Sandeep Balaji | Growth Consultant

Operator Investor
Growth Consultant
GTM Expert
CEO

Hey!

I am a serial business entrepreneur driven to create impact through people, businesses, and technology. This journey in entrepreneurship started quite serendipitously about a year post my MBA ('05).

An entrepreneurial spirit blended with strategic growth expertise, including developing go-to-market strategies honed in over a dozen cities/countries leads me to possess a unique ability to think big. This enables me to turn ambitious visions into reality.

This mindset facilitates multifaceted "growth" – both personally and in helping businesses scale and achieve sustainable growth.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

CEO - IncrementumX

2017 - Present

Helping companies achieve exponential growth across regions by leveraging digital technologies, human resources, and strategic partnerships.

Venture Builder / Operator/ Investor
(2010-2012; 2017-present)

Serving as an operator investor and actively nurturing new startups by supporting founding teams across India and SE Asia.

CEO - Qiu Inc

2007 - 2020

Provided advisory services for business development, joint ventures, and tech acquisitions.

Business Associate - IE Management Consultancy

Assisted businesses and startups in looking at raising capital. Guided companies on entering Asian markets.

MBA - INSEAD

2005

An INSEAD alumnus, I have developed a global perspective and leadership abilities to drive startup growth, even in challenging markets.

B Tech - CUSAT

2000

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, which provided me with a strong foundation in computer science and problem-solving skills.

Words I Live By

“You are not a drop in the ocean, you're the entire ocean, in a drop.”
— Rumi.

“If your dreams don't scare you, then they aren't big enough.”
— Muhammad Ali

“You cannot connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards.”
— Steve Jobs

“An entrepreneur is someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down.”

— Reid Hoffman

What I Look For As An Operator Investor

As an operator investor, I get most excited about working with founder teams who have already built an initial prototype of their product (whether it's H/W or S/W) and have gotten some validation from customers or partners. I really dig getting involved at seed to pre-Series A stage, where my expertise in driving growth at startups can be leveraged.

Having been an operator myself, the value of having someone in your corner who has been there and done that is well understood. So, I don't just bring money to the table – it involves getting hands-on with the teams, diving deep, mentoring the founders, and sharing strategic advice on everything from refining the product to nailing the market positioning to building out solid operational processes.