Another interesting Hyderabond this week, The Pioneer connects with producer-investor Swathi Reddy Gunupati who shares her association with the city, her debut experience of venturing into film production, and more.
An angel investor passionate about her ventures, Swathi Reddy Gunupati, gave us insights into her unique approach to being a second-generation entrepreneur, the filmy world, and her love for Hyderabad. While they may seem like entirely different worlds, the pursuit of innovation and the desire to support new and exciting ideas continue for this executive director of IQuest Enterprises in Hyderabad! As we explore the fascinating intersection investment and all the admiration for the city that’s helping her prosper, we are thrilled to welcome her to our conversation.
Intrigued to know, from Swathi, how did she go about this transition into becoming an investor? She said, “It transcended into me without any surprises; it runs in our family. I have been working with my father for a decade or so. I was a keen observer, especially with our exit from the entertainment company popularly known as Maa Television. Now that we had left, we started our own investment firm. That’s where I acquired the knowledge of launching a business of my own. The feeling of being on the battlefield myself is rather enrapturing. As an investor or an entrepreneur, I hate to promote the belief that my subordinates have to take the first bullet. No, it should be me, because I am the commander. That’s why you will find me on the ground most of the time, taking ownership even if we are going through a lack of success. It’s with the help of my husband as well that we could set up Mudhra Ventures in Hyderabad. I feel an adrenaline rush these days when it comes to reviewing so many investments of different kinds.”
Hyderabad holds a special place in her heart and has become a significant part of her life. The city has witnessed her journey through various stages, and she has forged many beautiful memories here. “My investment firm in Hyderabad is still underway. It’s going on with a lot of emotion. I just don’t want to make a financial difference through my investment firm; even generally, I would like to set some inspirational examples for investors in the city of Hyderabad and elsewhere. That’s how you should do it! I want to make a difference in the multiple sectors I take on,” added the angel investor.
Hyderabad has been incredibly welcoming and nurturing throughout the years. The city has showered her with lots of love and warmth, making it feel like a true home. The sense of community and the friendly atmosphere have made her experience here truly enriching. More to the entrepreneurial culture she’s facing here, she reinstates, “Ideas lead to meetings. If I have an intuition towards a certain sector, I tend to begin with my research process then. I will only join hands with a just and fair company. An investment with an equitable founder can only lead to fruitful investment opportunities. Not all of my experiences have been great, FYI. But I am a work in progress! I had those feelings sometimes. Oh, I shouldn’t have responded like this, so it’s all been a learning process, and it’s only going to continue. Intelligence also plays a really vital role.”
The development and growth she has witnessed in Hyderabad have been nothing short of spectacular. She remembered a time when Mumbai and Delhi dominated conversations about Indian cities, but now Hyderabad has rightfully earned its place on the global map. It fills her with pride and excitement to be part of such a thriving and evolving city.
At the same instant, sharing with us her debut experience of venturing into the film production of a tollywood film, she shared, “I was getting affected because I was starting a new journey. I always had it in my mind that I would like to produce a film someday in the South. I am interested in screenplays! Somehow, the timing was right when Mangalavaaram fell into my lap. I really wanted to debut with only such a film because not everyone would dare to do so. There was a serious takeaway from the film, but at the same time, it’s an enjoyable experience to go through the process of a film subject like this. I was hoping the film would leave an impact, and our manifestations came true. Because as soon as I read the reviews, I wasn’t hand-held anymore.” It was troublesome at times—it was her first film as a producer. Neither is she from the industry completely. So she did feel the pinch because it was in her pocket! But there was never a day she felt carried away on the sets of a South film because the director had taken over so well. Neither did anyone take her for granted or feel how we could work under the thumb of a woman in Hyderabad.
She has studied abroad and traveled extensively, but Hyderabad remains her home, where she always wants to return. The city stands out due to its unique blend of culture, lovely weather, diverse food, and the abundance of opportunities it provides. One of her fondest memories of Hyderabad is tied to significant moments in her life. She got married to a wonderful man, and they are blessed with two beautiful kids. The city has also been the starting point of her personal and professional journey, surrounded by supportive friends who have made every step memorable. It’s a place where the chapters of her life have unfolded, and she is grateful for the experiences it has offered.
So, what industry approach will she suggest for upcoming entrepreneurs in Hyderabad who are looking to launch new companies to scale up? “I have been doing a lot of studies on the market and business development. We are on an upward trend in anything related to the consumer sector in Hyderabad. It couldn’t have been a better time for investment opportunities than now, even for niche sectors, if you say. The other countries are really interested in setting up their investments here in Hyderabad.” On a whole, she has demonstrated her expertise in investments and business development by successfully expanding her family business portfolio into diverse sectors, ranging from sports to semiconductors and entertainment to pharma in Hyderabad. A few of her significant investments in the consumer sector are in personal wellness, gourmet pizza brands, and children’s wellness studios through her own firm and with her partner, Pranav Reddy. Having studied Family Business management and Women Entrepreneurship at Stanford University, she started her journey as a management intern at Sony Entertainment Singapore and went on to work as a business development associate at Maa TV. With her passion
and rich experience
in media and entertainment, she ventured into film production and produced the psychological thriller movie Mangalavaaram, directed by Ajay Bhupathi and featuring Payal Rajput, under the banner Mudhra Media Works.
