Lakhani Financial Services

✔ STARTUP FUNDRAISING - Lakhani Financial Services is India's premier Investment advisory firm which specializes in helping startups raise funds from our network of investors.

✔ BUSINESS PLAN CONSULTING - Lakhani Financial Services helps all its startup clients to prepare the most effective and efficient business plan which eventually helps startups in raising funds. Our team sits down with the founders for 6-8 days and works extensively with them by going into complete details about the business and their vision. Our business plan provides a 99% accurate model of the founder's vision.

✔ PITCH DECK CONSULTATION - They say 'first impression is the last one. Lakhani Financial Services helps startups in preparing beautiful pitch decks which create a WOW impact on the investors. 

✔ 1-2-1 MENTORING - I mentor startup founders on how to build their business, set up marketing and sales strategies, and scale up their business operations.

✔ ESOP DESIGN - From ESOP conceptualization to design to policy documentation and filing we take care of all your ESOP needs.

✔ Startup INDIA SEED FUND SCHEME (SISFS) & GOVT GRANTS FUNDING - We help startups at prototype development stage to raise funds funds from Govt schemes.

✔ STARTUP INDIA/DPIIT CERTIFICATION & TAX EXEMPTION - we do the entire documentation, filing, coordinating with the Govt resource and avail the certificate and tax exemption for startups.


💁‍♀️ WHY LAKHANI  FINANCIAL SERVICES? - We understand the whole startup ecosystem very well and specialize in working with early-stage startups. We eat, breathe, and live STARTUPS.

Thus, as a startup advisor, business plan consultant, pitch deck consultant, & mentor, our core objective is to raise funds for the startups

Director & Startup Fundraising expert

TÜSK

Fundraising Consultant

Tanvi fresh

MagTapp Technologies

1) Streamline Business ops
2) Advise on growth plans
3) Business model revamp
4) Revamping sales, marketing, ops and finance departments
5) Hiring advisory to founder

Strategic Advisor

Vajram Electric

Investor & Business Advisor

Startup India

I help startups with strategies on their growth. Working on achieving Prime Ministers vision of 'Startup India, Stand up India'

Startup Mentor

Rhizobee Innovations

Appliviu is a tech startup that enables a consumer fashion brand to take multiple photos for their website in just 24 hours and at 1/10th of the cost than what a normal photoshoot would cost.

www.appliviu.com 

#majorproblemsolving #startup

Business Advisor

NVS Brokerage

❇ Researched extensively on listed and unlisted companies, met with promoters, built financial models on companies, prepare research reports, pitch to clients including banks, insurance companies and HNI clients

❇ Worked with private limited companies, build business and financial models, pitched to investors, raised funds.

Fundraising and Equity Research Analyst

Vision Securities

❇ Handled stock market and financial issues
❇ Started the journey of a startup consultant here

Chartered Accountant

If you're a founder ready to raise funds, I am the partner investors want you to call.

I’m Devansh Lakhani, Founder & Director at Lakhani Financial Services (LFS) and a trusted partner to 450+ startups that have collectively raised over ₹ 300M in funding over the last 5 years.

Whether you’re preparing for your first investor meeting or scaling up, we help you get investor-ready through:

--> Fundraising Strategy & Investor Outreach
--> Financial Modeling & Virtual CFO Support
--> Business Plans & Pitch Decks
--> ESOP Structuring, Debt Advisory & Mentorship

My team and I have evaluated over 1750 startups and worked closely with founders across diverse industries like SaaS, D2C, Fintech, Impact, and more.

Beyond strategy, we actively connect startups with verified investors from a pool of 400+ , ensuring you're not just pitch-ready, but fund-ready.

We also host the Level Up Podcast, where I talk to India’s top entrepreneurs and investors to uncover real, raw startup journeys.

We are the host of India's first and only sports based startup pitching event- Indian Startup Premier League.

If you’re a startup founder looking to raise funds with clarity and confidence, let’s connect.

🔗 www.lakhanifinancialservices.com

➤ Follow me for weekly fundraising insights
➤ DM for 1-on-1 startup advisory
➤ Let’s connect : 9137212139

When we started ISPL, I wasn't sure if people would take it seriously.

"Cricket + startups?" honestly sounded like a crazy mix even to me.

But this weekend, as I stood on the turf watching 100+ founders, investors, and ecosystem partners laughing, competing, and sharing stories like old friends, I knew we were onto something bigger than just an event.

Founders weren't pitching, they were telling their stories.

Investors weren't judging, they were listening, cheering, and connecting in ways that no boardroom could ever allow.

