Vishal Lunia

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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Startup Central | Investors cheer Budget move What could be the impact of the scrapping of angel tax? Mitul Mehta, Blume Ventures and Siddarth Pai, 3One4 decode the slew of decisions to aid startups in the Budget Avanne Dubash Mitul Mehta Siddarth Pai

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The next decade is indeed the moment for ‘The Great Indian Consumer’. We at Fireside are amazed by the insights and learnings from the consumer behaviour of the new Indian consumer. Building Brands and proposition for the Micro segment will the big theme in the next decade …from teens to GenZ to Seniors to an aspiring consumer to an affluent consumer across the length and breadth of the country there are countless white spaces. JUST BUILD GREAT PRODUCTS !! Any founder building for the next decade should just worry about building a great product and brand for a micro segment of consumer who would love you !! Don’t worry about TAM …The TAM will find you !! Fireside Ventures #consumer #brands #startups #greatindianconsumer

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Alarming Trend: Nearly 2 out of 3 influencers have 60% fake Instagram followers 😯 A recent report by influencer marketing platform Klug Klug has revealed a concerning trend in India's influencer marketing industry. Nearly two out of three Instagram profiles in India have spurious or fake followers in excess of 60 percent. This issue is particularly prevalent in the beauty and fashion industry, where influencers resort to deceptive practices, potentially leading to significant financial losses for brands investing in influencer marketing campaigns. The report highlights that only 2.48 million profiles out of the eight million audited exhibited credible and high-quality followers. India is both the largest supplier and buyer of fake followers, with the cost of buying fake followers as low as Rs 8 to Rs 10 for 1,000 followers and going up to Rs 50 per 1,000 followers on Instagram. This alarming trend not only affects brands but also legitimate influencers who are in a race to amplify reach and get the attention of brands. Brands lose 30-50 percent of their money on every campaign due to fake followers, which results in poor engagement rates and complicates efforts to measure true impact and ROI. While fake followers are being bought by all types and sizes of influencers, a smaller fraction, who are larger influencers, also buy comments and likes, in what is known as engagement buying. This practice is more common among larger influencers who monetize their content and need to show higher engagement to brands. However, it's not just brands that face the side-effects of fake followers; some influencers, too, are losing opportunities. Brands are working with the top 500 creators, making it challenging for new creators to make space for themselves. Despite the menace of fake followers affecting the influencer industry, there are some red flags that brands and influencer marketing agencies have started to look out for, such as engagement rates and the number of views compared to the number of followers. As brands and agencies, it's crucial to work together to ensure a transparent and trustworthy influencer marketing landscape. By identifying and partnering with truly influential content creators, we can reduce the prevalence of fake followers in the industry and create meaningful partnerships that yield genuine engagement and ROI. Do share your thoughts on how sports and athlete partnerships can defy the trend of fake followers, bringing authenticity and increasing trust for brands in influencer marketing. #influencermarketing #socialmedia #fakefollowers #brands #influencers

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I am thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the Thirteenth episode of Behind the Business. Join as we delve into the inspiring journey of Clueso (YC W23) and gain valuable insights into the world of startups. Desklamp, started in 2020 by Neel Balar, Akash Anand, and Prajwal Prakash, initially helped students and researchers make better notes and documents. Despite getting 40,000 users, they struggled to make money because users didn't want to pay. So, they started Clueso. Clueso (YC W23) helps companies create documentation and product videos because they realized that explaining software is crucial for people to use it. By making it easier to create articles, documents, and tutorials, Clueso helps businesses talk to their customers better. To build a great product, Communication is super important for Entrepreneurs. Their journey shows how tough it is to start a business and how you have to change when the market does. They learned a lot from programs like Y Combinator, which taught them to focus on making a good business and keeping customers happy. The co-founders met at IIT Madras and their shared dreams and different skills helped them start their own business. As they keep going in the startup world, they stay true to their values of good communication, caring about customers, and being ready to change. Podcast Link: https://lnkd.in/gvhH4_b8 Vakada Rohit

