Blume Ventures

🚨 New Episode Alert! How does a middle-class kid from Delhi end up orchestrating a $59B merger? And how does getting rejected from college because of an Amitabh Bachchan hairstyle lead to a mathematics degree and a career in global dealmaking? What happens when you put him in a room with the former US Vice President Dick Cheney and a plate of idli-dosa? These are just some of the fascinating turns in Alok Sama's journey from St. Stephen's College to SoftBank, driven by insatiable intellectual curiosity and an uncanny ability to be at the center of the biggest moments in tech. Episode 8 of Blume Podcast Season 3 features Alok Sama, the former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International, in conversation with Karthik B. Reddy, taking us behind the scenes of tech's biggest deals and most dramatic moments. His recent book, The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble, offers an unprecedented look into the tech world's most dramatic era, as he witnessed SoftBank's meteoric rise and subsequent challenges from a front-row seat. Here's what Alok unpacks in this episode:  🔹 "The idea of control being an illusion" - A key lesson from his SoftBank years 🔹 The Time Machine Strategy: How Masa identified and backed transformative businesses across markets 🔹 "Every company is an AI company" - Why AI will transform enterprise productivity 🔹 From Morgan Stanley to Masa: Why intellectual curiosity matters more than smartness 🔹 The Sprint-T-Mobile merger: Lessons in finding the win-win in mega deals A must-watch for anyone interested in the mechanics of mega-deals, the mind of Masa-san, and what it takes to navigate the highest echelons of global business while staying grounded in your roots. Link in comments. Blume podcast is supported by IDFC FIRST Bank, our annual partner. Ashish Fafadia Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Mitul Mehta Alok Mehta Deepika Jain Sarita Raichura Gautham Sivaramakrishnan Vikram Gawande Mudit Narain Aditya Kuber

A Remarkable Journey: Bureau’s Fight Against Global Fraud and the Road Ahead Dear Ranjan R Reddy, As I sit down to reflect on Bureau’s incredible journey, I can’t help but marvel at the transformative impact your vision has had on tackling one of the most critical challenges of our digital age—fraud. From your bold beginnings to the triumphant announcement of Bureau’s $30M Series B round, this journey is nothing short of extraordinary. The trust and confidence of esteemed investors like Rob Rueckert at Sorenson Capital and Ashish Aggarwal at @PayPal Ventures are not just a testament to Bureau’s achievements but a strong validation of the mission you’ve championed—to protect and accelerate customer journeys in a world increasingly threatened by digital fraud. The staggering $485 billion annual losses due to financial crimes, as highlighted by Nasdaq, underscore the urgency of Bureau’s work. Your platform’s ability to combat sophisticated fraud through cutting-edge risk intelligence is a beacon of hope in this daunting fight. Verifying over 600 million identities, tripling your customer base, and achieving unparalleled growth since your Series A round are milestones that showcase not just scale but an unwavering commitment to innovation and impact. I’m inspired by how Bureau is addressing AI-powered fraud, tackling money mules, crushing deepfakes, and securing real-time payments—all while ensuring seamless customer experiences. Your integrated approach to risk intelligence, from identity verification to continuous behavioral analysis, is redefining trust in digital-first customer journeys. As Bureau continues to grow, I am confident the path forward is one of even greater success. The ambitious plans to enhance your technology capabilities and expand your go-to-market efforts will undoubtedly solidify Bureau’s position as a leader in fraud prevention and risk management. Congratulations once again on this remarkable milestone! Your journey is a shining example of how vision, resilience, and innovation can address some of the world’s most complex challenges. I look forward to seeing Bureau scale new heights and make the world a safer place for businesses and consumers alike. With immense admiration and best wishes for the road ahead, Ram Rastogi 🇮🇳 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI) Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) Internet and Mobile Association of India Fintech Convergence Council Visa Mastercard FICO Salesforce Bharat Web3 Association

