While venture investors get increasingly wary on start-up funding following the failures of many in the recent time, it’s another start-up in India that is trying to bring cheers to both investors as well as ventures. FundTonic, a first of its kind advisory platform, claims that it helps maximize returns for both, using its proprietary technology that evaluates potential start-ups with a fine-tooth comb and showcases the relevant start-ups to the keen investors.
“This process enables investors to have easy access to pertinent start-ups. At the same time, start-ups get to know their scalability and investability,” says Akshit Gupta, co-founder, FundTonic, the newly launched investment advisory and ecosystem enabling venture.
“Our aim is to make start-up funding relevant for all stakeholders backed by deep focus on analytics,” Gupta added.
The financial technology company, which aims to revolutionise the entire start-up ecosystem, had launched its first online platform in the first week of June. Started with a few hundred investors and start-ups as subscribers, it aims to reach at least 2000 Investors and 5000 start-ups by next year.
The year 2016 did not begin well for start-ups in India. Many of them either shut shops or merged with large corporates. The closure cycle of investments also became long. However, Akshit believes that this as a positive sign that investors are no longer content with just the overall projection and valuation of a business.
“They want in depth analysis of the start-up, wherein they decide to invest money. Considering this current situation, we decided to launch our platform,” he says.
FundTonic, with its current focus on India as its targeted market, plans to deepen the start-up ecosystem in Tier 1 cities and build infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by making partnerships to achieve the larger objective of identifying and scaling disruptive ideas across the country. FundTonic’s mobile app will be available on Android and iOS platforms as well.
The investor community welcomes the new analytics platform saying the situation is changing and a more informed decision is needed to minimise failures.
“Minimizing losses for the ecosystem by increasing successes and reducing probability of failure is a big step and FundTonic is well positioned to achieve this,” says Nalin Kumar, chief investment officer, SREI Alternative Investment Managers Ltd (SAIML).
Explaining the salient features and modules of the online platform and mobile app, Akshit said that with FundTonic’s unique DIY Business Plan application, start-ups can build the business plan that gets best of the investors interested. Simultaneously, they solve all problems faced by investors by providing tools for Portfolio Performance Monitoring, shortlist start-ups and lead transactions.
BW Reporters
Unnikrishnan is currently Senior Associate Editor with BW Businessworld at its Mumbai Bureau. During his two decades long journalistic career, he has received several media awards and recognitions. His articles on healthcare, life sciences and intellectual property rights (IPR) have been republished by several international blogs and journals.