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Amit Somani
Managing Partner, Prime Ventures (Backing insightful entrepreneurs!)
Amit Somani is a Managing Partner at Prime Ventures and a Founding Angel at The/Nudge Foundation.16 He has a background in technology and entrepreneurship, with experience at companies like MakeMyTrip.com, Google, and IBM.1 Somani is an active angel investor, particularly interested in areas such as AI, ML, Business Support Services, and Software.2
Somani's professional journey includes:
- Managing Partner at Prime Ventures, where he backs insightful entrepreneurs.37
- Founding Angel at The/Nudge Foundation, a nonprofit focused on sustainable poverty alleviation.16
- Previous roles at MakeMyTrip.com, Google, and IBM.1
He is also known as an influencer in the startup and technology space, regularly sharing insights on LinkedIn under the username "thesomani".345 Somani's educational background includes studying at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA.7
As a prominent figure in the Indian startup ecosystem, Somani contributes to various initiatives:
- He is part of the founding supporters of The/Nudge Institute, demonstrating his commitment to social impact.6
- His expertise spans across technology, product management, and venture capital, making him a valuable advisor for startups.12
Somani's involvement with The/Nudge Foundation aligns with the organization's mission to build a strong 360-degree life, learning, and economic foundation for the underprivileged, along with providing lifelong support.16
Highlights
I recently shared some career advice with several students at top schools who are aspiring investors. I am also sharing that here since it is broadly applicable.
Two that I wish I had known back when I was in my 20s were:
- Follow Smart People - this is the wisdom of the 'smart' crowd. Smart people tend to know what's going on, and when they are flocking to work in certain areas, go to certain schools or companies, or even buy some stocks, you know something is going on. I had several interview requests from Google in the 2003-2004 time frame (just around their IPO), and I did not follow through even though several of my 'smart' friends had joined. Ironically, I ended up joining Google in 2007!
Build a network not by 'networking' but by adding value to people genuinely and without any expectation of return. I have seen many Gen Zs do this now, but not nearly enough.
For those that have been around for a few decades, what are some pieces of career advice that you wish you knew back in your 20s?
Dr Pramod Varma is a true builder at #PopulationScale and has had a tremendous impact on Digital #India. Watch him chat with my partner Sanjay Swamy on this Prime Venture Partners podcast on building IndiaStack for the country, his advice to entrepreneurs, and much more.
