EP#59 Jatin Desai – Backing outlier founders and investing in deep-tech/IP creating startups

The VCpreneur: Startups | Venture Capital | Entrepreneurship | Fundraising

In this episode, Jatin Desai (Managing Partner, Inflexor Ventures), joins our host Digjay, to talk about his path leading up to Inflexor Ventures, the thesis and evolution of the fund, Jatin’s approach to evaluating & investing in deep tech startups, commercialization of deep tech startups, importance of having exit strategies as an investor, outlier founders from Inflexor’s portfolio, Jatin’s learning curve as a VC, deeptech themes that Inflexor is excited about, how being a venture capitalist has influenced Jatin’s personality over the years and more.

Inflexor Ventures is an early stage venture capital fund that invests in startups leveraging deeptech & technology IP in areas like AI-ML, AR-VR, Big Data, Robotics, Cybersecurity, Blockchain and SpaceTech. The venture recently closed their new fund at $80mm & has invested in startups like Bellatrix Aerospace, PlayShifu, Atomberg, CloudSek, Kale Logistics among others.

Prior to become a venture investor, Jatin was the CIO of Bank of America & DSP Merrill Lynch in India. Before joining the bank, Jatin spent several years in US, EMEA & India in various technology roles dealing with Wall Street banks and Fortune 500 companies. You can connect with him here on Linkedin.

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Show notes –

1. (01:47) Jatin’s background & his path leading up to Inflexor Ventures
2. (04:09) The thesis and evolution of the fund
3. (07:35) Jatin’s approach to evaluating & investing in deep tech startups
4. (12:46) Overcoming valleys of death & commercialization of deep tech startups
5. (24:02) Importance of having exit strategies as an investor
6. (28:05) Outlier founders from Inflexor’s portfolio
7. (30:17) Jatin’s learning curve as a VC
8. (32:40) Deeptech themes/sectors that Inflexor is excited about
9. (35:37) How has being a VC influenced Jatin’s personality over the years?
10. (36:22) Rapid fire and closing remarks

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