Surat, December, 2020.

The Indian venture capital ecosystem is witnessing a major paradigm shift. Over the last few years, several small town investors coming forward to help create and build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that is not limited to just the top ten metros. In the last few months, many top-notch strategic entrepreneurs-turned-investors from B and C towns such as Surat, Bilaspur, Cuttack and Vizag have joined 9Unicorns, India’s first Accelerator VC fund, as venture partners to be able to be a part of the country’s vibrant and burgeoning start-up community.

Gaurav V Singhvi, a Surat-based Chartered Accountant by qualification and an Investment Banker by profession, has recently joined Mumbai-based 9Unicorns as a venture partner. Mr Singhvi, a first generation serial entrepreneur and founder of The Financial Supermarket Group, has over six years of investing experience and have backed about 57 promising start-ups as an angel investor through his family office Gaurav Singhvi Ventures. He is aalso a Certified Franchise Executives (CFE) from the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE, USA).

As a venture partner at 9Unicorns, which is a part of Venture Catalysts, Mr Singhvi will help in carrying out due-diligence and strategizing investing opportunities at 9Unicorns. He also would be instrumental in inspiring and bringing in more investors from smaller towns to join 9Unicorn’s network.

Welcoming Mr Singhvi onboard, Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder and MD, 9Unicorns, said, “We are excited to have Gaurav Singhvi as a Venture Partner at 9Unicorns. His commitment towards our fund shows how successful business persons from tier II and tier III cities are interested in exploring their role as angel investors. As India’s largest integrated incubator and accelerator VC, it is our constant thrive to create a widespread network of investors beyond metros.”

As an active investor, Mr Singhvi’s ideology is built on 3Ps –Promoter, Product and Potential market. He has invested in some interesting and innovative startups such asFynd, SuprDaily,Beardo and BharatPe and has got successful exits from about 17 start-ups, which has further encouraged other high net-worth individuals and new generation businessmen to recognise start-ups as an alternate investment asset class. “For the next 10 years, investment in start-ups would be the most exciting opportunity with stellar rerturns,” Mr Singhvi feels.

Talking about his association at 9Unicorns, Mr Singhvi said,“I am extremely delighted to expand my collaboration with 9Unicorns. I am also part of the Venture Catalysts that has really honed my investing skills to spot high growth start-ups. Coming from a small town, for over four years no one took my investment strategies seriously.  I want to break the myth that small town investors do not understand the start-up ecosystem. We see tremendous potential in mobilising start-up and investment activity across tier II and tier III Indian cities, and I am thrilled to play a part in this journey with 9Unicorns.”

Initiatives such as 9Unicorns are needed to augment the growth of the Indian start-up ecosystem. Engaging with this accelerator, start-ups will be able to access global VCs and family offices for series A/B, as well as, follow on committed investments by Venture Catalysts for deserving start-ups.

9Unicorns is an initiative by Venture Catalysts (VCats) founders — Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Anuj Golecha, Anil Jain, Gaurav Jain. The Rs 300 crore-9Unicorns Fund is one of the largest and fastest growing accelerator in the country at present.