In this episode, we sit down with Niren Shah, Managing Director at Norwest Venture Partners, a seasoned VC investor with 17+ years of experience shaping India’s startup ecosystem. Niren takes us behind the scenes of iconic investments in companies like Swiggy and OffBusiness, revealing what it takes to identify and build billion-dollar businesses in India.We dive into his framework for evaluating startups, lessons from his anti-portfolio, and the unique challenges and opportunities in India’s venture capital landscape. Niren shares actionable advice for founders preparing for IPOs, balancing short-term pressures with long-term vision, and navigating the journey from zero to IPO.From unpacking Norwest’s multi-sector, multi-stage investment strategy to exploring the future of India’s $10 trillion economy, this episode is packed with rare insights into the venture world. Niren also opens up about his personal journey, passions, and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy.Whether you’re a founder, aspiring VC, or simply curious about the forces driving India’s startup boom, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction3:00 - IPO scenario and 2024’s impact on exits in India6:35 - Advice for young founders preparing for IPO11:18 - Balancing quarterly results with long-term growth15:00 - Norwest’s investment strategy and ideology21:04 - Multi-sector, multi-stage investing approach24:36 - Building a flat and diverse investment team33:01 - Identifying great investors and founders40:04 - Contextualizing success stories and early bets45:02 - Preference for experienced vs. young founders49:27 - Framework for great venture investors58:40 - Lessons from the anti-portfolio1:06:41 - Story behind Swiggy’s success1:12:34 - Non-obvious investment examples1:19:24 - Future trends and opportunities in India1:28:38 - Niren’s personal principles and career journey1:42:27 - Beyond investing: Passions and interests1:44:37 - Finding depth in passions1:47:54 - Introspective questions and worldly thoughts1:50:29 - Unique insights people often disagree on1:54:43 - Advice Niren would give his younger self2:02:48 - Outro🔗 Support the Podcast:If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with friends, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment. Your engagement helps us continue to bring powerful stories to light.Follow Jivraj on Instagram: @jivrajsinghsachar#IndianSiliconValley #Swiggy #NorwestVenturePartners #StartupFunding #IPO #FounderLessons #VentureCapital #AntiPortfolio #ScalingStartups #IndiaStartups #FounderAdvice #ISV