For Founders

From lab-ready
to investor-ready.

Pre-seed and seed only. Deeptech hardware with a defensible technology or IP core. Founders preparing for their first institutional raise - or sharpening before they go out. My engagement model is structured like investment banking: an upfront fee credited against a success fee on close. If you don't raise, I don't fully win.

Narrative & Positioning

Not ready to fundraise yet, but need investor-grade clarity on your positioning, market, and differentiation before you go out.

  • Up to 3 deep-dive strategy sessions
  • Full narrative audit and Feeback
  • Beachhead market definition and buyer clarity
  • Investor messaging and differentiation framing

Fixed fee / advisory equity, scoped per engagement.

Email Kalai
max 3 startups / quarter
Fundraising Mandate

You have traction, a raise size, and a timeline. You need a partner who builds the raise, not just reviews the deck.

  • Investor-grade collaterals: pitch deck, financial model, one-pager, and supporting materials
  • Investor targeting, warm intro strategy, and outreach sequencing
  • Upfront engagement fee + success fee / equity on round close
  • Exclusive mandates preferred
  • Ideal ticket size: $0.5-$10M USD, Indian investors + Startup in India

I reply within 48 hours, whether or not there is a fit. Share traction, raise size, and timeline upfront.

Apply here
What good fit looks like: Serious about execution. Transparent with data. Prepared to move fast. I don't cover SaaS, healthtech, fintech, consumer, or digital bio.
Who I Work With

Narrow mandate.
Sharper signal.

I keep a narrow mandate by design. The more specific my focus, the more useful I am. If you are outside these parameters, I would rather say so upfront.

Good Fit

  • Pre-seed or seed stage - no exceptions
  • Deeptech hardware with defensible IP or technology core
  • Founders moving from lab or prototype toward first revenue
  • Teams preparing for first institutional raise
  • IP-led ventures where the moat is in the engineering
  • VCs & accelerators seeking peer-level evaluation support
  • Family offices building a direct deeptech exposure framework
  • Founders who share data, move fast, and engage seriously

Not a Fit

  • Series A and beyond
  • SaaS, AI application layers, or software-only models
  • Healthtech, medtech, or digital biotech
  • Bio-adjacent or life sciences plays
  • Marketplace or consumer internet
  • Fintech, edtech, consumer
  • Ventures without a hardware or physical technology core
  • Founders not ready to share data or move at pace

Sectors I cover

Industrial AutomationRoboticsIndustrial AIAdvanced ManufacturingEnergy HardwareClimate Tech HardwareDefence TechSpace TechAdvanced MaterialsSemiconductors & SensingAgri HardwareHard Mobility

Sectors I don't cover

Life SciencesDigital HealthBiotechPharmaPure SaaSConsumer InternetFintechEdtech