The conversations that happened between overs, over food sessions, and in the pauses of the game showed something very real: the human side of both founders and investors.

The event was about trust, character, and shared stories rather than just pitch decks and numbers. And that's what makes ISPL special for me.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this possible — our sponsors, partners, investors, and every guest who believed in this crazy vision.

Without your faith, Indian Startup Premier League would have stayed just an idea.

And most importantly my wife and my partner, Ishita Shah ❤️

None of this would have been possible without her unwavering support. She's been my sounding board, my anchor, and the quiet force that turned this vision into reality.

This was Season 2.

The dream continues, and Season 3 will only be bigger. Coming soon..

Ishita Shah Lakhani Financial Services   BranchX Sajid Jamal Rajesh Johnny SackBerry Sakshi Darpan TÜSK Nikunj Choudhari NoFilter Varun Gosain Ajay Thakur Rakesh Kothari GrowthOS TiE Mumbai O'cean Beverages SNOFLO Bright Outdoor Media Limited Sairik Indian Startup Premier League Man Infraconstruction Limited (MICL) Yogesh Thite Dr. Yogesh Lakhani Rutvik Shirude Pritesh Jagtap appOFF! Jyotika Singh Utpal Doshi ThinKuvate Mrunal Jhaveri ICE.vc Delice Mascarenhas Honish Zaveri Anant Bengani

Devansh Lakhani

Angel Investor I Tie Mumbai Charter MemberI Startup Fundraising I Raised Rs.300 Mn+ I Business Plans I Pitch Deck I Level Up Podcast I ISPL I Speaker | Venture capital

When we first started ISPL, it was just an idea.

An idea that India's founders deserved a stage as electric as our dreams.
Fast forward — Season 2 kicks off tomorrow.

And I'm overwhelmed looking back at what this journey has become:

—i 100+ founders who walked onto the pitch and played their innings with courage
—+ 20+ startup stories that became the highlight shots of this league
—+ 25+ investors who showed up not as spectators, but as true coaches and partners in the game

But numbers don't capture the real story.

The real story is the founder stepping up to the crease with nerves and ambition.

The investor is ready to spot the next breakout player.

The team that worked late nights, powered by chai and conviction, to keep the field ready for every match.

To our chief guests, investors, founders, and my incredible team — thank you.

You've given us your trust, and that is the most precious currency in the startup world.

ISPL(Indian Startup Premier League) was never about just an event.

It was about proving that India's startup ecosystem deserves its own premier league — a place where dreams, grit, and belief meet opportunity.

Here's to season 2

See you all on the field tomorrow.

Ishita Shah

I was in North India recently, and something caught my eye on the streets of Delhi.

Everywhere I looked, these colorful battery autos, often called “Titli”  were buzzing around.

Post-COVID, they’ve multiplied.

Curious, I started taking rides whenever possible… and in the process, tried to decode the business model behind them.

Here’s what I found:

1. Acquisition & Financing

-  A “Titli” auto costs anywhere from ₹2–2.5 lakhs.

-  The biggest cost twist? The battery (30–40% of the price).

-  Most owners don’t buy the battery outright, they take it on subscription or pay-per-km, lowering the upfront burden.

-  Flexible EMIs and battery-as-a-service models have made entry possible for even first-time buyers.

2. Rental / Operating Model

-  Many investors buy the auto and rent it out to drivers.

-  The driver pays a fixed rent per day (~₹500–₹800), takes the auto out, earns from passengers, and returns it at night.

-  The owner collects rent; the driver keeps whatever extra they earn.

3. Earnings & Income Flow

-  For an owner:
 ₹600/day × 25 days = ₹15,000/month gross rental income.

-  Subtract charging (~₹2,000), maintenance, and battery subscription fees (~₹3,000–₹5,000).

-  Net income = ₹8,000–₹10,000/month per auto.

-  Scale that up → With 5 autos, you’re looking at ~₹40,000–₹50,000/month in semi-passive income.

4. The Risks

-  Credit risk: Driver defaults on daily rent.

-  Battery life: Replacement costs hit margins.

-  Infra gaps: Charging stations still scarce in parts of Delhi.

-  Regulations: Permits and policy changes can disrupt business.

 What looks like just another street vehicle is actually a micro-enterprise on wheels.

For the driver, it’s daily income.
For the owner, it’s recurring, semi-passive cash flow.

Scarcity of affordable mobility + innovation in financing = a model that has quietly scaled post-COVID.

Delhi’s streets aren’t just busy. They’re teaching us how micro-mobility, capital, and hustle can turn into sustainable businesses, while making passengers' lives easier for travelling.

