Anup Gupta

Vocal for "Local" – in its true sense! I recently had a conversation with my good friend Ashish Kumar Gupta, the founder of Jeevika Ashram. We go way back to our days at Sonata Finance Pvt. Ltd. & SV Creditline Private Limited, and I’ve been truly amazed by Ashish’s transition from finance to rural upliftment. His dedication to creating jobs and preserving India’s rich traditional craftsmanship through Jeevika Ashram is commendable. Microfinance was designed to provide access to capital, enabling those at the bottom of the pyramid to upskill and secure livelihoods. While MFIs have excelled in delivering financial support, the vital aspect of upskilling often gets overlooked. Ashish made an important point: for upskilling and traditional craftsmanship to thrive, local production and consumption must be in harmony. Global markets may offer higher earnings for artisans, but the crucial feedback loop between customer and producer is often lost. This connection is essential for improvement and preserving authenticity. It’s time for MFIs to adopt a holistic approach—focusing not just on financial inclusion, but also on cultural preservation and skill enhancement to ensure sustainable growth in our communities. Sagacia Growth Partners LLP #VocalForLocal #Microfinance #RuralUpliftment #LocalConsumption #SustainableGrowth

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Latest data suggest Bihar has better healthcare coverage than Kerala !! Out of pocket expense (OOPE) has long been considered a reliable measure of how safely any society is protected against catastrophic health expenses. In that respect India has made remarkable progress in last 10 yrs with OOPE falling from 62% to 39%. Most of this fall has been on account of Govt health care schemes. But is this really all good news? When metric becomes a target, it ceases to be a good metric. Kerala has OOPE of 59% as against 39% for Bihar. Can it be anyone's case that Bihar has better healthcare model? And this is despite the fact that Kerala Govt consistently spends the highest per capita on health !! National Health Estimate data,to my mind, shows that Govt health insurance schemes, while well intended and seemingly effective , are unlikely to solve public health issues in the long run. Bad news for govt finances, but great opportunity for healthcare, health tech and insurance industry. Cry havoc and let slip the falcons of sales !!

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Co-lead a workshop (with Sumathi my business partner and Komal lath of Tute Consult) on branding and communication and why/how its' strategic & important for the portfolio companies of an early stage growth focused PE fund in Mumbai this noon. very interactive session. lots of takeaways. one of the biggest benefits of doing such workshops with founders and CXOs of growth companies is that you get to first hand understand their pain points and priorities. which makes you realize there is a long road ahead laden with great opportunity for those in PR & comms if we take off our hats and look at it from their perspective.

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Celebrating One Year at Elev8 Venture Partners! What started as humble beginnings at co-working spaces like Axilor and WeWork, has finally culminated into our second home at Elev8 VP. Exactly one year ago, we inaugurated our new office on 12th Main in Indiranagar, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Initially, I was hesitant about large offices or high rentals, especially on the high street. However, thanks to Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Anuj Golecha, and Gaurav Jain, Anil G Jain, we took the plunge. We secured an office space that was more than I initially thought we could afford. Today, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions for Elev8 Venture Partners. In the world of venture capital, office location and décor surprisingly play a crucial role, especially for a first-time fund. It's not about extravagance or lavish spending but about creating a welcoming, professional environment. Our beautifully done office, complete with lush plants, has greatly contributed to building a positive external perception. This perception & vibe, is our reality. Home is not built by bricks but by memories. Over the past year, we've made incredible strides. Our investments in IDfy and Astrotalk have been pivotal, marking the beginning of our journey to support high-quality tech companies at the growth stage. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without my incredible team, whose dedication and hard work have turned our office into a second home. Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation, and impactful investments. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey with Elev8 Venture Partners. #Elev8VP #Anniversary #VentureCapital #Investment #TechStartups #GrowthStage #Teamwork #Innovation #Success Divy Chopda, Ashwini Khemka, Aman Ahmed, Abhisekh Shah, Parth Doshi, Mayank Jajoo, Komal Vichoor, Zaveria Mohammad, Mitali Rai, Eric (Jung Ho) Yoo, Donghyun Kim

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Trifecta Capital has launched its largest venture debt fund yet, totaling a whopping ₹2,000 crore, with an additional ₹500 crore greenshoe option. This fund is sector-agnostic, targeting: ✅ Electric mobility ✅ SaaS ✅ Fintech ✅ Enterprise tech Founded in 2015 by Rahul Khanna and Nilesh Kothari, the firm has already invested in over 30 unicorns and numerous high-value companies like Zepto, Meesho, BlueStone, and Urban Company. While staying clear of riskier sectors such as cryptocurrencies, gaming, and P2P lending, Trifecta Capital has successfully deployed ₹6,000 crore from its three funds, including recycled capital. For enquiries, drop an email to [email protected] #VentureCapital #Investment #ElectricMobility #SaaS #Fintech #EnterpriseTech #Startups #Unicorns #TrifectaCapital #Funding #BusinessGrowth

