"WTF is" is a podcast series where Nikhil Kamath hosts friends and industry experts and holds casual yet intellectually stimulating conversations. The podcast covers a broad range of topics of particular current relevance, including technology, social media, renewable energy, electric vehicles, philosophy, gaming, psychology and more.

Episode List

Nikhil Kamath ft. H.E Omar Sultan Al Olama | The Case for Youth in Politics | Special Ep

Jan 11th, 2026 6:28 AM

I sat down with His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s youngest minister and the world’s first AI Minister, to unpack how modern governments think about the future and the role younger leaders play in shaping it. A last-minute conversation in Dubai that opened up a thoughtful discussion on youth in politics, leadership, and how AI is beginning to influence the way nations are governed. Big thanks to @IndiaGlobalForum for creating the space for conversations like this, and Manoj Ladwa, a dear friend and a rare connector between India and the rest of the world. People like him, through IGF are helping frame the ideas that will define this decade, and bring them to life00:00 – Introduction 01:24 – Why AI Changes the Power Balance Between Countries 05:05 – Jobs, Intelligence, & What AI Takes Away From Humans 13:20 – Why This Conversation Happened at IGF 15:42 – Making of a Minister 22:18 – Why does anything matter? 24:42 – Machiavelli 30:23 – Fear or love? How are Leaders Remembered? 33:26 – UAE's Legacy & It's Perpetual Importance 38:04 – How UAE goes about it's diasporic Governance 48:13 – Taxes, Value Exchange, and What Citizens Expect 55:09 – Education, Work, and the Path to Government 1:12:19 – The Phone Call That Made Him AI Minister at 27 1:14:22 – Corruption, Incentives, and Power Structures 1:24:46 – AI & Governance 1:27:55 – Global Neutrality, Building Bridges & Restraint 1:37:49 – Blockchain, Discourse, and Closing Reflections #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' PodcastX: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAE Twitter - [https://x.com/OmarSAlolama] LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae] Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline

The Case for Youth in Politics | HE Omar Sultan Al Olama (One of the World's Youngest Ministers)

Jan 8th, 2026 1:06 PM

Came for a conversation, Left with a shift in perspective. A solid case to prove that age isn’t the barrier we think it is. A big thank you to  @IndiaGlobalForum  for hosting this dialogue. And to Manoj Ladwa, for being the bridge that makes conversations like this happen. #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' PodcastX: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #omarsultanalolama : Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications at Government of the UAETwitter - [https://x.com/OmarSAlolama](https://x.com/OmarSAlolama) LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae](https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-sultan-alolama-305b8366/?originalSubdomain=ae) Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4ezn Watch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59 Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th #WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline

Tira, Bombay Shaving Co., Inde Wild | WTF is Fueling India's Beauty & Skincare Revolution? | Ep. 25

Nov 5th, 2025 1:06 PM

Three founders leading India’s skincare wave – Bhakti Modi (Tira), Shantanu Deshpande (Bombay Shaving Company), and Diipa Khosla (Inde Wild) join me to share the highs and lows of building beauty and skincare brands and the trends shaping this booming industry.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:39 - Bhakti’s journey & love story05:14 - Diipa’s road to Inde Wild10:34 - Persona’s role in brand building15:07 - How Shantanu started20:48 - Valuations & industry secrets27:30 - Decoding the salon industry34:58 - How Inde Wild made Champi cool again38:01 - Market size & shifting narratives45:14 - Marketing quality & building a community52:41 - Why fragrance is exploding1:00:42 - Community’s role in branding1:08:04 - Cracking the BPC industry1:22:26 - Omnichannel: A must-have?1:27:15 - Tariffs, growth & social selling1:31:00 - Can Indian brands go global?1:34:51 - Cracking influencer marketing1:42:15 - Sampling, distribution & minis1:48:07 - Sustainability: Do founders still care?1:52:54 - What’s the next wave?2:04:39 - How the world perceives India2:09:48 - Tech’s role in customising2:16:10 - Nikhil’s & Diipa’s tattoos2:18:14 - Why founders need grit2:19:47 - Bhakti & Tira’s origin story2:34:10 - Inside Tira: From concept to customer2:38:34 - Do celebrity brands work?2:44:51 - Why Diipa started Inde Wild2:48:25 - Mass, premium, prestige: Which segment is winning?3:05:45 - Quick commerce & Tier 2 markets3:11:11 - Ayurveda: Still a novelty?3:14:43 - The making of Bombay Shaving Company3:21:39 - From idea to product: Manufacturing & patents3:30:14 - Advice to aspiring skincare founders#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: [https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio] (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?even...)Bhakti Modi - CEO, TiraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhaktim679/...LinkedIn: / bhakti-modi-98a32293 Diipa Khosla - Founder, Inde WildInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/diipakhosla...LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/diipa-khos....Website: https://india.indewild.com/?utm_campa...Shantanu Deshpande - Founder, Bombay Shaving CompanyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantanudes...LinkedIn: / shantanudeshpandebsc  

