Find a Startup & Fundraising Mentor

Palakh Khanna is a 20-year-old Youth Changemaker, social entrepreneur, mentor, teacher and environmentalist from India. A World Record Holder, she is BW Wellbeing’s 30 Under 30, India’s 20 Under 20 and the former Regional Officer for Asia Pacific. A LinkedIn Content Creator with over 55,000+ followers, she is the founder of Break.The.Ice, an International Youth organization working towards breaking taboos and stigmas in society. Break.The.Ice has reached more than 25,000+ individuals, in 10+ countries.

As an entrepreneur, I have founded and led 2 successful companies that have disrupted traditional industries and created new opportunities for growth. Generated over INR 10Cr.+ revenue in 12 months of launching business in Smart Wearables. I am passionate about identifying unmet needs in the marketplace and developing innovative solutions that drive customer satisfaction and business success. As a computer engineer with an MBA and a passion for entrepreneurship, I bring a unique perspective to the intersection of technology and business. With over 7 years of experience across domains, I have a proven track record of driving innovation, solving complex problems, and delivering results. Throughout my career, I have leveraged my technical expertise to lead cross-functional teams and develop cutting-edge solutions that meet the needs of both customers and stakeholders. Whether it's building a new software platform, optimizing a production process, or launching a new product line, I am committed to delivering value through technology innovation. In my free time, I enjoy Movies, Books, Travel & Food and am always looking for new ways to challenge myself and grow both personally and professionally. If you're interested in connecting or learning more about how I can help your organization drive innovation and growth, please don't hesitate to reach out. I look forward to connecting with you!

An accomplished Head of E-Commerce and Regional Sales Manager with extensive experience in the consumer goods industry. Known for a proven track record in driving growth and leading successful teams, I excel in team leadership, P&L management, trade marketing, business development, and marketing strategy. My expertise in developing and executing strategies has consistently delivered exceptional results. I am a strong sales professional with a solid academic foundation, holding a degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Seasoned Ecommerce Professional with a proven track record of driving growth and scaling customer-facing businesses from the ideation stage. Experienced in early-stage investing, I have worked with leading brands like Zepto, WOW Skin Science, Amazon, and Myntra, contributing to their digital commerce success.

Passionate about building, optimizing, and expanding eCommerce businesses, I specialize in marketplace strategy, digital growth, customer acquisition, and brand positioning. My expertise lies in leveraging data-driven insights to enhance performance and ensure sustained business impact.

With a deep understanding of consumer behavior and digital trends, I help brands navigate the eCommerce ecosystem, driving revenue and customer engagement.

I am Practicing Chartered Accountant since last 16 years. In addition to that I am registered Valuer and has done valuation of few unicorns too. Have done valuation of more than 60 start ups in span of 3 years. I am also certified Forensic Auditor and System Auditor. I have been taking sessions of Income tax and Valuation for CAs and CA students across multiple states. My qualifications in summary are as follows: CA; CS; RV (IBBI); IP (IBBI); DISA; CPA (US); FAFE (US) etc.

I am Bharat Patel, a technology enthusiast with a deep passion for innovation. With over three decades of experience in information technology leadership, I have honed my skills in various areas, including business development, strategy planning, solution building, and complex program management. My expertise lies in bridging the gap between technology and business, with a focus on mobility solutions for enterprises and industrial automation. Join me as I bring my strategic mindset and technological insights to this community, sharing my knowledge and contributing to the ever-evolving world of technology.

I'm Arjun Vaidya, the Founder at Dr. Vaidya's: New Age Ayurveda. Before diving into entrepreneurship, I pursued my education at Brown University, USA, where I graduated with honors in International Relations and Economics. Following that, I had the incredible opportunity to work in private equity at L Capital Asia, the consumer sector focused fund associated with the prestigious Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Group. My focus was primarily on consumer brands and consumer tech, gaining valuable insights into the industry. In October 2016, I took a leap of faith and left my job to carry forward my family's 150-year-old legacy of Ayurvedic formulations, handed down by my grandfather. That's when Dr. Vaidya's was born—new age Ayurveda. We quickly emerged as India's largest Ayurveda brand online, successfully reaching over 2 million consumers across 500+ cities and 16,500+ pin codes. I'm proud to share that my efforts were recognized when I became the first Ayurvedic Entrepreneur to be featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List and the Business World 40 Under 40 List. Moreover, Dr. Vaidya's received accolades such as the Youth SMB of the Year from Amazon and the Retail Startup Award from the Retailers Association of India. In June 2019, we partnered with the USD 4 billion RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, and the brand was subsequently acquired by the group— one of India's first successful D2C exits. Currently, I lead venture investing for Verlinvest in India through our new fund, V3 Ventures, which focuses on investing in early-stage consumer-facing businesses. In addition, I actively engage as an angel investor, supporting over 80 portfolio companies, and provide mentorship to brands within India's D2C and ecommerce ecosystem. Beyond my professional endeavors, I host a podcast titled 'Direct to A Billion Consumers' and spearhead one of India's largest cohort-based courses on D2C. I also contribute as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and serve as a member of Brown University's Young Alumni Advisory Council. Feel free to connect with me and explore the fascinating world of consumer brands and entrepreneurship!

