Talent Investing in Building Successful Startups | Rahul from Entrepreneur First

In this episode you will learn: 00:00 - Introduction 01:54 - Talent Investing & Fundamentals  03:28 - Talent Investing vs. Recruitment 05:10 - What Talent Investors Look For 08:11 - Characteristics of Great Talent Investors 14:14 - Early Discovery of Exceptional Individuals 16:22 - Finding Exceptional Talent 17:58 - Characteristics of a Great Founder 23:48 - Challenges in Finding the Right Founders 26:37 - Fear of Failure 31:07 - Role of Family and Childhood 34:02 - Decision to Become a Founder 37:54 - Co-Founders with Complimentary Skillsets 42:09 - Increased productivity w/ a Co-Founder 52:18 - EF’s Ecosystem  54:36 - EF's Graduate vs. Core Programs 01:01:17 - Conclusion About Rahul Samat, Partner and India Head at Entrepreneur First, brings over 14 years of experience as a founder, builder, and mentor. He holds a Master's in Science from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a scholarship program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Rahul started his career in banking at Barclays Investment Bank and later joined Capital One. In 2014, he co-founded InnerChef, a VC-backed startup, and in 2016, he became the Head of Private & Strategic Brands at Swiggy. In 2022, Rahul joined Entrepreneur First to lead and expand the team in India, focusing on supporting entrepreneurs from the pre-idea stage to fundraising through EF's investor network.