Shiva Singh Sangwan

🚀 Breaking Ground with VC Grid: India's Venture Odyssey! 🚀 Thrilled to unveil VC Grid, a paradigm shift in venture syndication crafted exclusively for the visionary minds of family offices & UHNIs. With a formidable war chest of Rs 900 crore, VC Grid embarks on a mission to empower 100-120 startups over the next triennium, spanning diverse realms from agritech to financial frontiers, seeding each venture with an infusion ranging from INR 4-16 crore. Powered by the backing of esteemed Indian family offices, entrepreneurs, and UHNIs, VC Grid's helm is steered by Vansh Oberoi, a dynamic VC professional in early-stage investments with an illustrious six-year journey at Venture Catalysts alongside Sidhi Dalmia, former Goldman Sachs executive, captaining our venture towards new horizons. Already carving its mark, VC Grid has infused INR 40 crore into five trailblazing ventures, catalyzing an unprecedented INR 100 crore in follow-on funding. Notable among these are Autocracy Machinery Pvt Ltd, KisanKonnect Safe Foods and Ideal Insurance. But VC Grid isn't just about capital infusion; it's a beacon of collaborative innovation, fostering a nexus of expertise and domestic capital. Our mandate? Backing ventures grounded in research, profitability, and ESG principles, with an eye on delivering over 30% IRR. Join us on this exhilarating venture odyssey as we redefine the contours of India's startup landscape, one disruptive idea at a time! Venture Catalysts++ | India's 1st Multi-Stage VC, 9Unicorns, Anuj Golecha, Anil G Jain, Gaurav Jain, Vansh Oberoi, Sidhi Dalmia, Shreeyesh Chandgothia #VentureCatalysts #AngelInvestor #VC #IndianStartups #StartupFunding #SyndicateFund #FamilyOffices #IndianStartups #ESGInvesting https://lnkd.in/de65Wk9p

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⏩ ⏩ Antler is coming to Mumbai: October 25, Friday Announcing the 24-hour Fastrack to the Antler India Residency for AI founders on the sidelines of the NVIDIA summit in Mumbai The Why and What? In line with our commitment to investing $10M in 20+ startups by the end of the year, we are doing a fast-track option to bring exceptional founders (individuals or teams) into the Antler India Residency within 24 hours of us meeting you, with the potential of investing in 4 weeks or less. The Who? We are living through a generation-defining technology wave. With the unprecedented pace of AI breakthroughs changing consumer behaviours and disrupting a wide range of industries; here are some of the themes we’re particularly excited about: * Vertical SaaS, especially in industries with low digitization * Agentic automation for complex workflows in industries such as BFSI and Healthcare * Modern AI stack such as testing and monitoring of AI models, model security, retrieval infra, agent infra, specialized small language models and edge AI * Developer productivity in SDLC using AI * Models for new ‘languages’ such as robotics, genetics and material science * Differentiated consumer plays in education, health, media, gaming and personal AI hardware * Startups ‘selling outcomes, not software’ Over the past two months, via Fastrack, we have met over 150 founders and accelerated 13 of them into Residency. We have some exciting new investments from this to be announced soon! The Perks: Antler is the best place to start your company. Besides the capital commitment of up to $500K, we are uniquely positioned to help companies ‘build from India for the world’. Visit us to learn how we support our companies from inception to scale. We also provide a host of perks; some relevant ones for AI founders include up to $25K AWS credits, up to $250K GCP credits, $150K worth of perks from Microsoft, preferred pricing from NVIDIA, $100K of cloud solution credits from OVHcloud and $3K credits from OpenAI and Anthropic. The How? Send us your working demo link on the form in the first comment. Bonus: To strengthen your chances, you can also get someone in our network to refer you to me or any of our team members over email with a strong, specific, warm intro All shortlisted founders will get a direct slot with Antler India on Oct 25 to meet us IRL in Mumbai. The location will be conveniently located just a few minutes from Jio World Convention Centre incase you are attending the NVIDIA summit. You will get a decision to get into the Antler India Residency (through which we commit up to $500k for each early-stage startup) over the weekend. The deadline for being referred or sending us your demo is Oct 21 With Nitin Sharma Gowri Shankar Nagarajan Ishavasyam Dash

