Inside the Mind of India’s Greatest Startup Investor – Sanjeev Bikhchandani on The India Opportunity Show ft Shrishti Sahu
Unlike all his other interviews, Sanjeev discusses his investing principles and capital allocation framework.
Hello everyone, welcome to The India Opportunity Show where you get a front-row seat to people building India’s future. We talk about unlocking the potential of the country with founders, investors, creators, and successful leaders from different fields to bring you real-life stories and behind-the-scenes of what it takes to be at the forefront of building the India Story.
Episode 8, Season 3 of The India Opportunity Show is out now! You can watch it on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
On this episode of The India Opportunity Show, I sit down with Sanjeev Bhikchandani — a pioneer not just of the Indian internet but of capital allocation itself. Through Info Edge, he built and scaled platforms like Naukri, 99acres, Jeevansathi, and Shiksha. But what’s even more fascinating is his role as an investor — backing Zomato, Policybazaar, and several category-defining startups long before the market believed in them. This conversation is not about Naukri’s journey as much as it is about how Sanjeev thinks about deploying capital, spotting founders early, and compounding value over decades.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:38 – The Secret Behind His Asset Allocation Strategy
00:15:46 – Why He Avoids Small & Mid-Cap Stocks
00:23:36 – Investors Told Him to Stop… Here’s How He Reacted
00:24:55 – When People Said His Model Was DEAD
00:30:13 – The Hidden Advantage of Long VC Cycles
00:38:13 – Holding Startups for 17 Years?! Here’s How
00:39:16 – The Untold Policybazaar Investment Drama
00:42:20 – Inside Story: Zomato’s Risky Blinkit Deal
00:45:19 – Will Commerce Really Go Vertical?
00:47:13 – Quick Commerce: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
00:48:49 – Red Flags That Kill Startup Deals
00:55:01 – Why He Rejects “Startup Idea Lists” Instantly
00:59:21 – The TRUTH About Startup Valuations
01:02:17 – The Market Size Question That Stumped Him
01:05:03 – Warren Buffett’s Rules in Startup Investing
01:07:20 – Break-Even vs Growth: His Advice to Founders
01:08:10 – What He Tells Founders Running Out of Cash
01:08:58 – The AI Value Chain: Where the Real Money Lies
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Disclaimer: The content presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.