Rajan Anandan is a towering figure in the technology and venture capital landscape of India and Southeast Asia. As a former top executive at Google and Microsoft, and now as a Managing Director at Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA) and a prolific angel investor, his influence is felt across the ecosystem. Anandan is known for his incredible energy, deep operational expertise, and a relentless focus on helping founders scale and build massive, enduring companies.

His insights are a blend of big-tech wisdom and early-stage investing acumen, offering a unique perspective on what it takes to win in the region.

On Founders and Leadership

  1. "We are in the business of backing founders who are missionaries, not mercenaries."
    Learning: Invest in founders who are driven by a deep-seated passion to solve a problem and create a long-term impact. Mercenaries, who are only in it for a quick financial gain, often lack the resilience to endure the entrepreneurial journey.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-looking-for-missionaries-not-mercenaries-rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital/articleshow/69591461.cms
  2. "The single most important attribute of a founder is grit."
    Learning: The entrepreneurial journey is incredibly difficult. More than intelligence or a brilliant idea, it is the sheer perseverance and resilience to overcome endless obstacles that ultimately determines success.
    Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2019/08/rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital-surge-startup-investing
  3. "A founder's number one job is to attract and retain world-class talent."
    Learning: A company is nothing more than its team. The ability to build a magnetic culture and convince A+ players to join your mission is the highest-leverage activity a founder can perform.
    Source: TiE Delhi-NCR (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7h3p6M_4Q
  4. "The best founders have a very high clock speed."
    Learning: Speed of learning and execution is a critical competitive advantage. Founders who can process information, make decisions, and iterate rapidly will consistently outpace their slower-moving rivals.
    Source: Accel India "INSIGHTS" Podcast (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F_5q_f8d-c
  5. "We look for founders with a chip on their shoulder."
    Learning: An intrinsic, burning desire to prove something to the world is a powerful motivator. This inner drive often fuels the relentless pursuit of excellence and the refusal to accept failure.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-looking-for-missionaries-not-mercenaries-rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital/articleshow/69591461.cms
  6. "As a CEO, you have to be the chief salesperson and the chief evangelist."
    Learning: A founder is always selling—to customers, to investors, to potential hires. They must be able to articulate a compelling vision and inspire belief in the company's mission.
    Source: TiE Delhi-NCR (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7h3p6M_4Q

On Building a Company and Strategy

  1. "Get to product-market fit. Nothing else matters until you do."
    Learning: Before you focus on scaling, you must validate that you have built something a specific market desperately wants. Premature scaling is one of the biggest killers of startups.
    Source: Surge (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_s_D-k-2lQ
  2. "Focus is a superpower for an early-stage company."
    Learning: Startups don't starve, they drown. The biggest danger is trying to do too many things at once. Say "no" to almost everything and concentrate all your resources on the one or two things that truly matter.
    Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2019/08/rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital-surge-startup-investing
  3. "Culture is your company's operating system."
    Learning: Culture is not about perks; it's the underlying set of beliefs and behaviors that guides how your team operates when no one is watching. Build it intentionally from day one.
    Source: Accel India "INSIGHTS" Podcast (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F_5q_f8d-c
  4. "The best companies are built on a foundation of customer love."
    Learning: Create a product and experience that is so good that your customers become your most passionate evangelists. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful and defensible growth engine.
    Source: His speeches and talks on customer centricity.
  5. "Think about distribution from day one."
    Learning: A great product is not enough. You must have a clear and scalable strategy for how you will get your product into the hands of your target customers.
    Source: TiE Delhi-NCR (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7h3p6M_4Q
  6. "Don't just build a product, build a platform."
    Learning: A platform creates an ecosystem where others can build value, leading to strong network effects and a much more defensible business model than a standalone product.
    Source: His commentary on the evolution of tech companies.

On the India and Southeast Asia Opportunity

  1. "We are in the first 15 minutes of a multi-decade game."
    Learning: Despite the incredible growth of the startup ecosystem in India and SEA, it is still in its nascent stages. The biggest opportunities are yet to come, and the most iconic companies are yet to be built.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/india-tech-in-first-15-minutes-of-a-multi-decade-game-rajan-anandan/articleshow/88188173.cms
  2. "India is mobile-first, not mobile-only."
    Learning: Mobile is the primary way users access the internet in India, but it's a mistake to ignore other platforms. The user experience must be seamless across all devices they might use.
    Source: His speeches during his time at Google India.
  3. "The next 500 million internet users in India will be very different from the first 100 million."
    Learning: To win the next wave of users, companies must build products that are vernacular, voice-enabled, and solve for the unique needs and constraints of users in Tier 2/3 cities and beyond.
    Source: Livemint, https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/the-next-500-million-indian-internet-users-will-be-very-different-google/articleshow/60271777.html
  4. "SaaS is India's gift to the world."
    Learning: India is uniquely positioned to become a global powerhouse in SaaS, thanks to its deep pool of engineering talent, favorable economics, and a new generation of ambitious, product-focused founders.
    Source: A phrase he has used to champion the Indian SaaS ecosystem.
  5. "You cannot 'cut and paste' a model from the US or China and expect it to work in India."
    Learning: Success in India requires a first-principles approach and a deep, nuanced understanding of local consumer behavior, infrastructure, and market dynamics.
    Source: Accel India "INSIGHTS" Podcast (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F_5q_f8d-c
  6. "Southeast Asia is not one market. It is ten different markets."
    Learning: Founders looking to expand in SEA must have a country-by-country strategy that accounts for the unique language, culture, and regulatory landscape of each market.
    Source: His commentary on the SEA startup ecosystem.