AI-driven B2B startup Bureau has secured $30 Mn (around INR 254 Cr) in a Series B funding led by Sorenson Capital, along with participation from PayPal Ventures👇 The startup plans to use the fresh capital to boost its product portfolio, scale up workforce, especially go-to-market team and expand its geographical reach to empower global financial ecosystems, Bureau said in its statement. Founded in 2020 by Ranjan R Reddy, Bureau offers real-time digital fraud prevention solutions to businesses across banking, fintech, gaming, e-commerce, and consumer internet platforms. To read the in-depth article, click here: https://4-2.co/49MRcpy #news #b2b #startup #AI

Unboxing the Ultrahuman Ring AIR with Rudy Avis To know more: https://lnkd.in/gTUsM5iQ . . . #Ultrahuman #RingAIR #WearableTech #HealthTracking #HonestReview #Fitness #Wellness

Was nice to be a part of the Fintech Fridays event with YourStory Media & Snowflake. We discussed the evolving #compliance landscape and its critical role in shaping fintech businesses like ours. At Multipl, compliance isn’t just a box to check—it’s the foundation of our platform. As a SEBI-registered platform, we ensure financial discipline and responsibility for our users, helping them achieve their life goals without compromising trust or security. It’s this commitment that makes #Spendvesting, a fully compliant and positive approach to spending! Shivani Muthanna Vijayant Rai Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/gifSu54A

Had a great conversation with Karthik B. Reddy from Blume Ventures, one of India's leading venture funds, on the future of startups and VCs in India. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/g54hKN_F. Don’t miss Blume's podcasts and reports! #ai #ml #startups #vc

Thanks for the opportunity - fun questions - always happy to share what I can with more listeners That was impressive turnaround - recording to publishing in less than 24 hours :) Bala Devarajan Rohit Kaul Blume Ventures Ria Shroff Desai Sarita Raichura

I’ve done a few now, but must say this podcast was particularly engaging…something to do with the exceptionally thoughtful Karthik B. Reddy and being in my kitchen in London 😄 #TheMoneyTrap Thanks to the Blume Ventures team for hosting me 🙏

Key Learnings from a Decade of Indian SME IPOs (2012-2024) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of innovation and economic growth, yet accessing capital has been a persistent hurdle. Since the launch of SME exchanges in 2012, IPOs have emerged as a transformative financing avenue, helping businesses scale, enhance visibility, and access growth capital. Here’s what a decade of SME IPOs in India reveals: 1️⃣ Fresh Capital Dominates: Over ₹200 Bn raised via SME IPOs, with >90% through primary capital vs. Mainboard where majority capital has gone to OFS 2️⃣ Bigger Offers: Median offer size has tripled from ~₹80 Mn to ~₹250 Mn in 10 years. 3️⃣ Market Caps Soar: Median IPO market cap is up 4.5x to ~₹1,000 Mn, with revenues growing 3x to ~₹750 Mn. 4️⃣ Growth is King: Pre-IPO revenue and EBITDA growth hold more weight with investors than absolute figures. Special Thanks to Dhagash Shah and Harshit Luthra for all the heavy lifting on this report. https://lnkd.in/gbfeKtCv You can also access the report here: https://lnkd.in/gwAwpWDt #SMEIPO #IndianMarkets #StartupFinance #BusinessGrowth #Blume Karthik B. Reddy Ashish Fafadia Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Sajith Pai Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Alok Mehta Sarita Raichura Mitul Mehta Mudit Narain

Fascinating insights from Blume's investment team members, Vikram Gawande and Dhagash Shah, supported by Harshit Luthra on a decade of Indian SME IPOs. From tripling offer sizes to prioritizing growth-first metrics, it’s clear that SMEs are redefining their public market journey. At Blume, we see immense potential in how SMEs and startups are leveraging IPOs to scale and innovate. Dive into the report to understand how this segment is evolving. Link in the post below. Karthik B. Reddy Ashish Fafadia Sanjay Nath Arpit Agarwal Rohit Kaul Ria Shroff Desai Mitul Mehta Alok Mehta Deepika Jain Sarita Raichura Gautham Sivaramakrishnan