VINAY MUNDHE

A Software Developer Writing on Tech, Money, and Life

Author: Vinay Mundhe

  • Reflecting on missed opportunities

    Reflecting on missed opportunities

    10 Years Later, I Finally Get It: Why I Didn’t Grow Like I Could Have.

    By 2014, I was working as a freelance graphic designer as well as doing my engineering.
    It’s been over 10 years now, and when I look back, there’s this weird mix of pride and guilt.

    Pride that I started early.
    Guilt that I didn’t build anything out of it.

    I see fresh college grads today doing freelance work, building global clients, growing audiences online. And I can’t help but think, I was doing this 12 years ago. Back when social media was still young. Back when Jio hadn’t even arrived and changed the game.

    I was there, right in the middle of all of it, working in social media marketing. I had the context. I had the timing. But I didn’t have the system.

    And that’s where I failed.

    Why I think I Couldn’t Capitalise

    • I was serious, but distracted.
      I was always buried in the task at hand, never looking at the bigger picture. Always executing, never planning.
    • I didn’t document anything.
      Had I shared what I was learning, what I was building, what I was struggling with, I could’ve built an audience. An identity. Maybe even a business.
    • I never built on top of what I already had.
      Everything valuable in life compounds. Skills, knowledge, connections, reputation. But only if you stay on one path long enough. I kept starting over.
    • I didn’t leave anything behind.
      No savings. No content. No trail of what I worked on.
      And here’s a harsh truth:

    If you’re doing work that leaves you with nothing at the end of the month…no savings, no assets, no learnings…then you’re just doing donkey work.

    Whatever you save, you build.
    Day by day, something should be stacking…money, knowledge, experience, content. Otherwise, 10 years will pass and you’ll look back to… nothing.

    If you’re reading this, I’ve got one simple message:
    Push yourself just enough.

    Enough to challenge yourself.
    Enough to stack new skills.
    Enough to build something that lasts.

    But not so much that you’re too drained to even enjoy or document the journey.

    So What Now?

    Now I’m choosing to document everything.
    I’ve started showing up consistently on Twitter and LinkedIn.
    And I’m focusing on just three pillars:

    1. My Career – Software Development
    2. My Business – Social Media + Marketing
    3. My Personal Brand – Who I am, what I stand for

    So that when I’m 40, I don’t just have money in the bank…
    I have a body of work to show. A story to tell.
    And a life that actually compounded.

  • I Bought 3 New Stocks

    I Bought 3 New Stocks

    Over the past two months, I added three new stocks to my portfolio.

    All very different businesses. One’s making the tech behind electric vehicles. One’s building the chips powering AI. And one’s trying to rewire the way we discover medicines.

    But the common thread? They’re future-focused. Backed by real fundamentals. And not just “hot” names on social media.

    Here’s a breakdown of each — the story and the numbers.

    1. Sona BLW – India’s EV Backbone

    Sona BLW isn’t loud on Twitter. But it’s quietly becoming a major player in the EV supply chain — they make precision gears, motors, and drivetrains used in EVs and hybrids.

    This isn’t a “future potential” kind of bet. They’re already supplying global automakers, and with the EV shift picking up in India and abroad, the tailwinds are strong.

    Here’s what sealed it for me:

    • Revenue: 3 year CAGR growth – 26.69%
    • Operating Profit Margin: Solid 28.1%
    • Net Profit: ₹518 Cr in FY24, up from ₹395 Cr last year
    • Debt-to-Equity: 0.09 — nearly debt-free
    • EPS: ₹9.57 and improving year-on-year
    • My average buying price: ₹481.38

    In short: stable business, clean balance sheet, future-ready product line. Also, I’m betting on India getting benefitted from the manufacturing shift from China due to heavy US tariff and uncertainty.

    2. AMD – Chips are the New Oil

    I’ve had my eye on semiconductors for a while. When I finally pulled the trigger, I went with AMD.

    Why? Because they’re not just playing catch-up to Nvidia — they’re going after specific markets and winning. Data centers, gaming, high-performance computing, and now AI workloads.

    What gave me conviction:

    • Revenue: $25.8 billion in FY24 — up 14%
    • Net Income: $1.6 billion — 92% jump
    • Data Center Segment: Grew 57% YoY to $3.7 billion in Q1 FY25
    • AI bet: Strong product pipeline + double-digit growth expected in this segment
    • My average buying price: $98.70

    Sure, Nvidia’s the poster child of AI. But it’s already had a run. Where do partner companies will look for when they need an option?

    AMD is the quieter compounding machine. Cheaper valuation, strong fundamentals, and deep R&D bets.