25 year Achievement oriented Strategic & Operational expertise across ‘Sales/Marketing’ verticals, in consumer goods categories. Led iconic brands like Dabur Honey, Dabur Vatika, Dabur Amla, and Fortune edible oils and Foods in stellar organisations like Dabur, Adani Wilmar and Marico. Specialise in Digital Marketing- Employing Search/Visibility on E Commerce channels, and Brand Promotions on multiple Social media assets including own websites. P&L Management, Marketing Strategy, Leadership, Insights, Media-Traditional/Digital, Salesforce Productivity, Digitisation. Specialise in Market share expansion, Margins expansion, Brand architecture and Portfolio Play, Brand Equity Goals- Salience/Image scores improvement on Category Drivers, Communication development, Market Research, Low Promotions Cost New Product Launches with a Pilot-Finetune-Scale Up Methodology. Specialise in Channel Management- GT/MT/E Comm, GTM(Go-To-Market) Operations, Digitisation to measure and optimise Salesforce Productivity Expertise across both ‘Leader’ & ‘Challenger’ portfolios. Have driven 150% higher growth on Large, Rs. 1,000 cr Leader portfolios, as well as reversed consecutive quarters of ‘Share’ decline on ‘Challenger’ portfolios. Believe in driving Competitive, profitable Brand growth anchored in ‘Insightful Strategy’. Strategy is an aggregate of consumer, competitor, and company. Rich Insights are often anchored in a sharp understanding of your source of business, unmet consumer needs, cultural trends, and a well-defined enemy, among others. These insights are then translated into product, packaging, communication, Branding solutions either across existing products, product upgrades, line extensions or brand extensions into adjacent categories.

Over the past five years, I have successfully scaled the consumer business at Clear Tax, taking it from a nascent stage to an EBITDA-positive venture. I conceptualized and launched the "Black" app, marking the company’s strategic expansion into personal finance beyond taxes and achieving its first mobile application launch. Recently, with a heightened focus on sustainability and monetization, I have developed and launched a crypto compliance SaaS platform catering to both B2C and B2B markets

I am a senior level business leader with rich experience in setting up and scaling business, in the FMCG consumer food & beverage industry. Over the past 3 decades I have successfully scaled up for brands like The Laughing Cow, Pillsbury, Haagen Dazs, Amul, Frooti, Nature Valley and Godrej across the country. My focus has been to deploy growth strategies with a clear intent of improving market shares, growing profitability and ensuring sustainability, all with a view to deliver superior value to the stakeholders involved. These strategies have focused on new customer acquisition, GTM models and profitable revenue. I have driven new business models, taken brands into new categories, segments, geographies and verticals. All the time the effort has been to enable development and deployment of the strategic plan with data & technology. At the core of all the above has been my belief that customers need to be the focus of every activity. Insights as to what benefits and value that customers want, has led to the development of new and differentiated products as well as GTM strategies which translated into superior servicing of retail stores. All by way of collaboration with individuals and teams, within and outside of the organisation. Healthy businesses, I strongly believe, need to be driven and managed by qualified and motivated teams so as to ensure their scalability and sustainability. In each of my assignments, the effort has been to ensure that the right people are recruited, coached and developed to not only deliver the results sought but also groomed for higher responsibilities.

I’m Sumit Parekar, a Startup investment advisor at Shark Tank India, with having immense interest in the investments sector. Have a portfolio of $25M worth of funds raised so far.

As the Head of Strategy at Very Much Indian, I lead Business Development and Marketing Operations, focusing on smooth processes, future challenges, and a fast-paced environment. I build financial models to clarify funding needs and reach out to potential investors. I also create strategic partnerships and value meaningful networking.

I graduated from IIM Rohtak in 2022 with a BBA, specializing in Business Communications, Strategic Planning, and Business Strategy. I completed three virtual experience programs with J.P. Morgan, learning about investment banking and markets. Motivated by risks and challenges, I enjoy discussing business models and philosophies. My strong communication skills have helped me excel in panel discussions.

