Kashyap Deorah on Startup Exits, VC Buybacks, and Tech Realities
Download MP3How do you go from seeing the Google website load for the first time on a campus computer screen in Mumbai to building and exiting three tech ventures, writing The Golden Tap, and buying back your company from VCs — all while navigating the rapid rise of AI?
In this episode of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, host Dr. Abhay Dandekar sits down with serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and HyperTrack Founder & CEO Kashyap Deorah. Kashyap shares his journey across changing tech cycles, from falling in love with the internet at IIT Bombay to building and exiting three tech ventures, capturing the Indian tech ecosystem in his bestselling book The Golden Tap, and making the bold decision to buy back HyperTrack from venture capital investors to become a management-owned company.
Kashyap also breaks down his philosophy on why "technology accelerates human behavior rather than equalizing opportunity," how startup scaling accelerated from 0-to-1M in 18 months to 0-to-100M in 18 months, why high school dropouts building AI-native tools are outperforming legacy pivots, and why deep emotional connection and empathy remain the core operating system for tech leaders.
If you enjoy deep conversations on entrepreneurship, venture capital, technology, and identity across the global South Asian community, please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE!
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⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Teaser: Why Technology Accelerates Human Behavior
01:46 - IIT Bombay, Google & Falling in Love with Entrepreneurship
06:32 - The Accelerated Startup Pace: AI-Native Founders vs. Legacy Pivots
09:53 - Building HyperTrack: Gig Workforce Logistics & Field Automation
15:54 - Sponsor Break: TRAVELOPOD and Lotus Lane Coffee
16:52 - Capital Concentration & Shifting Venture Capital Dynamics
19:53 - Why We Bought Back Our Startup From VCs
24:35 - Hard Truths for Founders: M&A Realities, Valuations & Misalignment
28:58 - Sponsor Break: Timberdog Ruffrest
29:25 - Tech Polarization, Vipassana Meditation & Consciousness
36:00 - Reconnecting Feeling with Thinking in Tech Leadership
43:32 - Outro & Diaspora Community Shoutouts
--------------------------
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• The Core Operating System: Why human relationship building, empathy, and active listening remain constant anchors despite hyper-accelerating tech cycles.
• Buying Back Your Startup: How HyperTrack realigned with investors to buy back VCs/PEs and transition to a profitable, management-owned business.
• Tech Accelerates Human Behavior: Why technology doesn't automatically equalize opportunity, but rather accelerates existing human tendencies and polarization.
• Leading with Feeling: How Vipassana meditation and connecting at an emotional level help founders make better decisions in an AI-driven world.
GUEST & HOST RESOURCES:
📖 Read The Golden Tap by Kashyap Deorah
🌐 Learn more about HyperTrack: https://www.hypertrack.com
🔗 Connect with Kashyap Deorah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdeorah/
Shout outs:
• Pia Dandiya — Winning her Democratic primary in Florida
• California State Assembly members Darshana Patel & Ash Kalra — Helping California pass its official Diwali resolution
• Maharashtra FDA — Banning high fat, salt, and sugar foods in and around schools
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
✈️ Travelopod — Custom, personalized travel experiences for destinations like Africa, Japan, Antarctica, and India: https://vacation.travelopod.com
☕ Lotus Lane Coffee — Rooted in India, Roasted in Columbus
https://lotuslanecoffee.com
Timberdog Ruffrest
https://timberdog.com/
Trust Me I Know What I'm Doing | Dr. Abhay Dandekar
A mirror and window for global Indians and South Asians through conversation.
Every week, we share chats with artists, leaders, musicians, chefs, experts, change makers, and innovators from the home and diaspora - sharing their journeys and motivations.
