Arjun Vaidya

Had the pleasure of hosting the amazing Hemant Mohapatra of Lightspeed India, who spoke on the opportunities in AI for founders in India. An excellent session, covering pointed analogies, and lessons from the past to inform the future: - Why is this wave of AI important - How to differentiate between ideas that can create large impact vs. ideas that are incremental - Big opportunities for new founders to build in the next few years. Notes on 1) AI x consumer 2) AI x enterprise adoption 3) AI x infra - Next generation of Agents and what to expect and more with Nitin Sharma Watch the full session - link in comments

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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." These powerful words by Mahatma Gandhi hold a mirror to the entrepreneurial spirit that is driving India’s transformation today. Just as he led movements that redefined the nation, India’s startup founders are reshaping industries with bold ideas, innovation, and determination. Through their vision and grit, our entrepreneurs are driving meaningful change—solving real-world problems, creating jobs, and building solutions that affect lives on a large scale. This Gandhi Jayanti, let’s celebrate the innovators who embody this ethos, turning challenges into opportunities for a better, more sustainable future. #GandhiJayanti #Entrepreneurship #StartupIndia #InnovatorsForChange #IANGroup

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As we work towards raising capital to grow Fungible Chocolates in the next 12-18 months, I’m constantly reminded of the importance of building a solid foundation. BetterBrand™ journey serves as a cautionary tale that is unfortunately all too common in the world of startups. They raised substantial funds by overpromising but ultimately fell short of delivering on those promises, leaving investors and customers feeling disappointed and cheated. Raising capital is not just about securing funds, it’s about maintaining trust, transparency, and building a solid long term relationship with your investors and community. I believe wholeheartedly in the future of our mushroom infused chocolates, but before scaling to the next level, it’s essential that I feel secure in our foundations, processes, and products. This way, when we're ready to expand, we'll be doing so responsibly and sustainably, ensuring that we can commit for the long haul. Raising capital is about trust. It’s about building something real, and that’s the journey we’re committed to. ❤️ #fundraisingcpg #betterbrand #angelinvestors #cpgfounders #fungiblechocolates #chocolate

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Once PMF is established for a product , next step in revenue growth is category expansion and often founders struggle with their second product . One conversation I had with a founder, the founder confessed that the opportunity arose and they kept on creating products that made sense from supply pov and now their brand is lost because the products are from diverse categories and the consumer doesn't understand what they stand for. When it comes to innovation there is a 70:20:10 rule , 70% of portfolio should be core where consumers imagery of the brand matches the brand's identity , generate opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell to the same consumer 20% should be in the adjacent categories which help get newer customers to the brand and 10% can be moonshots which don't derail the brand , while they appear like a sore thumb in the portfolio they generate revenue. If your portfolio however is full of the moonshots the consumer disassociates with the brand . Often founders make the mistake of believing they own the brand , a founder owns the organization , the brand is co-owned by customers - one must listen to them. #Innovation #CategoryExpansion #Moonshots

