Managing Director & Co-Founder, Thore Network Private Limited | Exclusive Interview
TheCconnects: Prashant, your career spans more than two decades in investment banking before moving full-time into the AI ecosystem. That’s a rare transition. Take us through your professional journey and what led you to your current role at Thore Network.
Prashant Kolhe:
It has certainly been an unconventional journey, but one that feels very natural in hindsight. I spent over 25 years in investment banking, most notably with Axis Capital, where I had the opportunity to work across sectors and lead more than 200 transactions. That phase of my career taught me how businesses are built, scaled, governed, and sustained over the long term. You develop a deep appreciation for capital discipline, institutional structures, and strategic clarity.
While finance was my professional anchor, I was always deeply interested in technology-especially platforms that have the potential to reshape economies. When I connected with the founding vision behind Thore Network Private Limited, I saw something compelling: not just another AI startup, but an attempt to build foundational AI infrastructure for India. In 2025, I made a conscious decision to transition full-time into Thore Network. Today, as Managing Director and Vice Chairman, my focus is on building strong institutional foundations, long-term value creation, and positioning the company for sustainable growth, including a future public listing.
TheCconnects: Moving from deal-making to deep-tech building is a big shift. Who has influenced your thinking the most along this journey?
Prashant Kolhe:
I’ve been fortunate to learn from many mentors over the years-leaders who demonstrated integrity, long-term thinking, and the courage to take calculated risks. In banking, you learn quickly that short-term wins mean very little if the fundamentals aren’t strong. That philosophy has stayed with me.
More recently, I’ve been influenced by India’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Seeing founders build globally relevant products from India has been incredibly motivating. And honestly, the younger engineers and AI researchers I work with today influence me a lot-they think without legacy constraints, which is refreshing and necessary when you’re building something new.
TheCconnects: Every transition comes with its own challenges. What were some of the toughest moments you faced while building Thore Network?
Prashant Kolhe:
The biggest challenge was timing and infrastructure. When we started, India was still largely an AI consumer rather than a producer. GPU shortages, high compute costs, and limited access to advanced infrastructure were very real constraints. Convincing stakeholders that India could build core AI capabilities-not just applications-required patience.
Another challenge was aligning multiple verticals under one cohesive vision. Thore Network operates at the intersection of AI, blockchain, language computing, cybersecurity, and public infrastructure. That complexity demands strong governance and clarity of purpose. We addressed this by building a phased roadmap-focusing on technology readiness levels, real-world pilots, and partnerships aligned with national priorities.
TheCconnects: You’ve spoken publicly about India entering the “Build India” phase of AI. What does that mean to you in practical terms?
Prashant Kolhe:
For me, “Build India” means moving beyond experimentation into ownership. Ownership of datasets, models, compute infrastructure, and problem statements that are uniquely Indian. Government initiatives like AI Kosh, Bhashini, and AI India Mission are accelerating this shift by providing policy backing, grants, and compute subsidies.
At Thore Network, we’re contributing through approved datasets in road safety and Indian language computing, as well as LLM-driven cybersecurity tools. These aren’t theoretical projects-they’re designed for deployment, impact, and scale. The goal is simple: build in India, solve for India, and then scale globally.
TheCconnects: From a leadership standpoint, what key lessons has your career taught you so far?
Prashant Kolhe:
Three lessons stand out. First, institutions matter more than individuals. You can have brilliant talent, but without strong processes, governance, and culture, scale becomes fragile. Second, capital is a tool-not a strategy. Long-term value comes from disciplined execution, not just fundraising headlines.
Third, adaptability is non-negotiable. Markets change, technology evolves, and leaders must continuously unlearn and relearn. My investment banking background helps me evaluate risk, but the AI world has taught me humility-you must listen closely to engineers, users, and policymakers alike.
TheCconnects: In today’s digital and AI-driven economy, what do you see as the biggest challenge for brands and platforms?
Prashant Kolhe:
The biggest challenge is trust. As AI becomes more powerful, concerns around data privacy, security, bias, and explainability are growing. Brands that treat AI as a black box will struggle. Transparency, compliance, and accountability are no longer optional-they’re competitive advantages.
Another challenge is infrastructure dependency. Relying entirely on a few global cloud providers creates cost and resilience risks. That’s why decentralized compute models and shared infrastructure ecosystems are becoming increasingly important.
TheCconnects: How does Thore Network address these challenges through its offerings?
Prashant Kolhe:
We approach this from multiple angles. Our GPU Credit Marketplace democratizes access to compute by allowing idle GPU capacity to be monetized-reducing costs and improving utilization. It’s a practical alternative to expensive centralized cloud models.
On the AI side, our work in language computing, cybersecurity, and road safety focuses on explainable, real-time intelligence. Whether it’s detecting vulnerabilities in open-source software or predicting traffic risk patterns, the emphasis is on actionable insights, not opaque outputs. We design systems that enterprises and governments can trust.
TheCconnects: With such a demanding role, how do you unwind or find balance outside work?
Prashant Kolhe:
I believe balance doesn’t mean equal time-it means mental clarity. I read extensively, especially on geopolitics, technology policy, and biographies. These help me zoom out and think long-term. I also enjoy conversations with entrepreneurs and young professionals-they keep my perspective grounded and current.
TheCconnects: Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders looking to build in AI or deep technology?
Prashant Kolhe:
Build patiently and think institutionally from day one. Deep tech is not a sprint-it’s a marathon. Focus on solving real problems, especially those rooted in local contexts. Don’t chase valuation; chase relevance and resilience.
Also, respect capital and talent equally. Use capital wisely, and create environments where talent can thrive. If you get those fundamentals right, scale will follow naturally.
TheCconnects: That’s a powerful perspective, Prashant. Thank you for sharing such thoughtful insights with us.
Prashant Kolhe:
Thank you. These conversations are important-because building the future is always a collective effort.
