-Apurva Beniwal, VP (Investments), She Capital

Team 100X interviewed some of the top investors across the globe about their venture investing journeys, startups, and India.Here,Apurva Beniwal, VP (Investments), She Capital shares her responses.

Q1. What is your motivation to be in venture investing business?

The reason I am a part of the VC industry is because I get to work with amazing entrepreneurs day in and day out - who are passionate towards building something really great. It's inspiring to see their energy and learn from their expertise. Plus, being part of the journey of such cool startups that are making a positive impact is incredibly rewarding - I get to help them grow, solve their roadblocks and achieve their goals, and that's what motivates me.

Q2. Describe your workday and leisure day, how does it look like.

My workday usually begins by catching up on startup news/reading articles while I'm commuting to the office. At She Capital, our team strongly believes in working together in-person as it leads to better brainstorming and execution. Plus, meeting with startups face-to-face is always more effective than virtual calls. We kick off the day with a morning huddle and then spend time meeting with new startups, catching up with our portfolio founders, and connecting with other fellow VCs and ecosystem drivers. We're always thinking about how we can add more value to the female founder ecosystem beyond just investing.

On leisure days, you'll either find me hanging out with dogs or training for a marathon.

Q3. What is your view on the future of India as a market?

In terms of startup ecosystem – it is nothing short of exciting and promising. We have already made a mark as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem which is growing quite rapidly. With a supportive ecosystem and access to funding, Indian startups are shooting towards growth and success in the years to come. Moreover, we're seeing a significant shift towards a more diverse and balanced startup ecosystem, with an increase in leading women unicorn founders and founders in general. It's an exciting time to be a part of the Indian startup scene, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Q4. Help describe your investment thesis and ideas you would like to back.

Considering my background in having studied from Miranda House – which is all power female environment and later at Vedica which is again focussed on building future female leaders. I have always been inclined towards doing things that bring out more strength within the female community and helping in creating a more diverse and balanced ecosystem. The investment thesis at She Capital also mainly revolves around the same – we believe in powering female led/co-led or female focussed startups. We're stage and sector agnostic, meaning we're open to all ideas backed by powerful team and have a clear path to high-potential growth and scalability. Our goal is to create a more diverse and balanced ecosystem by supporting the women who are making waves in the startup world.

Q5. Top 5 advice you would give to startup founders

1. "Don't forget to take breaks! Remember, you're a founder, not a machine. Give your brain some rest and relaxation, and you'll come back even stronger."

2. "Embrace the pivot! It's okay if your original idea doesn't work out - sometimes, the best ideas come from unexpected places."

3. "Network, network, network! You never know who you might meet and what doors they could open for your startup."
4. "Don't be afraid to ask for help. Even the most successful startup founders had mentors and advisors who helped them along the way."
5. "If you're not making mistakes, you're not trying hard enough. Embrace failure and keep moving forward."

Q6. What inspires you in life and what keeps you awake at night?

What inspires me in life is the potential for innovation and progress to create a better future for all. What keeps me awake at night is the pressing challenges that we face as a society, and the urgency of addressing them in a thoughtful and impactful way.

Q7. Books or Blogs you would like to recommend entrepreneurs

Here are some underrated books, blogs, and podcasts that I would suggest to founders of startups:

Books:

1. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries - This book is a classic in the startup world, but it's still underrated in my opinion. It offers practical advice for building a successful business through experimentation and constant iteration.

2. "The Dip" by Seth Godin - This book is a quick read, but it offers valuable insights into knowing when to quit and when to persevere in your startup journey.

3. "The Founder's Dilemmas" by Noam Wasserman - This book provides an in-depth analysis of the common challenges that founders face, such as equity splits and co-founder conflicts, and offers solutions to overcome them.

Blogs: 

4. "First Round Review" - This blog offers insights and advice from successful startup founders, investors, and industry experts. It covers a wide range of topics, from fundraising and marketing to team building and product development.

1. "Farnam Street" - This blog is all about improving your thinking and decision-making skills, which is crucial for startup founders. It covers topics like mental models, critical thinking, and cognitive biases.

Podcasts: 

6. "Masters of Scale" - Hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, this podcast features interviews with successful startup founders on how they scaled their companies.

1. "How I Built This" - This podcast features interviews with successful founders on how they built their companies from the ground up.