🎙️ Join us on the Understanding VC podcast with Nitin Sharma, General Partner & Co-Founder at Antler India.
In this episode, Nitin discusses:
- How his definition of "impact" changed over time [00:02:12]
- His journey into the VC industry and the market conditions at that time [00:03:44]
- The most important lesson he learned from his time at NEA [00:07:54]
- Key differences between the VC industry in the US and India [00:10:50]
- What founders in India often misunderstand about VCs [00:16:06]
- The reasons behind his interest in EdTech [00:20:29]
- His view on the future of EdTech in India and the role of AI in the sector [00:23:00]
- An introduction to Antler and its mission in the startup ecosystem [00:27:00]
- How Antler addresses pain points for founders in the ideation phase [00:28:23]
- How Antler differentiates itself from traditional venture capitalists [00:29:01]
- How Antler's global network benefits startups in India [00:30:30]
- Antler's focus in the early stage investing process, particularly at the pre-seed stage [00:31:14]
- Whether Antler considers applicants from various backgrounds [00:31:54]
- The Antler India Fellowship and its role in democratizing entrepreneurship [00:32:35]
- How Antler reduces the cost of experimenting and building startups [00:35:00]
- The challenges and limitations of venture capital in India [00:38:00]
- Factors making India a promising market for startups and counter examples indicating potential success [00:41:25]
- The role of a VC and key learnings for success in venture capital [00:44:00]
- The differences between ONDC and Web3 in their approach to decentralization [00:47:29]
- The potential benefits of ONDC for small businesses in India and its impact on digital commerce [00:52:15]
- Nitin's vision for Antler India in the next decade and its desired impact on the startup ecosystem [00:54:16]
About Nitin Sharma:
Nitin Sharma's impressive portfolio spans 60+ tech startups in various geographies. He founded Incrypt Blockchain, playing a pivotal role in fostering India's blockchain ecosystem and investing in 16 blockchain projects. As a founding team principal at Lightbox Ventures, Nitin was integral in building two funds from the ground up. He brings a wealth of experience from his time at NEA, EverFi, and UBS Investment Bank. With an MBA from The Wharton School and advisory roles in AngelList and USC Viterbi School, Nitin is a leading voice in the frontier tech industry, advising the Indian government on tech policy.