    3. Recursion Pharma – My Moonshot

    Every portfolio needs that one risky, asymmetric bet. For me, that’s Recursion.

    They’re combining biotech with machine learning to speed up drug discovery. It’s risky. It’s bleeding-edge. And it won’t pay off tomorrow. Nvidia has invested in this company and that’s what brought this company to my attention.

    Here’s what I looked at:

    • Revenue: $58.8M in FY24, up from $44.6M
    • Net Loss: $463M — yeah, they’re burning cash
    • Collaborations: Received $30M from Roche & Genentech
    • Backers: Nvidia, Bayer, and others have skin in the game
    • My average buying price: $5.32

    This isn’t a traditional pick. I’m not chasing near-term profits. I’m betting that AI won’t just build apps — it’ll build cures. And Recursion could be part of that shift.

    I bought these US stocks using INDMoney app.

    The transfer of funds to US Wallet was faster and convenient. App UI is simple and has everything you need.

    If you are investing in US market, be prepared to hold long term to get taxed less as long term capital gain tax is lesser than short term capital gains. Also, invest in bigger chunks to reduce the remittance charges.

  • Forget Pakistan. It’s time India levels up.

    Forget Pakistan. It’s time India levels up.

    Another conflict. Another headline cycle. Pakistan threw its usual tantrum. We stayed calm, and this time, we showed them.

    200+ drones. Neutralised overnight.
    Missiles? Shot down.
    Our own version of the Iron Dome? Tested. Live. Not in a lab. Not on a PowerPoint.

    This wasn’t just defense. It was a product demo for the world.

    India’s defence tech isn’t just ready. It’s market-ready. And unlike China’s systems, the ones Pakistan used, ours actually work.

    India’s defense exports has already got the momentum. In 2017 our defense export was around ₹1521 Crore. And now in 2025, exports are up to ₹23600 Crore.

    Its poised to go up and up after this.

    But here’s the thing. This war shouldn’t define us. It should wake us up. Because we already know how to handle Pakistan.

    We bleed them slowly. Quietly.
    “Unknown man kills a terrorist” — that’s the headline we aim for.
    Keep hitting their roots till their morale hits rock bottom.
    So that when the day comes, and we really announce an attack, Pakistani soldiers abandon their border posts and run for their lives.

    That’s how you take down a rogue state — by weakening it from within. Not by reacting, but by outgrowing.

    Pakistan is not the goal. China is.

    I remember reading a line from a Pakistani journalist when our businessmen visited Pakistan for some event few decades back.

    “We don’t fear India’s new weapons. We fear the day Indian billionaires land in Islamabad in their private jets.”

    That’s the power we need to chase. The kind that doesn’t just win battles, but dominates boardrooms.

    We don’t need another border skirmish.
    We need GDP growth.
    We need billion-dollar IPOs.
    We need our own Nvidia, our own Tesla, our own AI giants.

    Let’s not waste time chasing a neighbour stuck in the past.
    Let’s build. Let’s sell. Let’s grow.
    And when the world talks about superpowers in 2040, let’s make sure India isn’t just on the list. It leads it.

  • Indian Banks: The Biggest Legal Robbers No One Talks About

    Indian Banks: The Biggest Legal Robbers No One Talks About

    Let’s start with a simple question — when you open a savings account, who do you think is doing a favor? You, by trusting them with your money? Or them, by “letting” you be their customer?

    If you said “them,” congratulations, you just described the Indian banking system’s mindset.

    How Indian Banks Are Robbing You Silently

    Let’s talk about facts, not feelings.

    According to a report from The Hindu Business Line, public sector banks (PSBs) alone collected around ₹8500 crore between FY20 and FY24 just by penalizing people for not maintaining minimum balance.

    Yes, you read that right.

    In the middle of a pandemic, inflation, job cuts — our “saviours” were busy fining people for not keeping enough money in their accounts. The same people who probably couldn’t make ends meet were slapped with penalties because their account balance wasn’t up to the banks’ “standards.”

    Imagine punishing a drowning man for not swimming properly.

    And it doesn’t end there.

    As per another report by Moneylife, banks have written off ₹1.635 lakh crore of bad loans in just the past ten years.

    You and I are being fined for not keeping ₹5000 in our account. Meanwhile, the big boys — companies and corporates — default on crores, and the banks just “write it off.” It’s like you lending money to someone, they ghost you, and you just shrug and say, “Forget it.”

    But if your balance falls by ₹50, you’re a criminal in their eyes.

    Who Are Banks Actually Working For?

    It’s clear — banks in India seem to work for the big corporates, not the common man.