For enquiries 📧 Email : info@abhaydandekar.com
Find us on Instagram/ LinkedIn:
https://www.instagram.com/drabhaydandekar/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhaydandekar/
Listen to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform:
🎙️ Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/4ZReYDw6ta5zGuN4iLZ8Pt
🎙️ Apple Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trust-me-i-know-what-im-doing/id1635803563?uo=4
🎙️ Amazon Music : https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/acec47fd-da0e-4419-aab9-306503ea49c5
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrustMeIKnowWhatImDoing
In this episode of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, host Dr. Abhay Dandekar sits down with serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and HyperTrack Founder & CEO Kashyap Deorah. Kashyap shares his journey across changing tech cycles, from falling in love with the internet at IIT Bombay to building and exiting three tech ventures, capturing the Indian tech ecosystem in his bestselling book The Golden Tap, and making the bold decision to buy back HyperTrack from venture capital investors to become a management-owned company.
Kashyap also breaks down his philosophy on why "technology accelerates human behavior rather than equalizing opportunity," how startup scaling accelerated from 0-to-1M in 18 months to 0-to-100M in 18 months, why high school dropouts building AI-native tools are outperforming legacy pivots, and why deep emotional connection and empathy remain the core operating system for tech leaders.
If you enjoy deep conversations on entrepreneurship, venture capital, technology, and identity across the global South Asian community, please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE!
--------------------------
⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Teaser: Why Technology Accelerates Human Behavior
01:46 - IIT Bombay, Google & Falling in Love with Entrepreneurship
06:32 - The Accelerated Startup Pace: AI-Native Founders vs. Legacy Pivots
09:53 - Building HyperTrack: Gig Workforce Logistics & Field Automation
15:54 - Sponsor Break: TRAVELOPOD and Lotus Lane Coffee
16:52 - Capital Concentration & Shifting Venture Capital Dynamics
19:53 - Why We Bought Back Our Startup From VCs
24:35 - Hard Truths for Founders: M&A Realities, Valuations & Misalignment
28:58 - Sponsor Break: Timberdog Ruffrest
29:25 - Tech Polarization, Vipassana Meditation & Consciousness
36:00 - Reconnecting Feeling with Thinking in Tech Leadership
43:32 - Outro & Diaspora Community Shoutouts
--------------------------
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• The Core Operating System: Why human relationship building, empathy, and active listening remain constant anchors despite hyper-accelerating tech cycles.
• Buying Back Your Startup: How HyperTrack realigned with investors to buy back VCs/PEs and transition to a profitable, management-owned business.
• Tech Accelerates Human Behavior: Why technology doesn't automatically equalize opportunity, but rather accelerates existing human tendencies and polarization.
• Leading with Feeling: How Vipassana meditation and connecting at an emotional level help founders make better decisions in an AI-driven world.
GUEST & HOST RESOURCES:
📖 Read The Golden Tap by Kashyap Deorah
🌐 Learn more about HyperTrack: https://www.hypertrack.com
🔗 Connect with Kashyap Deorah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdeorah/
Shout outs:
• Pia Dandiya — Winning her Democratic primary in Florida
• California State Assembly members Darshana Patel & Ash Kalra — Helping California pass its official Diwali resolution
• Maharashtra FDA — Banning high fat, salt, and sugar foods in and around schools
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
✈️ Travelopod — Custom, personalized travel experiences for destinations like Africa, Japan, Antarctica, and India: https://vacation.travelopod.com
☕ Lotus Lane Coffee — Rooted in India, Roasted in Columbus
https://lotuslanecoffee.com
Timberdog Ruffrest
https://timberdog.com/
Trust Me I Know What I'm Doing | Dr. Abhay Dandekar
A mirror and window for global Indians and South Asians through conversation.
Every week, we share chats with artists, leaders, musicians, chefs, experts, change makers, and innovators from the home and diaspora - sharing their journeys and motivations.
For enquiries 📧 Email : info@abhaydandekar.com
Find us on Instagram/ LinkedIn:
https://www.instagram.com/drabhaydandekar/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhaydandekar/
Listen to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform:
🎙️ Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/4ZReYDw6ta5zGuN4iLZ8Pt
🎙️ Apple Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trust-me-i-know-what-im-doing/id1635803563?uo=4
🎙️ Amazon Music : https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/acec47fd-da0e-4419-aab9-306503ea49c5
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrustMeIKnowWhatImDoing