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Announcing: Antler Fastrack to Residency - MUMBAI Edition (for founders in Mumbai / Pune / Ahmedabad / Surat) 2 weeks back we announced the first version of Fastrack to Residency through a warm intro to stay true to our promise on delivering faster to the most exceptional founders in Bangalore! We had an overwhelming response of 250+ warm referrals from other VCs, operators, serial founders and were introduced to a vibrant bunch of founders building across bath fittings, offline senior care clubs to CBDCs powered international payments. Of this, we met with 22 founders (and have 30+ we are speaking to virtually given limitation of slots) and offered the residency to 5 teams and individuals within 48 hours! Seeing such a promising response from the ecosystem, we are now coming to Mumbai and hope to see an even bigger outcome! If you are an exceptional founder (individual or team) that’s just starting up, Nitin Sharma & I will spend a full day in Bombay on the 27th of August to talk to you! The only twist - you need to reach us through someone who knows you - and knows us too! Why are we doing this - we announced last month that we are investing $500k in 20 companies (amounting to $10Mn). This is our endeavor to deliver faster and bigger on this promise! What we promise - is a decision into the Residency within 24 hours of us meeting you. Here’s how it will work - (1) Find someone in our networks (cue: some of them would have shared this post on their LinkedIn / Twitter) or would have engaged with us in the past. (2) Show us you are super resourceful :) Ask them to email us / tweet to us / message us on LI / Whatsapp us - any of the Antler team members that they know (there’s 18 of us!) - to give a warm intro to you. Convince them to write a good line or two :)  (3) All shortlisted individuals and teams will get a direct slot with Antler India on Aug 27th meet us IRL in Mumbai. (If you are not shortlisted post the above process, you will hear from us by Aug 24th) (4) You will get a decision to get into the Antler India Residency by Aug 28th Please note that the last date for being referred to this is 21st of August. Do refer great folks our way! Next on the list - NCR in September!

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🔥Chirag Gupta , Managing Partner at🔥 8X Ventures 🚀🚀8X Ventures Announces First Close of INR 200 Cr DeepTech Fund🚀🚀 🔥🔥8X Ventures, a company that invests in early-stage startups, has announced the first closing of its new INR 200 crore deeptech fund with an option to increase by another INR 100 crore🔥🔥 🌟Fueling Innovation: 8X Ventures’ INR 200 crore deeptech fund exemplifies their commitment to fueling cutting-edge innovation, supporting the growth of transformative technologies. 🌟Empowering Pioneers: This substantial fund empowers early-stage startups to pioneer groundbreaking solutions, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in deeptech. 🌟Driving Technological Advancement: With the first close of their deeptech fund, 8X Ventures is set to drive significant technological advancements that can revolutionize industries. 🌟Inspiring Bold Ideas: The fund's launch inspires entrepreneurs to pursue bold, innovative ideas, knowing they have strong financial backing and support. 🌟Building the Future: 8X Ventures is committed to building a future where deeptech innovations solve complex challenges and improve lives. 🌟Championing Early-Stage Startups: By focusing on early-stage startups, 8X Ventures champions the next generation of deeptech leaders and innovators. 🌟Catalyzing Growth: The deeptech fund serves as a catalyst for growth, providing the necessary resources for startups to scale and succeed. 🌟Expanding Possibilities: The option to increase the fund by another INR 100 crore showcases 8X Ventures' dedication to expanding possibilities and supporting even more groundbreaking projects. 🌟Encouraging Breakthroughs: This initiative encourages startups to strive for breakthroughs that can have a profound impact on technology and society. 🌟Commitment to Excellence: 8X Ventures’ launch of the deeptech fund reflects their unwavering commitment to excellence and their belief in the transformative power of technology. ✅️Share Your Startup Story 🚀📲 https://lnkd.in/ggir3Qap ✅️visite our website🌐 https://lnkd.in/dad4nH #CommitToExcellence #EncourageBreakthroughs #ExpandPossibilities #CatalyzeGrowth #ChampionStartups #BuildTheFuture #InspireBoldIdeas #DriveAdvancement #EmpowerPioneers #FuelingInnovation #scoopearth