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Optimising for survival vs valaution During my previous startup journey My Dream Store we grew from 3cr annualRevenue to 30cr annual Revenue in 24 months and we were on look out for series A of 5Mn usd , Talked to almost every VC in town by that time we have only raise an angel round of 300k usd only. Everything was green we were super ambitious , stayed in market for 3 months could not close . During this time there were few Angel groups who could write 500k to 1mn cheques but we thought it would be too small for our ambitions. We went back to building again - our growth began to drop and became flattish at 2cr monthly revenue , we went back to market to raise 2Mn after 1yr to market to a different set of VCs - very hard to raise on back of degrowth, we were willing to dilute more but yes could not close. Lesson learnt always raise when you are going to peak in the next 3-6 months. As founders we would be focused on growth during that cycle but it’s better to put more money in war chest. Back to story one more year passed on flattish growth, we did some working capital solves , cut expenses we de grew to 1.5cr monthly revenue . Was again out in market this time looking for Angels founder angels or syndicates to raise 500k to 2Mn to build back. I was almost on verge of giving up but then Sujayath Ali wrote a small cheque gave us hope to rethink and started building Nobero. Only a founder can truly understand the grit and struggle. Now Nobero is a rocket ship we are super excited along side strong partner like TMRW House of Brands . From my journey of fundraising failures here are something’s that other founders / people who want to start can pick up 1. Always raise when you are on the raise 2. Do not be finicky about valuation pick best of what you are getting and go back to building 3. Like you see in my essay I moved down from 5Mn to 2Mn to 500k , very foolish . In hindsight had I picked the 500k to 1Mn cheque when we were at 30cr the story would have been totally different . Pick whatever you can at best price you can close fast. The art is to close deal fast and move from position to position strongly on back of good metrics 4. Small cheques get large cheques , you are no longer alone in journey. It’s in interest of all parties to protect org and do what is right for org to grow 5. Fundraising is sales , be very strategic of what you offer -if you are degrowing offer a larger share, create phased offers milestone led - 500k to x size and if I hit X follow on with 2Mn if I do not grow to X be willing to take more hit on equity. Always offer what others cannot 6. Have some founders on your cap table who have been part of these , it’s millions saved #fundraising #startup #lessonsbuildingnobero

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Waimea New York is gearing up for major offline expansion in India! Just two months after launching online, the denim menswear brand is making waves. 📈 Key highlights: - Partnered with Andhra Pradesh-based MBO Tipsy Topsy, which operates over eight stores. - In talks with other retailers including Hyderabad-based Ant Eye. - Entered the Indian market in April 2024, now available on Myntra, Ajio, Amazon, and Nykaa Fashion. - India chosen for its booming fashion market and youthful demographic favoring bold fashion choices. - Price range for jeans in India: Rs 2,000 to Rs 8,000. 🗣️ "The decision to expand in India stems from its rapidly growing fashion market, particularly in the streetwear and denim segments. India offers a youthful demographic with a penchant for bold fashion choices, aligning perfectly with our target audience," said Mahesh Khemlani, CEO of Waimea New York. >> Future plans include establishing a strong foothold in India, expanding retail presence across key cities, and exploring potential manufacturing partnerships in the country. Waimea is all set to bring its edgy denim styles to the Indian streets! https://lnkd.in/gvWyigKw #retailexpansion #waimeanewyork #denimfashion #indianmarket #fashiongrowth #fashionretail #internationalbrands

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Excited to announce the launch of Bracket by BoldCap 🚀 India's first Go-To-Market platform for entrepreneurs building global AI companies. For the past year, Bracket has been exclusively supporting our portfolio founders to tackle the complexities of scaling AI-native products in the global market, especially North America. Today, I am excited to launch Bracket; to provide all AI builders with the same GTM accessibility.. 🎯 The new landscape shift has made it absolutely clear that traditional SaaS playbooks no longer fit the bill for AI-native products. We are redefining this through Bracket – our closely curated community of 50+ GTM operators across North America and Europe who offer the resources, networks, and the new-age playbooks that founders need in their $0-$1M journey of building an AI company from India to the world. 🌍 We work with some of the smartest minds in GTM globally– from the Revenue director at Clari, Pricing leader at DocuSign, GTM leader at Databricks, Sales leader at Outreach to Growth Leader at Snowflake and many more– all exceptionally talented operators who have built multiple GTM motions from scratch and are now committed to support the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs along with us. We deeply believe this is what our ecosystem needs: accessibility to the right leaders in the global market, and we aim to bridge this for Indian founders. Thanks to our early GTM partners Jyoti Swarnkar Samuel Sunderaraj Kiran Surapaneni Merritt Baer Murali K Atul Sahai Ramana Narayanam Sara Archer Sara Jones Shiv Sundar Stan Rymkiewicz Andreas Drakos Andres Lozano Sanudo Ashwath M. Brant W. Cody Harris Connor Williams Daniil Krets Jake Haselden Jeff de Ruyter Karthik Ramamoorthy Kevin Flitcroft Laura Handy LeeRon Yahalomi Paul McGhee Shane O'Neill (and the list goes on.... unfortunately not able to tag more) who shaped Bracket into a powerful community along with us. Big shout out to Aditi Gera for all her effort on putting this together and to the rest of the BoldCap team Shiv Tayal Pratham Chadha Kevin D'Souza. Thank you Bhuvana Kamath and YourStory Media for this exclusive coverage - https://lnkd.in/gZBXTsmv If you're founder in the AI software space, we are excited to work with you! BoldCap

