In this insightful episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast hosted by Kristian Marquez, we welcome Sriram Sundararajan, founder and managing partner of Hyper Growth Labs Capital and marketing faculty at Santa Clara University.

Sriram shares his extensive journey from engineer to management consultant, angel investor, and venture capitalist, emphasizing his passion for empowering startups to succeed through strategic mentorship and capital.

He dives deep into Hyper Growth Labs’ investment thesis, focusing on early-stage companies driving innovation in tech, life sciences, robotics, and AI, highlighting the importance of product-market fit and efficient go-to-market strategies.

The conversation explores how emerging technologies like AI and biotech are reshaping industries and workforce dynamics, while also addressing the critical role of mentorship and storytelling in securing investor confidence. Sriram also discusses his academic role, nurturing future founders and investors, and offers actionable advice on pitching, networking, and finding mentors—urging founders to leverage resources like LinkedIn to build meaningful connections.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of innovation, venture capital, and startup growth.

Learn more about Sriram's work at Hypergrowth Labs and Santa Clara University at https://www.scu.edu/execed/custom/faculty/sriram-sundararajan/

Connect with Sriram on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundararajan/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com