    They squeeze the small guy dry with penalties, fees, hidden charges, service tax, and then calmly “forgive” massive loans of rich borrowers. No follow-ups. No stress. No shame.

    And you know what’s worse?

    Despite this robbery model, they are still some of the “top” companies in India.

    Compare This: India vs USA

    Let’s look at the latest top 10 companies by market cap.

    US Top 10 (April 2025):

    • Apple
    • Microsoft
    • Nvidia
    • Alphabet (Google)
    • Amazon
    • Meta (Facebook)
    • Berkshire Hathaway
    • Eli Lilly
    • Broadcom
    • Exxon Mobil

    Almost all are tech, innovation, or healthcare-driven, except Berkshire and Exxon.

    India Top 10 (April 2025):

    • Reliance Industries
    • TCS (Tata Consultancy Services)
    • HDFC Bank
    • ICICI Bank
    • Infosys
    • Bharti Airtel
    • State Bank of India (SBI)
    • Kotak Mahindra Bank
    • ITC
    • Bajaj Finance

    Notice something?

    Banks everywhere.

    The US top companies are inventing the future. Our top companies are collecting EMIs, charging penalties, and funding “write-offs.” This is the sad reality.

    What’s the Cost to Us?

    This system discourages savings, hurts financial literacy, and makes the common person feel small and helpless.

    Instead of rewarding savers, supporting small businesses, or investing aggressively into tech, innovation, or manufacturing — our banking system is busy building castles of “service charges” and “processing fees” on the backs of regular citizens.

    Banks were supposed to be pillars of trust. Instead, they have become legalized mafia, operating behind a curtain of regulation.

    Time for a Wake-Up Call

    The next time you hear a politician or a banker talk about “financial inclusion,” remember — the same system is designed to profit off your struggle.

    The same system that fines you for being poor and forgives billionaires for being reckless.

    Maybe it’s time we start questioning not just bad governance but also bad banking.

    Because if banks are supposed to be the backbone of our economy, ours are busy breaking it, one penalty at a time.

    Stay aware. Stay woke. Protect your money — because clearly, no one else will.

  • Life in Rising Temperatures

    Life in Rising Temperatures

    Right now, I’m writing this sitting in Malkapur – my hometown.
    Tucked near the border of Madhya Pradesh, right in the heart of Maharashtra, this small town has always held a simple, quiet charm for me. But this time, something feels different.

    Summer has arrived, and with it, the brutal reality of rising temperatures. As I walk through familiar streets, I can’t help but notice how people are adapting to survive the heat. Almost every house now has an air conditioner or, at the very least, a water cooler. Honestly, I can’t imagine a home here without one.

    Green cloths and makeshift covers hang across balconies, terraces, and windows – a desperate but clever attempt to block the ruthless sunlight from turning homes into furnaces. It’s not just about comfort anymore.

    It’s about survival.

    Water scarcity is another daily battle. With an unreliable water supply during summer, people have turned to large storage tanks stacked atop their buildings. It’s a common sight now, as essential as the walls that hold the homes together.

    As I sit here at 6:20 p.m., during the last week of April, the temperature outside is still hovering around 37°C. It goes up to 43°C at peak time and even at 3:00 a.m night time., when the world should feel a little cooler, it barely drops to 27°C.

    That’s the harsh reality today.

    And honestly, it’s crazy when I think about how things used to be.

    I remember a time – just 10 years back – when we used to play cricket till noon under the summer sun. Sure, it was hot back then too, but it was manageable. We never even thought twice about it.

    Today, stepping out after 10 a.m. for a simple game feels unthinkable. The heat isn’t just uncomfortable anymore – it feels dangerous.

    This rising temperature wave isn’t just making summers tough.
    It’s starting to affect livelihoods.

    Daily wage workers, street vendors, construction workers – they now avoid working between 12 to 5 p.m., because it’s almost impossible to function in that kind of heat. Work slows down, incomes shrink, and the struggle only gets harder.

    But amidst these challenges, there’s a silver lining.

    I noticed something heartening – greenery.

    More trees. More plants. It seems people have realized the old wisdom: plant more trees, get more rain. In fact, Malkapur looks much cleaner and greener compared to three or four years ago. It feels like a town trying to breathe again, trying to heal itself in small but significant ways.

    Yet, a question lingers in my mind – will these efforts be enough?
    Will planting trees, covering windows, and storing water really solve the larger problem of rising temperatures year after year?

    Or are we just buying time, without addressing the root causes?

    This is a question not just for Malkapur, but for every small town grappling with the harsh face of climate change.