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Game On, India: A VC Perspective on the Untapped Potential in Sportswear (Beyond Jerseys) 🇮🇳 The Indian sportswear market is poised for a major leap, fuelled by a growing passion for fitness and exploring the great outdoors. But let's talk beyond the ubiquitous cricket jerseys for a moment and delve into a hidden gem – the booming market for outdoor gear! 💸 A VC's Perspective: Why I am Bullish on Outdoor Sportswear in India As a Venture Capitalist, the Indian outdoor sportswear market presents a compelling investment opportunity for several reasons: 💹 High-Growth Market: The market is projected to reach a staggering USD 1.93 billion by 2029, with a growth rate exceeding 16% annually (source: Maximize Market Research). This significant growth trajectory signifies a large and rapidly expanding consumer base. 🥇 Untapped Potential: Unlike cricket jerseys, the outdoor segment lacks a centralized and organized retail experience. This fragmentation creates a prime opportunity for innovative brands and platforms to capture market share. 📯 Shifting Consumer Preferences: Growing participation in activities like running, cycling, trekking, and adventure travel is driving demand for specialized outdoor gear. Consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality, functional products that enhance their outdoor experiences. 🇮🇳 Rise of Domestic Brands: This market shift presents a golden opportunity for Indian brands to offer high-quality, affordable options alongside established international players. This approach can resonate with cost-conscious Indian consumers while fostering domestic innovation. 🦋 Experience-Driven Retail: The rise of experience-based travel and adventure sports opens doors for brands to connect with customers beyond just products. VCs are looking to invest in companies that curate a holistic outdoor experience, fostering brand loyalty and customer engagement. 🚵‍♂️ The REI Model for India? The current market lacks a comprehensive online or physical store similar to REI in the US or Outdoor Goat internationally. A platform that curates a selection of established international brands alongside promising domestic ones, offering expert advice and a focus on the entire outdoor experience, could revolutionize the Indian market. 🔊 Calling All Outdoor Enthusiasts and Industry Leaders! Share your thoughts in the comments. What exciting possibilities do you see in the Indian outdoor sportswear market? #sportswear #india #outdoors #entrepreneurship #marketresearch Khyati V Bhinde Joanne Kiara Fernandez Lakshmi Naga Potluri Abhay Vashistha Amisha Vashistha Garima Vashistha

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Meesho raised their seed round in 2017 when the consensus was that there were no whitespaces left in e-commerce market in India, and both horizontal and vertical marketplaces had been built... today Meesho is the largest true e-commerce marketplace in India! Spinny raised their Series A in 2018 when the consensus was that the used car market was too crowded with players across reviews, classifieds, auctions etc... today Spinny is the largest used car retail platform in India! The consensus today is that there are very few, if any, whitespaces left in consumer-tech... however, we at Elevation Capital are convinced that massive opportunities in the consumer tech space in India are waiting to be tapped, and many category leaders are yet to be built... We have taken a crack at what some of these opportunities could be in "What If.. We Win?" - https://lnkd.in/gYcEWpyq Would love to hear thoughts and feedback...

