Start-Up Hyderabad’s Post

Great to see The Economic Times cover DC Advisory India Mid Market PE/VC monitor. Check out here https://lnkd.in/gXVn-4JG We are currently in a tale of two markets, with the India public markets at a record high & state of euphoria, whilst Indian private markets continue to be more price sensitive and selective with a strong preference for secondary transactions in profitable or strong unit economic steady compounders and continued tight funding conditions for new-age tech unicorns with significant cash burn. Given India's strong macro economic fundamentals in combination with exit pressures among many Indian VC's/PE's, we expect secondary activity to pick-up further during H2 of 2024 whilst primary funding conditions will continue to be challenging and are likely to take a couple more quarters before getting back to the levels seen pre-covid. Interesting times ahead and big thank you to the DC team that put the report together Meherzad Kelawala Kushal Lathia Naman Shah Ashish Gokarnkar Avani Bhatt #makingadifference #privateequity #venturecapital #middlemarket #mergersandacquisitions #india #privatemarkets #publicmarkets

Full Stack by Samidha Sharma: Clean up those startup corners ******************************************************************* This week marked the end of a long-drawn-out legal battle between BharatPe, a once rising fintech star valued at $2.7 billion (at its peak), and its cofounder Ashneer Grover. Tell me more: What began in January 2022 when an expletive-laden telephone chat between Grover and a Kotak Mahindra Bank official leaked, quickly snowballed into one of the ugliest public spats between a new-age startup backed by top-notch investors and its founder. Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain were subsequently sacked on allegations of misappropriation of funds and corporate governance lapses. Recent update: On Monday, a settlement deal was struck with BharatPe and Grover agreeing to drop these multiple charges against each other on the condition that the erstwhile CEO would surrender his stake in the fintech, and disassociate from the company going forward. In one stroke, this meant investors lost a chance to make an example of this incident to deter future cases of corporate governance failures, which have hit the image of the Indian startup economy significantly over the past two years.

Unlock the secrets to long-term wealth creation in India! 💰 Financial experts at TechSparks Mumbai unanimously agree: staying invested is the key. 🚀 Dive into the insights from industry leaders on advanced wealth creation strategies, asset classes, and the influence of behavioural finance. 💡Discover how previously exclusive investment options are now within reach for all investors. Don't miss out on the full article: #InvestmentStrategies #FinancialWellness #TechSparksMumbai2024 Ujjwal Jain | Ashish Singhal | Vaibhav Porwal [In partnership with PhonePe]

💰ZFunds Secures ₹25 Crore to Revolutionize Wealth Management ✨ Gurugram-based ZFunds has raised ₹25 crore in funding, led by Elevation Capital and PB FINTECH LIMITED’s Yashish Dahiya, to amplify its mission of simplifying wealth management for Indian investors. Founded in 2019 by Manish Kothari and Vidhi Tuteja, the platform offers expert insights into asset performance, recommends tailored financial products, and assists with seamless fund redemptions. Why This Matters: 🌐 Empowering Financial Inclusion: With India’s growing middle class and rising disposable incomes, ZFunds is addressing the need for accessible, simplified investment solutions for retail investors. 📈 Streamlined Wealth Tech: By leveraging its robust technology stack, ZFunds makes wealth management transparent and user-friendly, enabling informed decision-making for its clients. 🤝 Expanding Reach: The funding will help the company grow its distribution network, ensuring that quality wealth advisory reaches Tier II and Tier III cities. 🚀 Scaling Innovation: With enhanced technical capabilities, ZFunds is poised to launch new features that cater to the evolving needs of modern investors. This milestone positions ZFunds as a key player in India’s wealthtech landscape, fostering financial literacy and enabling more Indians to achieve their wealth-building goals. 🏦✨ #ZFunds #WealthTech #Financial #InvestSmart #Innovation #AI #Business #WealthManagement #StartupFunding #News #Wealth #Finance #Fintech #Startups #Assetmanagement #India #technology #FintechInnovation #Hypes Start Big, Start Here.

These recent insights made me wonder if the Indian fintech startups are facing a funding freeze!! On what kind of ideas are the investors placing their bets? The first half of 2024 has been tough for India’s #fintech sector, with funding taking a significant blow. Fintech #funding plunged 59% compared to H1 2023 and 11% compared to H2 2023, amounting to just $795 million, with only two $100 million+ rounds.   However, it is surprising to me that despite the #global economic slowdown and ongoing geopolitical tensions, India’s fintech ecosystem still shines, ranking among the top three globally alongside the US and UK. The sector is dealing with the #fundingwinter and increased interest rates globally, but it is a relief that Peak XV Partners and Y Combinator continue to show their faith in the sector. Interestingly, Bengaluru led the charge in attracting investments, followed by Mumbai and Pune. But you would ask me, what are the segments that garnered the investor’s attention so that the fintech startups can focus on them shortly? #Alternativelending, #RegTech, and #BankingTech remained the top-performing segments, with alternative lending alone securing 81% of the total fintech funding. These types of startups can hope to do well in their upcoming funding rounds. However, Early-stage and #Seedfunding saw dramatic declines, highlighting the cautious approach of #investors towards them. I strongly emphasize the resilience and adaptability of India's fintech sector. With strategic planning and innovative ideas, there’s optimism that the fintech landscape will rebound and #innovate. What are your bets on the Fintech startup ecosystem of India this year? Can it show some recovery from this funding freeze in H2? #startupsindia #fintechsector #currenttrends #digitalfinance

