social media presence⁠1:15:00⁠ - Advice for youth considering a career in policing⁠1:17:16⁠ - The rise of cybercrimes⁠1:21:35⁠ - Final thoughts: A message to aspiring policemen⁠#NikhilKamath⁠ - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: ⁠https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio⁠LinkedIN: ⁠  / nikhilkamathcio  ⁠ Instagram: ⁠  / nikhilkamathcio  ⁠ Facebook: ⁠  / nikhilkamathcio  ⁠ Bengaluru City PoliceTwitter: ⁠https://x.com/BlrCityPolice⁠ Facebook: ⁠  / blrcitypolice  ⁠ Instagram: ⁠  / blrcitypolice  ⁠ YouTube: ⁠   / @bengalurucitypolice3253  ⁠LinkedIN: ⁠  / blrcitypolice  ⁠Bengaluru Traffic PoliceTwitter: ⁠https://x.com/blrcitytraffic⁠ Facebook: ⁠  / bangaloretrafficpolice  ⁠Instagram: ⁠  / bengalurutrafficpolice  ⁠YouTube: ⁠   / @bengalurutrafficpolice  ⁠LinkedIN: ⁠  / bengalurutrafficpolice  ⁠⁠#wtfiswithnikhilkamath

    1h 28m
  8. Ep #23 | WTF are Consumer Electronics? | Nikhil ft. Carl Pei, Rahul Sharma & Amit Khatri

    04/26/2025

    Ep #23 | WTF are Consumer Electronics? | Nikhil ft. Carl Pei, Rahul Sharma & Amit Khatri

    This episode is a playbook for any curious 20-something in India dreaming of building the next big consumer electronics brand. Whether it’s smartphones, earbuds, AI-powered glasses or health wearables, we dig into what it really takes to break into, and survive, this highly competitive space. I sat down with three brilliant minds in the game who’ve actually done it: Carl Pei (Co-Founder, Nothing), Rahul Sharma (Co-Founder, Micromax), and Amit Khatri (Co-Founder, Noise). We tried to decode the what, how, and WTF of this industry—from regulations and the fairness of trade tariffs, to startup realities and what disruption might look like next. You might just spot the next big idea as they share some untapped opportunities waiting to be built in this sector. Resource Document: https://iridescent-party-a15.notion.site/Consumer-Electronics-Resource-Document-1e1aef3ec3e980f29b86dd9bae34410d Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - How Apple sparked Carl’s love for tech 05:05 - The reason for Y Combinator’s success 07:28 - Carl’s ‘lazy genius’ approach towards his career 15:05 - How Nothing differentiated itself 16:36 - US tariff’s impact on China, India & the industry (Note: Since this episode was recorded before recent changes to global trade & tariff policies, some views may not reflect current regulations.) 22:10 - Carl’s philosophical views on life 24:23 - Rahul’s journey & the roots of his entrepreneurial spirit 29:30 - Micromax’s early days: From payphones to GSM innovation 38:23 - How traveling to villages led to Micromax’s success 50:47 - Competing with China & Micomax’s manufacturing pivot 1:00:00 - Apple’s vertical integration strategy: Lessons for companies & governments 1:05:00 - Learnings from Rahul’s risk-taking & resilience 1:09:00 - Amit’s journey from education to building Noise 1:23:34 - Roadmap for 20-somethings entering the electronics industry 01:41:47 - Identifying gaps in the commodity market 1:48:02 - Disruption in smartphones through design and AI opportunities 1:57:40 - Today’s youth vs. yesterday’s corporations 2:01:13 - Building India’s supply chain & unlocking its market opportunity 2:07:21 - An electronics launchpad for young entrepreneurs 2:16:45 - India’s semiconductor push & restarting efforts 2:22:26 - Future of TV: One UI for all streaming apps? 2:25:41 - Can India build a global ecosystem in electronics? 2:35:58 - Health wearables & EdTech opportunities 2:42:44 - Advice for 20-somethings who want to break into this industry #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #CarlPei - CEO & Co-Founder, Nothing Twitter: https://x.com/getpeid LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getpeid/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getpeid/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getpeid/ #RahulSharma - Co-Founder, Micromax Twitter: https://x.com/rahulsharma LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-sharma-83038634a/ #AmitKhatri - Co-Founder, Noise Twitter: https://x.com/iamamitkhatri LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamamitkhatri/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsamitkhatri/

    2h 47m
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4.4
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

"WTF is" is a podcast series where Nikhil Kamath hosts friends and industry experts and holds casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations. The podcast covers a broad range of topics of particular current relevance, including technology, social media, renewable energy, electric vehicles, philosophy, gaming, psychology and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Nikhil Kamath
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Nikhil Kamath
  • Show Website
    WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

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