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Founders are delusionally optimistic only for the first one or two years. After that, life hits you like a thousand bricks from every direction." - Sera Arora, Partner at Bharat Founders Fund In a recent episode of the Thought Bistro podcast, our very own Sera shed light on the realities of being a founder and the role of VCs in the startup ecosystem. 💡 While founders are often characterized as innately optimistic, Sera argues that this optimism is quickly tempered by the challenges and setbacks of running a startup. As she puts it, "It's the hardest thing for a founder to not get constantly depressed." 😔 This is where the partners at BFF come in. Having experienced the ups and downs of the startup journey themselves, they bring a realistic perspective to the table. Balancing the delusional optimism of founders with the critical eye of VCs, BFF partners offer a unique and valuable perspective. 🤝 Tune in to the full episode to hear more of Sera's insights on the founder journey and the role of BFF in supporting the Indian startup ecosystem. 🇮🇳🚀 Listen to the whole episode: https://lnkd.in/gBNsb6Y9

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🏥 The Global Health Tech Boom: A VC's Playbook for US & India In the US, the consumer health tech market is expected to reach a whopping $400 billion by 2027, while India is experiencing a similar surge, with its consumer health tech market projected to hit a staggering $32 billion by 2025. As a VC actively investing in innovative health tech startups across both continents, here is what gets me excited: 🚥 Seed Funding ($0.5M-$5M): Focus on validation, not chasing unicorns. Early traction is crucial – think $300K-$2M in annual sales depending on your niche. Demonstrate efficient customer acquisition (sub-$30 CAC) and cultivate loyalty (lifetime value exceeding CAC). Most importantly, show product-market fit. A passionate user base willing to pay a premium is a winning formula. 🚥 Valuation: Seed-stage valuations are concept-driven. Expect a range of $3M-$15M, with a typical multiple of 5x-10x revenue. This considers market size, innovation, and team experience. 🚥 Series A ($10M-$20M): Scale-up time! We look for 2x-4x YoY revenue growth and a minimum of $2M in annual sales. This validates your customer acquisition strategy and a repeatable sales engine. Retention remains king! High customer retention signifies a strong brand connection and sustainable growth. 🚥 Valuation: Early traction and a clear path to profitability are essential. Series A valuations can range from $10M-$30M, with a typical multiple of 4x-8x sales. Revenue growth, market potential, brand strength, and team expertise influence this multiple. 🚦 Decoding Valuation in Global Health Tech: ⚡ Market Potential: A large addressable market with room for significant brand capture is key. Think millions of potential customers! ⚡ Profitability Path: Growth is exciting, but we need a data-driven roadmap to profitability, consider factors like insurance reimbursement models, pricing strategies etc. ⚡ Brand Strength: Show us metrics like social media engagement, brand mentions, and positive user sentiment. A strong brand can command a premium valuation. ⚡ Customer Empathy: Consumers are value-conscious and diverse. Deeply understand your target audience and tailor your product accordingly. ⚡ Passion is Key: Demonstrate your passion for transforming healthcare delivery on a global scale. 🚥 Key Areas of Opportunity: These areas hold immense potential: ⚡ Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring: Simplifying access to quality healthcare for remote populations. ⚡ Chronic Disease Management: Offering personalized solutions for managing chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. ⚡ Mental Health & Wellness: Address growing need for mental health support through accessible and affordable solutions. ⚡ AI-powered Diagnostics & Treatment: AI to improve healthcare accuracy, efficiency, and affordability. ⚡ Preventive Health & Personalized Medicine: Fostering proactive health through personalized preventive care and wellness solutions. 🗣 Love to hear from HealthTech Startups! 🏥

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For all potential founders building consumer brands - come join the 430-530 pm session on Monday (Nov 11) as I jam on D2C ideas / spaces / brand building with an awesome founder turned investor Mohit Sadaani from The Moms Co. | Good Glamm Group and DeVC We plan to talk about how to choose the right category, customer segment, research vs. intuition on a gap, building content / community / digital marketing chops etc. as you take your brand idea from 0 to 1. Regn. link in the first comment.