Angel Investor I Director I Startup Fundraising I Raised Rs.300 Mn+ I Business Plans I Pitch Deck I Level Up Podcast I ISPL I Speaker | Venture capital

India doesn’t lack students. It lacks sustainable EdTech.

And the last 3 years have exposed that truth brutally.

From Zoom classes to billion-dollar valuations. EdTech in India had its moment.

But the crash that followed was equally brutal.

On my podcast with Harshil Gala, CEO of NAVNEET TOPTECH, we unpacked the hard truths and opportunities that lie ahead.

Here’s what stood out for me 👇

1. Market miscalculations : Everyone quoted “25 crore students” as the TAM. But no single product applies to all.

India is fragmented:

-  200 IB schools

-  2,000 ICSE schools

-  30,000 CBSE schools

-  3,00,000 state board schools

Many startups overestimated adoption, ignored willingness to pay, and collapsed.

2. Post-COVID correction : Parents shifted spending toward CBSE/English-medium schools and better infrastructure.

But hype-driven models relying on aggressive sales tactics couldn’t survive. The sector is now being rebuilt around sustainability, not valuation.

3. The future is skill-based :  NEP + NCF are pushing India from rote learning to experiential, skill-based education.

This isn’t a 3-year play, it’s a 30–40 year transformation. EdTech that aligns with this timeline will thrive.

4. AI in education :  Navneet’s AI, trained on 60+ years of proprietary content, is helping teachers generate quizzes, presentations, and games.

The future isn’t “replacing teachers.” It’s empowering them.

5. The investment lens : VC funds run on a 7-year cycle looking for 100x returns.
But education runs on decades.

This mismatch has already exposed dozens of failed models. Winners will be the ones who build cash-flow positive, patient businesses.

Education, it’s a responsibility. If you’re building in EdTech, stop chasing shortcuts. Align with how India actually learns, not how you wish it did.

Because in this space, hype dies fast. But sustainable impact compounds for generations.

A big Thanks to the our sponsors of the podcast:

Powered by: NoFilter Juice 
Co-Powered by: Titas Footwear 
Venue Partner: Lets Work co-spaces 
Growth Partner - GrowthOS
Digital Media Partners - StartupNews.fyi

VC isn’t about chasing the best spreadsheets. It’s about backing the best people.

When founders ask me what I look for before investing, they expect me to say:

-  Market size
-  Unit economics
-  Growth rate

All of that matters. 

But all the best investments I’ve made weren’t about perfect spreadsheets.

They were about imperfect people who refused to quit.

One founder I backed didn’t have the “ideal” deck or elite pedigree. But he had relentless clarity on the problem he was solving.

He knew his customer better than anyone else. When things went wrong (and they did), he didn’t run, he recalibrated.

That conviction is what turned his small idea into a real business. No excel sheet could’ve predicted that.

On the flip side, I’ve seen flawless projections collapse because the founder wasn’t resilient enough to handle turbulence. 

Numbers can look good on paper, but execution comes down to the person driving them.

As VCs, we sometimes forget: capital is just fuel. The real engine is the founder’s grit, vision, and ability to navigate storms.

The lesson for both founders and investors? Stop obsessing over just the model.
 Ask: Do I believe in this person?

Because at the end of the day, venture capital isn’t just about capital.
It’s about conviction.

Founders : what’s the one trait you value most in an investor?

As a VC, I don’t just back numbers. I back people. And you only see the real person when they’re out of their comfort zone.

Most investor-founder conversations happen in the same setup: Polished tables, pitch decks, and 30-minute slots.

But that format only tells me what a founder is building.

 It rarely shows me who they are.

And as every VC will agree, it’s the founder not the spreadsheet that ultimately determines whether a company survives the storm.

That’s why we created ISPL (Indian Startup Premier League).

On the cricket turf, something changes:

-  Founders aren’t just “pitching,” they’re making quick decisions, leading teams, staying calm under pressure.

-  Investors aren’t just “evaluating,” they’re connecting as human beings, cheering, joking, building trust.

-  Conversations flow naturally not forced by slides or a timer.

In Season 1 alone, we saw founders and investors walk away with more than just introductions.

Partnerships began, mentorships clicked, and yes,  funding conversations too.

To me, ISPL is proof that building ecosystems isn’t just about capital. It’s about building trust in environments where people can be themselves.

And sometimes, that’s easier to see when a founder is chasing runs instead of chasing valuations.

Royal Enfield was on the verge of shutting down. Not once, but three times. Today, it sells nearly a million bikes a year and has outperformed even Apple’s stock.

How did a failing, ‘oil-leaking, heavy, outdated’ motorcycle brand become a global cult?"

