Shailendra Singh, the managing director of Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia), is one of the most influential and respected figures in the venture capital landscape of India and Southeast Asia. For over 15 years, he has been at the forefront of the region's startup boom, partnering with and mentoring a generation of iconic founders. His investment philosophy, characterized by a deep belief in the power of founders, a long-term perspective, and a focus on building enduring companies, offers invaluable lessons for anyone in the startup ecosystem.
On Founders and Leadership
- "We are in the business of backing founders... They are the true heroes of the startup ecosystem."
Learning: The venture capital model is fundamentally about empowering exceptional individuals. The founder is the single most important element in any startup's success.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups - "The best founders have a 'chip on their shoulder'. They have a deep-seated need to prove something to the world."
Learning: Look for founders with an intrinsic, almost obsessive drive. This inner fire is what fuels them through the inevitable hardships of the startup journey.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/ - "Grit is the most important attribute in a founder."
Learning: Intelligence and talent are common, but the ability to persevere through immense challenges and repeated setbacks is what truly distinguishes great entrepreneurs.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "We look for founders who have 'founder-market fit'."
Learning: The ideal founder has a unique, almost unfair advantage in the market they are targeting, born from deep personal experience or obsession with the problem.
Source: Blume Ventures Podcast (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO_ID - "The ability to attract talent is a superpower."
Learning: A founder's capacity to inspire and recruit A+ players is a powerful leading indicator of their future success. A company is only as good as the team it builds.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups - "Founders are missionaries, not mercenaries."
Learning: Back founders who are driven by a deep sense of purpose and a mission to solve a problem, not those who are simply chasing a financial outcome.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "The best founders are continuous learning machines."
Learning: The world changes rapidly. Founders who are endlessly curious, humble, and quick to learn are the ones who will adapt and thrive.
Source: Sequoia India Blog (now Peak XV Partners), https://www.peakxv.com/perspectives/ - "As a leader, your job is to set the vision and repeat it ad nauseam."
Learning: Constant, clear, and consistent communication of the company's mission is critical to keeping the entire team aligned and motivated.
Source: Surge (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO_ID
On Investment Philosophy
- "We want to be the first institutional investor in a company."
Learning: The goal is to partner with founders from the very beginning of their journey, where a VC can have the most significant impact.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/sequoia-launches-surge-to-supercharge-early-stage-startups/articleshow/67999120.cms - "Our business is not about picking, it's about partnering."
Learning: The role of a VC is not to be a passive "stock picker," but an active, long-term partner who works alongside the founder to build the company.
Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sequoia-indias-shailendra-singh-to-startup-founders-we-are-in-it-for-the-long-haul-5444691.html - "The size of the market matters. We are in the business of backing companies that can become very large."
Learning: Venture capital is a game of outliers. To generate venture-scale returns, you must invest in companies that are targeting massive, growing markets.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/ - "It's better to be contrarian and right, than to be consensus and right."
Learning: The biggest opportunities are often found in non-obvious places. Backing a company that everyone else overlooks can lead to the most significant returns.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "Patience is a virtue in our business. It takes 7-10 years to build an enduring company."
Learning: Adopt a long-term mindset. Don't get distracted by short-term fluctuations; focus on building a fundamentally strong business over a decade.
Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sequoia-indias-shailendra-singh-to-startup-founders-we-are-in-it-for-the-long-haul-5444691.html - "We would rather lose money than our reputation."
Learning: In the venture capital world, reputation is everything. Upholding integrity and being a fair, founder-friendly partner is the most valuable long-term asset.
Source: Sequoia India Blog (now Peak XV Partners), https://www.peakxv.com/perspectives/ - "Surge is our commitment to the very beginning of the founder's journey."
Learning: The creation of Surge demonstrated a strategic decision to institutionalize and scale the process of backing pre-seed and seed-stage companies, providing them with capital and a powerful community from day one.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups
On Building a Company
- "The first step is to find product-market fit. Nothing else matters until you've achieved it."
Learning: Before scaling, a startup's sole focus should be on creating a product that a clearly defined set of customers loves and needs.
Source: Surge (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO_ID - "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."
Learning: A strong, intentional culture is the foundation of a great company. It guides how your team works together and makes decisions when no one is looking.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "Don't build a vitamin, build a painkiller."
Learning: Focus on solving a must-have problem for your customers. "Nice-to-have" products are much harder to build a large, sustainable business around.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/ - "The best companies are built on a foundation of customer love."
Learning: Obsess over your customers. A product that is so good that it grows through word-of-mouth is the most powerful and defensible growth engine.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups - "Capital is a means to an end, not the end itself."
Learning: Fundraising is a milestone, not the goal. The real goal is to build a great product and a sustainable business. Don't let valuation become the primary metric of success.
Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sequoia-indias-shailendra-singh-to-startup-founders-we-are-in-it-for-the-long-haul-5444691.html - "The goal is not to be the first to market, but to be the last one standing."
Learning: Focus on building a resilient, long-lasting company. A first-mover advantage is often less important than a sustainable competitive moat.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "Think of your startup as a series of experiments."
Learning: Adopt a scientific approach to building your company. Formulate hypotheses, run tests, analyze the data, and iterate quickly based on what you learn.
