Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures

Author: JBM, James Mitra February 26, 2025 Duration: 37:15
40 Minute Mentor
Business
In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Dinika Mahtani, Partner at Cherry Ventures, the early-stage VC firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies, such as Zalando and Spotify.  Prior to her move into VC, Dinika was an Operator, working across Banking, UberEats EMEA and Uber’s JUMP e-bike product in the UK. She also served as Director of Finance and Operations at ClimateTech startup, Kaluza.  Today, we take a trip back down memory lane, discussing those fundamental years as an Operator and how she made the move into VC.  It’s a conversation filled with mentorship for Founders and anyone considering the VC route as their next career step.  📚 Episode Chapters:  ➡️ From Banking to Uber [06:30] ➡️ Key lessons from her time at Uber [11:30]  ➡️ Moving into VC [15:30]  ➡️ More about today’s sponsor [23:30]  ➡️ Looking for raw ambition [24:30]  ➡️ Going from Principal to Partner [27:30]  ➡️ Promoting and hiring more diverse talent [30:00]  ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Dinika here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinika-mahtani-0a2494158/ ➡️ Learn more about Cherry Ventures: https://cherry.vc/  📣 Learn more about today’s sponsor:  Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process.  Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time.  💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy  💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos  ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  🎧 You may also enjoy:  Masha Bucher: Harnessing the power of storytelling in VC with Day One Ventures From Operator To VC – Busting Industry Myths with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures VC & Fundraising Advice – Series 6 Best Bits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered what a conversation with a truly groundbreaking founder or an elite performer actually sounds like? 40 Minute Mentor captures exactly that, offering intimate, structured dialogues designed to unpack the real journeys behind extraordinary success. Hosted by James Mitra, this podcast operates on a simple but powerful premise: profound insight doesn't require hours of your time. Each episode is a focused, forty-minute session with a different leader, from purpose-driven entrepreneurs building unique companies to Olympic athletes who have mastered their craft. The conversations move beyond theory, delving into the pivotal decisions, personal challenges, and practical lessons that have shaped their paths. You'll hear not just about their triumphs, but the resilience required during setbacks, providing a honest look at what building a brilliant career or venture genuinely entails. As one of the UK's prominent business podcasts, it serves as a direct source of mentorship, aiming to elevate ambitions by sharing these powerful career narratives. Tune in for a regular dose of inspiration and actionable wisdom, all within the span of a single commute or workout.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
youtubelinkedin
40 Minute Mentor
Podcast Episodes
Career Spotlight: Building a standout CV and personal brand on LinkedIn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
“The CV is not the one thing that will or will not get you hired, there is a whole interview process…” New year, new job? January is a month of reset, refresh and for many, the time to scope out a new opportunity… No mat…
Best of 2023 - A year of mentorship in review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:07
Just like that we’re closing another year of 40 Minute Mentor. This year, we surpassed our 200 published episodes mark and are fast approaching 1 million downloads. Before we kick off a brand new feature series in the ne…
Happy Holidays from 40 Minute Mentor! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17
As we’re nearing the end of the year, your 40 Minute Mentor Host, James Mitra, takes a moment to reflect on the last 12 months of podcasting and what the year ahead may have in store. A huge thank you for all your suppor…
Replay: Tessa Clarke - Sharing more and wasting less with Olio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:27
“Globally, a third of all the food we produce each year gets thrown away. Meanwhile, 800 million people go to bed hungry, who could be fed with a quarter of the food we waste in the Western world.” Did you know that roug…

«1...678910