Gruhas Proptech, DLF Family Office, and Anthill Ventures Call For Applications for 2nd Edition of Proptech Scaling Program

• Proptech Industry Set to Reach $9.7 Billion by 2023
• Gruhas ASPIRE will make Strategic Investments and Enable Scale & Market Access for Cohort Startups
• Cohort 1 of the program raised more than INR 22 Crore through the program and outside investors.

Gruhas Proptech, DLF Family Office, and Anthill Ventures have announced the launch of the second edition of Gruhas ASPIRE, a six-month scaling program for early stage proptech startups. With a focus on championing transformational solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability in the construction and real estate sector, the program will enable scale and make strategic investments in cohort winners.

The announcement comes on the heels of successful delivery of the first cohort of the program; out of the seven companies in cohort 1, five have closed a round of funding and the remaining two are in the process of closing a round. Further, three of the early-stage companies have completed their product and commenced go-to-market, and another three have expanded to new geographies and achieved scale.

The program has brought in pilots, forged partnerships with manufacturing and distribution partners, refined business models, and helped with branding and thought leadership. The program partners have funded five of the seven partners directly and by leveraging their investor network. The first cohort will conclude with a demo day in Bengaluru in June.

In the second cohort, selected startups will receive dedicated support in marketing, sales, product, team, and other business challenges. The program will also enable market access via India’s leading developers and property managers. Cohort startups will have the opportunity to secure pilots and POCs through Gruhas Proptech, DLF Family Office, and Anthill Ventures’ strong corporate network, and raise capital via Anthill Angel Funds. There will also be a demo day at the end of the program, where cohort companies will have the opportunity to raise capital and develop relationships with investors, corporates, and government.

According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global proptech market is projected to expand from $4.2 billion in 2018 to $9.7 billion in 2023, indicating a CAGR of 18.0%. Additionally, Mordor Intelligence forecasts that by 2025, the smart building market will reach $109.48 billion, growing at a CAGR of 12.6% between 2020 and 2025. These figures underscore the significant growth potential and market opportunities for proptech startups.

The program’s focus areas include.

• New & Emissions-Free Materials & Technologies in Construction
• Smart Property Management for Selling & Leasing
• Sustainable Properties with Clean Energy, Water Use, & Waste Management
• Investments & Financing in Real Estate

The startups will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Early stage i.e., pre-seed or seed start-ups
• Focused on the abovementioned sub-sectors.

About to complete product and commence go-to-market or have already gone to market and wish to scale.

Abhijeet Pai, Co-Founder, Gruhas Proptech: "After the overwhelming support and success of the first cohort, we are excited to build on that momentum with our second cohort of proptech startups. We believe that these startups are at the forefront of the evolution with the rising demand for sustainable solutions, government initiatives, increasing investor interest, and technological advancements. We are excited to see new startups that are leveraging technology to solve some of the industry's most significant challenges.”

Rahul Talwar, Director, DLF Family Office: “After achieving a successful and thrilling Cohort 1, I am pleased to strengthen the partnership with Gruhas and Anthill for a second cohort! Through the second edition of Gruhas ASPIRE, we aim to empower startups that tackle climate change and drive sustainability, making a meaningful impact on the environment and the society at large.

Sailesh Sigatapu, Partner, Anthill Ventures: "We at Anthill have been bullish on the urban tech and proptech market for a few years now, with investments in this space already under our belt. Our market-access focused model has shown results, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Gruhas Proptech and DLF Family Office to help early stage proptech startups #ScaleWithSpeed.”

 

The Gruhas ASPIRE program has proven to be a resounding success, with the first edition showcasing some impressive success metrics. The program started with seven cohort startups, all of which successfully completed the program, achieving a 100% success rate. The program engaged with over 50 corporate partners and supported the companies in raising more than INR 22 Crore in capital, from the program as well as outside investors. The program is a unique initiative that presents a significant opportunity for early-stage sustainable proptech startups to scale their businesses and contribute to the revitalization of the real estate sector. Applications for the program will close on May 31st, 2023, and the selected startups will be announced shortly thereafter.

About Gruhas Proptech Fund:

Gruhas Proptech is a venture by the people behind Puzzolana and Zerodha. Gruhas focuses on Proptech, Metals, and Infrastructure. The acceptance of climate change, high debt, job dependency and suitability need urgent attention. Decarbonizing of the sector that accounts for around 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide (UNEP) is critical to achieve the Paris Agreement commitment and the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals.