Source: Surge (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO_ID
On the India and Southeast Asia Opportunity
- "We are in the first chapter of a multi-decade story of value creation in India and Southeast Asia."
Learning: Despite the incredible growth so far, the startup ecosystem in the region is still in its infancy. The biggest and most impactful companies are yet to be built.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/india-is-in-the-middle-of-a-massive-and-secular-growth-story-shailendra-singh-sequoia-capital-india/articleshow/84090287.cms - "The quality of founders in the region has improved exponentially."
Learning: The ecosystem is benefiting from a powerful flywheel effect: successful founders and early employees are now starting their own ventures, bringing invaluable experience and ambition.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups - "Mobile is the single most important technology trend of our lifetime in this region."
Learning: The proliferation of smartphones and affordable data has fundamentally transformed how people in India and Southeast Asia live, work, and consume, creating massive opportunities for new businesses.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/ - "SaaS from India for the world is a multi-billion dollar opportunity."
Learning: Indian startups are uniquely positioned to build globally competitive SaaS companies, leveraging a large pool of skilled tech talent and a significant cost advantage.
Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sequoia-indias-shailendra-singh-to-startup-founders-we-are-in-it-for-the-long-haul-5444691.html - "The next wave of innovation will come from solving problems for the 'next billion users'."
Learning: The biggest untapped opportunities lie in creating products and services tailored to the unique needs of the new generation of internet users in Tier 2/3 cities and beyond.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/india-is-in-the-middle-of-a-massive-and-secular-growth-story-shailendra-singh-sequoia-capital-india/articleshow/84090287.cms
On Personal Philosophy and Mindset
- "Stay humble. The world is full of smart people."
Learning: Arrogance is the enemy of learning. Maintain intellectual humility and a deep respect for your founders, partners, and competitors.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/ - "We are always in beta."
Learning: Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement. Constantly question your assumptions, seek feedback, and be willing to evolve your strategy.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "The job of a board member is to be a coach, not a referee."
Learning: A great board member's role is to support and guide the founder, to ask probing questions and offer perspective, not to micromanage or pass judgment.
Source: Moneycontrol, https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/sequoia-indias-shailendra-singh-to-startup-founders-we-are-in-it-for-the-long-haul-5444691.html - "It's a privilege to be in this business."
Learning: Maintain a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to work with brilliant, passionate founders who are trying to change the world.
Source: YourStory, https://yourstory.com/2021/03/sequoia-india-shailendra-singh-surge-funding-startups - On the separation from Sequoia US: "This is a new beginning for us..."
Learning: The rebranding to Peak XV Partners signifies a new chapter of greater autonomy and a more dedicated focus on the unique opportunities in India and Southeast Asia.
Source: Peak XV Partners Announcement, https://www.peakxv.com/article/a-new-beginning/ - "Play the long game."
Learning: Success in venture capital and company building is not about short-term wins. It's about making disciplined decisions that compound value over many years.
Source: The Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/we-are-always-in-beta-shailendra-singh-md-sequoia-capital/articleshow/57871239.cms - "The only thing that's constant is change."
Learning: Be prepared to adapt to new technologies, market shifts, and unforeseen challenges. Rigidity is a death sentence for a startup and its investors.
Source: The Ken, https://the-ken.com/story/the-making-of-shailendra-singh/
Additional Key Learnings
- Learning on Decision Making: Use a "prepared mind" to make investment decisions, having a thesis on a sector before meeting a company.
- Learning on Competition: Focus on the customer, not the competition. Obsessing over rivals can lead you to build a reactive, not an innovative, company.
- Learning on Failure: Failure is a part of the process. The key is to fail fast, learn from it, and not let it deter you from taking the next risk.
- Learning on The Power Law: Acknowledge that a small number of companies will generate the vast majority of returns. This means you must have the conviction to double down on your winners.
- Learning on Hiring: Hire for slope (potential), not just the y-intercept (current skill). Look for people with a steep learning curve.
- Learning on Focus: Say "no" to almost everything. The most successful founders and investors are disciplined in their focus.
- Learning on Board Meetings: Board meetings should be about strategic discussions for the future, not a review of the past.
- Learning on Governance: Strong corporate governance is not a "nice-to-have"; it is the bedrock of a sustainable, trustworthy company.
- Learning on Exits: An IPO is a financing event, not the finish line. The journey of building an enduring public company has just begun.
- Learning on The Founder's Journey: The founder's journey can be incredibly lonely. The role of a VC and a community like Surge is to provide support.
- Learning on The Role of a VC Firm: A VC firm must be a service organization, dedicated to helping its founders succeed.
- Learning on Building a Moat: The best competitive moats are not based on capital, but on network effects, brand, and proprietary technology.
- Learning on Capital Efficiency: Before achieving product-market fit, be incredibly frugal. After, be aggressive in capturing the market.
- Learning on The Importance of Community: Surrounding founders with a strong peer group (like in Surge) can dramatically accelerate their learning and growth.
- Learning on Global Ambition: Encourage founders from India and Southeast Asia to think globally from day one.
- Learning on Legacy: The ultimate goal is to help build legendary companies that outlast their founders and investors, creating a lasting impact on the region.
