Aprameya Radhakrishna

Thanks Bismah and Inc42 Media for the insightful coverage and deep dive into the vital role of operator VCs! Bismah's thoughtful analysis underscores the growing need for operator VCs in today's startup landscape. As an operator VC , I've witnessed firsthand how founders increasingly value more than just capital. They seek partners who bring operational expertise, strategic guidance, and an extensive network to the table. These elements are crucial for driving sustainable growth and navigating the complexities of scaling a business. At GrowthCap Ventures , we understand the unique challenges faced by early-stage startups, which is why we prioritize offering not just funding, but also hands-on support and access to our extensive network. Together, we're empowering founders to realize their vision and build transformative businesses. #OperatorVC #StartupEcosystem #Gratitude

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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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From a humble 4x4 Garage to making NATIONAL headlines, these four tier-2 cities individuals are rewriting the rules of personal mobility🔥. Quick story: Meet Rajib Gangopadhyay, Kunal Gupta, Aditya Oza and Sumedh Battewar, the dynamic brains behind EMotorad. EMotorad is setting new benchmarks in innovation and sustainability. As this startup prepared to inaugurate its megafactory in August, anticipation is at an all-time high. This megafactory…….    -5,00,000 e-cycles production capacity     -spans over 240,000 square feet    -300 plus employees to work As EMotorad continues to push boundaries and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs,       …. they are not just building a factory; they are shaping the future of personal mobility🔥. P.S : It's amazing to partner with EMotorad on their journey towards a greener, more sustainable future :)  Source: TOI and BusinessToday #startups #founders #ebike #sustainable #personalmobility MS Dhoni

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#Startup Stories Episode -3😊 Zepto: A Champion of Swift Deliveries Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has become a household name in India synonymous with ultrafast grocery delivery. Their mission: deliver essential groceries within a remarkable 10-minute window. From Dorm Room to Dark Stores Zepto's story began in a humble dorm room at Stanford University. Palicha and Vohra, armed with an innovative idea and a deep understanding of customer needs, embarked on a journey to revolutionize grocery delivery in India. The key to their success lies in a network of strategically positioned micro-warehouses, also known as "dark stores." These strategically located hubs house a carefully curated selection of everyday essentials, enabling Zepto to fulfill orders at breakneck speed. Customer Centricity at its Core Zepto's unwavering focus on customer convenience has been a cornerstone of their success. By prioritizing rapid delivery times, they address a critical pain point for busy urban consumers. This commitment to customer satisfaction has propelled Zepto to achieve unicorn status in a record-breaking timeframe, raising over $1.3 billion in funding within a year of inception. A Beacon for Indian Startups Zepto's meteoric rise serves as a powerful testament to the potential of Indian startups to disrupt established industries on a global scale. Their innovative approach and ability to secure significant funding paves the way for other Indian entrepreneurs to chase ambitious dreams and conquer international markets. Bootstrapping Innovation While Zepto eventually secured funding, their initial growth was primarily fueled by their own revenue, demonstrating the feasibility of organic growth for startups in the Indian market. This bootstrapping approach is particularly inspiring for aspiring entrepreneurs with limited access to external capital. A Quote to Inspire "The challenges you face are not roadblocks, but stepping stones to greater success." - Aadit Palicha, Co-founder, Zepto Zepto's story serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. It's a powerful reminder that with a clear vision, a relentless focus on customer needs, and a commitment to innovation, even the most audacious goals can be achieved.

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Investing in Aaiena has been immensely rewarding. Their innovative use of AI in fashion technology aligns perfectly with our mission to support transformative solutions. Aaiena's team's dedication, expertise, and clear vision have resulted in impressive growth and market impact. We are proud to back a venture that is redefining the fashion industry, and we eagerly anticipate their continued success and contributions to a technologically advanced fashion future. Unnati Ventures India Raj Gaurav Sakshi Chhapolia Aaiena #investment #fundraise #funding #fundingalert #investmentnews #startupindia #startupnews #investor #familyoffice #angelinvestor #venturecapital #india #investmentgrowth

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India is the Third largest startup ecosystem in the world and second best in terms of Innovation. Hear the industry experts and their views on Indian startups in Global Senario.