About DLF Family Office:

The DLF Family Office is one of the oldest family offices in the country. Established by the promoters of DLF Ltd, India's largest real estate company, the family office invests in equity through investments in public market funds, private market funds and direct investments in unlisted enterprises.

About Anthill Ventures:

Anthill Ventures is a global venture capital fund and speed scaling ecosystem that invests in bold entrepreneurs who are building the companies of tomorrow. With a focus on Healthcare, Mediatech, Urbantech and Consumer Lifestyle, Anthill provides targeted and timely interventions that drive transformational growth for early-stage startups. Our unique approach helps companies #ScaleWithSpeed, allowing them to reach stronger growth trajectories and unlock their full potential.

Anthill Ventures Launches Anthill Spirits – India's 1st Speed Scaling Programme for Alco-Bev Startups

• Anthill Spirits will aim to fund up to USD 1 million over the stages of the venture-building process.
• The venture builder accelerator programme will provide funding and market access to entrepreneurs.
• India's alco-bev industry worth USD 50 billion - Anthill Spirits aims to fuel growth.

Anthill Ventures, a global venture capital and speed-scaling ecosystem, has announced the launch of Anthill Spirits, India's first speed-scaling accelerator programme dedicated to supporting early-stage alco-bev start-ups. Anthill Spirits will provide funding and market access to entrepreneurs to help create innovative brands and technologies in the rapidly growing Indian alco- bev industry, which is estimated to be worth close to USD 50 billion by 2023.

Anthill Spirits will aim to fund up to USD 1 million over the stages of the venture-building process, with a compelling vision, a clear business plan and a strong founding team and core team in place. Eligible start-ups must have a running business in at least two key core markets, demonstrate a product-market fit and have a significant market size.

Anthill Spirits' venture builder accelerator programme will provide start-ups with funding and market access, as well as guidance and know-how in areas, such as business model refinement, new product development, marketing, market access, celebrity engagement and stage-based access to capital.

Prasad Vanga, Founder and CEO of Anthill Ventures said, "With our successful speed-scaling mantra, we aim to back courageous entrepreneurs disrupting the alcoholic beverages industry. We bring smart capital to enable the visionary brands and entrepreneurs whom we back to win."

Nayan Deekonda, CEO of Anthill Spirits said, "With the shift in demand from mass and traditional brands to premium/super-premium beverages, we see an opportunity to invest in and support visionary brands and technologies."

Anthill Ventures has a notable portfolio in the alco-bev industry, including award-winning brands like NAO Spirits (Hapusa and Greater Than) in the gin segment, which recently bagged a strategic investment from Diageo, ready to drink and lifestyle beverage brand, Salud, which is redefining the way alcobev marketing is done by adopting techs like NFT, category disruptor and leader in meads, Moonshine, and the first women-led Indian Alcobev craft spirit, Matinee. Anthill Spirits aim to build an ecosystem of founders, partners, mentors, corporates and investors to nurture and scale innovative alco-bev brands.

About Anthill Ventures:

Anthill is a global venture capital and speed-scaling ecosystem that invests in courageous entrepreneurs to build companies of the future. Their intervention enables transformational growth in early-stage companies across Healthcare, Mediatech, Urbantech and Consumer Lifestyle. Their ability to make targeted and timely interventions for start-ups to scale with speed enables them to have stronger growth trajectories through their global partner ecosystem.

About Anthill Spirits:

Anthill Spirits is a speed-scaling ecosystem focused on supporting courageous entrepreneurs who are creating innovative brands and technology to disrupt the alcoholic beverages landscape. Anthill Spirits brings smart capital, which is a combination of investment (money) and advisory (knowledge), to build an ecosystem for Alcobev startups.

Anthill and SparkLabs Join Forces to Boost International Growth for Indian and Korean Startups with Strategic Co-Investment Alliance

• Anthill and SparkLabs announce partnerships to boost the expansion of Indian Startups to the Korean market and invite Korean startups for access to the Indian market in the Healthcare, Urban Tech, Media tech, and Urban Lifestyle
• The partnership offers co-investment and market access opportunities to Indian & Korean Startups, it also offers Indian Family Offices & Corporate Venture Capital to get access to a global portfolio that can scale up in India

Anthill Ventures, the premier start-up accelerator fund and growth ecosystem, and SparkLabs, a renowned global network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds, announced today a strategic partnership to enhance the growth of Korean and Indian startups. With this partnership, both companies aim to bring together co-investment opportunities along with world-class mentorship, resources, and business expansion opportunities for technology-based startups from India and Korea in the Health care, Urban Tech, Media tech, and Urban Lifestyle fields.

