Sanjay Swami, Managing Partner at Prime Venture Partners, discusses why early-stage venture investors should refrain from funding companies that lack product-market fit.
Opinion
Swami: US returnees to India face disadvantages due to local leapfrogging
“Today, I think what people are realizing is they're actually out of touch with India and India is growing in a very, what worked in the US is not necessarily experience that will translate to India. Right? So they're coming to India now and they're actually, w…”
Insight
Limiting early fundraising ensures even small startup exits remain meaningful
“If you don't raise too much money, even a mid-sized or a relatively small exit can be very meaningful to everyone.”
Disclosure
Prime Venture Partners is very unlikely to raise a $300M fund
“Well, you know we have a philosophy that says in early stage and with the approach we have, right, there's only, we're limited by our bandwidth, right, so as it is, as you said, you know, 25 companies, and you said only, I was saying, wow, we're 25 companies t…”
Opinion
Swami: Standard 10-Plus-Two Fund Lifecycle Fits the Indian Venture Ecosystem
“I think the standard US model of 10 plus two is probably the right thing for India. You know, perhaps seed will, you know, seed only funds might take an extra year, but broadly speaking, 10 plus two is the right thing.”
Prediction Open · timeframe Jun 2027
Swami: Kunal Shah's Second Venture Will Be An Order Of Magnitude Bigger
“Yes, there is someone like Konal Shah who had an amazing outcome the first time and is going to have, you know, a couple of orders bigger outcome, you know, perhaps the second time around, right, certainly one order more.”
Insight
Swami: VCs make money on winners but build reputations on failed startups
“So, there's a famous quote, I think you used to tell me, I don't know who you are spending it to, but you make your money on the winners, But you make your reputation on the ones that don't pan out, right? And so we end up, you know, it seemed like an expressi…”