Invest Fest India · Ed.05 | The Room Where Rounds Begin
Where rounds begin.
10 audited startups. Verified investors. One deal room.
Demo days are built for applause. Invest Fest is built for the meeting after.
Most pitch events end the same way: polite claps, a few LinkedIn requests, and silence.
At Venture Care, we designed Invest Fest the other way round. We start with the outcome, which is an investor and a founder in a real conversation about a round, and build everything backwards from there.
Ed.04 brought 190 founders and investors into one room. For Ed.05, we’re making the room smaller, sharper and harder to get into.
Free for founders and investors. Every seat is approved individually.
Why Invest Fest is different
Every startup carries a Venture Care Capital Readiness Score
No startup reaches this stage on a good deck alone. Each one goes through the Venture Care Capital Readiness review: business model, numbers, narrative, market, investor fit and growth plan. Investors receive the scorecard before the pitch, so the Q&A starts at the hard questions.
Investors pitch too
In the Reverse Pitch, every investor gets 60 seconds to tell founders what they fund, what they don’t, and what they bring beyond the cheque.
Interest becomes a meeting within 7 days
When an investor flags interest, the Venture Care team schedules the 1-on-1 within a week. No “let’s connect sometime.”
Only 10 pitch slots
We’d rather put 10 fundable companies in front of serious capital than 40 hopefuls in front of an audience.
The 3-hour run of show (IST)
11:00: Opening: what investors are actually funding right now, by CS Abhishek Kumar
11:10: Reverse Pitch: investors introduce themselves to founders in 60 seconds each
11:35: Pitch Block 1: 5 startups, 5-minute pitch + 5-minute investor Q&A
12:25: Pitch Block 2: 5 startups, same format
13:15: Venture Care InvestMatch: investors pick their founders, live 1-on-1 breakout rooms
13:55: Close: every interest flagged becomes a scheduled meeting
👨💼 For Investors: Skip the filtering. Start at conviction.
Every company here has already been through a structured review, so you spend three hours on the top of the funnel rather than the whole funnel.
Capital Readiness scorecard for every startup, shared in advance
Due diligence summaries on the companies you shortlist
Your own 60-second Reverse Pitch, so the right founders come to you
Live 1-on-1 InvestMatch rooms on the day
Concierge scheduling for follow-ups
Continued access to Venture Care-vetted deal flow on Venture Suite
For: Angel investors, micro VCs, family offices, fund managers, and CXOs who invest personally. Every investor is verified, so founders can trust the room as much as you do.
👩💻 For Founders: Walk in ready. Walk out with meetings.
Fundraising rarely fails because the startup is bad. It fails because the founder walks in unprepared for the questions. We fix that before you’re on stage.
Pitch deck and financial model audit by the Venture Care team
A Capital Readiness scorecard showing where you stand and what to fix
A 10-minute slot in front of verified investors (5-minute pitch + 5-minute Q&A)
The investors’ Reverse Pitch, so you know exactly who’s in the room
Live 1-on-1 meetings with interested investors
Written feedback report after the event, plus priority matchmaking
For: Founders with a validated product, MVP or early traction who plan to raise in the next 3–6 months.
Not selected for a pitch slot? Every complete application gets a short Venture Care readiness note telling you what’s holding your raise back. Nobody leaves with nothing.
📅 Key dates
Applications close: Sunday, 22 November 2026
Shortlisted founders notified, audits begin: by 25 November
Event: Thursday, 10 December 2026 · 11:00 AM–2:00 PM IST · Zoom
1-on-1 investor meetings: 11–18 December
Who’s behind this
Venture Care sits between founders and investors. We help founders raise smarter and help investors find better opportunities. Since 2016, we’ve supported 600+ startups and helped mobilise ₹200 Cr+ in capital.
Hosted by CS Abhishek Kumar, Founder & CEO, Venture Care. Abhishek has spent 10+ years working with entrepreneurs and has been part of fundraising journeys that have raised $60M+. His work centres on one idea: Capital Readiness- the startups that raise well get ready before they ask.
FAQ
What does it cost?
Nothing. Invest Fest is free for founders, investors and observers. Founder and investor seats are approved individually, so the room stays selective.
Who should apply to pitch?
Founders with a validated product, MVP or early traction who plan to raise in the next 3–6 months. If you’re further out, register as a Startup Observer.
How are the 10 startups selected?
Every application is reviewed by the Venture Care team on Capital Readiness: business model, numbers, narrative, market, investor fit and growth plan. Shortlisted founders are notified by 25 November.
What if I’m not selected?
You’ll still get a short Venture Care readiness note on what’s holding your raise back, and you can join the event as an audience member.
Does Venture Care take equity or a fee for pitching?
No.
Which sectors?
Tech and B2B startups across sectors, from MVP to growth stage.
Is it only for Indian startups?
India-focused, with global founders welcome
I pitched at Ed.04. Can I apply again?
Yes. Show us your progress since, and we’ll review you fresh.
Who sees my pitch deck?
Only the Venture Care team and approved investors at the event. We don’t share it publicly.
I’m an investor. Will I be pitched to all day?
No. You’ll see 10 pre-screened startups with scorecards in advance, and you choose who you meet.
Can observers ask questions?
Observer seats are view-only. Live Q&A is reserved for investors, so the pitches stay focused.
Will there be a recording?
No. Join live.
📩 ask@venture-care.com · 📞 +91 9172713075
🌐 venture-care.com
Invest Fest is a Venture Care initiative. Build better. Raise smarter. Scale stronger.