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This week SEBI has proposed amendments to Angel Funds (a sub-category of Cat-1 AIF). TL;DR of the proposal: 1. Max investment by an Angel Fund in a company of up to INR 25Cr (currently 10Cr). 2. Min. investment in a company of INR 10L (currently 25L). 3. Replace min. angel fund corpus of INR 5Cr with a requirement that investing can start only once 5 accredited investors have been onboarded. 4. Angel fund employees & directors to invest a minimum of INR 5 Lacs in the angel fund. 5. Increase the scope of investors to HUFs, family trusts, and sole proprietorships. A lot of these seem too good to be true, but overall, they will boost capital deployment into venture capital opportunities and that is something to root for!

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Disruption: The Key to Building Consumer Brands in India A founder's journey is akin to navigating uncharted waters, where every decision is a delicate balance between probabilities and possibilities. Sometimes, the founders are at the right place at the right time when disruptive waves are manifesting primarily in three formidable forms: regulatory, technological, and demographic. 1. Regulatory Disruption: Regulatory changes often appear as a vast blue ocean, promising untapped opportunities. Yet, one must tread carefully. The very nature of regulation implies that what is granted can be swiftly taken away. And many times, what is generally not specified also treads towards an eventual "No." 2. Technological Disruption: Technological advancements offer a compass for our voyage. Leveraging emerging technology platforms to create breakthroughs can unlock tremendous growth. 3. Demographic Disruption: India, a nation teeming with youth, stands at the precipice of never before seen disposable income that can be monetised digitally at scale. By meticulously segmenting markets, one can craft products and services that not only sell but seamlessly integrate into the lifestyle narratives of the emerging consuming class. At Endurance Capital, we work with early stage founders to be leaders in India's consumer revolution. As founders, the opportunity is immense. It's time to disrupt the old guard and innovate with an India-first approach. Let's craft consumer brands that aren't just loved but become a legacy for the generations to come. 🚀🇮🇳

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 We at RevX Capital just completed the 1st Year of operations at the Fund. Sharing some key milestones and reflections on this #anniversary. 1. Deployed 𝐈𝐍𝐑 500𝐂𝐫+ 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 52 SMEs and Startups. We overachieved the number of portfolio companies. It not only helped us enable the growth of more enterprises but also diversify risk.  2. We talked to 1100+ companies and evaluated 600+ to build this portfolio. INR 2 Cr was our smallest debt investment and largest INR 30 Cr ( with assisted LP co-investments) since we do not invest more than INR 20 Cr via the fund.  3. Products: ~40% of our transactions are 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 based on cash flow, timing, and purpose. Some founders/CFOs didn't even know such custom debt products were available for their business needs.  Apart from Working capital(~60%) and Capex(~20%), we also funded 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 for some large/pre-IPO companies, such as equity buybacks & warrants exercise of promoters, and debt for holding companies.  4. We started with a 6-person team in Gurugram, and are now 17 members spread across Investments, Portfolio & Covenant Monitoring, Finance, Legal, Fund Operations, Admin & HR in Gurugram and Hyderabad.  5. We consciously did not spend a single rupee on Marketing and PR. The team kept heads down and worked on building value for the companies by doing what we know best, providing 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, building customized debt structures, and helping our portfolio companies 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. I want to thank the entire RevX Team, our LPs/Investors, Service providers, and Portfolio companies. We are excited about the next year and will gradually unveil our plan as we build on the RevX Platform.

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Monday Momentum: Strategy #4: Preparing for a Successful Exit: Compelling Value Propositions: I was woken up this morning in Delhi with a friendly yet insistent string of bird chatter. This beautiful parrot was sitting on the ledge outside my window on the 19th floor and showing high interest in checking me out. Its distinct beauty and character is a perfect metaphor for today’s exit strategy: A strong value proposition is the heartbeat of your business—and a major factor that will attract buyers when the time comes to exit. To stand out, you need to present a valuable offer that clients simply cannot resist and strategically seize new opportunities. Tip 7: Develop an Irresistible Offer Create a value proposition so compelling that clients feel the impact from the start. Offer a free trial or a pilot program with clearly defined measurable success criteria. Demonstrating the tangible value you bring upfront builds trust and credibility, making it difficult for clients to walk away. Tip 8: Find Untapped Market Opportunities Look for the “white space” in the market—those unaddressed areas where your competitors aren’t focusing but where clients are seeking solutions. By filling these gaps, you make your business not only more valuable but indispensable. Buyers will recognize your ability to capitalize on these overlooked opportunities and will see huge potential for growth. By crafting a compelling value proposition and claiming untapped market opportunities, you create a business with undeniable appeal to both clients and future buyers. Ready to make your offer irresistible? #ExitStrategy #ValueProposition #BusinessGrowth #MarketOpportunities #Club33 #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #Leadership