Recently visited Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Thanks to the warm invitation sent to Eternal Capital (India) by Yaseen Shareef Shaik. Meeting resilient founders across Gen AI, SaaS, Fintech, D2C, and Sustainability was incredibly inspiring. Mad respect to those building in India! Two takeaways stood out: 1️⃣ Not every startup needs funding. 2️⃣ A wrong funding choice today could cost you equity or even your company tomorrow. Are you making the right call? Every startup needs capital to grow. But do you need equity capital or debt capital? For startups stuck with a good idea, decent traction, but valuation hurdles, Convertible Notes (CNs) and Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPs) are two popular options. On paper, they’re similar both defer valuation. But they serve distinct purposes. 1. Convertible Notes (CNs): Debt with a Twist A loan that converts to equity in a future funding round. - Valuation Cap: Maximum price per share for conversion—lower caps dilute founders more. - Discount Rate: Early investors get a 15-20% discount as a risk reward. - Interest Rate (optional): Some CNs accrue interest that converts to equity. - Floor Price: A safeguard setting a minimum share price for conversion. Why use CNs: Fast to close and ideal for smaller rounds. Postpone valuation debates until a future round. Challenges: Poorly defined caps or terms can lead to excessive dilution or investor disputes. 2. Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPs): Equity with a Promise Preferred shares that convert into equity later, offering structured terms for investors. - Liquidation Preference: Investors recover 1-2x their investment in a liquidation. - Conversion Ratio: Defines how shares convert into equity. - Investor Rights: Often includes board seats or veto power for institutional investors. Why use CCPs: Aligns long-term interests while protecting founders. Reduces ambiguity in larger, structured funding rounds. Challenges: Structuring CCPs can take time and often requires founders to cede some control. When to Choose Each? 🔹 Convertible Notes: - You need speed. - Smaller rounds from angels or friends/family. - You want to avoid valuation debates. 🔹 CCPs: - Larger, institutional funding rounds. - Need structured terms to balance risks and returns. - Aligning with Indian regulatory norms. In the India Context: Convertible Notes are a favorite for seed funding due to regulatory flexibility post-2017. Over 60% of Indian startups at the early stage use them. However, as rounds grow larger, CCPs dominate because: Institutional investors prefer structured terms. They’re easier to align with Indian regulations. Startup like Dunzo have successfully leveraged both models at different stages. The choice between CNs and CCPs depends on your stage, goals, and vision. Remember: Capital is your fuel. Terms are your map. Make the right choice to grow without regrets.

Hi Guys, Thoughts & Updates of the Day!, Pronoy here. Over the past few days, we've made progress in designing the "Diversified Products & Services Portfolio" section of our pitch deck and game plan. Let’s dive into the first two key pages: Problems and Solutions. As Vinod Khosla wisely said, "Any problem is an opportunity. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity." As entrepreneurs, leaders, investors, or VCs, you'll find that every strong pitch deck raises key questions. Let’s briefly address the 7 fundamental questions that define who we are and what we aim to achieve. Who are we? We are potentially India’s first fintech conglomerate in the pre-growth stage, currently self-funded. We are on the verge of transitioning into a VC-backed growth-stage fintech conglomerate. What problems are we solving? For the past few years, we've been addressing three universal problems: effective wealth management, improving business efficiency (initially focusing on top-line revenue growth), and career development. Why are we doing this? Our top reasons are: (1) to establish ourselves as a wealth creator and problem-solving brand, and (2) the larger the problem, the larger the global market, specifically the $100 trillion+ markets we’re targeting, which will continue to grow. Whom do we serve? Mohanta Group operates with three key business models across our subsidiaries: proprietary models, B2C, and B2B. How do we serve? Post-funding, we plan to launch 100+ innovative, high-quality products and services across our three main segments: IT & Digital & Business Services, Career Development, and Wealth. However, the wealth segment will take a few more years of development before we can offer solutions to clients. When do we serve? We will begin providing 100+ products and services (MVPs) to our targeted customers approximately 2-3 months after securing funding. Where do we serve? Post-funding, we'll set up our HQ in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and one of the top 5 metropolitan cities in India. We began our journey in the small city of Balurghat in January 2014. Four of our five subsidiaries (24x7Websolution Corporation, PMZ On-Demand, PMZ Wealth Creator, and PMZTV Network) are globally focused, while Maa Saraswati City Education and Career Centre will focus solely on the Indian market. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/MGCEmpire. Stay tuned & connect with me: Pronoy Mohanta, on LinkedIn for updates, collaborations, job opportunities, and more!. Thanks to all. #PMZQuotes #PronoyMohanta #MohantaGroup #Conglomerate #Diversified #Subsidiary #Fintech #Wealthtech #Investment #IT #Education #Consulting #Media #Startups #Leaders #WealthCreator #ProblemSolver #ProprietaryModels #B2C #B2B #Brands #Products #BusinessGrowth #Growth #SelfFunded #VCFunding #DII #FII #Lender #Problems #Solutions #Life #Career #Business #Wealth #InvestorRelations #Team #WealthCreation #BusinessEfficiency #CareerDevelopment #Balurghat #Kolkata #India #IndianStartups

