Travel Tech Startup Naturenama Gets $225K in Seed Funding from White Unicorn Ventures

Mumbai-based travel-tech startup Naturenama has raised Rs 1.5 crore ($225,000) in seed funding from White Unicorn Ventures. Started in January this year, the startup will use the funding for technology enhancement, brand building and marketing. The company’s website is yet to go live and it will work as a travel guide and as a planner for wildlife and adventure travels.

Naturenama is the bridge between you and the great outdoors. Whether it is a nature walk, a safari in the African bush or a trek through the frozen Himalaya - the startup ensure you have the best experience possible.

"At Naturenama, we understand exactly what’s missing today and with our platform we plan to fill the many gaps in the fragmented market that is outdoor travel. We work with verified partners from across the world and provide a seamless travel experience to our customers," the startup said.

Shaunak Modi, Founder Shaunak brings his 10+ years of experience in the field to Naturenama. He has travelled across India’s outdoors as a wildlife and landscape photographer and has spent time in various forests for his wildlife research. Given his experience, he understands well the intricacies of wildlife travel in India. A student of both journalism and herpetology; he writes about wildlife conservation issues and has been a part of research teams studying the reptiles and amphibians in various parts of the Western Ghats.

White Unicorn Ventures ha invested in 15 companies so far including Routofy, Shaadisaga, Justride, Unstockify, Hostelhousing, Lernr and Carcrew. It is an investment firm that specializes in seed funding and early-stage support for Startups.

White Unicorn Ventures vision is to play a critical role in building and nurturing the startup ecosystem by helping young entrepreneurs in their early steps, expansion, bridge funding, as well as providing incubation co-sharing start up real estate space.

It specialize in value addition and advisory services for categories ranging from Robotics, IoT, Real Estate 3D VR, Manufacturing, Restaurants, ITeS, Services, Fintech, SaaS, Mass Rapid Transport Solutions, Water Management, Governmental Services, Education. Also, the firm is looking to raise $20 million fund to invest in early-stage startups.

Image Source: ShutterStock

White Unicorn Ventures Launches First Incubation Co-working Space ‘Unicorn Growth Centre’

Early-stage investment firm White Unicorn Ventures, launched their first incubation co-working space ‘Unigrowth Center’ in Santacruz West, Mumbai today. This co-working office space is an all-private suite offices can accommodate approx. six companies with a workforce of four to 10 people per company.

The Unicorn Growth Centre is just not a Co-Working Space, but also provides services ranging to Online Marketing, OOH Media, PR Agency, Secretarial Services, Chartered Accountancy Services, Legal Services, Treasury Management, Seed Funding and much more. The Centre provides a fully equipped workspace with 24 X 7 access, offers a wide range of facilities such as round the clock security, Wi-Fi experience, UPS backup, open office environment, laser printer, scanner, coffee & tea, recreation area, terrace garden, video conferencing, conference rooms, cafeteria, and lounge facilities to the occupants.

Rohit Chokhani, Principal founder, White Unicorn Ventures, “The idea behind this Growth Centre is to provide an environment for companies that is future proof and empowers their businesses. We are providing all the facilities in our Growth Centre and with the launch of this co-working space, we want start-ups to ideate differently, think out of the box want and flourish in the businesses they have embarked upon. Besides providing the run of the mill facilities, we shall also help these companies by mentoring them at every stage of their business; help them with getting talent on board, structure their organizations and most importantly also provide a platform for growth of their venture. We believe in non-intrusive guidance.”

“We will be starting two more Growth Centers which will be slightly bigger and will be spread across more than 4000 sq ft. One at Powai, accommodating about 10 companies and other at Andheri West in Mumbai, added, Rohit Chokhani. Our aim is to double the capacity in the next two years.”

Currently, the companies who are a part of the first Growth Centre include Unstockify, Blue Box Consultancy, Prime Squares, Aarchon & Nature-Nama

Prerak Mehta, founder of Unstockify said, “The Unicorn Growth Centre is an apt place for start-ups like us to start working as it offers us with all the basic facilities and much more. We are excited to learn and grow from other like-minded entrepreneurs in our journey. The company has made sure that the Centre holds a reputation and will attract more startups in the near future”.

