Our Investment Thesis
Sector-agnostic (& currently also exploring investments in start-ups that solve social & sustainable problems)
Focused on Technology (the role that technology plays in your business, can be either tech-led or tech-empowered)
Your GTM: B2B / B2B2C / B2G (in rare cases we also work with B2C start-ups)
Your ask is an Investment Size: $50K – $150K ( for the right start-up we can do >$150K as and bring our Co-investment partners in, with us)
You are at an early stage but your business/ solution is more advanced than Proof-of-concept or Pilot; and you have received Industry Validation and have traction with paid customers
5 reasons why this is the right Angel Network for you?
- DFAN is a global community-backed angel network with a vision to help, nurture & grow start-ups
- Some of the smartest minds globally (our DFÂ community) actively contribute to the success of our start-ups
- We have some of the most enviable strategic partnerships in the ecosystem, be it in Co-investment, Marketing & Outreach or Knowledge & Technology.
- Our founding team are successfully entrepreneurs and have an impressive business network
- To us, you will never be a statistic! Just like we are more than the money, you will always be more than just a logo in our portfolio. Some funds and networks are focused on on-boarding more and more companies into their portfolio, but we believe more in quality than quantity.
In a community-backed angel network
Value Creation is our priority
I’m ready to apply NOW
I have a doubt, can we discuss?
Mentors
Tarun Kumar
Ex-Colonel, Indian Army, Decorated War Soldier | Leadership Coach and a Motivational Speaker
A blend of leader and an entrepreneur, Col Tarun Kumar (Retd) has been associated with high-risk assignments. In a career spanning over three decades, he has successfully straddled both worlds: the corporate world as well as that of holding the national integrity supreme. The entrepreneurs today are dealing with similar challenges as faced by the Armed Forces, the lessons learned in the military are more valuable & transferable than ever. He coaches startups and collaborates with them as a consultant/facilitator/enabler to assist in their journey of making an impact by discovering their infinite mindset towards their journey to success.
Ashish Saxena
CEO, Jindal Films India, Ex- McKinsey and LBS alumnus | B2B Sales, Business Model & GTM Strategy Consultant
Growth Enabler & Innovation Leader with Over 20 years’ experience in Sales, Strategy, Supply Chain and P&L roles at Fortune 500 companies like Amcor, Bridgestone and McKinsey. He has lead several multicultural cross-functional cross regional teams to deliver high impact and complex projects & has experience of working across geographies in the USA/North America, UK/Europe, and India/Asia. He holds expertise in deriving B2B sales requiring a consultative sales approach, validating Business Model, and devising GTM strategies. He is an alumnus of St. Stephen’s
Himanshu Gupta
Industrialist, Entrepreneur, Partner-Elevate Academy | Startup Talent Development & Growth, and Soft Skills Development
Entrepreneur l Soft Skills Trainer l Educationalist l Digital Marketing Enthusiast l Angel Investor l Social Worker I Alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer l Industrialist in Manufacturing M-Sand & Mining, Food products Manufacturing & Supplier to top MNC brands, UPVC & Aluminium Fabrication & Installation, Real Estate & Construction, Founder of an Edu-tech Platform. Active in Social Service Pan India through multiple organizations. An experienced founder & investor in multiple companies and startups.
Sandeep K Chhabra
Data Scientist, Ericsson India Global Services | Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain & Quantum Computing
Business Leader with comprehensive experience of leading and managing Global IT Services, Products, Operations and Delivery. Experience of handling multi location teams, multiple projects and clients, vendor management, contract negotiation, procurement, complete P&L responsibility and Digital and business transformations/transitions and Data Science and Automation. Has skills including expertise in business requirements, systems requirements, design and architecture, application development, project planning and execution, and onsite-offshore coordination. He has also published articles on emerging technologies. IIT Delhi alumnus & CFA (Level III)
Sangeeta Patni
Software Entrepreneur | Business Coach & Technology Strategy
Sangeeta is a serial technology entrepreneur, currently on her third entrepreneurial venture, focussed on building programming tools for lay Indian users. A software veteran of over 34 years, Sangeeta has worked relentlessly on creating innovative software products and bringing them to market. She has created several software products for enterprises and developers in her entrepreneurial stints at Extensio Software and her current stealth-mode startup. She led multiple software transformational projects in her corporate days at Hindustan Lever and Eicher Motors. An alumnus of BITS, Pilani, she currently also mentors startups at IIM Udaipur, participates in Made-in-India software community initiatives and is an active angel investor.
Vikas Malhotra
Founder, Growthsource.com | Operations & GTM Strategy
Vikas has 28 years of working on Business Growth through targeted Marketing and Operations Management across various business verticals. An INSEAD Alum, he is adept at Managing P&Ls and Teams, Project Management, Direct, and Digital Marketing, Cost Saving, and proactively providing strategic solutions for sustainable growth. He has consistently delivered on Customer Acquisition and Retention with business profitability, through strategy, execution, operational knowledge and an innovative thought process. A versatile entrepreneur who Vikas is running his 2 year old start-up and has grown it to becoming a stable and growing Services company, ready to take off into higher zones. He is also an ICF(US) credentialed PCC Coach.
Sharad Maheshwari
Co-Founder & vCFO, Don't Hire Be Virtual | Data Analytics, Risk Management & Compliance
Sharad is a qualified CA, CS & CPA (Australia) and brings 2.5-decades leadership experience across global organizations like Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Bumi Armada across India, Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. Sharad has been running virtual CFO services for start-ups and mid-size organizations providing due-diligence, Transaction Advisory Services, Data Analytics, Risk Management & Compliance services, since 2017. He brings in expertise in Cement, O&G, Brewery, Power Transmission, Trading, Hospitality, Pharma, Auto, Textiles, Telecom, Mining, luxury resorts and business hotel chains. He is an author of many books in Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting.