Builder Session: Fundraising
Most fundraising advice is generic. Most founder–investor interactions are either too formal or too transactional.
This session is designed to change that.
You don't just listen — you engage, ask, and connect.
Builder Session: Fundraising is a curated, closed-door evening in Mumbai built around three things — a Pitch Session, a Live Q&A with Investors, and curated Networking. All in one room. All in one evening.
This is the first event under our Builder Session format — a series we're building specifically for founders who need more than networking. Each session focuses on one critical challenge. This one is fundraising.
Meet the Investor Panel
Rajesh Mane - Cofounder & Managing Partner - Spotlight | Early Investor @ Pixis, VideoVerse, Renée, Zypp, IGP & 180+ startups
Bhawna Bhatnagar - Angel Investor (Ex Avinya Ventures, EvolveX Accelerator, WeFounder Circle, Byte Dance, India Today)
Anshul Dave - Angel Investor at PeeSafe, IGP, Evolve Snacks, MSMEx and many more startups
More panelists will be announced as confirmations come in.
What's Happening in the Room
🎤 Pitch Session Selected founders pitch directly to active investors in the room. Investors engage with feedback, questions, and real dialogue — not polite applause.
What makes this different from a typical pitch event is the balance we've built into the evening — equal parts pitching, learning, and networking. No single element overshadows the other.
We also go beyond simply giving you a platform. Every founder interested in pitching goes through a pre-event qualification process via our registration form. This allows us to evaluate your startup's stage, traction, and overall readiness before the event.
Pitch Eligibility To be considered for a pitch slot, your startup must:
Be at MVP stage or beyond
Have some traction or early revenue to demonstrate
Here's how the process works:
If accepted — you pitch with confidence knowing investors will find your startup worth listening to.
If improvements are needed — we guide you on refining your pitch before the event so you show up stronger.
If not yet ready — we share constructive feedback so you know exactly what to work on before approaching investors again. We also offer a fundraising mentoring plan where experienced mentors guide you on becoming pitch-ready.
Interested in pitching? Apply here: https://forms.gle/FLdxwrU2AN228SoP6
A quick note on expectations: Pitching here does not guarantee funding. What it does guarantee is that you pitch in front of real, active investors, get evaluated honestly, and walk away with direct feedback on your startup. If an investor finds you relevant, they will take the conversation forward on their own terms.
💡 Live Q&A with Investors A candid, open conversation with investors — angels, VCs, and family office professionals. Bring your real fundraising questions and get direct answers. No rehearsed responses. No generic advice.
🤝 Networking The floor opens up for everyone — founders and investors — to move around freely and have direct conversations with whoever is relevant to them.
What You'll Walk Away With
A realistic picture of how investors evaluate early stage startups — not the polished version, the honest one
Clarity on where you stand in your fundraising readiness and what gaps to address
Direct relationships with investors who have seen your face, heard your thinking, and know what you're building
Who This Is For
Early stage founders actively seeking funding — pre-seed, seed, or Series A
Founders at any stage who want real clarity on the fundraising process
Angel Investors and VC professionals looking to connect with serious founders
The one non-negotiable: you must be actively building something, not just exploring the idea.
Who This Is Not For
Idea-stage founders with no product or traction
Anyone attending out of casual curiosity without a genuine fundraising goal
Student founders
Registration & Pricing
Attendee (Q&A + Networking): ₹600 For founders and investors who want to be part of the fireside chat, live Q&A, and 1:1 networking session.
Pitcher (Pitch Session + Q&A + Networking): ₹1,000 For founders who want to pitch directly to investors in addition to attending the full session.
How the pitch slot works: Register at ₹600 to secure your spot. Once confirmed, you'll receive a separate form to apply for a pitch slot. If selected, you'll be asked to pay the remaining ₹400 to confirm your pitch slot.
Pitch slots are limited and selection is based on application review.
How Registration Works
Submit your profile and business details
We review your application
Approved — payment link and exact venue address shared
Not a fit — we'll let you know directly
Co-organised with Zo Code Club By Entrepreneurs Arch | 95+ events