College to Corporate S3 EP4 I Devesh Chawla, founder Chatur Ideas I Corporate Connect I IBS Mumbai

Summary

In this episode of the 'College to Corporate' podcast, Akanga Shetti interviews Mr. D Chava, a dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and mentor. Mr. Chava shares his journey from corporate life to founding Chatur Ideas, an ecosystem for startups, and Chatur Wealth, an automated trading platform. He offers insights into the challenges faced by startups, emphasizes the importance of having a strong team, and highlights the need for innovative problem-solving. Mr. Chava also discusses his experience mentoring entrepreneurs and predicts a promising future for India's startup ecosystem.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The podcast 'College to Corporate' is hosted by Akanga Shetti, focusing on business leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic growth.
• 👔 Mr. D Chava, an engineer, strategist, mentor, investor, and TEDx speaker, was the guest for this episode, sharing his journey in leadership and entrepreneurship.
• 💡 D Chava founded Chatur Ideas, a one-stop solution for startups, providing an ecosystem for entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors.
• 🚀 D Chava’s entrepreneurial journey began while still in B-school, inspired by Uber and Ola, but he initially became a wealth manager before launching Chatur Ideas.
• 📊 He also created Chatur Wealth, which uses automated AI-driven trading strategies, generating an average of 40-50% annual returns for investors.
• 🔧 Chava identified three key challenges for startups: focusing on solutions before identifying problems, lacking strong teams, and failing to create a unique advantage over competitors.
• 🎓 Chava runs entrepreneurship programs in colleges, aiming to train one crore entrepreneurs by 2047 and bridge the gap in entrepreneurial education.
• 💼 As a mentor and investor, Chava values learning from startups and providing guidance, while acknowledging the risks and rewards of investing.
• 🌐 He believes India’s startup ecosystem is on the cusp of massive growth, with increasing global investments, and expects the sector to expand significantly in the coming decade.
• 🔊 D Chava emphasizes the importance of being both a good listener and speaker in professional life, helping leaders influence and connect with people effectively.

Q & A

What inspired Mr. D Chava to create Chatur Ideas?

Mr. D Chava was inspired to create Chatur Ideas after realizing that he lacked the right ecosystem to succeed as an entrepreneur in his early career. This led him to build an ecosystem where entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors could come together to support each other.

What were the key challenges Mr. D Chava faced in starting Chatur Ideas?

Initially, Chatur Ideas had zero revenue for 18 months, which made Mr. Chava question whether he had made the right decision. However, the company eventually grew and became a leading platform for startups, investors, and mentors.

What motivated Mr. Chava to create Chatur Wealth?

Mr. Chava’s passion for trading and investing in the markets for over 15 years led him to create Chatur Wealth. He wanted to create an automated platform using algorithms to trade efficiently and generate consistent returns for investors.

What is the main focus of Chatur Wealth, and how does it benefit investors?

Chatur Wealth focuses on quantitative trading using algorithms based on mathematical formulas. It offers investors an alternate asset class that can provide strong returns regardless of market direction.

What challenges do startups often face in their early stages, according to Mr. Chava?

Startups often create a solution before identifying a problem, lack a strong team for execution, and don’t differentiate themselves from competitors. Mr. Chava emphasizes the need for empathy studies, design thinking, and building a strong team to succeed.

How has Mr. Chava’s experience as a mentor and investor shaped his approach to helping startups?

Mr. Chava's involvement as a mentor and investor has allowed him to learn from startups while sharing his own experiences. His mentorship helps startups avoid common pitfalls and guides them toward better execution and growth.

Can you share a success story from Mr. Chava’s portfolio companies?

Hubo, an event tech platform, is a success story where Mr. Chava’s investment increased eightfold in four years. Although they exited the investment, it could have grown 150 times had they held on longer.

How does Mr. Chava view the future of the Indian startup ecosystem?

Mr. Chava believes that India is on the cusp of major growth, with increasing international investments. He expects the Indian startup ecosystem to benefit significantly in the next decade and continue to be a global leader.

What has been Mr. Chava’s experience with running entrepreneurship programs in colleges?

Mr. Chava's experience has been positive, as he sees college students as future entrepreneurs. By providing them with the right frameworks and knowledge, he aims to foster entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.

How does being a good listener and speaker help Mr. Chava in his professional life?

Being a good listener allows Mr. Chava to learn from others, while being a good speaker enables him to influence and inspire. He believes that leaders must possess both qualities to create a significant impact.