It’s common knowledge that the technology sector is booming, almost globally. Tech companies continue to grow and create value at a pace previously unheard of.
Today, 5 of the 10 most valuable public companies (by market cap) are from the tech sector (via Globevestor). One would expect this to get even more skewed in favor of tech over next few years. In 2016, while the tech sector in US employed only 4% of the total workforce, it created 10% of all new jobs.
I have had the chance to observe startup founders both in the Bay Area and in India over the past 2.5 years. While it’s a small duration, it does seem to me that founders in India are relatively less aware about how startup investing actually works. By this I mean an understanding of the VC math, acceptable investment terms, exit paths, cap tables and other nuts and bolts that have nothing to do with technology stacks, target markets or business models.
If you were to ask an average Joe (or Jai!) founder in India, who’s yet to close a round, anything regarding investment terms beyond pre-money valuation and dilution, there’s high chance that you’d draw a blank.