#14 - Serendipity & A Leap of Faith

Grab a coffee for this one — it’s been an exciting week, and i’m feeling oddly exuberant these days.

The Internship that changed my life

I wrapped up my internship at a private equity search fund last Thursday.

The journey to this role started back in November last year when I came across a podcast titled “WTF is Venture Capital” on Nikhil Kamath’s show. It sparked something.

I started researching how private equity worked, shortlisted a few firms I genuinely resonated with, and started reaching out. Not mass emails — just thoughtful, hyper-personalised cold outreach.

Two emails and one cold call later, I got a shot. The Interview was at a freaking yacht club!

For the last three months, I’ve been driving deal flow at the fund — which, in practice, looked like:

• Researching and sourcing mid-market companies aligned with our investment lens

• Crafting outreach strategies using letters, cold emails, AI agents, LinkedIn

• Running founder discovery calls, building conviction on opportunities

• Assisting with LBO models, valuation work, and deal memos

It was intense and, at times, overwhelming. But I learned how to think in systems, act without waiting for direction, and most importantly — how human the world of investing really is. Behind every deal, there’s a person with a story.

On my final day, Madhur sat me down for feedback. He told me:

And then, as we shook hands:

That moment hit different.

Grateful for the experience. Grateful to have found a mentor who saw potential in me and wasn’t afraid to speak candidly. Those conversations are worth more than any deal memo.

Impromptu trip

That Wednesday, a day before the internship ended, I jumped on a call with Aryan and two other close friends. We booked a spontaneous trip to Jervis Bay.

By Friday morning, we were on the road.

No planning. No itinerary. Just a need to unplug and reset.

We spent the next three days living slow — beach walks, morning sprints on the sand, ocean swims, huge brunches, afternoon naps, long night drives, and starry conversations about AI, space travel, wormholes, and why we’re all here in the first place.

And somewhere in those slow days, I had a quiet moment of clarity:

I’m not someone who actively chases that feeling. But I know what it does.

Being in the moment, with people you care about, in a place that feels light — it softens everything. It reminded me of Jamnagar. Of childhood. Of nights at the farmhouse with my friends when nothing else mattered.

That’s the memory I’m holding onto.

The Big Fork in the Road

With graduation around the corner, I’m standing at a decision point.

Option 1: Stay in Sydney. Take a job in finance or consulting. Learn. Earn. Keep things safe.

Option 2: Go back to India. Bet on myself. Build something from scratch. Do it with intention.

For a while, I’ve been playing out both scenarios in my head. But deep down, I’ve always known.

When I landed in Australia, I couldn’t sleep that first night. I remember lying awake thinking,

“I’ll be a full-time entrepreneur the day I graduate.”

That day is getting closer.

I’m going all in.

I’m working on two things right now:

• A project I’ll talk about soon — something designed to give me solid, independent cashflow

• StuKonnect — the long-term play I’m backing, built for real enterprise value

It’s a leap, yeah. But it’s not reckless.

I’ve unknowingly positioned myself with the highest odds of success, because of the quiet, consistent work I’ve put into my personal brand over the past couple of years.

What started as just content or outreach or posting online — has now become leverage.

Opportunities, conversations, compounding connections — all of it traces back to seeds planted long ago.

Sometimes you don’t even realise what you’re building until you step back.

Why I’m betting on India

India isn’t just home — it’s happening.

The energy, the ambition, the scale — it’s unmatched. I’ve been watching the trends, tracking the capital flows, soaking in the sentiment. Every sign points to this being the right time to return and build.

There’s purpose here. There’s family, culture, legacy — but also momentum. The kind you can ride if you’re willing to get in the game.

And I’m ready to get in the game.

Worth your time this week:

Three things that might add value to your lives:

1. The only finance channel I trust. First-principles clarity on the news that actually matters:

   Markets by Zerodha

   Your go-to place to understand India's markets and economy, and the forces driving them.

   www.youtube.com/@marketsbyzerodha

   

2. Blackstone x Blackstone India Fireside Chat: Sharp take on tailwinds, cycles, and how the big boys are thinking.

3. Manish Kejriwal from Kedaara Capital - Long term investing, building conviction & why India is the place to play.

Thanks for being here, i promise to always keep it raw and real with you

Until next time,

Moksh