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Excited to partner with Zepto for the third time, and thrilled to announce that this marks avra 's first significant investment. Why does 10-minute delivery work in India? India is a retail anomaly with over 90% of trade being unorganized retail. Consumers often prefer shopping for groceries at their local stores, which are conveniently located just a few minutes' walk from home. Why Zepto? At first glance, Zepto may seem like just a 10-minute delivery company, but they offer so much more. We believe they are building the Walmart of India—providing the same local store convenience (10 minutes) but at affordable prices by aggregating the purchase of supplies across their 300+ dark stores. Unlike many other quick commerce companies, Zepto started with some of the toughest categories—fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, and more. Today, they run one of the largest fruits and vegetable supply chains in the country. Aadit Palicha , Kaivalya V. and the exceptional team at Zepto operate at the lowest level of detail. They maximize efficiency at every layer of the supply chain. The result: 75% of their dark stores are fully profitable even as they have scaled to $1.2B of sales in 33 months. It's Day 1, and Zepto is just getting started.

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India's $45 Billion Startup Implosion Puts Tech Future in Doubt Byju’s, Paytm falter in stark reminder of the unique risks and challenges facing the country’s tech economy. For a brief, shining moment, India looked like the next big market for technology startups. Now, the country’s leading startups are struggling to survive and funding for the next generation of founders is drying up. Potential profits have turned to dust. The online education pioneer Byju’s — once the country’s most valuable startup at $22 billion — has seen that figure drop more than 90% from its peak. The digital payments firm Paytm pulled off what was India’s largest-ever initial public offering in 2021 — only to have its stock collapse about 80%. Oyo Hotels, a celebrated lodging business, has watched its valuation sink roughly 75% amid accounting problems and partner clashes. Those three marquee names between them have shed more than $45 billion of market value from their peak. More than 35,000 startups wound down operations last year, according to one study. https://lnkd.in/dAKiFNtH By Sankalp Phartiyal Repost by : Salem Bagami Chief Executive Officer Digital Transformation Company & Managing Director 2080.Ventures Email: [email protected] Website: www.2080.ventures -

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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed easing angel fund regulations and opening up these funds to more diverse investor groups. In a major step, the regulatory body will soon allow family trusts and sole proprietorships to invest in angel funds.   These measures are likely to boost opportunities for startup funding and supply young ventures with essential capital for growth, highlighting SEBI’s commitment to cultivating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3aGwgJP #StartupFunding #AngelInvestors #SEBINorms #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #IndiaStartups #BusinessGrowth #StartupEcosystem

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"We bought a 13-acre piece of land in a village called Sikra in Kutch which is enough for us to reach a revenue of 500 crores." 🔥 Ep#08 of The India Opportunity Podcast with Aditya Aagare from Thermoflyde is out now! 🔥 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/g6JjrGq6 We talk about: > The market opportunity in the refractory space - north of $30 Billion USD globally > How Thermoflyde is aggressively growing its market share by taking on RHI Magnestia (a $3 Billion revenue-generating, publicly listed business) and has grown 100% year-on-year in terms of REVENUE > How starting up in college taught Aditya lessons about entrepreneurship the hard way > Focusing on customer service as a competitive advantage > Building an IPO-able, cash-flow-positive business > 500 Crores revenue in sight with current capacity and potential to grow much bigger > Aditya's goal of positively impacting 1000+ lives > How traditional manufacturing businesses can be multi-baggers over decades in the public markets > How kindness from angels helped them survive in the first 2 years Great episode for founders looking to build IPO-able businesses, with key insights into how to prepare your business at the earliest stages if IPO is an outcome you're working towards. Thermoflyde Industries Private Limited is destined to be a big success story emerging in the traditional manufacturing space and we're early backers via Swadharma Source Ventures - SSV. Thrilled to share Aditya's story with the world. #india #manufacturing #makeinindia #rhimagnestia #refractory #steelplants #ipo

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As someone who is privileged to be closely involved in the journey of several startups including Mygate, the ability to write such a blog, let alone publish it to the public shows an extraordinary longterm thinking and maturity for founders. First of all, kudos to the team on stellar execution and is the input to this blog. Secondly kudos on the courage to publish such information, for a second time now. Last but not least, I encourage all founders to write such a blog and a similar plan for the year ahead. Publishing this can be at your own discretion - private, management team, board, investors, public. Use your best judgement but write you must! It’s a great discipline to have - ideally once a quarter! Yes the first two times will be difficult, but it will soon become a “liberating” habit.