White Unicorn Ventures has planned to invest around $20 million in early-stage start-ups this year. The company also aims to spend up to $5 million by the end of 2016. White Unicorn has invested in 15 companies so far and some of them include Routofy, Shaadisaga, Justride, Unstockify, Hostelhousing, Lerner, Carcrew amongst others.

White Unicorn Ventures Plans to Raise a $20M Fund For Early Stage Companies

White Unicorn Ventures is planning to raise a $20-million fund to invest in early-stage companies. The firm is in talks with investors in Germany and Silicon Valley for the purpose and aims to spend up to $5 million by the end of 2016, five times as much as it did last year.

50% of the fund allocation will focus on cross-border deals while the remaining amount will largely focus on real-estate tech startups in India. The firm plans to spend $5 million this year across sectors, involving "anything from transportation and travel to B2B marketplaces,"

Most VC firm are interested in health and education technology startups, while White Unicorn Ventures is scouting for early-stage businesses in real estate technology that don't simply serve as a listing portal but provide an end-to-end service experience. "The real estate tech sector could grow to be a regulated industry... better data transfer, stronger provision of mass housing, inclusive of comparatively newer models like peer to peer networks for brokers...listing alone cannot be monetised," said Rohit Chokhani, principal founder of White Unicorn Ventures.

White Unicorn Ventures is an investment firm that specializes in seed funding and early-stage support for Startups. Its vision is to play a critical role in building and nurturing the startup ecosystem by helping young entrepreneurs in their early steps, expansion, bridge funding, as well as providing incubation co-sharing start up real estate space.

A few days back, the consumer-focused investment firm DSG Consumer Partners (DSGCP) has made the first close of its second fund at $35 million from Verlinvest, the Belgium-based investment holding company. The VC firm will invest in about 20 early-stage ventures across the broader consumer space, while looking to identify opportunities in health, fitness, nutrition, FMCG, financial services, fin-tech, food processing, dairy and alco-bev. And IvyCap Ventures which is known for investing in early and growth stage companies, has also raised around $45 million for the first close of its second fund of $90 million.

Also, earlier this month, Dutch consumer electronics and healthcare firm Philips announced its plans to set up an India-focused venture fund to make investment in Indian healthcare technology startups.

White Unicorn Ventures Plans to Raise a $20M Fund For Early Stage Companies

White Unicorn Ventures is planning to raise a $20-million fund to invest in early-stage companies. The firm is in talks with investors in Germany and Silicon Valley for the purpose and aims to spend up to $5 million by the end of 2016, five times as much as it did last year.

50% of the fund allocation will focus on cross-border deals while the remaining amount will largely focus on real-estate tech startups in India. The firm plans to spend $5 million this year across sectors, involving "anything from transportation and travel to B2B marketplaces,"

Most VC firm are interested in health and education technology startups, while White Unicorn Ventures is scouting for early-stage businesses in real estate technology that don't simply serve as a listing portal but provide an end-to-end service experience. "The real estate tech sector could grow to be a regulated industry... better data transfer, stronger provision of mass housing, inclusive of comparatively newer models like peer to peer networks for brokers...listing alone cannot be monetised," said Rohit Chokhani, principal founder of White Unicorn Ventures.

White Unicorn Ventures is an investment firm that specializes in seed funding and early-stage support for Startups. Its vision is to play a critical role in building and nurturing the startup ecosystem by helping young entrepreneurs in their early steps, expansion, bridge funding, as well as providing incubation co-sharing start up real estate space.

A few days back, the consumer-focused investment firm DSG Consumer Partners (DSGCP) has made the first close of its second fund at $35 million from Verlinvest, the Belgium-based investment holding company. The VC firm will invest in about 20 early-stage ventures across the broader consumer space, while looking to identify opportunities in health, fitness, nutrition, FMCG, financial services, fin-tech, food processing, dairy and alco-bev. And IvyCap Ventures which is known for investing in early and growth stage companies, has also raised around $45 million for the first close of its second fund of $90 million.

Also, earlier this month, Dutch consumer electronics and healthcare firm Philips announced its plans to set up an India-focused venture fund to make investment in Indian healthcare technology startups.