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Unlocking Taboos: My TEDx Talk Reveals the Truth about Fertility & Legacy 🚀 Join me in unraveling the mysteries behind societal pressures and the drive for progeny. From legal constraints to unconventional triumphs like Sidhu Moosewala's story, let's dive deep into the complexities of modern medicine and human desires. Watch now for eye-opening insights and a fresh perspective on what it means to leave a legacy! 🔗 Tedx Talk Link: https://lnkd.in/gP-Qi3rB #FertilityRevolution #BreakingTaboos #LegacyUnleashed

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Dr. Ankur Pathak is Founding Principal (investor) at London Real Ventures - 5 million subscribers & 1 billion+ views. Today we discuss building relationships with investors. ..including "silent watchers", WEBTM, investor updates, community, confidence and more. - Hands on vs hands off investors  - WEBTM triggers awareness  - Trust building with 2 mechanisms  - Confidence, leadership, learning skills  - Community you have built  - How to maintain existing relationships and value add  - Intro your investor to other founders/investors (they help you, you help them - relationship)  - How often to update the investor (I do 1,200 calls every quarter)  - What updates to an investor are conducive even when they said no  - Do heavy homework on your investor  - Who are the “silent watchers” in your life (investors, people that eventually might buy, etc) …keep moving forward while accounting for the silent watchers rooting for you - Do you look shiny as a founder  - How would your communication look like if you treat every conversation as a 10yr relationship (because it is (3yrs - 10+) so you should) Mohammad Hossein Tavangar is Director at Founder Institute and former Financial Advisor at the European Commission. Dr Ankur Pathak & Mohammad are SFGN Heads in our global executive/investor network (sf-gn.com). Dr Ankur is also a council member in our SFGAC (Super Founder Global Advisory Council) at the sf-gac.com newsletter. We hope you enjoy our chat :-)

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Mira Kulkarni: The Power of Just Keeping On At a time when most people start to settle, Mira Kulkarni chose to begin. Life hadn’t been easy, and she’d faced her share of personal challenges. Yet, at 45, Mira decided it was time to pursue something she truly believed in. With a deep love for Ayurveda and a vision to bring authentic Indian wellness to the world, she launched Forest Essentials. Her goal wasn’t just to create skincare; it was to honor centuries-old traditions and celebrate nature’s purity. What started as a small passion project grew into a luxury brand that caught the world’s attention—eventually attracting Estée Lauder as an investor. Mira’s story isn’t just about building a brand; it’s a reminder that reinvention has no age limit, and purpose can turn even life’s hardest challenges into something beautiful. Proof that it’s never too late to start over. #mondaymotivation #MiraKulkarni #ForestEssentials #AyurvedaBeauty #InspiringJourney #NeverTooLate #EntrepreneurStory #IndianWellness #womenentrepreneur

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Ever wondered why mature startups seek late-stage mega-funding? 🤔 There's more to it than money. Explore to learn! 💡 1. Boost Growth 🚀 Funds are used to increase growth and expand horizons, such as by increasing sales and marketing. - Product/service innovation 🛠️ - Uncharted market entry 🌍 - Strategically buying companies 🤝 - Growth in production and infrastructure 🏭 2. Delayed Public Launch 🕒 Another substantial private investment round can delay an IPO or acquisition, allowing quick expansion. 3. Increase Pre-Exit Value 📈 Larger late-stage rounds can boost pre-IPO or sale valuations, increasing exit returns. 4. Provide liquidity to investors 💰 Late rounds let early investors sell shares for liquidity and returns before exiting. Thus, mature firms use late-stage mega-funding to grow 🌳, avoid early exits 🚪, raise valuations, and provide investor liquidity while delaying public difficulties. 👏

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Love this post by Pratyush Buddiga on the value of momentum for startups and VC firms and VC partners as well! Very much worth the read

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Rebalance is India's first angel community that's 51% women with 27 investments across fintech, biotech, consumer, drones, Gen AI, deeptech healthcare, climate, energy, edtech and more. 🔥 Aishwarya is hosting a limited-seating, candid chat for women who invest in startups (would like to invest with Rebalance) and for women who want to learn about startup investing. No question is too trivial or small, this is a safe space to ask anything about startup investing! When: 26 May 2024 [Sunday] Where: Somewhere in Delhi ☕ Timings: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm 2 days to go!! RSVP here: https://shorturl.at/EoYLN If you're already an investor or not based in Delhi/Gurgaon - you can directly sign up here to be part of the investing community: https://lnkd.in/g7taCdkc

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