Venture Center Library Blog

Why do smart people make poor financial decisions?
What truly drives how we save, spend, or invest — logic or emotion?

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel — a book that explores how human behavior shapes financial outcomes more than knowledge or skill.

👤 Guest Speaker: Swarang Tanksali, is a CA with 10+ years of finance experience working with corporates and startups. A strong proponent of long-term investing and financial independence, he also manages fund portfolios for individuals.

📅 Date: 11th July 2025
🕓 Time: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Venue: Venture Center Library, 100 NCL Innovation Park, Pashan
🔗 RSVP: Click here to register

Let’s decode the psychology behind money and uncover smarter financial habits together!

The Venture Center Library hosted a Book Club session on 25th April in our new library space. Members explored the theme of deep work, shared personal reflections, and took part in engaging discussions and interactive activities.

We kicked off our book club on Deep Work with a reflective and engaging session facilitated by Namita Joshi. We explored what deep work means, different working styles, childhood influences on focus, and conducted a distraction audit- unsurprisingly, phones topped the list! The session ended with a fun game that tested our concentration and set the stage for the next chapter of our journey

The session began with attendees sharing their personal definitions of “deep work,” guided by a list of everyday tasks to classify as deep or shallow work. Interestingly, activities like washing dishes sparked reflection on how even simple chores can feel meditative. Namita then grounded the discussion in the book’s core concept deep work as cognitively demanding tasks done in distraction-free focus.

She introduced four working styles from the book monastic, bimodal, rhythmic, and journalistic showing how deep work can be tailored to individual routines. A powerful moment came as participants revisited childhood habits that still shape their focus today, sharing personal stories that highlighted the lasting value of early discipline and creative hobbies.

The group also conducted a distraction audit, with phones emerging as the top focus killer. Namita emphasized creating rituals and routines to protect deep work, and the importance of embracing boredom to rebuild attention. The session ended on a lively note with a focus-testing game that reinforced key takeaways in a fun, interactive way.

VC Library Book club on Deep work: VC Library Book club on Deep work

This book is available in the Venture Center Library

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We were honored to have Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Padma Vibhushan awardee and one of India’s most influential economists, as the Chief Guest for the inauguration of our newly revamped Venture Center Library.
The event was followed by an insightful fireside chat with Dr. Kelkar, where he shared his perspectives on:
 Evaluating investments in science & technology – What outcomes truly matter?
 The future of research funding – Grants vs. industry-driven models
 Economic impact of R&D – Lessons from his work with CSIR
The session was highly interactive, with engaged participants posing thoughtful questions—each one answered with Dr. Kelkar’s trademark clarity and depth.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this special occasion!

Read More

This book is available in the Venture Center Library

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Venture Center Library recently organized an insightful session with Ankush Datar, where he broke down the fundamental principles of health and wealth—and how they’re more connected than we think. 

When it comes to health and wealth, most of us look for quick fixes—fad diets, stock tips, the latest “get fit fast” or “get rich quick” trends. But as Ankush Datar highlighted in his insightful talk, the real secret lies in first principles thinking —understanding the fundamentals and applying them consistently over time.

Most of us either overcomplicate things or blindly follow the latest trends. Should you try intermittent fasting? Is the stock market too risky? Should you cut carbs or stop drinking coffee?

Health: No More Excuses

• Counting calories sounds boring, but it’s the only thing that matters. Whether it’s keto, low-carb, or high-protein, all diets follow the same math: 4 calories per gram of protein, 4 for carbs, and 9 for fat.
  No magic, just numbers.
• Want to know how much food your body really needs? Look up your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and TEE (Total Energy Expenditure)—or let AI do it for you!
• If you’re not checking labels, you might not be eating what you think you are.
• Exercise is important, but food matters more. You can’t outrun a bad diet.

Wealth: Get Rich Slow

• Just like protein is the building block of your body, equities are the building block of wealth. You need both to grow strong.
• Age doesn’t define risk—your financial goals, emotions, and how much time you spend understanding your investments matter more.
• In the short term, markets move on sentiment (hello, Twitter panic!). In the long run, they grow based on earnings. Stay focused on the big picture.
• People love talking about timing the market, but the real secret? Time in the market. Long-term patience always beats short-term speculation.
• The most important rule? Read the balance sheet! Numbers don’t lie—cash is the ultimate truth.

Boring Wins

Want to know the real secret to success in both health and wealth? The boring stuff:

• Eat real food, not trends.
• Move your body regularly.
• Invest consistently, not emotionally.

At the end of the day, consistency beats complexity. And with the right knowledge, making smart choices has never been easier.

A big thank you to Ankush Datar for an insightful session—and for reminding us that whether it’s fitness or finances, small smart choices compound over time.

This book is available in the Venture Center Library

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On December 11, 2024, the Venture Center Library hosted an engaging Author Talk featuring Dr. Anurag Mairal, who shared insights from his book, Reimagining Health: Inspiring Stories of Innovators at the Intersection of Health and Technology.

Dr. Mairal explored how modular and adaptable technology can address global healthcare disparities by shifting focus to underserved populations. He emphasized the value of distributed innovation—collaborations across diverse communities—and shared powerful stories of empathy-driven innovation that address real-world needs.

The session also delved into frugal innovation, highlighting the importance of sustainability and scalability over quick fixes like jugaad. Audience questions centered on transforming healthcare from reactive “sick care” to proactive wellness through biodesign and cross-disciplinary approaches.

The event left attendees inspired to create equitable and patient-focused healthcare systems.
Watch the full talk here.

This book is available in the Venture Center Library

Join the Venture Center Library for more such enriching sessions!
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