Ryan Chandra, Data and AI Investment Lead at Accenture Ventures, explains where ambitious founders should build ventures to disrupt legacy industries.
0:00 / 0:38exact quote · 38.5s
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“The number one category that I would be building in if I was a founder is vertical AI, which is to say, what is the area and the problem statement and the workflow that you are deeply passionate about? What is the problem that only you can solve? Even if you are a non-technical founder, but you are a scientist with 10 years of research experience, or you are someone who's been in and around fintech and financial services and tier one banks for 1020 years, you know, the door is suddenly open to you to build hundred million dollar, billion dollar companies in these vertical spaces and to find differentiation from some of the platform players and the hyperscalers.”
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More from Ryan Chandra
AssertionSupported
Chandra: CVCs accounted for 75% of US AI venture funding
“So, 75% of US VC AI spending came from CVCs.”
Ryan ChandraAug 8, 2025▶ 7:37Accelerating AI & Enterprise Innovation: Accenture Ventures’ Strategic Investments
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Chandra: AI agents will turn software developers into managers of agents
“And so if we can arm each software developer with 10 background SDLC agents, you know, that doesn't get rid of the software developer job. It just up levels it and changes them to software developer managers, their managing agents.”
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Insight
Chandra: AI defensibility comes from domain data and distribution, not models
“The underlying intelligence and model is being commoditized, right, then where is differentiation going to come? How do you build defensibility as a founder? If it's not the model, which for 90% of folks it isn't, then it is either the data you're bringing to …”
Ryan ChandraAug 8, 2025▶ 29:42Accelerating AI & Enterprise Innovation: Accenture Ventures’ Strategic Investments
Disclosure
Chandra: Every Accenture Ventures Deal Requires Global Management Committee Sponsorship
“For every investment we do, the head of that business group, so whoever is supporting that at a global management committee level, agrees to sponsor that investment.”
Ryan ChandraAug 8, 2025▶ 3:24Accelerating AI & Enterprise Innovation: Accenture Ventures’ Strategic Investments
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Chandra: Most Fortune 500 companies remain in the GenAI experimentation phase
“Many of the fortune 500 global 2000 are still in that experimentation and POC type phase when it comes to Gen.ai. And they're looking to actually deliver real business ROI.”
Ryan ChandraAug 8, 2025▶ 4:22Accelerating AI & Enterprise Innovation: Accenture Ventures’ Strategic Investments
Insight
Chandra: Successful startups pair wide TAM with vertical-specific execution
“We are a firm believer, nonetheless, that a core part of being successful as a startup is, yes, you have a wide TAM, but you execute specific to a vertical, specific to a workflow.”
Ryan ChandraAug 8, 2025▶ 5:38Accelerating AI & Enterprise Innovation: Accenture Ventures’ Strategic Investments
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