Sastra Spotlight

🎙 Sastra Spotlight - conversations with the founders building bold ideas and the VCs backing them early. From product inspiration to hiring and scaling, we explore what it really takes to turn ideas into impact. Powered by Sastra Group - Tech Recruitment at Startup Speed.

Sastra Spotlight is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Sastra Spotlight, a business show with 16 episodes published.

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  Episode #4

  Building Companies in the Age of AI with Warren Weiss

  Aug 26, 202628 minS2

  In this episode of Sastra Spotlight, Tanya Sethi sits down with Warren Weiss, Founder and Partner at Westwave Capital, to talk about AI, venture capital, and what it takes to build a lasting company. They discuss: How AI is changing the way companies work What Warren looks for in founders and teams The lessons he’s learned from decades in tech and venture capital A thoughtful conversation on building companies, backing founders, and staying adaptable as technology changes.

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  Episode #3

  The Startup Lessons Every Founder Needs to Hear with Priya Ramachandran

  Aug 5, 202626 minS2

  The latest episode features Priya Ramachandran, Founder and General Partner at Foster Ventures. Hosted by Tanya Sethi, this conversation dives into what founders need to build companies that last—from finding the right investors and building strong founding teams to creating a culture that can weather the ups and downs of startup life. With over 20 years of experience as an operator and investor, Priya shares practical advice from both sides of the table on what separates great startups from the rest. In this episode, we discuss: ▶️ What VCs really look for in founders and founding teams ▶️ Building culture and making the right early hires ▶️ Why fundraising is a two-way partnership

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  Episode #2

  Mastering Founder Culture and Technical Risk with Ashmeet Sidana

  Jul 15, 202620 minS2

  This episode features Ashmeet Sidana, Founder and Chief Engineer at Engineering Capital. Hosted by Tanya Sethi, this conversation explores what it really takes to build successful deep tech startups, from backing technical founders at the earliest stages to creating high-performing engineering teams. Ashmeet shares his perspective as an "accidental VC," bringing an engineer's approach to investing and company building. In this episode, we unpack: ▶️ Underwriting technical risk ▶️ The reality of AI and capital efficiency ▶️ Engineering a high-performance culture

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  Episode #1

  How to Scale Up Your Team Without Burning Your Runway with Arun Penmetsa of Storm Ventures

  Jun 24, 202622 minS2

  In the Season 2 premiere of Sastra Spotlight , we pull back the curtain to bring you real conversations with the VCs funding the future. Tanya Sethi , co-founder and director of Sastra Group, sits down with Arun Penmetsa , partner at Storm Ventures, for an unvarnished look at the early-stage B2B enterprise software landscape. Moving far beyond the glamour of term sheets and funding announcements, Arun shares the gritty, unromanticized realities of venture development and building the high-growth teams that power it. Key Topics Covered: What true VC partnership looks like Navigating the high-stakes realities of scaling Strategic early hiring

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  Episode #12

  Reimagining Customer Experience in the Age of AI

  Apr 29, 202624 minS1

  <p>In this episode, Tanya Sethi sits down with Shyam Rao, CEO & Founder of Tote AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of retail, especially in fuel and convenience stores. From seamless customer journeys to empowering in-store teams, this conversation dives into the tech reshaping everyday shopping.</p><p></p><p> Key Topics Covered:</p>How AI is creating frictionless, “walk-in-and-go” retail experiences for modern consumersThe challenge of legacy systems and how Tote is modernising retail without costly hardware upgradesLessons from building and scaling startups, including culture, hiring, and staying efficient in high-growth environments<br/>

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