Intrigued to know, from Swathi, how did she go about this transition into becoming an investor? She said, “It transcended into me without any surprises; it runs in our family. I have been working with my father for a decade or so. I was a keen observer, especially with our exit from the entertainment company popularly known as Maa Television. Now that we had left, we started our own investment firm. That’s where I acquired the knowledge of launching a business of my own. The feeling of being on the battlefield myself is rather enrapturing. As an investor or an entrepreneur, I hate to promote the belief that my subordinates have to take the first bullet. No, it should be me, because I am the commander. That’s why you will find me on the ground most of the time, taking ownership even if we are going through a lack of success. It’s with the help of my husband as well that we could set up Mudhra Ventures in Hyderabad. I feel an adrenaline rush these days when it comes to reviewing so many investments of different kinds.”
Hyderabad holds a special place in her heart and has become a significant part of her life. The city has witnessed her journey through various stages, and she has forged many beautiful memories here. “My investment firm in Hyderabad is still underway. It’s going on with a lot of emotion. I just don’t want to make a financial difference through my investment firm; even generally, I would like to set some inspirational examples for investors in the city of Hyderabad and elsewhere. That’s how you should do it! I want to make a difference in the multiple sectors I take on,” added the angel investor.
Hyderabad has been incredibly welcoming and nurturing throughout the years. The city has showered her with lots of love and warmth, making it feel like a true home. The sense of community and the friendly atmosphere have made her experience here truly enriching. More to the entrepreneurial culture she’s facing here, she reinstates, “Ideas lead to meetings. If I have an intuition towards a certain sector, I tend to begin with my research process then. I will only join hands with a just and fair company. An investment with an equitable founder can only lead to fruitful investment opportunities. Not all of my experiences have been great, FYI. But I am a work in progress! I had those feelings sometimes. Oh, I shouldn’t have responded like this, so it’s all been a learning process, and it’s only going to continue. Intelligence also plays a really vital role.”
The development and growth she has witnessed in Hyderabad have been nothing short of spectacular. She remembered a time when Mumbai and Delhi dominated conversations about Indian cities, but now Hyderabad has rightfully earned its place on the global map. It fills her with pride and excitement to be part of such a thriving and evolving city.
At the same instant, sharing with us her debut experience of venturing into the film production of a tollywood film, she shared, “I was getting affected because I was starting a new journey. I always had it in my mind that I would like to produce a film someday in the South. I am interested in screenplays! Somehow, the timing was right when Mangalavaaram fell into my lap. I really wanted to debut with only such a film because not everyone would dare to do so. There was a serious takeaway from the film, but at the same time, it’s an enjoyable experience to go through the process of a film subject like this. I was hoping the film would leave an impact, and our manifestations came true. Because as soon as I read the reviews, I wasn’t hand-held anymore.” It was troublesome at times—it was her first film as a producer. Neither is she from the industry completely. So she did feel the pinch because it was in her pocket! But there was never a day she felt carried away on the sets of a South film because the director had taken over so well. Neither did anyone take her for granted or feel how we could work under the thumb of a woman in Hyderabad.
She has studied abroad and traveled extensively, but Hyderabad remains her home, where she always wants to return. The city stands out due to its unique blend of culture, lovely weather, diverse food, and the abundance of opportunities it provides. One of her fondest memories of Hyderabad is tied to significant moments in her life. She got married to a wonderful man, and they are blessed with two beautiful kids. The city has also been the starting point of her personal and professional journey, surrounded by supportive friends who have made every step memorable. It’s a place where the chapters of her life have unfolded, and she is grateful for the experiences it has offered.
So, what industry approach will she suggest for upcoming entrepreneurs in Hyderabad who are looking to launch new companies to scale up? “I have been doing a lot of studies on the market and business development. We are on an upward trend in anything related to the consumer sector in Hyderabad. It couldn’t have been a better time for investment opportunities than now, even for niche sectors, if you say. The other countries are really interested in setting up their investments here in Hyderabad.” On a whole, she has demonstrated her expertise in investments and business development by successfully expanding her family business portfolio into diverse sectors, ranging from sports to semiconductors and entertainment to pharma in Hyderabad. A few of her significant investments in the consumer sector are in personal wellness, gourmet pizza brands, and children’s wellness studios through her own firm and with her partner, Pranav Reddy. Having studied Family Business management and Women Entrepreneurship at Stanford University, she started her journey as a management intern at Sony Entertainment Singapore and went on to work as a business development associate at Maa TV. With her passion
and rich experience
in media and entertainment, she ventured into film production and produced the psychological thriller movie Mangalavaaram, directed by Ajay Bhupathi and featuring Payal Rajput, under the banner Mudhra Media Works.
