Harit Soni

When you find a practical use of AI in an area that has strong tailwinds in the India growth story, you know this is a venture that has a high potential not just for value creation but for job creation in the country. Delighted to back TraqCheck founders Jaibir Nihal Singh, Armaan Mehta and @rishabh jain as they make it easier for over 200 corporations to embrace the new way of work. Traqcheck's Ai-enabled background checks of employees is way, way faster and far more reliable than traditional methods of background verification. Pankaj Bansal (पंकज बंसल)Karann Mittal Danish Dogra Aman Khan Yukta Kelkar Atreyi Dass

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In this article, I talk about the power sector reforms that are needed in India and a brief analysis of the political manifestos on energy reform. Do give it a read! #energy #cleantech #policy #sustainability

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Commoditization of AI models Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of watching Aravind Srinivas' (founder of Perplexity) interview with Aarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan . It's a great interview and I would recommend AI founders to watch it if possible. https://lnkd.in/gnM2NeS8 Couple of things that stuck me from the interview: 1. Aravind believes in the commoditization of AI models in the long run. His take his firms like Perplexity which focus on user problems and solve for it using relevant models will win. Perplexity does it quite well, do check them out if you haven't already. This is something that AI entrepreneurs should think about. Creating foundational models is freaking expensive! and for conservative capital allocators like us it is too risky a bet (not betting on AI is even riskier 😅, I guess we need to learn more) I am going to tag the platform Guru and distinguished IIMB alumnus Sangeet Paul Choudary for his take on this. 2. The initial employees (5-10) have to be truth seekers rather than social affirmers(?) It was great hearing him talk about the culture at Perplexity of seeking the truth through open conversations and arguments on Slack rather than provide positive affirmation. I think it's something that every founder should strive for. Truth will prevail in the longer run. This works in technology, finance, politics, society, anywhere. (Satyamev Jayate is true in itself!) But to be able to have an open conversation, the founders need to have depth themselves. This is something that I feel the Indian ecosystem lacks, as most of the founders seem to be managerial in nature. I find them shifting to jargons rather than simplicity when questioned deeper. (By the way this is a classic test to check whether someone really knows it, people who know what they are talking about will make it simpler, those who don't take the cover of jargons to increase complexity and portray intelligence) I understand my analysis could be biased due to self-selection, and I would love to be proven wrong. It's pretty cool that Aravind chose Larry Page as his favourite entrepreneur due to their common background of coming from academic research to entrepreneurship. What I definitely don't agree with Aravind on The idea that luck doesn't play a role in outcomes. Successful people generally attribute success to their hard work/smartness / enterprise without understanding their privilege. For e.g. A smarter/more hardworking/more enterprising Dalit girl from Bihar will never have the kind of opportunities that I had as a Tam Bram born in a lower-middle class but very well educated family in Chennai. One has tried to solve for it using our Sakhi Scholars programme, which supports gifted girls from underprivileged communities to achieve their dream through financial support. On a lighter note, Aravind is a 2017 IIT-M alum and has already built a $8 billion company, what the hell am I doing with my life? 🤔

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Solar's intermittency mandates the need for low cost intra-day storage to avoid grid instability. With XDLE's ultra long life cycle LFP cells and custom solutions from Cygni it is now possible to make Solar not only grid competitive (which it already was) but also usable throughout the day for our Commercial & Industrial customers. We think this could be a game changer for micro-grid applications, captive solar plants, peak shaving and a lot more translating to utility cost reduction and a lower carbon footprint. Exciting times ahead for renewable energy! More about the range of solutions here: https://lnkd.in/gPFV2STg Venkat Rajaraman Vipul Kumar Jain

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Establishing a deep-tech focused VC fund would greatly benefit entrepreneurs at the idea, seed, pre-Series A, and Series A stages. Moreover, startups also require grants, joint investment opportunities with deep-tech vendors (both public and private), mentorship, orders, timely payment of invoices, prompt approvals, and access to a global knowledge-sharing platform. These supports enable them to build upon existing foundations rather than starting from scratch. Indian entrepreneurs are currently emphasizing the development of consumer-centric products such as food brands and cosmetics, rather than investing to build deep-tech assets that could enhance production capabilities. We anticipate that this will change with the backing of all stakeholders. Startup India | Invest India | Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India | MeitY Startup Hub | SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd | SiriusOne Capital | Angel Scions | O2 VC Fund (fund under process)| o2 Angels Network https://lnkd.in/dtfBpWUF?

