In this episode, I sit down with Sumitra, who offers a compelling dual perspective as a practicing physician and a venture capitalist at MedMountain Ventures. We explore his distinctive background, from his early fascination with neuroscience to his experiences in medical school and a notable period involved in political initiatives during his MBA studies. Sumitra provides candid insights into his criteria for evaluating founders, his views on the utility of psychological assessments in venture capital, and how his background in political dynamics informs his investment strategy within the complex healthcare sector. We also discuss the potential ramifications of artificial intelligence on both healthcare delivery and venture capital, the significance of empirical data in assessing opportunities, and Sumitra's personal reflections on ambition, resilience following burnout, and the value of focused, in-depth work. I conclude by sharing valuable advice from Sumitra for physicians considering entrepreneurship or investment roles.

Show Notes:

(0:00) Introduction and welcome to Sumitra.
(0:08) Sumitra's background, from neuroscience interests to pursuing medicine.
(0:38) His current dual roles as a physician and VC at MedMountain Ventures.
(2:08) Evaluating founders, including perspectives on atypical hobbies and psychological testing.
(5:13) Discussing AI's potential impact on healthcare and VC roles.
(14:20) Sumitra's engagement with political science and organizing, and its influence on his investing.
(18:18) The investment philosophy debate: market focus versus founder focus.
(23:40) Navigating out-of-scope investment opportunities and LP relations.
(30:08) Sumitra's path to medical school and pursuing an MBA concurrently.
(31:50) Insights from his work in political movements and building influential networks.
(38:18) Philosophical discussion on globalization and the friction of change.
(45:10) Evaluating founding teams based on the specific challenges of the venture.
(48:30) The importance of distribution and network as forms of defensibility in healthcare.
(51:00) Assessing product viability and sales in healthcare, and learning from market validation.
(56:53) Personal reflections on career trajectory and the shift away from focusing on status.
(58:40) Sumitra's excitement for future trends in healthcare VC and personal development.
(1:02:00) Advice for physicians looking to enter entrepreneurship or venture capital.

MedMountain Ventures (mmv.vc)
Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson
MedPic (sales qualification framework)