What’s happening?
GCV Connect: India
Speakers & Agenda
Speaking
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![Ravi Jain]()
Ravi Jain
Investment Director, TDK Ventures
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![Swapna Gupta]()
Swapna Gupta
Partner, Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund, Avaana Capital
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![Abhishek Srivastava]()
Abhishek Srivastava
General Partner, Kae Capital
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![Yoko Fukata]()
Yoko Fukata
Director & Head of India, Sony Ventures
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![Srini Vudayagiri]()
Srini Vudayagiri
President, The Times of India & Head, Brand Capital & Brand Estate
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![Shelly Mittal]()
Shelly Mittal
Venture Partner, India, Chrysalix Venture Capital
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![Gani Subramaniam]()
Gani Subramaniam
Founding Managing Partner, Yali Capital
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![Ankit Mehta]()
Ankit Mehta
CEO, IdeaForge Technology
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![Vishnu Rajeev]()
Vishnu Rajeev
Investment Principal, Speciale Invest
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![Arsalan Farooquee]()
Arsalan Farooquee
Investment Principal, ADB Ventures (Asian Development Bank)
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![Nicolas Sauvage]()
Nicolas Sauvage
President, TDK Ventures
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![Adarsh Sekhar]()
Adarsh Sekhar
Partner, IBM Ventures
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![Charlie Hayward]()
Charlie Hayward
Deputy Managing Director, Global Corporate Venturing (GCV)
Thursday, September 4
Venue: The Leela Palace Bengaluru
13:30
Guests arrive
14:30
Welcome remarks from GCV
Charlie Hayward, Deputy Managing Director, GCV
14:35
Opening remarks by TDK Ventures
Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures
14:40
Opening fireside chat: Deeptech India 2025: Mapping the Next Frontier
Introduction of the report – "Deeptech India 2025: Mapping the Next Frontier"
What is shaping the deeptech landscape in India today?
Key findings and insights from this dedicated study
Priority sectors and sub-sectors critical to India’s deeptech ecosystem
Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures
Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures
Abhishek Srivastava, General Partner, Kae Capital
15:15
Panel: Patient capital – how CVCs are outlasting the boom-and-bust cycle
The strategic edge: Why corporate VCs are uniquely positioned in today’s market
From funding to partnerships: Aligning incentives and vision between startups and corporates
Resilience in the downturn: Are CVCs better equipped to weather volatility?
Scaling smart: Case studies of successful CVC-backed startups in India
Srini Vudayagiri, President, The Times of India; Head, Brand Capital & Brand Estate
Yoko Fukata, Director & Head of India, Sony Ventures
Adarsh Sekhar, Partner, IBM Ventures
Moderator: Vishnu Rajeev, Investment Principal, Speciale Invest
16:00 Networking break
16:30
Panel: From lab to listing – Deeptech startups’ journey from ideation to IPO
India is a global hub for deeptech innovation, from AI to drones
IdeaForge’s breakthrough: Lessons from one of India’s first deeptech IPOs
Beyond funding: What global investors must understand to succeed in India’s deeptech ecosystem
Building local capacity: Why long-term presence and cultural fluency matter
Gani Subramaniam, Founding Managing Partner, Yali Capital
Ankit Mehta, CEO, IdeaForge Technology
Moderator: Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures
17:15
Panel: Purpose at scale – climate, impact and the next billion
India's climate and social challenges are sparking global-scale solutions
Partnering with local CVCs, VCs and startups for ecosystem access
Can impact and profitability coexist in India’s evolving VC ecosystem?
Why now – corporates must lead with both capital and conscience
Swapna Gupta, Partner, Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund, Avaana Capital
Arsalan Farooquee, Investment Principal, ADB Ventures (Asian Development Bank)
Moderator: Shelly Mittal, Venture Partner, India, Chrysalix Venture Capital
17:50
Closing remarks from GCV
Charlie Hayward, Deputy Managing Director, GCV
17:55
Closing remarks from TDK Ventures
Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures
18:00 Networking reception