
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 those 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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Startups, AI, and Strategy: Inside India’s Defence Tech Ecosystem
Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 14 [August 30, 2025] What? Amid India’s northern peaks in June 2025, a machine gun swept the barren range with cameras and sensors, locking onto a target without human direction. The gun aimed, fired, and hit its mark with precision. This real Indian Army trial of equipment manufactured
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From Ride-Hailing to Food Delivery: Rapido’s Zero-Commission Bet against Zomato and Swiggy
Startup and VC Ecosystem Updates | Issue# 13 [August 23, 2025] What? Rapido has officially launched its food delivery platform Ownly in select Bengaluru neighborhoods, marking the ride-hailing unicorn’s bold attempt to challenge the dominance of food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy. After months of speculation and planning, the service is now operational in Koramangala,
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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