An advertising and branding expert, digital media strategist, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of hands-on experience, I specialize in creative video storytelling and driving online growth. Throughout my career, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape, crafting innovative strategies that elevate brands and foster meaningful connections with audiences. My expertise spans across various industries, where I’ve successfully implemented campaigns that combine creativity with data-driven insights to maximize impact. Passionate about helping businesses grow, I bring a wealth of practical experience and wisdom to every project I undertake.

With 30+ years of experience in procurement and supply chain management, I specialize in end-to-end sourcing solutions, cost optimization, and vendor management across industries. Currently, I lead procurement at Dream Sports, optimizing sourcing strategies in the fantasy gaming sector. Previously, as Head of Procurement at Blue Dart, I streamlined procurement operations and drove cost efficiencies in logistics.

I have successfully managed an INR 550 crore annual budget, reduced operating costs by 15%, improved procurement TAT by 9 days, and ensured regulatory compliance. A Toastmaster for 7+ years, I have held key leadership roles, including Program Quality Director and Division Director. Passionate about mentorship and capability building, I contribute to e-learning modules on procurement and host "Wincast", a podcast on leadership and professional growth.

I am Chandrashekar Kupperi (Shekar in short) and run ANOVA (www.anovacorporate.co.in), an Advisory firm focused on M&A and Fundraise. I have experience in the FMCG space, having led over 11 Acquisitions and 4 Divestments. My most recent stint was with Lornamead Group, a UK-based multinational which owns Yardley of London, Finesse, etc. My prior stints were with ExxonMobil & KPMG. I have invested in more than 50 Startups, besides funds such as pi Ventures Fund II, 1Crowd, PointOne Capital and IvyCap. I am a CA, CMA and CS. Recently, launched Peaceful Progress Fund www.peacefulprogress.in which is a SEBI Registered Angel VC Fund and we have made 11 investments till date.

Building India's first and only tech-based healthy soup and soup-based meal brand on a mission to make truly healthy food affordable. We are a food-tech company running on a cloud kitchen model (currently in 3 cities of Delhi NCR, running profitably). We offer vegan, gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, keto, and wellness meals at under $4 per meal as on-demand and subscription orders, and are targeting 1mn meals in the next 18 months. - Raised 50k USD from Angel Investors and HNIs - Raised 91.6k USD from Shark Tank Season 2, Investor - Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics Cofounder and CEO) A serial entrepreneur - prior to SoupX, I have over 3 years of experience creating companies in tech and health care sectors. I established Frato, a fruit delivery application and HostCountry – an end-to-end tech service provider. These experiences helped me understand consumer behaviour which fostered me towards opening a unique brand in healthy food space SoupX.

An accomplished three-time founder & entrepreneur, thought leader and angel investor, Vivek Chadha brings over two decades of launching and scaling startups across services, SaaS, consulting, and community platforms. As the founder of AccelerateX Ventures-a company dedicated to empowering those with a dream to build and grow a startup-Vivek has repeatedly demonstrated his expertise in revenue scaling, turning ambitious ideas into thriving enterprises with measurable, market-leading impact. Post the acquisition of his first venture, Vivek dedicated himself to a transformative initiative called LinkedIn Local India that he built from scratch, which redefined professional networking on a national scale. Recognized on the HYPCCCYCL Midas List (a global platform for Go-To-Market Leaders), Vivek's record in strategic execution is further validated by his consistent ability to drive revenue growth and operational excellence. A Charter Member of TiE and an alumnus of both Delhi College of Engineering and UCLA Anderson (Los Angeles), Vivek brings a rare blend of analytical precision and hands-on insight to every venture he undertakes. His contributions have been spotlighted in respected media outlets such as Gulf News, Condé Nast Traveller, and Outlook Business, underscoring his standing as a leader who shapes the future of business through disciplined strategy and relentless execution. Having been an advisor to 100+ startup founders, Vivek is passionate about helping the startup ecosystem and bringing India's startup scene to the world stage. His first book, “Startupology”, set to release in April 2025, offers a practical blueprint for launching and scaling startups. Drawing from real-world experience, he outlines strategies to build startups from scratch, drive growth through smart revenue models, and navigate today’s competitive landscape. From boardrooms to founder communities, Vivek is shaping what it means to build startups that last.

I am an entrepreneur, Founder, and a Strong Marketing Professional with Much experience in the internet and technology industry. I juggle my time 2 ways which are- 1. Founder I am the founder of Fantastiqo Education Private Limited an Edutech Platform Made to Enchance the Skills of Students. It offers courses on Public Speaking, Human Resources, Digital Marketing, Content Writing, Graphics Designing, Ethical Hacking and Website Designing & Development to a Large Number Of Students Across India. 2. Content Creator As a content creator I share my insights, stories, and tips on startups, careers, and education. My mission is to help people and Especially Students make decisions in life from a point of awareness and not ignorance.