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Key takeaways for startup ecosystem from Budget: - LTCG tax for unlisted investments has been reduced to 12.5% (without indexation) from 20% (with indexation) - At par with listed - Abolishment of Angel Tax - INR 1000 cr VC fund for space technology - Custom duty cuts will further enhance EV adoption Big boost to startup ecosystem, we will see more startups registering in India and more domestic capital participation in Private Markets🚀 #Budget #PrivateMarkets #India #Startup

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100X Angel Investing can be mastered. GSF initiated 77 new angels to Indian startup ecosystem. Many have now built startup portfolios of a few investments each. We found 3 main reasons for the fear of angel investing 1) Do not know how and where to start from and build a portfolio. 2) Do not have deal flow. 3) Its risky and can wipe out my capital. We have designed a program “ GSF SuperAngels Academy” that addresses these three key issues: 1) Program helps you start with a measured and nuanced capital allocation strategy towards angel investing. 2) GSF helps you build deep networks to access quality deal flow and collaborate with people in the know. 3) Program helps you understand the risks and build a portfolio that de-risks your investments in the long term. At the core of this program is our belief that community matters. Our 40 SuperAngels friends unlock the secret of their success over 8 weeks of this unique program and lifelong networks that help you immensely. GSF SuperAngels Academy 3rd Edition 🚀 🔥: Learn more about the program and submit your application: www.gsfsuperangels.com Tej Kapoor Apurva Chamaria Dinesh Gulati Ashish Toshniwal Ashim Jolly Murugavel Janakiraman Zishaan Hayath Arjun Vaidya Kunal Khattar Manish Vij Hiro Mashita Alok Mittal Alok Goyal Madhur Deep Miten Sampat Amit Singal Prof. Peter Kabel Amarjit Singh Batra Farooq Adam Shalini Prakash Nitish Mittersain Dinesh Agarwal Rajiv Dadlani Dr Ritesh Malik Amit Ranjan Aakrit Vaish Niyaz Laiq Roma Priya Rohit Sharma Bhargavi V. Brij Singh Pratik Poddar Arun Venkatachalam Nirmal Shah

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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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⚡Electrifying India's Roads: Venture Catalysts Sparks $1M Investment in Bluwheelz! 🚚⚡ Venture Catalysts, a leading player in the investment landscape, is proud to announce its latest milestone in the electric vehicle (#EV) sector. We've led a groundbreaking $1 million bridge funding round for BluWheelz, an innovative EV startup revolutionizing the tech-based delivery sector in India. With this investment, we're fueling BluWheelz's mission to electrify India's transport sector and enhance cost-efficiency and delivery speed for industries like e-commerce, quick commerce, and food tech. Joining us in this journey are esteemed partners Faad Network Pvt. Ltd, LetsVenture, and Chakra Growth Fund, underscoring the collective belief in BluWheelz's potential. BluWheelz, co-founded by industry veterans Sanjiv Gupta and C P Sethi, has already made significant strides with a fleet of over 1,200 vehicles and partnerships with top vehicle OEMs like Volvo Eicher Commerical Vehical Limited and Tata Motors As India's EV market continues to surge, BluWheelz is poised to lead the charge, tapping into a market projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030. Congratulations to the entire BluWheelz team on this remarkable achievement! Venture Catalysts++ | India's 1st Multi-Stage VC, 9Unicorns, Anuj Golecha, Anil G Jain, Gaurav Jain, Vansh Oberoi, Shruti Arya  #VentureCatalysts #AngelInvestor #VC #IndianStartups #EVInvestment #ElectricVehicles #IndiaInnovation #Sustainability #FutureofTransport #GreenTech #StartupFunding #TechDisruption

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Dive into the investment SECRETS to learn from Blume Ventures! Discover how this VC firm reimagined startup financing in India, backed 100+ transformative startups, and continues to empower revolutionary founders. From their unique evaluation criteria to the secrets behind their portfolio's success, there's a lot to learn! Read my full article on Medium to uncover their game-changing insights and actionable advice. Karthik B. Reddy | Sanjay Nath - After going through your story, you guys have become a whole another level of inspiration for me. Thank you so very much for starting Blume Ventures and revolutionizing the Indian VC landscape. #VentureCapital #StartupInvestment #BlumeVentures #IndianStartups #Entrepreneurship #InvestmentStrategies #VCInsights #TechInnovation #StartupSuccess #FounderEmpathy