SparkLabs has demonstrated its strengths over the past 10 years by hosting demo days and executing differentiated investment strategies. Basis its market experience and research, SparkLabs will analyze the barriers for Indian startups in the Korea market. On the other hand, Anthill with its vast network of corporates and investors in India will be the gateway for Korean startups to the Indian market. The startups from both countries will receive a host of benefits such as:

1. Growth Fund and Global VC Network
• Invest >10M into startups entering the growth stage
• Make follow-on investments in the top-performing startups
• Attract foreign investments by utilizing the global networks of both companies
2. Effective Marketing and Sales Strategies designed for the Startup ecosystem
• Increase applicable communication with various customers and global investors
• Leveraging media relations for startup profiling for earned media credibility
3. Localization of strategies
• Support implementation of location-specific strategies through evaluating relevant partnerships with leading corporations from Korea.
• Provide opportunities to create value through partnerships with ecosystem enablers like sales distributors, white labeling, joint ventures, research firms, and merger & acquisition firms.

India-Korea Bilateral trade reached a record high of USD 25.8 billion in 2022, despite the global slowdown in economic growth. The partnership between Anthill and SparkLabs offers a unique opportunity for startups, combining SparkLabs' extensive network and support from Anthill's proven accelerator programs. Startups will be equipped with the necessary tools to succeed and make a lasting impact in their industries. We're thrilled to offer this support and help bring the next generation of successful startups to the forefront.

Jimmy Kim and John Park, Partners at SparkLabs, said "The startup landscape in India has seen unprecedented growth, with a staggering 15,400% increase in just 6 years. This explosion of entrepreneurship has spread across 56 diverse sectors, with 4,500 startups making a mark in cutting-edge technology such as IoT, robotics, AI, and analytics. Our eagerness to collaborate with Anthill is driven by their mission to support startups in their journey to growth and scaling. Their values align with our goals, and we are excited to be a part of their continued success in fostering a thriving startup ecosystem in India."

"Excited to partner with SparkLabs and bring our strengths together to help entrepreneurs thrive," said Prasad Vanga, CEO of Anthill Ventures. "Seoul boasts a $39B startup ecosystem, ranked in the top 20 cities globally. Now, South Korea aims to expand its startup presence with cities like Busan and Daejeon as future hubs. With SparkLabs' global network and our focus on growth, this partnership offers unmatched support for tech entrepreneurs in a country with a thriving startup scene, huge market potential, skilled workforce, and favorable government policies."

Korean startups attracted a record-breaking $6.4B in venture investment in 2021, a 78% YoY growth. Seoul, home to 56% of total investments, hit a high of $3.5B. With 18 unicorns, including 7 new unicorns in 2021, Korea leads in AI & Big Data ($1.15B raised) and Life Sciences ($2B invested) and has a strong presence in manufacturing. The Seoul Metropolitan Government established Invest Seoul to attract $30B in foreign investment by 2030, while the government's $160M budget for robot-related R&D and talent development saw a 29% increase in 2021. (Source)

India's tech sector is thriving with companies such as TCS, WIPRO, HCL, and Infosys expanding into South Korea to meet the increasing demand for IT services and tap into a favorable business environment. These firms offer top-notch software development, digital transformation, and data analytics solutions. The Indian government fully supports this expansion to bolster bilateral trade and investment. Meanwhile, South Korean investments in India are creating job opportunities and spurring economic growth, particularly in electronics, automobiles, steel, and shipbuilding. South Korean giants such as Samsung, Hyundai, Posco, and Hyundai Heavy Industries have made a strong impact in the Indian market, joining other top tech firms such as LG, SK Telecom, and Hyundai Motors.

About Anthill:

Anthill is a global Venture Capital and Speed Scaling ecosystem that invests in courageous entrepreneurs to build companies of the future. Our intervention enables transformational growth in early-stage companies across Healthcare, Mediatech, Urbantech and Consumer Lifestyle.

Our DNA lies in our ability to make targeted and timely interventions for startups to #scalewithspeed and enable them to stronger growth trajectories through our global partner ecosystem.

About SparkLabs:

Sparklabs is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds, helping local startups go global. With the aim of helping startups succeed, we build leading startup ecosystems around the world and support entrepreneurs in their early stages of growth. Since evolution, SparkLabs has invested over 350 companies across 6 continents.