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Will the bubble burst ? Is it a bubble ? Geopolitics = Buy defence Bangladesh crisis = Buy Textile Neighbour sneezes = Buy Pharma Traffic on Road = Buy Auto More delivery bikes than cars = Buy Zomato Vacation stays costly = Buy Hotels Mutual funds sahi hai = Buy AMCs Everything in life is a stock idea. If not, you aren't thinking hard enough. Or you are not part of Stock Tips whatsapp group. Bubble is in our head, or maybe not. Who knows, let's finish the 20 IPO applications first. Grey Market Premiums rock. FOMO is real. #Markets #Equity #Stocks #Bubble

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🚀 Swiggy Set to Make Waves with ₹11,300 Crore IPO: Key Details and Market Implications 🌐 Swiggy, India's food delivery giant, is set to go public with an IPO launching on November 6, 2024, aiming to raise around ₹11,327 crore (~$1.35B). Shares will be priced at ₹371-₹390 each (around $4.64), with trading expected to start on November 13, 2024. IPO Highlights: Price Range: ₹371-₹390 per share Funds Allocation: Expanding logistics and quick commerce operations This IPO is launching amidst rising tech-driven competition in India’s market. By securing capital, Swiggy plans to advance its quick commerce capabilities, aiming to gain a strategic edge over competitors like Zomato. Market Impact: Swiggy’s IPO offers a unique investment opportunity with strong growth potential, balancing between established dominance in food delivery and quick commerce expansion. Investor Insight: With a grey market premium around ₹25, sentiment is optimistic. As Swiggy steps into the public sphere, it's poised to redefine India's fast-paced delivery ecosystem. #IPO #SwiggyIPO #Investment https://lnkd.in/eyHRRPXh

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Today marks an incredible milestone for us at Inflexor Ventures as we proudly announce the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 ₹350 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝. This isn't just a number—it's a symbol of our steadfast commitment to empowering founders who are ready to amplify their proven potential and take their vision to new heights. In my journey from being an entrepreneur to a VC, I've witnessed firsthand the critical juncture where vision meets opportunity. The Opportunities Fund is designed to be that bridge—supporting visionary founders who have already proven their potential and are ready to scale further and faster. To all the founders who trust us with their stories and growth, thank you for your resilience and ambition. You inspire us daily to be more than just investors; you motivate us to be partners who champion your vision and share in the challenges and triumphs of building something extraordinary. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to HDFC AMC Select AIF FoF I scheme and our other valued limited partners for their trust and belief in our mission. Your support fuels our drive to not just invest in ventures but to become true partners in the journey, championing innovation and resilience every step of the way. I also want to acknowledge my colleagues, whose dedication and expertise drive us forward, and the wider ecosystem that plays an essential role in making ventures thrive. This milestone wouldn’t be possible without each of you contributing to this vibrant network of progress. To the entrepreneurs who dare to dream, build, and inspire: your determination is why we do what we do. We are honored to walk alongside you in navigating the exhilarating journey of scale and impact. Here's to nurturing more stories of growth and innovation as we embark on this exciting chapter together. Venkat Vallabhaneni, Jatin Desai, Pratip Mazumdar, Murali Krishna Gunturu, Harsha Mundhada, Parmi Doshi, Aishwarya Kulkarni, Pratik Ahuja, Kirti Chaturvedi, Akhil Nehru, Minal Sequeira, CA Vijay Sundar A N https://lnkd.in/gJUHBZk6 #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #OpportunitiesFund #Innovation #Gratitude

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"India has among the highest out-of-pocket expenditures in healthcare in Asia, with 48.2% of healthcare expenditure being incurred by patients. 1 High out-of-pocket expenditures have increased poverty, pushing 55 million people below the poverty line every year. 2 While the government continues to take significant steps to bridge the healthcare financing gap, the role of the integrated healthcare financing ecosystem continues to gain significant importance in the country. This prominence of healthcare financing has brought about certain crucial trends to the fore." Pleased to share that my thoughts on the integrated healthcare financing ecosystem have been published in India's leading financial media publication, The Economic Times BFSI. https://lnkd.in/dwdh8CiK

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The process of getting deeper into the Indian start-up ecosystem as an angel investor and limited partner (2 new hats of mine since 2023) is well on its way. Today spent the day attending Ivycap day 2024 as a special attendee. getting to understand the dynamics of investing, assessing business models and plans, valuation and most importantly founders. should have started a bit earlier but then no regrets. these new hats are part of a larger connecting the dots am attempting.

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