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🚨Nykaa’s early backer Sharrp joins Purplle.com’s $180 mn funding round 1️⃣Omnichannel beauty platform Purplle has completed a Rs 1,500 crore ($180 million) funding round led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, or ADIA. Sharrp Ventures, the family office of Marico’s promoters, Mariwalas, joined the round as a new investor, along with existing backers Wipro founders PremjiInvest and Blume Ventures.  2️⃣ Sharrp Ventures is also an early investor in Nykaa, Purplle’s larger rival, listed on the stock exchange in 2021. Sharrp’s Rishabh Mariwala had invested in Nykaa in 2015, valued below $80 million. Mariwala held about a 1.5% stake before the IPO and sold a large chunk of the offer for sale. 3️⃣Sharrp Ventures has invested in several other consumer brands and e-commerce companies, such as Mamaearth owner Honasa Consumer and Firstcry. #Purplle #SharrpVentures #Nykaa #investment Article link in comments 👇

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Thinking about cracking open a cold one with the boys this weekend? Bira 91 will be everywhere you check given their recent funding. Read all about it only in my new article at Entrepreneur India. Follow and connect with me for related news and updates in the industry. #News #Bira91 #Update #AdityaPranMahanta #CraftBeer #SeriesD #FundingNews #BeerBusiness #InvestmentUpdate #RetailExpansion #BreweryLife #BeerIndustry #Entrepreneurship

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Diving deep into 'The Financial Aspects of Investment and Acquisition in Startups' at AIC RAISE! Moderated by Arun Raaj Manickaraj (AVP - AIC RAISE), the discussion featured expert insights from Bobby Achettu, Naveen Krishnamurthy, and CA Gopalakrishna Mahesh (Director - Financial Crest). Their deep insights into finance, investment, and acquisition strategies are a treasure trove for every entrepreneur. Swipe to catch a few glimpses from the event. #SikichIndia #Sikich #AICRAISE #Finance #Investment #Acquisition #PanelDiscussion #StartupEcosystem #ExpertInsights

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Are you a startup founder in India? Don’t miss this simple guide on ESOPs that could transform the way you think about employee ownership and retention! Our latest blog, "ESOPs Made Easy: A Simple Legal Guide for Startups in India," is here to help. We've broken down the key legal requirements every startup in India should know—no legal jargon, just actionable insights. What you’ll learn: 1.Key regulations under the Companies Act, SEBI, and Income Tax Act 2.Compliance essentials for foreign employees under FEMA 3.Practical tips on communicating ESOPs to employees Don’t let legal complexities hold you back from building an engaged and motivated team. 📈 🔗 Read the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/g9vkNnUC Let’s make ESOPs easy for your startup and set the foundation for long-term growth! #ESOP #Startups #EmployeeEngagement #LegalCompliance #IndianStartups #EmployeeOwnership #BusinessGrowth

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Founder Thesis with Apoorva Sharma: Unravelling Venture Debt! 🎙️ Join our Managing Partner in this episode as she delves into the nuances of venture debt in India, leveraging her extensive experience. Discover how our approach transcends traditional financing, offering innovative financial support to startups in various growth phases and sectors. Venture debt emerges as a game-changer, offering founder-friendly finance strategies that drive growth and innovation. 💡 Dive into the Indian startup ecosystem’s financial landscape and arm your entrepreneurship journey with advanced financial and growth strategies. 🔊 Listen now on Spotify! https://lnkd.in/gi657iqH 🎙️ Akshay Datt #VentureDebt #StartupFinance #GrowthStrategy #PodcastLaunch #IndustryInsights

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#Startups and #investors, here’s an incredible growth hack you can’t miss! Meet ARISTOBRAT, a thriving D2C menswear brand founded by the brilliant Karan Singh. With a staggering 100% YoY growth, over 200,000 customers, and an impressive 40%+ repeat purchase rate, AristoBrat is rewriting the playbook for success. But here’s the real genius move: At a time when most startups rush to #Angels or venture capital( #vc) for funding, Karan did something extraordinary. Instead of diluting equity, he leveraged an innovative funding strategy. He approached a private finance fund and proposed this: 1️⃣ The fund buys inventory directly from his suppliers. 2️⃣ Karan purchases that inventory back from the fund with a 10% margin, repaying them within six months. The result? No cash flow worries. No equity dilution. Pure growth. This game-changing approach shows how creativity and financial savviness can fuel a startup’s success. Entrepreneurs, take notes! What are your thoughts on this strategy? Have you come across similar funding hacks? Let’s discuss in the comments! #growthhack #investment #privatefund #startupstory

