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Sid Kasbekar

Sid Kasbekar

Early-stage venture investor focused on innovation and future-shaping founders

sidk
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
10.3K connections
Joined March 2025

Summary

Sid Kasbekar is a venture capital investor at Airtree, an Australian VC firm, where he has risen from Investment Manager to Principal. He focuses on early-stage investments across Australia and New Zealand, actively seeking out and supporting founders who are 'living in the future' and building innovative companies. airtree+4
With a strong background in engineering and economics from Duke University and UNSW Australia, Sid is deeply interested in the intersection of technology and market dynamics. His Substack writings reflect a thoughtful approach to venture capital, exploring concepts like 'pricing to cost vs. pricing to market share' and the future of 'AI and Human-Computer Symbiosis,' demonstrating a forward-looking perspective on industry trends. substack+4
Sid has a proven operational track record, having launched the US operations for the Australian fintech startup Deferit. This hands-on experience in scaling a company and building from the ground up provides him with a unique, founder-centric perspective on investment and business development. airtree+3
He is an active writer and speaker, sharing his insights on tech, startups, and the economy through his Substack and public engagements. His recommended reading lists highlight a diverse intellectual curiosity, encompassing biographies, market cycles, and the societal impacts of technology and authority. substack+5

Work

Education

Writing

The Games We Play

September 2, 2025

Explores the cyclical nature of venture capital and startup building, categorizing behavior into 'pricing to cost' and 'pricing to market share'. He discusses how the focus shifts between growth at all costs and profitability depending on the market cycle, and the implications for founders and investors.

Favicon imagesidkasbekar.substack.com

Approaching the Edge

July 19, 2023

Discusses parallels between academics expanding human knowledge and founders having unique insights. He emphasizes the importance of learning enough to reach the 'frontier' of a field, noticing gaps, and exploring promising opportunities to make an impact, drawing inspiration from figures like Alan Kay and Paul Graham.

Favicon imagesidkasbekar.substack.com

AI and Human-Computer Symbiosis

June 13, 2023

Explores the future of human-computer interaction, drawing on J.C.R. Licklider's 1960 paper 'Man-Computer Symbiosis'. He hypothesizes about a world of extreme delegation to AI agents and hyper-personalization, considering implications for trust, decision-making, and the abstraction of software.

Favicon imagesidkasbekar.substack.com

Summer Reading List 2024

Contributed 'Invention: A Life by James Dyson' to Airtree's 2024 summer reading list, reflecting an interest in biographies and the process of invention.

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Summer Reading List 2023

Contributed 'The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority by Martin Gurri' to Airtree's 2023 summer reading list, indicating an interest in societal impact of the internet and authority.

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Summer Reading List 2022

Contributed 'Mastering the Market Cycle: Getting the Odds on Your Side by Howard Marks' to Airtree's 2022 summer reading list, showing an interest in market dynamics and investment strategy.

Favicon imageairtree.vc

Hobbies

Enjoys reading, especially biographies, and is always looking for good book recommendations. airtree+3

A keen follower of various sports including the Olympics, Wimbledon, T20 Cricket World Cup, Tour de France, Euro, and Copa tournaments. nitter

Notes

MDMarnix Denyssaid
SKSid Kasbekar
is someone who’s especially approachable and generous with their time when meeting new entrepreneurs.

Aug 28, 2025