Hyperlocal News Platform PublicVibe (formerly NewsDistill) Raises Funds from IAN, Anthill and Hyderabad Angels

Hyderabad-based PublicVibe (formerly NewsDistill), a vernacular hyperlocal community news platform, has it raised an undisclosed amount in a funding led by Indian Angel Network (IAN) with participation from Anthill Ventures and Hyderabad Angels.

Bikky Khosla and Prashant Pahade from IAN will be joining the board of PublicVibe.

PublicVibe, which plans to launch a hyperlocal advertisement network in support of small businesses, will use the freshly raised capital in scaling its platform in one of the vernacular languages and to optimise its AI infrastructure for scaling up.

Launched in 2015 by Narasimha Reddy, PublicVibe serves instant hyper local news so that people aware of whats happening around them and involve to make a difference. Its mobile app connect people in a locality, bring awareness and it can also lead to resolution of local problems.

PublicVibe is also the winner of NASSCOM and Facebook's top 10 startups in India to create social impact and the product that can touch people lives at all levels in India.

Prior to the latest funding, PublicVibe had raised $100,000 in seed funding in September 2016. In that round, noted investors and technology leaders contributed to the funding and those include Mr. Narasimhan Ganesh, Senior Director, Box.com, Mr. Ramana Thumu, Vice President – eBay, and Mr. Sudhir Mallem - Uber.

Growing Vernacular Content Consumption

In a report published in March last year by IAMAI and Kantar IMRB, it was revealed that 205 million new internet users would come online if content is available in Indian vernacular languages, which will be key motivation of using internet for people who are not using it.

In January, Mumbai-based Agrahyah Technologies announced the launch of Aawaz.com, an audio on demand platform with 100% professionally generated content in Indian vernacular languages.

Last November, Vokal launched Video Questions & Answers (Q&A) in vernacular languages making it as the first product in India to be bring such a feature to vernacular Internet users.

In July last year, Vokal, a peer-to-peer (P2P) knowledge-sharing platform in Indian Languages, had raised $5 million in a Series A round of funding led by China’s Shunwei Capital and 500 startups.

Source - The Hans India

T-Hub, Anthill Launch Network of Women Angel Investors for Startups in India

What better way to celebrate International Women's Day than to encourage more and more women entrepreneurs to join the Industry and contribute equally in its growth? The Telangana Government decided to celebrate the occasion in a similar way this year.

T-Hub, which is a startup incubator set up by the Telangana Government, has joined hands with Anthill, a Hyderabad-based speed scaling platform for early-growth stage startups, to launch an international startup initiative, the Smart Women Angels Network (SWAN).

The initiative has been conceived with an aim of encouraging, supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in women, creating awareness about investments and recognising the need for women investors in the business world.

Having some roots in Barcelona, SWAN's strategy is to join hands with its counterparts from all over the world and invest in startups with a promising future.

Even though the Indian Startup industry has come a long way since its inception, but still women representation in the industry remains abysmal when compared to others in the world.

According to a statement given by Jay Krishnan, CEO, T-Hub, “The Indian startup ecosystem is one of the most thriving environments in the world. To encourage women to be active members of the ecosystem, T-Hub in collaboration with Anthill will change the dynamics of the community to make it more inclusive.”

The SWAN is looking to create an exclusive network for Women Business Angels which will work towards facilitating deal flow and conducting training and activities to promote women business angels and entrepreneurs in the Indian startup ecosystem.

Speaking on the big collaboration, Prasad Vanga, founder and CEO, Anthill, said, "Along with our partnership with T-Hub, we hope to transform the Indian startup ecosystem, by creating valuable partnerships both nationally and internationally that will help startups scale."

Cristina Ventura, President of SWAN and also an Angel and Fund-of- Funds Investor, said, “We recognise the potential of women investing in startups and how they are a crucial part of the global startup ecosystem. The percentage of women investors around the world is very less and in India, the numbers are very low. SWAN believes in creating an inclusive network that can make a positive difference.”

T-Hub is a unique public/private partnership between the government of Telangana, 3 of India’s premier academic institutes (IIIT-H, ISB & NALSAR) and key private sector leaders. It stands at the intersection of the start-up, academic, corporate, research and government sectors. It is currently one of the largest startup ecosystem builders in the country with over 2000 startups in its database clustered into various stages of growth.

On the other hand, Anthill Ventures is venture capital firm specializing in start-up, early stage and growth stage investments. It typically invests in Asian market. Within just two years, it has successfully built an impressive startup portfolio of 16 companies across India, US and South East Asia.

[Top Image: Telangana Today]