At MV Day 2025, we hosted a fireside chat between Sachin Gupta (Founder & CEO, IKS Health) and Dr. Aniruddha Malpani, founder of Malpani Ventures, an early-stage investment firm known for backing founders with patient, long-term capital.

It was an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a company that lasts — especially in a complex, regulated market like U.S. healthcare.

We’re sharing the full video below, but here are some takeaways that stood out.

Aligning with What Customers Actually Want

IKS didn’t just offer a service — they built their model around what their customers needed: better outcomes, not just more manpower. This meant tying their success to things like revenue cycle efficiency and physician productivity, not just time spent.

That simple shift made IKS harder to replace and more valuable over time.

The Right Advisors Make a Big Difference

To build trust in the U.S., IKS relied on a strong advisory board. Having experts who understood the market gave them credibility early on — and helped avoid missteps that many Indian startups make when expanding globally.

Mentors Matter

Sachin spoke about mentors who helped him stay grounded, make tough decisions, and think long-term. Founders often underestimate how useful it is to have someone to learn from, especially when things get hard.

Doing the Right Thing Comes at a Cost

Choosing to be ethical — especially in messy systems — slows you down. But IKS chose that path. It may have cost them in the short run, but it built trust that paid off in the long run.

Why We’re Sharing This

This Fireside session isn’t just about IKS. It’s about how companies can grow slowly, honestly, and still win. If you’re a founder building for the long term, this is worth watching.

Watch the full conversation here.