UVC: Vinod Shankar from Java Capital on navigating controllable black swan events, learning from missed deals, and the focus on founders in smaller cities like Coimbatore
In this episode of Understanding VC, I talk to Vinod Shankar, Partner and Co-founder at Java Capital, an early stage venture capital firm in India. With more than 18 years of experience in the industry, Vinod shares his valuable insights and experiences. Vinod also sheds light on his previous roles at Kalaari Capital and Emuzed, offering a glimpse into how these experiences have shaped his expertise as an investor and entrepreneur.
Throughout the conversation, Vinod addresses key topics such as risk appetite in venture capital and the connection between the venture business and Black Swan events. He explains his perspective on controllable Black Swans and how they impact the venture capital landscape. Additionally, Vinod shares valuable insights into Java Capital's core value systems, their approach to evaluating missed deals, and their support for portfolio companies in hiring, business development, and fundraising. Lastly, he expresses his excitement for the future and discusses what drives his passion for investing in founders from smaller cities like Coimbatore.
In this episode you will learn:
- What is Vinod's perspective on risk appetite in the venture capital ?
- What is the connection between the venture business and Black Swan events according to Vinod? How does Vinod define controllable Black Swans in the context of venture capital?
- How did working at Kalaari impact Vinod's knowledge, sourcing, and relationships in the startup ecosystem?
- What are the core value systems of Java Capital? What are the key metrics used to measure values such as serendipity and quality of investments?
- How does Java Capital evaluate missed deals and learn from them?
- How does Java Capital support portfolio companies in hiring, business development and fundraising?
- Why does Java Capital focus on founders in smaller cities like Coimbatore?
- What excites Vinod the most about the future?
About:
Vinod Shankar is a Partner and Co-founder at Java Capital, an early stage venture capital firm based in India. With over 18 years of experience in venture capital, angel investing, retail marketing, technology, and startups, Vinod has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. He has an extensive investment portfolio that includes successful ventures such as Agnikul, Eplane, Customfit, Daily Ninja, SandboxVR, and plasmic.
Before co-founding Java Capital, Vinod managed the seed portfolio at Kalaari Capital, one of the leading venture capital firms in the country. Prior to that, he gained valuable experience as an entrepreneur, marketer, and technology developer while working at Emuzed, which was later acquired by Sequoia and KKR. He also contributed to the growth of JustBooks, a tech-led retail library chain. Vinod has been an active angel investor since 2013, supporting over 20 startups with his expertise and funding.
Vinod Shankar
Co-Founder and Partner at Java Capital
Vinod Shankar is a Partner and Co-founder at Java Capital, an early stage venture capital firm based in India. With over 18 years of experience in venture capital, angel investing, retail marketing, technology, and startups, Vinod has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. He has an extensive investment portfolio that includes successful ventures such as Agnikul, Eplane, Customfit, Daily Ninja, SandboxVR, and plasmic.
Before co-founding Java Capital, Vinod managed the seed portfolio at Kalaari Capital, one of the leading venture capital firms in the country. Prior to that, he gained valuable experience as an entrepreneur, marketer, and technology developer while working at Emuzed, which was later acquired by Sequoia and KKR. He also contributed to the growth of JustBooks, a tech-led retail library chain. Vinod has been an active angel investor since 2013, supporting over 20 startups with his expertise and funding.
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