Vinit Patel

It was a pleasure to join CNBC-TV18 to discuss Atomic Capital's ₹400 Cr+ maiden fund closure and our vision as an Operating VC to transform India’s consumer tech landscape. In this conversation, I shared actionable strategies and perspectives on building sustainable, high-growth startups. 1. Defining Operating VC: Unlike traditional VCs, we’re operational partners—driving value through hands-on support in strategy, hiring, and scaling, minimizing risks and maximizing impact. 2. Consumer and Consumer Tech Focus: With ₹10-30 Cr cheques for a curated 10-12 startup portfolio, we’re backing Consumer brands, Consumer tech companies, and consumer enablers reshaping India’s $2T consumer market. 3. Why Conscious Chemist and Doodhvale Farms: Our ₹50 Cr in four startups targets founders with robust PMF. We prioritize capital efficiency, defensible moats, and 10x growth potential in our evaluations. 4. Investment Outlook: Evaluating 20+ companies with a term sheet for our fifth, we plan 2-3 more investments by year-end, emphasizing high-conviction bets. 5. Emerging Trends: We’re bullish on omnichannel retail, eco-conscious beauty, and tech-enabled supply chains—trends set to redefine India’s consumer behavior. 6. Founder Advice: Prioritize pro-active organization building and capital efficiency. Ruthless focus on unit economics ensures sustainable scaling beyond initial product-market fit. 7. Our Roadmap: Full fund deployment by 2027, targeting 3-5x returns through follow-ons and exits, with plans to explore a second fund to amplify our impact. Thank you, CNBC-TV18, for the platform to share our mission. Atomic Capital Manish Jain Nikhil Patil #VentureCapital #ConsumerTech #StartupsIndia #OperatingVC #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 $𝟭 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 India’s manufacturing output hit $471B in FY24, and if current momentum continues, it’s projected to nearly triple to $1.3T by FY30. But this isn’t just about topline growth, it’s about a shift in the quality of what we’re building. We’re moving from assembly to IP-led manufacturing, from manual production to automation and digitization, and from commoditized inputs to strategic sectors like electronics, aerospace, and medical devices. This is what we call advanced manufacturing—companies that build or apply deep R&D, proprietary equipment, or process innovation to drive step changes in performance, efficiency, or cost. It’s not a buzzword. It’s where the world is headed. And it’s where India has a real shot at global leadership. 𝗔𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀. Smartphone exports crossed $24.1B in FY25, making them our largest export category. Over 200 mobile factories are now operational, up from just 2 in 2014. And PLI incentives have catalyzed over ₹14 lakh crore in production. This isn’t a government-led push alone. It’s a rare convergence of policy, global supply chain shifts, and startup energy. If we lean in now—with capital, skilling, and long-term conviction—India won’t just participate in the global manufacturing wave. We’ll shape it.

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📢 GK Energy’s IPO debut is more than numbers, it’s a milestone for India’s clean energy future. GK Energy builds, installs, and maintains solar-powered pump systems that help farmers irrigate sustainably while cutting energy costs. Their work fuels India’s renewable energy drive through initiatives like PM-KUSUM and state-level solar programs. 💰 IPO Snapshot Between 19–23 September 2025, GK Energy entered the public market with its maiden IPO, raising ₹464 crore: • ₹400 crore fresh capital → strengthen working capital (~₹322 crore) + expansion. • ₹64 crore promoter Offer for Sale (OFS). • Price band: ₹150–153/share. • Valuation: ₹3,000 crore pre-listing. This IPO wasn’t just about raising funds, it was GK Energy powering up for a bigger role in India’s clean energy journey. 📊 Market Debut (26 September) • NSE: Opened at ₹171 (+12%), closed at ₹166.95 (+9%). • BSE: Started ₹165.20 (+8%), climbed to ₹167.75 (+10%). • Market Cap: End-of-day at ₹3,386 crore. The ₹386 crore jump from ₹3,000 crore valuation to ₹3,386 crore market cap shows strong investor confidence and demand for GK Energy. 🔷 Why This Matters ➝ For GK Energy: A strong debut gives credibility, boosts investor trust, and opens doors to larger renewable projects. Enabling faster growth and innovation in solar irrigation. ➝ For Farmers & Businesses: More funding in renewables means more affordable and efficient solar pumping solutions, a direct win for sustainable agriculture. ➝ For the Sector: Renewables are a rising star. Investor confidence in GK Energy reflects growing trust in clean energy, which is projected to expand at 20–25% CAGR over the next decade. ➝ For the Economy: This IPO shows capital markets are not just funding companies. They are actively driving India’s energy transition, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and enhancing energy security. 📌 Key Takeaway GK Energy’s debut is more than a premium listing, it’s a vote of confidence in the renewable energy story, and a signal of how markets are shaping India’s energy future. 💬 Do you think renewable-focused IPOs will keep attracting such strong demand, or is this the peak phase? If you found this insightful, spread awareness about how markets are powering India’s clean energy transition. Let’s connect and follow Shivangi Khanna 🌟 for more insights on finance, business and IPO performance. #StockMarket #IPOInsights #RenewableEnergy #Investing #CleanEnergy #LinkedIn