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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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The BPC industry’s growth rate in India > the growth rate in the UK + USA + Germany combined!! It’s a massive segment but, it’s getting nuanced and competitive…. 6-7 years ago, if you told me that a customer in a tier 3 city of India would know what niacinamide or hyaluronic acid is - I’d be shocked. That’s the reality today. This industry has matured more in the last decade than in the previous 60 years since independence!  With a higher degree of consumer awareness than ever and 3000+ brands, India’s BPC market will be worth over $30 Bn by 2027! 💄 This is greater than the GDP of the entire country of Mauritius 🔥 In this market - E-commerce has been the driver of growth. It has worked because of the nature of the product - low volume, high value and strong gross margin (>80%). Sales via online will dominate growth and account 1/3rd of the entire segment. I’ve said this 10s of time now - market is getting more and more competitive. A cookie cutter approach and creating something for ‘everyone’ won’t work. Winner products will now be built in niches and micro markets. Think about this: 🛒 Gen Z face acne issues & prefer affordable & result-driven products 🛒 Millennials want products with long-term efficiency 🛒 Gen X and Boomers with wrinkles & fine lines look for simpler solutions This diversity opens doors for brands to innovate and disrupt by offering specialized value! As disruptive digital native brands have emerged we’ve seen the traditional BPC players also evolve. They’ve become savvy with social media, have in-house D2C teams and even develop e-commerce marketplace exclusive SKUs! As with most spaces in India - the growth will be driven from Bharat going forward. Last year during Nykaa’s Pink Friday Sale, 57% of sales were generated from tier 2 and 3 cities! What does the future look like? My predictions: ✅Growth will continue to be rapid  ✅Winner products will be more ‘Indianized’ in terms of size, pricing and offering as Bharat will dominate growth  ✅100 Cr+ brands will be built in micro niches that you haven’t even heard of yet  ✅Customers will become more fussy  What still remains a question for me is, will Indian brands go global? 🌍 What do you think? Any other BPC trends I’ve missed? #india #beautyandpersonalcare #fmcg #brands #startup

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Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) is on the rise globally, with India hosting over 150 CVCs. This trend reflects corporations' recognition of the innovation startups bring and their desire to stay competitive. By investing in startups, corporations gain access to innovation, value-adding technologies, and financial incentives. CVCs play strategic roles by investing in startups within their industries, offering benefits like industry networks and expertise, while also providing general support such as access to experienced professionals and relaxed return expectations. The significance of corporates investing in the startup ecosystem is continually growing globally, with many Southeast Asian corporations turning their attention to South Asia, particularly India. Read More Here: https://bit.ly/4a8vsTJ #Restaurants #Hospitality #Technology #Business #Innovation #AI #investing #venturecapital Branded Hospitality Ventures Noah Stern

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Why This Indian Diaspora Investor Believes in India’s Rise ✨ Sailesh Ramakrishnan is the Managing Partner at Rocketship.vc. A global VC fund notable for data-driven investment approach. Previously, he co-founded LocBox (acquired by Square) and helped build Kosmix (acquired by Walmart). Sailesh co-founded Walmart Labs with Anand Rajaraman & Venky Harinarayan In our conversation, Sailesh shared: → What shaped him the most growing up? → The motivations behind his move to the U.S → His journey into the tech world → Love for NASA → His journey at Kosmix & LocBox → How Rocketship.vc invests → His excitement about India → One edge India has over others & much more! Listen now 👇🏼 Youtube: https://bit.ly/3ASp9It Spotify: https://bit.ly/4fEwU3J 🌟 Here are my top takeaways from the conversation with Shailesh 1. Environment Shapes Us 🌱 Growing up in a family that valued education and curiosity instilled a drive to always seek understanding beyond the immediate. Your surroundings can inspire greatness if they encourage learning and ambition. 2. Passion for AI from Day One 🤖 AI isn't just about technology – it's about understanding human intelligence. The guest’s journey into AI began with a simple question: How do we define intelligence? Starting with a basic rule-based system, this curiosity led to a lifelong career in AI and robotics. 3. Building Innovative Companies in India’s Ecosystem 🇮🇳 Working at NASA, founding startups, and launching Rocketship Ventures showed him that India has world-class talent and untapped potential. Today, India's startup scene is thriving with opportunities across sectors like AI, fintech, space, and even agriculture. 4. A Data-Driven Approach to Investing 📊 Traditional investing requires startups to pitch to VCs. But Rocketship.vc flips the model, using data to identify high-potential startups globally and reaching out to them. Imagine finding the next big company before it finds you! 5. Why India is Poised for a Massive Leap 📈 With an incredibly young population and the second-largest internet user base, India’s digital transformation is in full swing. The guest predicts an “explosion of innovation” in India, with world-class companies emerging across various sectors. 6. Advice to the Indian Diaspora 🌏 For those in the Indian diaspora looking to make an impact: Get involved! Whether through mentorship, investment, or advisory roles, there are endless ways to give back to India's tech and startup ecosystem. What are your thoughts on India’s tech potential? #indiandiasporas

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Eternal source of confusion in India SaaS. Terms like SMB, mid-market and enterprise are used pretty casually. Putting out a version here and inviting opinions from founders & investors on how they see the breakpoints between segments. US: SMB (upto $250mm in annual revenue), mid-market/commercial ($250mm-$1B), enterprise ($1B+). India: S (upto 10cr), MB (upto 250cr/$30mm in annual revenue), mid-market (250cr-1000cr, upto $150mm), enterprise (1000cr+/$150mm+) (note the breakpoints between segments are much lower in India and not comparable to the US)

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WeWork Global files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. WeWork India has been PROFITABLE from day one. Curious about their secret to success? The Core Strategy -Lease commercial buildings -Transform them into attractive workspaces -Rent them out at a premium per seat -Focus on customer experience Why WeWork Global Failed -Misalignment: It was marketed as a tech company but operates fundamentally as real estate. -Unsustainable Growth: Pursued exponential growth without sufficient market demand. Key to WeWork India's Success 1. Strategic Joint Ventures : Partnered with real estate giants like Prestige and DLF, minimizing direct property ownership. 2. Focused Market Positioning : Targets "flexible workspaces for growing businesses" instead of freelancers. 3. Premium Pricing Model : High short-term prices encourage long-term commitments. 4. Targeting High-Paying Clients : Focuses on established companies over startups. 5. Selective Market Penetration : Concentrated efforts on metro cities, avoiding low-demand areas. WeWork India's success lies in understanding -its core business, -strategic partnerships, -targeted market approach, …..in contrast to the global strategy that led to WeWork Global's downfall. How has been your experience at Indian WeWork offices? Post inspiration: Growth X #startups #failed #India #wework

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⭐Bringing India’s Top Startups to Our Investor Network I’m always looking at how we can bring new offerings to our investor network at Thim Ventures. I’ve been excited about the potential of Indian startup ecosystem, and how we can connect our investor community to some of its most exciting growth stories. If you’re from India, chances are you’ve heard of BluSmart—a true success story in the EV ride-hailing space. Alongside Vishal, I enjoyed having lunch with founders of Blusmart Punit & Ankur, learning about their extraordinary journey from inception to now scaling into India and South Asia's largest EV ride-hailing service 🤯 Here are just a few of their impressive milestones: - 🚀 Reached $80mn ARR! - 🌱 Current fleet size of 8,000 EVs - 🚖 EV fleet has completed an estimated 19 million trips covering 610 million kms    Vishal and I will be hosting an investor call that brings forward some of the most exciting growth stage (Series B) companies from India and Middle East. Looking forward to having Blusmart present as they look to close out their Series B round. We’ll be hosting the investor call tomorrow late afternoon. If you’re an investor interested to join, reach out and I can share more details. #investor #india #dubai #startups #growthstage #investment #fundraising

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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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Hyperledger India Chapter also looking for Jury members for this hackathon. Please recommend Blockchain leaders you would like to see as a Jury #blockchain #hyperledger #jury #hackathon Hyperledger Foundation Prasanna Lohar Ajay Jadhav Sharat Chandra Ritu Marya Ritu Verma Som Roy Siddharth Durbha Rajesh Dhuddu

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Being a venture capitalist means being constantly on the move — whether it’s meeting founders in Bangalore, catching up with peers in Mumbai, or exploring new opportunities in Delhi or Varanasi. This week has been one of back-to-back travels, but it’s the kind of busy that feels deeply rewarding at the end. Travel, for me, is more than just logistics and commute; it’s about connecting with leaders shaping businesses for today and tomorrow. From uncovering trends and insights to meeting people whose stories inspire, being on the road keeps me tuned into the pulse of real innovation. Here's looking ahead to more journeys and the adventures they bring forth.