On Investment and Venture Capital

  1. "We are in the business of backing outliers."
    Learning: Venture capital returns are driven by a very small number of exceptional companies. The goal is not to avoid failure, but to find and partner with the companies that have the potential for a massive outcome.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-looking-for-missionaries-not-mercenaries-rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital/articleshow/69591461.cms
  2. "The size of the market is the single biggest determinant of a venture-scale outcome."
    Learning: A great team with a great product in a small market will still be a small company. You must be targeting a massive, growing market to have a chance at building a multi-billion dollar business.
    Source: Surge (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_s_D-k-2lQ
  3. "As an angel investor, I am betting 90% on the founder."
    Learning: At the earliest stages, there is no data, no product, and no traction. The investment decision is almost entirely a bet on the founder's passion, ability, and resilience.
    Source: BloombergQuint, https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/rajan-anandan-on-angel-investing-and-the-next-big-thing
  4. "Surge is about giving founders an unfair advantage from day one."
    Learning: The goal of an accelerator like Surge is to provide founders with a powerful community, deep mentorship, and early capital to dramatically accelerate their journey to product-market fit.
    Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2019/08/rajan-anandan-sequoia-capital-surge-startup-investing
  5. "Valuation is temporary, but value is permanent."
    Learning: Don't get caught up in chasing high valuations. Focus on building a fundamentally strong business that creates real value for customers. A great business will always command a fair valuation.
    *Source A common theme in his advice to founders.
  6. "An IPO is not an exit. It's a financing event."
    Learning: Going public is just one milestone in a company's long journey. It's the starting line for a new phase of growth and accountability, not the finish line.
    Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/india-tech-in-first-15-minutes-of-a-multi-decade-game-rajan-anandan/articleshow/88188173.cms

On Personal Mindset and Career

  1. "Your career is a marathon, not a sprint."
    Learning: Think about your career in decades. Make decisions that optimize for long-term learning and impact, not just short-term gains in title or salary.
    Source: A guiding principle evident in his career choices.
  2. "Stay curious. The world is changing faster than ever before."
    Learning: The only way to stay relevant is to be a continuous learning machine. Actively seek out new information and be willing to unlearn old assumptions.
    Source: His public talks and interviews.
  3. "The best way to manage your time is to manage your energy."
    Learning: Time is finite, but you can increase your energy. Focus on activities that energize you and ruthlessly eliminate those that drain you.
    Source: His advice on personal productivity.
  4. "Build a strong personal board of directors."
    Learning: Surround yourself with a small group of trusted mentors and advisors who can provide you with candid feedback and guidance throughout your career.
    Source: Accel India "INSIGHTS" Podcast (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F_5q_f8d-c
  5. "Pay it forward. It's our collective responsibility to build the ecosystem."
    Learning: Success is a team sport. Those who have benefited from the ecosystem have a responsibility to mentor, invest in, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
    Source: His prolific angel investing is a testament to this belief.
  6. "You are the CEO of your own career."
    Learning: Take ownership of your professional journey. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you; proactively seek them out and create the career you want.
    Source: A core tenet of his career advice.

Additional Key Learnings

  1. On The First 10 Hires: "Your first 10 hires will determine the culture and trajectory of your company for the next 5 years."
  2. On The Role of a VC: "Our job is to be a coach and a trusted partner, not a boss."
  3. On Technology: "Technology is a deflationary force. It democratizes access and brings down costs for everyone."
  4. On The Mobile Internet: "The mobile phone is the remote control for your life in India."
  5. On Data: "Data is the new oil, but it's useless without the engine of AI and machine learning to refine it."
  6. On Capital: "Capital is a weapon, but it can also be a crutch. Constraints breed creativity."
  7. On Disruption: "The biggest threat to incumbents is not their direct competitors, but a startup from an adjacent industry that redefines the problem."
  8. On Simplicity: "The best products take a complex problem and make it seem simple."
  9. On Storytelling: "Every great founder is a great storyteller. They can articulate a vision that is simple, compelling, and inspiring."
  10. On Failure: "Failure is a data point. It's only a true failure if you don't learn from it."
  11. On The Power of a Platform: "Build a business with network effects. It's the most powerful and defensible moat."
  12. On Global Ambition: "Indian founders should be thinking globally from day one."
  13. On The Board: "A board's job is to help the founder see around corners and avoid blind spots."
  14. On Speed: "In the startup world, speed is a feature."
  15. On The 'Why Now?': "The best ideas are at the intersection of a massive market and a fundamental technology or behavioral shift. The 'why now' is critical."
  16. On Hiring Leaders: "When hiring senior leaders, look for spikes, not a lack of weaknesses."
  17. On Frugality: "Being frugal in the early days builds a DNA of capital efficiency that is a long-term advantage."
  18. On The Long View: "Think in decades, not quarters."
  19. On Giving Feedback: "Be direct, be honest, but always be constructive."
  20. On Legacy: "The ultimate goal is to help build enduring companies that make a lasting impact on the world."