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🚨 Big Change for Angel Investors in India SEBI has raised the bar for who qualifies as an Accredited Investor: 📉 Earlier: ₹2 Cr net tangible assets (excluding primary residence) was enough to start angel investing. 📈 Now: Net worth ≥ ₹7.5 Cr (with ₹3.75 Cr in financial assets) OR Income ≥ ₹2 Cr annually OR Income ≥ ₹1 Cr + Net worth ≥ ₹5 Cr (with ₹2.5 Cr in financial assets) Corporates/Trusts need ₹50 Cr net worth This raises a crucial question: 💭 What happens to those who met the earlier requirements, began their angel journey, but no longer qualify under the new rules? 👉 Will they be locked out of funds? 👉 Does early-stage capital shrink? 👉 Or will new models emerge to keep them engaged? I’d love to hear perspectives from founders, fund managers, and fellow investors. Drop your thoughts ⬇️ #AngelInvesting #StartupEcosystem #IndiaStartups #VentureCapital #AngelInvestors #SEBI #InvestingInIndia

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Natasha Malpani Launches ₹200 Crore Fund to Power India’s AI Startups Former Kae Capital partner Natasha Malpani has launched Boundless Ventures, an early-stage venture fund with a corpus of ₹200 crore, dedicated to supporting homegrown AI-native startups across India. The fund will focus on pre-seed and seed-stage investments in companies innovating across consumer AI, infrastructure, agent tooling, healthcare, logistics, deep tech, and make-in-India hardware. Boundless has already written its first cheques to startups including Superhealth, Armatrix, PierSight, Knot, and two stealth ventures in AI infrastructure and consumer AI. Beyond capital, the fund promises to bring narrative and network support to founders. As Malpani puts it, India today has a once-in-a-generation advantage talent density, digital rails, and ambition to build global AI leaders from day one. At Startup Veda, we’re thrilled to see local capital fueling the AI frontier. This fund signals rising maturity in India’s venture ecosystem—placing conviction behind AI-first founders well before the rest of the world catches on. Join the conversation: Which early-stage AI ventures excite you the most? How powerful is the mix of capital + storytelling for building AI startups? #Startup #AI #VentureCapital #DeepTech #StartupIndia #FounderStories

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🎯 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 – 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 Grateful to News18 India Gujarati for featuring my insights on India’s evolving startup ecosystem during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at #Mehsana. The event marked a milestone with MoUs worth ₹11,652 crore signed, major discussions on semiconductors, green energy, and women-led startups, and participation from #Japan, #SouthKorea, and #Vietnam. As a Startup Mentor, it’s inspiring to witness how India is shaping a powerful, self-sustaining startup ecosystem; where every stage, from ideation to incubation, prototype to product, research to revenue, is being strengthened by coordinated efforts of the Government, investors, academia, and industry. With more than 1.25 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups, over 110 unicorns, and initiatives such as Startup India #SeedFund, Fund of Funds, and the Gujarat Startup Policy 2024, India is no longer a follower in innovation ; it’s setting global benchmarks. Co-working spaces, incubation centers, university collaborations, and strong digital infrastructure are ensuring that ideas from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities find wings; not walls. The collective push from platforms like i-Hub Gujarat, GIFT City , Gujarat Technological University (GTU), Vadodara Startup Studio - Parul University, iCreate, Antrapreneur The Business Incubator, Bharat Accelerator, AMSIM Mehsana and many more are creating founders who are solving real-world problems with scale, purpose, and resilience. India’s startup movement isn’t just about funding; it’s about founders with foresight and a nation that now believes in its own innovation. i47 Global Venture Specialists Panchal S K and Associates Startup India Vibrant Gujarat Ganpat University Amrit Mehsana Startup & Innovation Mission M Nagarajan Dr. Mahendra Sharma #mehsana #vibrantgujarat #incubators #incubation #prototype #funding #marketingtips #productdevelopment #pricing #unicorn #employmentgeneration #innovation #startupecosystem #textiles #diamond #heritage #msme

