Embracing India's Entrepreneurial Wave: Keynote Insights from WebEngage’s Startup Demo Day 2023
Startups, innovation, ideas, and connections – the peak Bangalore experience brought to you by the WebEngage Startup Demo Day.
On the evening of December 9th, 2023, several members of the Indian startup ecosystem gathered at the Hyatt Centric, Bengaluru, for cash prizes, credits, and an invaluable exchange of ideas and connections.
?“The startup pitches were really interesting. It was very useful for me to be a part of the panel as I could hear a lot of other perspectives from experienced and diverse VCs.”
- Harmanpreet Singh , Managing Partner, Prath Ventures
The event witnessed the dynamic energy of 13 startup finalists who passionately pitched their groundbreaking ideas in front of a stellar VC panel that comprised Anand Lunia , General Partner, IndiaQuotient ; Harmanpreet, Managing Partner, Prath Ventures; Anjali Sosale , Partner, WaterBridge Ventures ; Mandeep Julka, CFA , VP, Chiratae Ventures ; Rohit M A , Managing Partner, PeerCapital ; Hershel Mehta , Cofounder & GP, 2am VC & Brendan Rogers , Cofounder & GP, 2am VC – all elevating the atmosphere with innovation and their entrepreneurial spirits.
Here is the complete list of the 13 finalists that competed:
“It was incredible meeting highly innovative early-stage startups today, building across a range of industries—from sports and pet care to crypto and financial health. It’s inspiring to witness what the next generation of founders is creating for today.”
- Anjali Sosale, Partner, WaterBridge Ventures
Kicking Off With The Keynote
In a keynote before kicking off the event, Brendan, co-founder of an early-stage, sector-agnostic startup, 2am VC, shared insights into his entrepreneurial journey and the burgeoning potential of India's startup landscape.
Brendan, who began his entrepreneurial endeavors in Palo Alto in 2011, emphasized the transformative power of failure. After successfully scaling an online dating business, he founded Wag, the largest pet service platform in the U.S., which recently went public on NASDAQ.
His journey took a turn towards India when he encountered a visionary investor, sparking a personal interest in the country's growth story. Brendan's passion for India's potential is palpable, and he attributes it to the macro trends he witnesses, such as the rapid adoption of digital payments.
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“There’s always something to learn from startups in different stages – it doesn’t matter if you learn from startups that are already successful, but startups like these (featured in the event) that are in the growth stage teach you a lot more because you can actually relate with them in terms of the stage that they’re at.”
- Aditya Agrawal , Co-founder, P-TAL (Punjabi Thathera Art Legacy)
Hershel, Brendan's partner, underscored the tangible changes in India's landscape, contrasting his father's 1980s perception with the current reality. They highlighted the shift from building American companies for India to building for Indians by Indians, emphasizing the unparalleled market potential in India.
The duo urged budding entrepreneurs not to seek external validation but to rely on the robust ecosystem of Indian VCs. They shared a key lesson from a mentor: "A cost advantage is great if you want to make money. If you want to make a lot of money, you bet on the market." According to them, there's no better market than India right now.
"Startup Demo Day provided us with a valuable platform to share the Sploot story with a broader audience, fostering growth for our business. This accomplishment is not just a celebration of our success so far, but also an endorsement of our vision for the future of pet care."
- Arnav Sahni , Co-Founder, sploot
The keynote concluded with a powerful message: India is no longer just a market but the birthplace for every startup. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to venture into the unknown, armed with insights, a consumer-centric approach, and the belief that India's entrepreneurial spirit shapes the future. As the duo noted, "Go where it's unknown," the thriving Indian startup ecosystem is ready to support those willing to build something great.
Conclusion to Startup Demo Day 2023
Towards the end, P-TAL, manufacturer of ayurvedic brass utensils, emerged as the victor, followed by B2B mental-health company Strangify and pet-care company Sploot, winning the ecosystem favorite. Beyond the prestige, their reward included a substantial cash prize of ?3 Lakhs and platform credits worth $30,000, propelling their startup journey to new horizons.
“I met the most top-quality people here. This niche crowd is really the kind of community you hope to have when building a good network. It was absolutely amazing for us.”
- Himanshu Rajpurohit , Founder & CEO, Strangify
As the day unfolded, there was much to take away - insights, innovation, and more.
However, the true essence of the Demo Day surpassed the tangible prizes. The event was a crucible for forging meaningful connections between startups and investors, setting the stage for potential future funding endeavors. The conversations during and after the event added another layer of depth to these connections, putting the passionate founders at center stage.
The WebEngage Startup Demo Day emerged as a notable event for early-stage startups in India, providing a platform for business presentations, investor networking, and constructive feedback integration.
We wish all 13 startups all the best for their future endeavors.?