Spotting Starup Synergy - Shrenik Khasgiwala

Brian Tellis interviews Shrenik Kasgiwala, President and Director of the of the ABG Innovation Fund, about the Aditya Birla Group's strategy for partnering with startups. Kasgiwala explains their approach, which focuses on aligning with the group's core strategies, working with the best global minds, and minimizing risk for both parties. He emphasizes building businesses rather than simply investing capital and creating a safe zone for co-innovation. He provides an example of a successful partnership with an Israeli startup, Phinergy, to develop aluminum-based batteries for electric vehicles. The conversation then broadens to discuss the challenges and opportunities for large, established companies like ABG in a rapidly changing business landscape, highlighting the importance of startups in driving innovation and adapting to future trends. The episode concludes with a promise to have Kasgiwala return for a future podcast.