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Bharat Beckons: Transforming India's Heartland We are structurally bullish on start-ups building for "Bharat" / rural India consumers. The surface area of the opportunity is rapidly evolving and ripe to build and disrupt. With tailwinds such as rising digital and physical connectivity, rural India is getting modernised and aspirational, looking for solutions and products similar to what their urban counterparts have. Bharat represents 65% of India's population, which spends ~$500B of annual consumption. This is likely to double by 2030. Multiple categories have an annual spend of $10B+ each by the top 30% of rural households. Teams having strong operational acumen with a deep understanding of rural consumer pain points and nuances of product-building will have the right to win in this segment. Anand Daniel Partner Accel in India Source : https://lnkd.in/gXK9bepd #venturecapital #startup #startups #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #privateequity #funding #investment #technology #vc #investing #innovation #investor #venturecapitalist #investors #entrepreneurs #angelinvestor #tech #finance #marketing #smallbusiness #startuplife #success #money #founder #startupfunding #digitalmarketing #angelinvestors #motivation

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Reducing (shifting) emissions will help us and not the omni-potent mother nature. #safeevcharging #tangibleinfra #electricvehiclesarethefuture #evcharginginfrastructure #evehicles #ev #evcharging #ev https://lnkd.in/gr3Gnd8A

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I am very excited to start the journey of co-building LongStraw Carbon alongside Anwita Mukherjee and Utkarsh Raj. While spending the last year investing in and advising various startups in the AI and climate tech space, I was trying to better understand the nuances of the carbon markets. And it was evident that a well-functioning carbon market is a key lever in our journey towards net-zero. However, lack of trust and transparency makes it challenging for emitters, beyond just large corporations, to leverage the full potential of carbon projects. This not only affects corporations but also countries like India, where small offsetters struggle to utilize their immense offset potential. This is where we see an opportunity to come in and enable stakeholders with our data-driven approach. This is just the beginning, and we are looking forward to a lot of learning, building, and fun. PS: I will continue to invest in a small way in AI, climate tech and deep tech startups directly and via funds as an LP. #netzero #carbonoffsets #startuplife #sustainability

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Only TWO days left to apply for the RippleX Fellowship program! If you are a student/dropout/recent grad building a b2b software company in Canada/US, this is the program for you. In our last batch we had some amazing mentors like: - Braden Ream (CEO, Voiceflow): Mastering storytelling and navigating selling into enterprises - Rahul Parmar (Prev. Senior Director of Sales, Drata): Sales 101 – Converting pilots to real revenue, creating urgency among buyers, and best practices to manage a sales process - Nicholas Chepesiuk (CEO, OnCall Virtual Care, now part of Qualifacts): Striving towards product-market fit, utilizing creative outbound strategies, and the importance of building trust with customers in the early days - Justin Sky (CEO, Rose Rocket): Identifying venture-scale markets, learning when to pivot, and building strong organizational culture - Josh Gray (CEO, Artemis): Conducting customer validation, segmenting your ICP, and advice for young founders Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2iAu6vi

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We're excited to announce that Agrowtein Labs has recently become part of the iCreate incubation program, India’s unique non-academic hub that champions tech-driven startups. Supported by both the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India, iCreate has been a catalyst for pioneering entrepreneurship since 2012. At Agrowtein Labs , our innovative approach is transforming battery technology. We’ve engineered a hybrid system that combines a Li-ion battery pack with a supercapacitor, leveraging an advanced algorithm designed in-house to manage energy flow. This system efficiently utilizes regenerative braking energy, channeling it into the supercapacitor, which helps in dramatically enhancing the battery’s lifespan by minimizing the wear from frequent charging cycles. Joining the iCreate incubation community marks a significant milestone for us at Agrowtein Labs. #InnovationInEnergy #BatteryRevolution #TechStartup #iCreateIncubator #SustainableTech #FutureOfEnergy #GreenTech #Entrepreneurship #MadeInIndia #AgrowteinLabs

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Rebalance is India's first angel community that's 51% women with 27 investments across fintech, biotech, consumer, drones, Gen AI, deeptech healthcare, climate, energy, edtech and more. 🔥 Aishwarya is hosting a limited-seating, candid chat for women who invest in startups (would like to invest with Rebalance) and for women who want to learn about startup investing. No question is too trivial or small, this is a safe space to ask anything about startup investing! When: 26 May 2024 [Sunday] Where: Somewhere in Delhi ☕ Timings: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm 2 days to go!! RSVP here: https://shorturl.at/EoYLN If you're already an investor or not based in Delhi/Gurgaon - you can directly sign up here to be part of the investing community: https://lnkd.in/g7taCdkc

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🌍 Climate Change is real. But what can we really do about it? 🌡️ In our recent episode of The Better India Show, we dive deep into the pressing issue of climate change and environmental degradation in India. With temperatures in northern India soaring past 50°C, the urgency to address these challenges has never been greater. This episode features conversations with 3 inspiring green innovators who are making a difference through sustainable practices like aquaponics and biofuel production. Learn about practical steps individuals and communities can take to create a healthier, more sustainable future. 📺 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dgR7Wc_X #ClimateChange #Sustainability #TheBetterIndia #InnovativeSolutions #EnvironmentalDegradation #GreenInnovators #CommunityInitiatives

