A decade of democratizing the Indian private market

It is truly hard to do justice when you try to summarize a decade's journey. But I will give it a try.

A decade sounds like a lot of time. Feels distant, in a way that we cannot predict so much far into the future. Recall the Indian startup ecosystem in 2013 -- nascent, relatively young and high energy. No ‘Shining India’, no accredited investor definitions, minimal regulation, and no startup buzz. 

‍We had many naysayers who thought it was the most absurd idea of asking Indian investors to commit online. When we founded LetsVenture, we had a very simple vision – of making the process of fundraising easy for founders and investors. Interestingly, the vision still stays the same. Founders have now changed from early-stage to include growth-stage, and investors have expanded to include family offices and UHNIs. 

When you are an ecosystem builder, it is hard. It's like LetsVenture is never considered a typical startup because founders think of us as investors. And investors think we are their competitors.

‍Though hard, it has been gratifying and humbling. If I were to use words to express our journey, it would be fun, joy, passion, gratitude, hard work, love, disappointment, and anguish. 

I have made the best friendships and met so many amazing founders and investors that this journey feels priceless. If I had the opportunity to relive my 10 years, I would do exactly what I did in 2013.

The fact that we now manage a portfolio value exceeding $11 billion through many successful fundraisings shows the strength of the bridge that LetsVenture has become. Naturally, we had the opportunity to build engaging communities of 20K+ angel investors from 60 countries and 34K+ entrepreneurs along the way. 

There has always been a focus on innovation in the venture investing space – and question standard practices. We have tried to do it the best way we could – with honesty to our stakeholders of founders and investors. 

However, while metrics will change and business will grow, the 10 years are special because of all the people who have contributed to our journey. Today I am just so grateful and proud of the people who have been part of the LetsVenture journey. First as always, to my team – we have always been fortunate to attract the right people with the right intent and passion to be part of our journey. I am grateful to all the investors and advisors who batted for us without expecting anything back. 

What this journey has taught me is that the world does have unconditional love in plenty. It is whom you choose to work with, where you choose to look and focus your energies on. I have so many friends, and some best friends now! The universe has a unique way of helping, every time. 

As we celebrate this milestone, we are also mindful of the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead. The startup ecosystem is dynamic and ever-evolving, and our commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation remains unwavering. 

We will continue to adapt, iterate, and refine our platform to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs and investors. We stay absolutely true and committed to our founders and investors.

Looking ahead, we envision LetsVenture playing an even more significant role in shaping the startup landscape in India and beyond. We will strive to foster deeper connections, enable greater access to capital, and empower entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to succeed. Together, we can build a vibrant ecosystem where groundbreaking ideas are nurtured, dreams are realized, and impact is amplified.

On behalf of the entire LetsVenture team, I express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Here's to the next decade of growth, innovation, and collaborative success. Together, we will continue to write the remarkable story of LetsVenture.