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💼 India vs GCC – How Private Equity Deals Are Structured Differently Having worked across both India and the Gulf, I’ve noticed some clear contrasts in how deals come together. 🇮🇳 India - More distributed cap tables with multiple funds, angels, and ESOP pools. Early founder dilution. - Preference for structured minority deals rather than full control - Longer diligence cycles with multiple stakeholders involved 🇸🇦 GCC - Family-led or founder-heavy ownership structures are still the norm; even when diluting cap tables remain relatively clean - Government approvals often play a decisive role in timelines (GAC in KSA, UAE competition law, etc) - Diligence can often be lighter, especially in early stage (higher trust in the ecosystem). Sharper focus on post-deal integration and execution readiness Just goes to show that as an investor, context matters. A deal playbook that works in Mumbai won’t always translate seamlessly to Riyadh or Dubai — and vice versa. Understanding regulatory nuance, cultural expectations, and deal pacing is critical when crossing these corridors. ✍️ Curious to hear from others: what’s the biggest difference you’ve observed when structuring deals across geographies? #PrivateEquity #IndiaGCC #DealMaking #CrossBorderInvesting #GII

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India is the place to be for consumer Startups and for Venture Capital  Broad overview of India Premiumization Thesis detailed below: Talking to multiple peers and ex-colleagues across US and EU markets - the sentiment is clear: - The US is slowing down - The EU is close to stagnating Meanwhile, India is accelerating - and we’re living through the years that will shape the country’s next few decades. This shift is clearly visible in real consumer data and behavioral changes: --- India’s Consumption Engine is Roaring - A rapidly expanding middle and upper-middle class is driving demand:   - The population earning over $10K annually is growing at 12%+ CAGR   - The $5K–$10K income segment is expanding at 10%+ CAGR - This means millions are entering a new income bracket every year - unlocking new consumption patterns. --- Credit is Fueling Premiumization - Credit card spend in India reached ₹1.87 lakh crore in May 2025, a 24% year-on-year growth - Over 111 million credit cards are now in circulation (as of mid-2025) - If you're reading this on LinkedIn, chances are you’ve had at least a few calls this week from credit card providers :) --- Behavioral Shifts Are Visible on the Ground - Consumers in metros are moving from price-sensitivity to quality-sensitivity   - Q-commerce platforms (Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart) are booming - not because they’re cheaper, but because they’re faster and more convenient - Premium product discovery is easier than ever, driven by:   - The rise of D2C brands and influencer-led content   - Deeper penetration of platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Nykaa in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities - Even bank term deposits crossed ₹205 lakh crore in July 2025 - signaling rising income and financial confidence --- Big-Ticket Premium Purchases Are on the Rise - India is now Apple’s 5th largest iPhone market globally, with iPhone shipments growing by 50%+ year-on-year - Premium car sales (₹25L+) have seen over 18% YoY growth in H1 2025, led by brands like Mercedes, BMW, and Audi expanding into Tier 2 cities - High-end electronics, wearables, and smart appliances are seeing double-digit growth on e-commerce platforms - There’s a clear shift not just more consumption, but better consumption --- Premiumization is a strong thesis we are bullish on - not just in luxury, but across everyday categories where aspiration meets affordability. The India story is already here. #Consumer #Thesis #Startups

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