Amit's Blog

Portugal’s Quiet Revolution: Transforming into a Global Commercial Hub Portugal’s transformation into a commercial center over the past 15 years (2009–2025) is a remarkable story of strategic reinvention, leveraging targeted policies, EU integration, and unique geographic and cultural strengths. This comprehensive analysis delves into how Portugal has repositioned itself, the specific policies driving this change, their impacts, tangible results, future expectations, and how the country differentiates itself as a business destination. The narrative incorporates 25–30 expert quotes to provide authoritative insights, with references to credible sources and posts on X where applicable. As of July 15, 2025, Portugal’s journey reflects a blend of resilience, innovation, and forward-thinking governance. How Portugal is Reinventing Itself as a Commercial Center Portugal’s emergence as a commercial hub stems from a deliberate shift from its post-2008 economic vulnerabilities to a div...

Lightspeed Venture Partners India: Global Vision, Local Impact Lightspeed Venture Partners India has cemented its position as a significant early-stage investor in India, demonstrating a keen eye for disruptive opportunities since its inception in 2007. With a dedicated focus on India and Southeast Asia, the firm recently raised its largest fund for the regions, a $500 million vehicle for India and Southeast Asia in July 2023 , bringing its total managed capital globally to over $18 billion. Lightspeed's portfolio boasts prominent unicorns like BYJU'S, Udaan, ShareChat, and Razorpay, showcasing its ability to back companies that achieve massive scale. The firm's strategic focus on emerging sectors such as AI, climate tech, and electric mobility, coupled with its commitment to a "highly selective" and founder-first approach, positions it as a crucial player in nurturing India's next generation of innovative enterprises. I. Investment Activity & Scale 1....

  Chiratae Ventures: A Homegrown Pioneer in India's Tech Startup Scene Chiratae Ventures, founded in 2006 (formerly IDG Ventures India), stands as one of India's most experienced and successful homegrown venture capital firms. With an impressive AUM of approximately $1.3 billion across six funds and investments in over 130 companies , Chiratae has consistently backed disruptive technology startups across SaaS, Consumer Media & Tech, Health-tech, and Fin-tech. Known for its early-stage conviction, including the successful "Chiratae Sonic" seed program, the firm boasts a strong portfolio of 9 unicorns like Lenskart, Myntra, PolicyBazaar, and FirstCry, and a remarkable track record of over 50 exits and 4 IPOs. Its unique achievement of returning capital to LPs every year for the last 13 years underscores its consistent performance and financial discipline, cementing its reputation as a reliable and impactful investor in the Indian startup ecosystem. I. In...