
StartupGuy is a personal endeavor to stay abreast of the latest developments in the Indian startup and Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem. I am indebted to some really meaningful content encompassing Indian startups and VCs across the internet – Inc42, YourStory, Indian Startup News, Entrackr, to name a few, that help shape the blogs. A part of the blogs do reflect my own thoughts about the topics being blogged.
This blog is dedicated to Kiran Bapna, who was embraced by Mother Nature for the kind, caring, loving, helpful, and large-hearted person she was, during her journey through the Tirthan Valley trails in Himachal Pradesh in 2023. Kiran handheld and mentored me, and taught me everything about the Indian startup and VC ecosystem while she was my manager at Google. She was one of the rare professionals who did not have an agenda and let everyone around her grow. Professionally (and personally to a certain extent), whatever I am today, I owe it to Kiran – and her selfless love and support for one and all. She taught me how to work with the best in the business and become a better version of myself with each passing day.
I strive to pass forward the values and goodness I inculcated from Kiran to the teams I manage. Kiran was the motivation behind this blog when I decided to start writing, as I had already moved on from the startup and VC ecosystem (but not from the love for it) to something else. When I started off, I thought of writing for a year and then surprising her with the blogs – she would have been thrilled. I am sure she is, as I await her return!
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Smaller IPOs and Secondaries: How Indian Late-Stage Startups and VCs Are Finding Liquidity in Uncertain Markets
VC Insights | Issue# 13 [May 7, 2025] What? The first quarter of 2025 showed promising signs for India’s late-stage startup ecosystem with a significant uptick in funding for Series F and above. However, shifting global economic conditions are forcing both investors and IPO-bound startups to adjust their strategies in what experts describe as increasingly…
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Peak XV’s First Independent Fund Signals Bold Deeptech Ambitions
VC Insights | Issue# 12 [May 6, 2025] What? After separating from Sequoia Capital two years ago, Peak XV Partners is making a significant move in the Indian and Southeast Asian venture capital landscape. The firm is gearing up to launch its first independent investment vehicle since the split, targeting a substantial fundraise to back…
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Backing Innovation: Prime Venture Partners Closes Fifth Fund at $100 Mn
VC Insights | Issue# 11 [March 11, 2025] What? Prime Venture Partners, a prominent early-stage venture capital firm in India, has successfully raised $100 Mn for its fifth investment fund. The firm plans to deploy this capital strategically, offering initial investments ranging from $2-4 Mn with potential scaling up to $12 Mn per company. Their…