Rohit Jain : Transcending Conventional Investment Frameworks Through Strategic Insights
Rohit Jain
Chief Strategy & Investment Officer
In a close interview with us, Rohit shared his life experiences and his plans for the future.
Could you briefly summarize your professional back - ground and key milestones that have contributed to your success?
I graduated from IIT Guwahati, where I earned my computer science degree as part of the first few undergraduate batches at IITG. After starting my career as a software developer, I co-founded Drishti Soft Solutions with five fellow alumni, focusing on SaaS solutions for call centers. Following an MBA from Harvard Business School, I worked at McKinsey in Chicago for four years before returning to India to launch Mojo Entertainment Private Limited, which operated in the mobile value-added services space. After a stint in real estate with Square Prime and launching a B2B cross-border e-Commerce business called Buyoco, I joined Myntra's leadership team, where I led the omnichannel business and other aspects of the business. I then became a partner at Funda- mentum, a Series B growth stage fund, before joining CoinDCX to establish a Web3 VC fund. Currently, I lead Web3 and DeFi businesses at CoinDCX while also leading strategy and managing investments at CoinDCX.
How have your experiences shaped your expertise in creating effective investment strategies or policies that align with business obj - ectives?
I believe each experience has contributed unique insights to my investment approach. Starting my career as a software engineer has equipped me with a good intuitive under standing of technology, and my passion for it remains strong. My time at McKinsey instilled in me a structured, first-principles app - roach to problem-solving, which is a crucial life and business skill. As an investor, a first principles based approach helps filter the noise from the signal and and build an independent perspective. Additionally, my ent - repreneurial journey has given me empathy for founders and a deep understanding of the challenges they face, both in building businesses and in managing the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Finally, my rigorous investing experiences at firms like Fundamental and CoinDCX have further refined my investment skills. Overall, each phase of my career has added a different dimension to my investment style.
What is your leadership style? What key aspects define how you lead today?
I believe several key elements define my leadership style. First and foremost, it’s crucial to hire the best team and empower them, which is the only way to compound effort and impact. When hiring, I prioritize cultural fit, often valuing it even more than core skills or experience is While relevant experience is important, I’m willing to take risks on individuals based on their potential. Additionally, feedback plays a significant role in my approach, as I value both giving and receiving constructive feedback, which is essential for professional growth. McKinsey taught me the importance of providing feedback effectively, how else do you grow as a professional?. Moreover, I strive to be available to my team for problem-solving while allowing them the autonomy to manage their work streams. Lastly, I also take on independent work streams, which not only enhances my understanding of the industry but also builds credibility with my team.
Do you have specific methods for under standing the industry? How do you keep up with the latest
I believe each experience has contributed unique insights to my investment approach. Starting my career as a software engineer has equipped me with a good intuitive under standing of technology, and my passion for it remains strong. My time at McKinsey instilled in me a structured, first-principles app - roach to problem-solving, which is a crucial life and business skill. As an investor, a first principles based approach helps filter the noise from the signal and and build an independent perspective. Additionally, my ent - repreneurial journey has given me empathy for founders and a deep understanding of the challenges they face, both in building businesses and in managing the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Finally, my rigorous investing experiences at firms like Fundamental and CoinDCX have further refined my investment skills. Overall, each phase of my career has added a different dimension to my investment style.
My advice for aspiring VCs is to step back, think independently, and form a solid perspective instead of just following trends
What is your leadership style? What key aspects define how you lead today?
I believe several key elements define my leadership style. First and foremost, it’s crucial to hire the best team and empower them, which is the only way to compound effort and impact. When hiring, I prioritize cultural fit, often valuing it even more than core skills or experience is While relevant experience is important, I’m willing to take risks on individuals based on their potential. Additionally, feedback plays a significant role in my approach, as I value both giving and receiving constructive feedback, which is essential for professional growth. McKinsey taught me the importance of providing feedback effectively, how else do you grow as a professional?. Moreover, I strive to be available to my team for problem-solving while allowing them the autonomy to manage their work streams. Lastly, I also take on independent work streams, which not only enhances my understanding of the industry but also builds credibility with my team.