Inside India's Booming Skincare Industry | Ep. 25 Teaser

Nov 5th, 2025 4:30 AM

Bhakti Modi (Tira), Shantanu Deshpande (Bombay Shaving Company), and Diipa Khosla (Inde Wild) joined forces to answer one question:What should 25-year-old Dilip build next?Bhakti ModiCEO, TiraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhaktim679/...LinkedIn: / bhakti-modi-98a32293 Diipa KhoslaFounder, Inde WildInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/diipakhosla...LinkedIn : https://in.linkedin.com/in/diipa-khos....Shantanu DeshpandeFounder, Bombay Shaving CompanyInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/shantanudes...LinkedIn : / shantanudeshpandebsc 

Inside Silicon Valley's VC Playbook | WTF is Venture Capital? - 2025 Edition | Ep. 24

Sep 1st, 2025 6:48 AM

In this unfiltered conversation, we discuss bad bets, overhyped markets, and where VCs should actually put their money. I sat down with Deedy Das (Principal, Menlo Ventures), Nikunj Kothari (Partner, FPV Ventures), and Niko Bonatsos (Early-Stage Venture Capitalist) to get their hot takes on industries.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:58 - Deedy’s journey & the Anthropic story05:10 - Nikunj’s background11:32 - Niko’s story13:31 - Sectors to avoid as an investor23:17 - Today’s hottest sectors27:31 - Emerging AI trends38:37 - Declining birth rates + AI’s role48:19 - Abundance & capitalism53:19 - Raising kids in an Instagram world55:39 - No tech: the next big business?1:00:55 - The future of dating apps1:06:52 - Key predictions for the next frontier1:10:14 - Will urbanisation continue?1:13:51 - Longevity & wellness industry1:16:01 - Which sector will boom by 2035?1:25:59 - Rethinking senior living1:32:52 - Content vs. product: what builds a brand?1:43:50 - Individual vs. legacy brands1:47:30 - EVs & mobility: the road ahead1:58:03 - Opportunities in beauty & luxury2:02:17 - Where live events are headed2:06:14 - Climate tech & its impact2:11:49 - Data centers: the best bet?2:15:13 - Vices as an industry2:24:18 - Wrapping it all together2:29:02 - Legal AI: opportunities & challenges2:32:29 - India in the global AI race#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: [https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm9WZVh3cHVTX3JEeGptVjlOZ1R3cW5rVkZJUXxBQ3Jtc0tuekFjWnRXME9XUUVLcDNCTk9YcHd5OU1MV1NMamE0cWE1T25meGJ4VWRMa21OY3VYLWM2T05iOUJtYTNWbWRSLW5YUXNzTTRHUUpjOGdZSGJzNEYxMkt2Y2hmWVNUeU51Nk5MRFVieVNtSTJwMkFXZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g)LinkedIN: [](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGNsNjlxS2NyU3VxOUNIQU1VUmczaWNobmtJd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVmczaDdwdkpMZWlNaVdISk1mQUFfbmhZNVB2al9OU1hwbF9rYTFoMFJGN2FKRnFreXFEaXZhRGttd2xLRHBpQVhIS19XaW5wQTZ3UjB6bm5vazVmdUkwSEdsU0MxS1lXYmJvVnhlekVRczc0RmdTRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fnikhilkamathcio&v=wHQiewz8k9g)https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/#DeedyDas - Principal, Menlo VenturesTwitter: https://x.com/deedydasLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debarghyadas/#NikunjKothari - Partner, FPV VenturesTwitter: https://x.com/nikunjLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjk/#NikoBonatsos - Early-Stage Venture CapitalistTwitter: https://x.com/bonatsosLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonatsos/

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