Sandeep Balaji

Chief Executive Officer at IncrementumX, Founder at DIRO Business Solutions Pvt Ltd, Operator Investor at Zeev, Operator Investor at Oppam, Podcast Co-host at 'Building in India'

StrategyBusiness DevelopmentEntrepreneurshipVenture CapitalGo-to-market StrategyBuilding Teams

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About

I'm Sandeep Balaji, currently serving as CEO at IncrementumX while also founding DIRO Business Solutions and working as an operator investor with Zeev and Oppam. My career has taken me from business development roles at companies like Wipro and Qiu Inc to my current focus on entrepreneurship and venture capital. I'm passionate about building in India, particularly supporting first-generation entrepreneurs and exploring opportunities beyond tier-1 cities. Through my 'Building in India' podcast and daily engagements, I dive deep into founder journeys, go-to-market strategies, and how technology like AI is reshaping business landscapes. I believe in creating sustainable value through empathy, domain depth, and strong teams, and I'm always looking to connect with fellow builders who share this long-term perspective.

Networking

What I can offer

›Growth advisory
›Go-to-market strategy
›Operational leadership
›Investment to startups and mid-sized companies
›Network for international expansion

Looking for

›expanding my professional network
›exploring mutual opportunities in entrepreneurship and venture capital

Best fit for

EntrepreneursFoundersOperatorsInvestors across India

Current Interests

Entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem buildingAI and its business implicationsBuilding in India, particularly in Kerala and non-tier-1 citiesJapanese culture and business efficiencyArt, design, and immersive experiences

Background

Career

Started as Business Development Manager at Wipro Technologies, progressed through roles in business development and consulting, became Managing Director at Qiu Inc Holdings, and now holds multiple concurrent leadership and investment roles including CEO at IncrementumX and Founder at DIRO Business Solutions

Education

MBA in General Management from INSEAD (2005), B.Tech in Computer Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology (1996-2000), CBSE (Xth and XIIth) from Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Sr. Sec. School (1986-1996)

Achievements

›As Managing Director of Qiu Inc/CAV Asia: Grew revenue from $30K to over $800K+ in 14 months with 0 full-time employees, securing contracts with major consumer electronics retailers in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia
›In a previous entrepreneurial venture: Built an ad-network to 260M+ users worldwide, peaking at 80-90M impressions per day
›As an Advisor/Investor at MindWave Solutions: Sourced 130+ prospective investors, built a 5-member world-class advisory team, and established an MOU with the largest healthcare group in Kerala within a few months

Opinions

"entrepreneurs always need support networks" from peers on similar journeys
Founders do not need to catch every technological "wave" and that missing some is part of the learning journey
While pedigree from elite schools has been a historical focus in VC, the ecosystem is changing. True "pedigree" is created through hiring, building, and scaling, not just academic background
A sustainable moat is built through a combination of Customer, Empathy, AI, Intent, Domain Depth, and Team/Partners
Being entitled or a "tough cookie" is a "deadly sin" in the long run. Advocates for being authentic, nice, and taking a long-term view on meaningful relationships
Believer in C.K. Prahalad's theory about value and opportunity at the "bottom of the pyramid." Sees massive potential for India to grow through technology and entrepreneurship