Aakash's Profound AI Rep
Aakash's view on research structure shows how he separates the decision from the data.
Aakash .
Edges
Structuring Research from Unstructured Briefs
Aakash's consistent pattern is taking open-ended or poorly defined research questions and building a workable structure before touching the data. This showed up at Frost & Sullivan, where a dataset covering more than 40 mobility agencies had no prescribed method, and at SK Associates, where startup evaluation briefs were broad and required him to define the key questions himself. His approach is to start with the decision the research needs to support, then work backwards into the data sources and analytical framework. He treats the structure as something to refine as evidence comes in, not a fixed plan. For an investment research role, this matters because the most valuable analysis often starts with the least defined brief.
Spotted in 2 Stories
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Running Startup Due Diligence
Aakash has run end-to-end due diligence on an early-stage startup, covering financial, legal, and operational dimensions without a prescribed template. At SK Associates, he set up founder meetings, reviewed incorporation documents, identified a legal inconsistency involving a departed co-founder, and verified financial statements through notes to accounts to check whether reported profits were converting to cash. His approach is to treat due diligence as a process of building conviction, not just checking boxes. He asks the founders the right questions, digs into the documents, and forms a view on whether the business is what it claims to be. This is an emerging capability: one deep engagement with strong process discipline, building toward the pattern repetition that would make it a complete edge.
Spotted in 1 Story
Building Market Views from Competitive Analysis
Aakash builds market views by combining competitive benchmarking with cross-sector pattern reading. At YRAL, he benchmarked creator platforms across acquisition, engagement, and retention parameters, and identified a consistent pattern: monetary incentives drove signups but not sustained engagement. He connected this to broader trends in consumer tech and fintech to form a view on retention dynamics in India's digital economy. His analytical approach is qualitative and pattern-based: he looks for what is consistent across multiple platforms or sectors, then forms a directional view on what it means for how companies should be evaluated. This is an emerging capability grounded in one substantive research engagement and active cross-sector reading.
Spotted in 1 Story
Aakash .
About Me
Aakash is a recent BMS graduate from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi, with a focus on research, strategy, and investment analysis. He has built hands-on experience across market research, startup due diligence, and competitive analysis through internships at Frost & Sullivan, SK Associates, and YRAL.
He is currently pursuing early-career opportunities in investment research and strategy, with a particular interest in consumer internet and startup ecosystems.
At SK Associates, he ran end-to-end due diligence on a biodegradable startup, covering financial, legal, and operational dimensions, and delivered a formal investment recommendation.
At Frost & Sullivan, he built an ROI tracker and KPI dashboard across more than 40 mobility service agencies, working from an unstructured dataset to structured recommendations.
At YRAL, he conducted competitive benchmarking in the Web3 creator space and formed an independent view on consumer retention dynamics in India's digital economy.
Aakash .
I start with the decision that needs to be made, not the data that's available. That's what keeps research focused when the brief is open-ended.”
Aakash .
On structuring research