Just before Navratri, we've hit an incredible milestone: 80,000 new organic users in just 15 days! That brings us to over 28,000 registered accounts on Mepass.in and our app. 🚀 This surge in growth puts us on track to become a leading ticketing platform in India, and it's all thanks to the amazing Mepass team and the love we're receiving from users all over the country. 🇮🇳 We've already grown 2.5X from last year, and this is just the beginning! We're building something special here, and this incredible organic growth is a testament to the power of our platform and the dedication of our team. 💪 Here's a snapshot of our recent achievements: 80,000+ new organic users in 15 days 28,000+ registered accounts 2.5X growth year-over-year Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to revolutionize the ticketing industry! Thanks to Ratnesh singh Solanki, Alpesh Sukhwal , Vineet Vinayak Singh. BSP Technologies #mepass #ticketingplatform #organicgrowth #navratri #india #eventticketing #growth

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The Indian sports sponsorship landscape has witnessed a remarkable growth trajectory over the years, with 2022 and 2023 being particularly notable. According to the GroupM ESP Sporting Nation Report 2024, the industry saw a significant surge in sponsorship spending. In 2022, the total sports sponsorship spending surpassed Rs 14,000 crore, marking a substantial increase from the previous year. This growth was propelled by a 105% rise in on-ground, team, and franchise sponsorship, which collectively amounted to Rs 5,907 crore. The following year, 2023, continued this upward trend with the industry recording a revenue of Rs 15,766 crore, approximately $1.9 billion, which is an 11% increase from 2022. Cricket continued to dominate the sponsorship scene, contributing 87% of the total spending in 2023, which equates to Rs 13,701 crore. This represents a 13% growth from the 2022 figures. However, it wasn't just cricket that contributed to these numbers. Emerging sports also gained traction, accounting for 21% of the total sponsorship share, reaching Rs 1528 crore. The year-on-year growth in sponsorship spending was a robust 24%, largely driven by an increase in franchise fees, contributing nearly Rs 1,000 crore within a single year. These numbers highlight the growing potential of India's sports industry. It's becoming important not only within the country but also as a major contributor to the world of sports. The report suggests that this growth is not only a result of the expanding commercialization but also due to the industry's increasing influence globally. With technological advancements and a packed calendar of local and international events, the industry offers ample opportunities for marketers to leverage sports for brand building and consumer engagement. The GroupM ESP Sporting Nation Report 2024 provides invaluable insights into the business drivers and causative factors behind these trends, painting a clear picture of the future of sports sponsorship in India. Checkout the detailed report available here: https://lnkd.in/d9G7_UDE #sportsindustry #indiansports #sportssponsorship #sportsworld #globalsports #sportingnation #sportsbusiness #sportsfinance #sportsmanagement

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Hosting an exciting conversation on fundraising 💴 for all the VC fellows led by none other than Nikhil Gupta - Director, Strategy and Alliances at Marwari Catalysts a marquee name in Venture Capital ecosystem. Dear Fellows, please block your calendars for 26th April | 7 PM Onwards. This is an exclusive session open only for the founding fellows. Incase you wish to avail such sessions, check out the first link in the comments. #venturefunding #fundraising #thevcfellowship

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Dipanjan Basu, co-founder and partner, Fireside Ventures, spoke to LiveMint's Priyamvada C about the maturing of Indian startups, and how across the board, startups are focusing on growing in a sustainable manner. Here are our takeaways. #growth #startups #consumerbrands #d2c #FiresideIgnite

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From Startups to Unicorns: The Role of Venture Debt in Scaling Businesses. Chetan Prakash Sancheti of Anicut Capital LLP and Sonal Rangnekar of Desai & Diwanji explores, venture debt is no longer a niche option—it’s a critical tool for scaling startups and achieving operational excellence. Delve into how it complements venture equity and supports business growth through innovative funding models. #startup #unicorn #venturedebt #funding

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🚀 Venture Studios: The Perfect Bet for Celebrities & Athletes! 🎯 For celebrities, athletes, and first-time exit entrepreneurs, venture studios offer a de-risked, hands-off way to invest in startups while leveraging personal brands for success. 🌱 From portfolio diversification to strategic involvement, it’s the future of smart investments in India! Know More : www.oc8ane.com #OC8ANE #Startup2grow #StartupSpirit #Startups #StartupIndia #VentureStudios #AngelInvesting #CelebInvestors #SmartInvesting #Entrepreneurship

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