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It’s Time for our 2nd Podcast! This time, DTM’s Co-Founder and Head of Marketing, Anjali Sethi Joshi, brings you an exciting and exclusive discussion about the role of technology in the Energy & Power Sector. Check out our latest podcast featuring Shabbir Badra, Head of IT at Apraava Energy. An alumnus of IIM-Indore and a holder of the Global CIO certification from the Indian School of Business, Shabbir shares insights from his 25+ years in the IT industry, shedding light on: ▶ How technology has evolved within the energy and power industry. ▶ The top cybersecurity concerns in the power and energy sector today and the best ways to address them. ▶ How Apraava Energy leverages technology to drive transformative changes within the company. Also, don't miss our exclusive Power 5 Session, presented by Secure Network Solutions India Private Limited, where the company’s MD & CEO, N. K. Mehta, discusses key questions such as: ▶ Why is the renewable energy sector rapidly adopting new technologies like smart grids and IoT devices? ▶ How does Apraava Energy’s cybersecurity strategy balance enabling innovation with protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks? ▶ Assessing and mitigating cybersecurity risks within Apraava’s vendor network, and more. Additionally, check out some exclusive BTS (Behind the Scenes) clippings where everyone, including the Guest, Host, and Team DTM, had lots of fun shooting the podcast! (Link: https://lnkd.in/g_MK4jnS) Anita S. Jaison Rebello Puja Bhardwaj #techleaders #cio #ciso #cto #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #DataProtection #CyberDefense #ThreatIntelligence #CyberAwareness #NetworkSecurity #OnlineSafety #SecurityMatters #CyberRisk #Tech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #FutureTech #AI #IoT #MachineLearning #CloudComputing #TechTrends #BigData #business #podcast #datasecurity #india

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🚨 🚀 BREAKING! Kicking off 2025 with "hot" news from 8090 Industries! We’re thrilled to unveil our latest investment in Karman Industries, led by powerhouse industrialists, David Tearse and Chiranjeev Kalra. 🌋⛏️ Industrial heat is the lifeblood of industries like brewing, chemical manufacturing, and food processing—yet it remains one of the toughest strongholds of fossil fuels. With the Thermal01, Karman is revolutionizing the future of industrial heat with their SpaceX-inspired heat pumps -- leveraging cutting-edge turbomachinery to tackle one of the hardest decarbonization challenges: Replacing fossil fuel-based industrial boilers. ⛏️ Karman Industries will deliver high-temperature heat that is COST-COMPETITIVE with natural gas, especially in high-demand industrial regions. Their compact, oil-free designs simplify maintenance while their turbomachinery technology slashes system complexity. ⚡ This isn’t just innovation—it’s the dawn of a cleaner, smarter, more resilient era for global industry. With a bold vision and a world-class team, Karman Industries is set to transform how industries think about abundant, dependable, affordable and sustainable heat. 🔥 We’re beyond proud to stand alongside this pioneering team and our friends at Riot Ventures, Space VC and Wonder Ventures as they blaze a trail toward a future where industrial progress and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. 🌍 cc Kerem Ozmen Grant Brown Wes Mendenhall Haluk Sabanci Dincer Filip Vurdelja Ishan Meswani Garuth A. Andrew Irwin Shilpa Patel Price Mulford David Deak Will Coffield Stephen Marcus Jonathan Lacoste Dustin Rosen

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Interesting and relatable piece by Nutgraf / The Ken Praveen Gopal Krishnan in my inbox today. Few VCs balance this line well, even fewer can project an authentic narrative of what they actually do. In my observation of actions, a VC is a financier first and last, and anything else is marketing until proven otherwise. #vc #startups #india #founder

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Happy to have interacted / written this piece for IndusTales about Carbon Credits and various climate initiatives across India and how I perceive India being at the forefront of climate change initiatives in the global market. #carbonmarkets #india #ieta

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Well said, Pramod Varma: “Designing what works at scale is very different from trying to scale something that works" A typically geeky way of articulating what we entrepreneurs face while moving from startup to scale-up. #startup #scaleup #entrepreneurship #digitalpublicinfrastructure #DPI #innovation #opendata #openbanking #openfinance

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Climate change is accelerating rapidly, with emerging markets facing disproportionate risks despite contributing less to emissions. In India, climate tech startups have received investments exceeding $7 billion from 2018-2023, showcasing robust growth and innovation in sectors like Electrification, Renewables & Energy Storage, and Climate Adaptation/Mitigation. The climate tech evolution and growth in India has been bolstered by progressive government policies, technology innovation, ongoing infrastructure development and increased corporate adoption. At B Capital , Climate is a key pillar of our investment strategy, and we see India's climate investment landscape reaching a critical inflection point. We are excited to partner with visionary founders emerging from India, contributing to sustainable solutions and impactful change. Explore our thoughts on climate investments in India as part of an ongoing series and join us in shaping the future of climate technology together. Jeff Johnson Don Wood Deepanshu Pattanayak Karly Wentz https://lnkd.in/gjxyq_yp

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