In this episode, Fahd sits down with Ray Newal—startup advisor, ex-Microsoft and Yahoo exec, and a founder who moved across the world to build tech that mattered. Ray’s journey spans from selling ads for AltaVista to leading Techstars India, but it’s his time building in emerging markets that shaped his sharpest lessons.
They explore what makes the real difference in David vs. Goliath battles: choosing the right Goliath to fight, timing your moves, staying close to your customer, and building the kind of team that can evolve across the S-curve of growth. Ray shares how he once thought his biggest competitor was TV—only to realize it was a guy at a cigarette stand sideloading pirated content onto SD cards.
From Canada to India, from corporate giant to hands-on founder, Ray’s story is a masterclass in strategy, humility, and helping Davids last long enough to land a real punch.
Ray Newal
Ray Newal is a founder, advisor, and startup ecosystem builder whose career spans global tech giants and gritty entrepreneurial battles. In 2010, he left a senior role at Yahoo!, sold everything, and moved to Mumbai with two suitcases and a bold idea: bring mobile video to the hundreds of millions still on 2G. That idea became Jigsee, a cross-border startup that defied the odds and eventually sold to Vuclip after proving that small, focused teams could outmaneuver the giants.
Since exiting Jigsee, Ray has devoted himself to helping other underdogs succeed—leading Techstars’ expansion into India, serving as CEO of C100, and mentoring founders across markets. Known for his humility and sharp insight, Ray believes the best leaders don’t go it alone—they build the village they wish they had.