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𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐄𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 $7𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭! 🎉 🚀 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 Noida-based prop-tech startup HouseEazy has successfully raised $7 million in a Series-A funding round led by Chiratae Ventures, with participation from Alteria Capital and existing investor Antler. This round, a mix of equity and debt, will propel HouseEazy’s growth across new geographies, particularly in tier 1 cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. 🌟 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 HouseEazy is on a mission to disrupt the $90 billion secondary real estate market, which has long been plagued by pricing uncertainty, timeline delays, and fragmented inventory. With its full-stack marketplace, HouseEazy offers real-time price quotes to sellers using a proprietary machine-learning algorithm, streamlining transactions and eliminating the need for multiple negotiations. For buyers, the platform provides exclusive access to refurbished inventory, enhanced by AR/VR tools such as 3D walkthroughs and virtual staging. 📈 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 Since its seed financing in December 2023, HouseEazy has achieved a GMV ARR of ₹425 crore and is on track to hit ₹1,800 crore GMV ARR within the next 15-18 months from the NCR market alone. Co-founder Deepak Bhatia envisions HouseEazy growing to surpass many pan-India developers, given the secondary market's size—twice that of the primary market—and its untapped potential. 🛠️ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 HouseEazy is not just a marketplace but a complete solution for resale customers. In addition to buying and selling, the platform offers mortgage, legal, and registry facilitation services, making it a one-stop shop for all resale real estate needs. 👏 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝑬𝒂𝒛𝒚! KwikFundz is excited to witness HouseEazy's innovative strides in the real estate market. Wishing the entire HouseEazy team continued success as they scale new heights and reshape the future of resale real estate in India! 🏠🚀 #Startups #InvestmentNews #StartupIndia

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The buzz around startup IPOs in India is palpable, and as I write this, Ixigo’s IPO subscription is open—the third after GoDigit and Awfis in the last four weeks. Why is listing particularly relevant for startups now, and why is everyone talking about it? The Indian startup ecosystem boomed around a decade ago, and many of those companies are now ready to take the next obvious step: going public. Listing on the stock market demonstrates a level of independence and commitment that is often unachievable as a private entity. Hence, most founders aspire to list one day. The current momentum in the Indian IPO ecosystem has only reassured founders of this confidence. There is even a compelling case for companies wanting to reverse flip and list in India to capture the momentum of strong domestic investor interest. In the next 18-24 months, over 20 startups are planning to go public, with many more evaluating their options. A prevailing challenge is the lack of an established IPO playbook for new-age companies that do not have traditional asset-backed balance sheets and profitable track records. These startups challenge the regulator’s well-established metrics for gauging financial health. Founders also face decisions about selecting the correct jurisdiction and are unclear about the post-listing obligations that apply given their diluted shareholding. In this article, I will cover common concerns faced by all stakeholders as startups move through the IPO process and provide insights to help new-age startups navigate the complexities of going public. Venture Highway | Neeraj | Priya | Rahul | Aakanksha | Parth | Akul | Abishek | Siddhi | Siddhant | Ajoy | Nipun

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A few VCs with large seed cheques often view 'Capital' as a moat. And for good or bad, in many cases it does play out that way. In any large market, there are multiple high caliber founders trying to solve similar problems - some in different while some in similar ways. In such a scenario, the team that gets early access to larger capital has a natural advantage to strengthen and build a real moat. A founder from our portfolio company nicely put it- he can't afford to be the only rationale player in an irrational market.

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As the foreign venture capital world shifts and changes, to me it is evident that the next generation of Indian companies are going to be built with the support of Indian capital. The emergence of strong domestic brands in the VC space is a great start. And most of them (including Rukam) have raised capital from Indian institutions and family offices. The focus of Indian family offices too towards investing in startups is a step in the right direction. No country in the world has or can build a large startup ecosystem without domestic capital. As someone rooted in the Indian milieu it is of course significantly easier to understand the risks and the opportunities of building in India. There aren’t inflated business plans because it’s pretty evident to anyone who has lived most of their lives here that these just won’t fly no matter what. Domestic VCs have a great opportunity to build an ecosystem that showcases the best-in-class way of doing business. The emergence of domestic VC brands is a good sign of the robustness of our ecosystem. The next step is to make deeper pools of LP capital available as well as other enabling policies to domestic VCs so that this gets bigger and bigger. The more risk capital available to our founders, the bigger the pie becomes for everyone. #rukamfounders #riseofdomestocvcs #domesticcapital

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