Do you have specific methods for under standing the industry? How do you keep up with the latest
trends and market behavior?
Certainly! There are a couple of primary ways I keep up with industry trends, especially in the rapidly evolving Web3 space, which moves even faster than the traditional Web2 consumer internet sector. First, I rely on my network of contacts, regularly engaging with individuals within CoinDCX and the Octo team, which focuses on our Web3 initiatives. We need to stay informed about the latest innovations in the field. Additionally, I find certain podcasts, like 'Bankless' and 'Roll Up,' incredibly helpful. I often listen to these while working out or driving, making efficient use of my time to stay connected with current developments. Lastly, I dedicate a lot of time to reading about the Web3 landscape. Staying curious and continually learning are crucial components of my approach to staying updated on industry changes. Also, this doesn’t seem like work, given I enjoy the process of 'innovation'!
What are some areas within Web3 you are actively investing in?
Within the Web3 space, we are primarily focused on two key sectors, decentralized finance (DeFi) and infrastructure. In the DeFi sector, we see significant ongoing innovation, particularly with decen -tralized exchanges (DEXs), where new models like order book systems are emerging alongside traditional automated market maker (AMM) models, introducing advanced features such as market maker liquidity pools and complex order types. In the infrastructure realm, we are excited about the chain abstraction space, believing that for technology to achieve mass adoption, three pillars are essential, namely a foundational infrastructure, scalability solu - tions, and optimized user and developer experiences. Our investment thesis highlights the importance of chain abstraction and simplifying user/developer journeys as critical components for driving mass adoption in the Web3 landscape.
Rohit Jain, Chief Strategy & Investment Officer, CoinDCX
Rohit is a distinguished expert in the industry known for his resolute leadership. He pos - sesses extensive experience in developing strategies and making investments within the Web3 space. With a strong track record, Rohit has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate the complexities of this rapidly evolving sector, leveraging his insights to drive innovation and growth.
Certainly! There are a couple of primary ways I keep up with industry trends, especially in the rapidly evolving Web3 space, which moves even faster than the traditional Web2 consumer internet sector. First, I rely on my network of contacts, regularly engaging with individuals within CoinDCX and the Octo team, which focuses on our Web3 initiatives. We need to stay informed about the latest innovations in the field. Additionally, I find certain podcasts, like 'Bankless' and 'Roll Up,' incredibly helpful. I often listen to these while working out or driving, making efficient use of my time to stay connected with current developments. Lastly, I dedicate a lot of time to reading about the Web3 landscape. Staying curious and continually learning are crucial components of my approach to staying updated on industry changes. Also, this doesn’t seem like work, given I enjoy the process of 'innovation'!
What are some areas within Web3 you are actively investing in?
Within the Web3 space, we are primarily focused on two key sectors, decentralized finance (DeFi) and infrastructure. In the DeFi sector, we see significant ongoing innovation, particularly with decen -tralized exchanges (DEXs), where new models like order book systems are emerging alongside traditional automated market maker (AMM) models, introducing advanced features such as market maker liquidity pools and complex order types. In the infrastructure realm, we are excited about the chain abstraction space, believing that for technology to achieve mass adoption, three pillars are essential, namely a foundational infrastructure, scalability solu - tions, and optimized user and developer experiences. Our investment thesis highlights the importance of chain abstraction and simplifying user/developer journeys as critical components for driving mass adoption in the Web3 landscape.
Rohit Jain, Chief Strategy & Investment Officer, CoinDCX
Rohit is a distinguished expert in the industry known for his resolute leadership. He pos - sesses extensive experience in developing strategies and making investments within the Web3 space. With a strong track record, Rohit has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate the complexities of this rapidly evolving sector, leveraging his insights to drive innovation and growth.