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What really happens when India's per capita income goes from $2,500 to $4,000. Watch the breakdown 👇 In the latest episode of GrowthX Inner Circle, we host Aviral Bhatnagar (Founder, A Junior VC). Here’s what we dive deep into in this conversation: - Aviral's bet on India's $10 trillion future. - Categories that will grow in a decade. - Next-gen companies enroute to IPO. - The founder's dilemma to think big. - How a VC takes bets on founders. The full episode goes live at 7 PM tonight on the GrowthX® YT channel. The link is in the comments 💎

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【India Startup × Corporate Co-Creation Case ①: Softbank (PayPay) & Paytm】 Have you ever imagined that in 2023, a staggering 63 million registered users —60% of Japan's adult population— are using Paytm's technology under the name PayPay? At lease, most of Japanese use them everyday without knowing this fact. SoftBank and Yahoo Japan JV Launched “PayPay” in 2018, in Collaboration with India's Paytm and disrupted Japanese cash (bank notes and coins) culture, which was still the mainstream payment methodology, remaining at 80%.. This is an unprecedented example of reverse innovation, showcasing how Indian technology is making waves globally. Japan’s SoftBank has invested $11Bn in Indian startups from November 2018, through SoftBank Investment Advisers. This has been in renowned names such as Paytm, Delhivery, Lenskart, Meesho, PolicyBazaar, OfBusiness, and others. Moreover it has already recorded exits of about $6.2Bn over the past 5 years, with 4 IPOs (including Paytm) in 2023 itself and 3 new IPOs - Swiggy, FirstCry, and Ola, geared for 2024. One of its marquee investments was in Paytm with a cumulative investment of $1.4Bn in 2017. In a statement issued in early 2018, SoftBank also held a sizable stake in Yahoo! Japan, which ran its own Yahoo! Japan wallet even during 2018. However, at that time, the smartphone payment settlement service involved the user showing a barcode to the store staff, who then proceeded to scan the code, requiring a handheld barcode reader in the store. This is where SoftBank, which has been continuously leveraging its global late-stage tech investments, came in with a technological partnership with its portfolio company Paytm. The partnership with a portfolio company that SoftBank had been working with for some time, and knew from the inside out alleviated the risk it was bearing by relying on Paytm for the tech-stack. Together, the three companies developed PayPay, a payment platform which allowed users to scan QR codes in shops to make payments. The team which comprised of members from India, Japan, and Canada, launched the product in 3 months from the ideation to the launch! There is a common saying in India - ‘If you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere in the world’. This is because India’s roads are challenging and dynamic to say the least. Similarly, PayPay leveraged Paytm’s reliable digital and security infrastructure, which had been battle-tested in the challenging digital landscape of India. It showed how technology that can survive in India, can survive anywhere in the world! Continue to read from here: https://lnkd.in/gtnC95Rq #Softbank #PayPay #Paytm Alex Lin Akul Jindal, CFA Priya Mohan Hemant Agarwal ソフトバンクグループ PayPay株式会社 PayPay India Yahoo Mohannad El-Khairy Saya I. Tushar Agarwal Joshua Soo Benny Tjia Koshu K. Milan Thakkar Tanmay Deshpande

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Building a capital allocator in public, with Puneet Malik. Our thoughts on investing in plutos ONE. If you're starting your journey in #fintech, let's grab a coffee!

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𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 $𝟯.𝟲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻! Lessons from Zepto's Quick Commerce Takeover Young, Fast & Funded!  Meet Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya V., the Stanford dropouts who just took their hyper-fast delivery startup, Zepto, to a whopping $3.6 billion valuation After securing a monster $665 million investment!  But what can we learn from their meteoric rise? 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻)!  Zepto's secret weapon is its breakneck delivery times.  By focusing on strategically placed mini-warehouses ("dark stores") and a streamlined system, they're offering customers what they crave - groceries (and soon more!) delivered in under 10 minutes! 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟮: 𝗚𝗼 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲!  Zepto isn't just competing with other quick commerce players.  They're setting their sights on established giants by expanding beyond groceries and offering lightning-fast delivery on a wider range of products. 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟯: 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀! With 40% of their latest funding coming from new investors, Zepto's audacity is paying off.  Investors are clearly bullish on the future of quick commerce and the potential of this young, ambitious team. The Future of Shopping is Here! Zepto's success story is a sign of things to come. Get ready for a new era of super-fast delivery that's redefining how we shop! P.S. What do you think about the rise of quick commerce? Disruptor or fad? Share your thoughts in the comments! #QuickCommerce #Zepto #FundingFrenzy #BusinessLessons #shripalgandhi

