Patiently Teach Investors What You Know to Win Them Over

The Sure Shot Entrepreneur

Venktesh Shukla, Founder and General Partner at Monta Vista Capital, shares his journey from a reluctant immigrant to a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He outlines his investment strategy at Monta Vista Capital, emphasizing deep due diligence, expert validation, adaptability, continuous learning, and leveraging networks. Additionally, he highlights the significant role of TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) in promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among Indian and South Asian communities, and the importance of supportive ecosystems in fostering innovation and economic growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:36] Driven into venture capital by a desire to focus on product and customer engagement

[6:53] Presenting unique and intriguing aspects of your field or venture appeals to VC's intellectual curiosity.

[8:36] Monta Vista investment philosophy: high conviction, concentrated investments; relying heavily on deep domain experts to validate investment opportunities.

[14:09] The founder’s motivation to tackle a market problem should be backed by concrete market insights.

[19:52] The IndUS Entrepreneurs - a comprehensive support system that has had a profound impact on the global entrepreneurial landscape, contributing to significant successes within the Indian community in Silicon Valley and beyond.

The non-profit organizations that Venktesh is passionate about: Foundation for Excellence

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About Venktesh Shukla

Venktesh Shukla is the Founder and General Partner of Monta Vista Capital and also the Founding Chair of TiE Angels. Prior to investing, Venktesh drove rapid growth in sales, marketing, and general management roles, collaborating with over 50 startups. As a former president of TiE, he strengthened Silicon Valley’s tech startup network and continues to volunteer, connecting entrepreneurs with key customers. Passionate about supporting Indian startups, Venk influences policy through the Government of India's Startup Advisory Council and supports students through the Foundation for Excellence.

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About Monta Vista Capital

Monta Vista Capital is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on early stage B2B companies. Portfolio companies include StrikeReady, Uhnder, minds.ai, ConstructN, XY Retail, Eridan, Boomerang, Motorq, Sparkz among others.

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