Hi Guys, Thoughts & Updates of the Day!, Pronoy here. Over the past few days, we've made progress in designing the "Diversified Products & Services Portfolio" section of our pitch deck and game plan. Let’s dive into the first two key pages: Problems and Solutions. As Vinod Khosla wisely said, "Any problem is an opportunity. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity." As entrepreneurs, leaders, investors, or VCs, you'll find that every strong pitch deck raises key questions. Let’s briefly address the 7 fundamental questions that define who we are and what we aim to achieve. Who are we? We are potentially India’s first fintech conglomerate in the pre-growth stage, currently self-funded. We are on the verge of transitioning into a VC-backed growth-stage fintech conglomerate. What problems are we solving? For the past few years, we've been addressing three universal problems: effective wealth management, improving business efficiency (initially focusing on top-line revenue growth), and career development. Why are we doing this? Our top reasons are: (1) to establish ourselves as a wealth creator and problem-solving brand, and (2) the larger the problem, the larger the global market, specifically the $100 trillion+ markets we’re targeting, which will continue to grow. Whom do we serve? Mohanta Group operates with three key business models across our subsidiaries: proprietary models, B2C, and B2B. How do we serve? Post-funding, we plan to launch 100+ innovative, high-quality products and services across our three main segments: IT & Digital & Business Services, Career Development, and Wealth. However, the wealth segment will take a few more years of development before we can offer solutions to clients. When do we serve? We will begin providing 100+ products and services (MVPs) to our targeted customers approximately 2-3 months after securing funding. Where do we serve? Post-funding, we'll set up our HQ in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and one of the top 5 metropolitan cities in India. We began our journey in the small city of Balurghat in January 2014. Four of our five subsidiaries (24x7Websolution Corporation, PMZ On-Demand, PMZ Wealth Creator, and PMZTV Network) are globally focused, while Maa Saraswati City Education and Career Centre will focus solely on the Indian market. To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/MGCEmpire. Stay tuned & connect with me: Pronoy Mohanta, on LinkedIn for updates, collaborations, job opportunities, and more!. Thanks to all.

1949 is opening up for entrepreneurs in Founder mode. We want to invite upto 5 early-stage founders to be part of our monthly mixers with investing, consulting and i-banking folks.  Our mission stays the same. We want to create the most high-quality alumni network for CAs in investing and startups. We want to expand the benefits of the collective energy we gather to builders solving bold problems. They can come from any background (Engr./MBA/CA). We see many benefits for founders with access to our high-quality filtered community of investors, i-bankers & consultants. What is 1949? We are a community of CAs in investing, consulting and startups. A one of a kind alumni network of CAs. We do exclusive gatherings in Mumbai, Bangalore & Delhi with marquee guests, including stellar founders and MD & Partners of venture & PE funds. If you are a founder - do register here (takes 2 mins): https://lnkd.in/d2HCUQxP Arnim Dhakad

While a Bangalore-based tech startup soared after choosing a corporate structure, a Mumbai cafe regretted their partnership setup that led to disputes and eventual closure. Choosing between a Partnership and a Corporation isn't just a formality - it is a decision that can define your business's future. Understanding the difference between a Partnership and a Corporation is critical, yet many entrepreneurs jump in without grasping the implications. Why does this matter? Your business structure affects everything from your day-to-day operations to your personal liability and tax obligations. Making an informed choice can save you from unnecessary legal battles and financial strain. Are you risking your assets without knowing it? Many small business owners choose partnerships for their simplicity, not realising the personal financial risks involved. Think this decision doesn’t impact your business right now? Every interaction with investors, banks, and even vendors can be influenced by the way your business is structured. #BusinessStructure #Entrepreneurship #PartnershipVsCorporation #BusinessGrowth #LegalTips #TaxBenefits #CorporateLaw #SmallBusinessTips #StartupLife #BusinessDecisions