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HSBC's recent assessment values Byju's at $0, along with other unicorn startups like Meesho, Pharmeasy, and StackOverflow Valuation down from previous round. This highlights the importance of focusing on value creation over valuation in the startup ecosystem. An exemplary case is Zoho, which revolutionized the software as a service market without external funding, emphasizing customer success. #startup #funding #valuation [Read more](https://lnkd.in/dPk7i8Jh)

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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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Raised $26,000,000 with just an idea Lyskraft India Pvt Ltd - the latest kid in the block! So, Mukesh Bansal is back with another startup this time with Mohit Gupta, the former CEO of Zomato's food delivery arm. In July of last year, there were reports about Bansal and Gupta raising funds for a new venture. As per TechCrunch, both of them pitched a range of ideas to potential backers like a female-focused counterpart to Manyavar and "Infosys 2.0" a presumed upgrade to a multinational IT services and consulting firm. Now finally... The news is out and we know what they are building, Lyskraft: initially a women's only marketplace for premium brands mostly focusing on Gen-Z shoppers. Recently we have seen giant e-commerce platforms launching dedicated portals to attract GenZ shoppers, like SPOYL launched by Flipkart within its app, FWD by Myntra, also we are seeing the growth of new-age startups working in this space like Virgio(Mukesh Bansal is an investor in it), Newme(recently raised $4,500,000), Absolute Brands, Snitch, Styched and many more As per Inc42's Report, India's fashion and apparel sector is projected to reach a mouth-watering $112 Billion by 2030, which will be over a quarter of the country's $400 Billion e-commerce market!! Let's be honest, anyone will want a piece of this market. As we are already aware of how crowded this space is, let's see how Lyskraft differentiates itself from others. Mohit Gupts and Mukesh Bansal, in this crowded space building a community around your product, building digital IPs, and creating experiences through videos are the ways to elevate your brand to the next level. I the founder of Elevate would love to connect and assist Lyskraft in building a community, digital IPs and help create experiences through videos, if that sounds like something that interests you would love to connect and discuss!! sources of information : TechCrunch article 2021 - https://bit.ly/49UwkLI Inc42 article - https://bit.ly/3w0SDlb #mukeshbansal #myntra #fashion #startups #venturecapital #fundingwinter #norevenue #cultfit #community #communitymarketing #socialmediamarketing #india

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From Startup Vision to National Impact: Lessons from Aravind Sanka, Co-founder of Rapido I recently had the privilege of speaking with Aravind Sanka, co-founder of Rapido, India's leading bike taxi platform. Aravind shared profound insights into their entrepreneurial journey, highlighting key milestones and challenges that shaped Rapido into what it is today. It was impressive to see after all the success Rapido has achieved, Aravind had arrived in Rapido Auto, reinforcing the need for their product to save time and money in transit. Here are a few takeaways from the conversation. Navigating Early Challenges with Strategic Focus Starting in Bangalore, Rapido faced the typical hurdles of a nascent startup: proving market viability and securing initial funding. What set them apart was their strategic focus on perfecting consumer metrics and fostering organic growth. By concentrating efforts in Bangalore for the first few years, they demonstrated significant consumer adoption and operational efficiency, paving the way for future expansions. Overcoming Investor Skepticism through Results Aravind candidly discussed the challenges of fundraising, especially when the concept of bike taxis was still nascent in India. Despite initial rejections, Rapido's commitment to showing tangible results and strategic timing paid off. They secured investments globally from places like Taiwan and Hong Kong before gaining local traction with investments from Nexus Venture Partners and WestBridge Capital. Addressing investor concerns, such as market size and demographic reach, was crucial. Timing also played a role; as other ride-hailing giants faced diversification challenges around 2019, Rapido emerged as a focused alternative in India's market. Adapting and Innovating in Times of Crisis The resilience of Rapido was further tested during the COVID-19 pandemic when their business temporarily plummeted. However, instead of retreating, they pivoted swiftly, launching auto-rickshaw services and leveraging their technology to meet evolving customer needs. This agility not only sustained them through the crisis but also strengthened their reputation as innovators in the mobility sector. Today, Rapido continues to innovate, focusing on enhancing user experience and expanding their footprint in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where their services are transforming local transportation dynamics. Aravind's journey with Rapido underscores the power of resilience, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to solving real-world challenges. #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship #MobilityInnovation #ImpactfulLeadership #StartupIndia #Kalaari #Rapido

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