In the 2000s, Eicher Motors was ready to shut the business.
But a 26-year-old Siddhartha Lal convinced the board to give him one last chance.

That was the beginning of a turnaround story that every founder should study.

Lal didn’t sit in a corner office.
He went on road trips. Rode with customers. Asked tough questions.

He uncovered 6 critical problems the brand had ignored:

-  Engines leaked oil, broke down often.

-  No self-start, only a painful kickstart.

-  Bikes were damaged even before reaching stores.

-  Outdated design failing emission norms.

-  Sales & service experience was broken.

-  No aspiration. Japanese bikes felt modern, RE felt old.

This wasn’t market research. It was empathy at work.

Instead of minor tweaks, Lal changed the core product: Shifted from cast iron to aluminum engines.

Result? Bikes became lighter, smoother, more reliable, fuel-efficient, and compliant with global norms.

He also:
 ✅ Fixed packaging & logistics (no more damaged bikes)
 ✅ Transformed stores into biker hangouts
 ✅ Built communities & events → turning riders into a tribe

The Results:

📈 Sales grew 36x: from 25,000 bikes in 2005 → 920,000 in 2023
💰 Eicher stock grew 390,000% (yes, higher than Apple’s 60,000%)
🌍 Royal Enfield now exports to 50 countries and outsells Harley-Davidson
The Takeaways:

-  Focused Brilliance beats scattered hustle. Lal sold everything else to go all-in.

-  Customer conversations > consultant reports. Empathy uncovers what Excel never will.

-  The product is everything. Branding can’t save a bad product. A great product can save a dying brand.

Royal Enfield is proof that you don’t need to invent something new.
Sometimes, you just need to listen harder, simplify sharper, and build better.

What’s one dying brand you think can be revived with the right focus?

Most mornings used to look the same for me.

Wake up. Pick up the phone. Dive straight into WhatsApp groups, emails, and LinkedIn updates. By the time I had my first cup of chai, my head was already buzzing with investor decks, founder calls, and pitch reviews.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was starting my day like I was already behind.

No pause, no reset — just straight into the grind.

A few months ago, I decided to make one small change.

Just 5 minutes. No phone. No screen. No noise.

Just a quick check-in with myself: “How am I feeling today?”

“What kind of energy do I want to carry into this day?”

Some mornings, the answer is calm. Other days, it’s pure chaos.

But at least now, I know where I’m starting from.

It’s not a productivity hack. It doesn’t make me “more efficient.”

But it makes me more present when I sit across from a founder. Or when I’m going through a 3-hour pitch deck.

That 5-minute pause has been a game changer for me.

Because as founders, as investors, we’re always on the run.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is stop — just long enough to hear yourself before the world pulls you in 10 directions.

What grounds you in the morning? For me, it’s this pause (and of course, a strong cup of chai after).

When I think back to the most meaningful founder conversations I’ve had, very few of them were in boardrooms.

They didn’t start with pitch decks or spreadsheets.
They started with cutting chai at a tapri.

On long evening walks after a tough day.
Or even while playing a casual game of cricket.

Because that’s when people drop their guard.
 That’s when you get to know the person, not just the founder.

And that’s exactly what gave birth to ISPL (Indian Startup Premier League).

I’ve seen firsthand how energy, camaraderie, and trust build faster in informal spaces. A founder who’s strategizing his batting order is the same one who’s figuring out his GTM. An investor cheering for a six is the same one who might back you tomorrow.

I’ve sat through hundreds of formal pitches. 

They’re important, yes—but they don’t always show you the founder’s spark, their energy, or their ability to think on their feet.

On the cricket pitch, it’s different.

A founder planning his batting order is the same founder who’s planning his GTM.
An investor cheering for a six is the same investor who might back you tomorrow.

Networking doesn’t need to be stiff. It can be human. Fun. Real.That’s what ISPL is all about.

Season 3 is coming soon.

More cricket. More conversations. More chances to build connections that last.

AstroTalk didn’t “disrupt” astrology. They did something smarter: they built trust at scale. And they used influencers to do it.

Astrotalk started in 2017 with a simple idea: Connect astrologers with users online.

Today:
-  50M+ app downloads

-  40M+ users served

-  ₹651 crore revenue in FY24 (up from ₹282 crore in FY23!)

-  85%+ share of India’s online astrology market

But the real kicker? They didn’t rely on billboards or endless ad spend.

They cracked influencer-led growth.

The Influencer Playbook That Worked

-  Celebrity creators for social proof → “I used Astrotalk before this big decision.” Relatable, trust-driven.

-  Micro & regional creators for intent → Local language, contextual stories (“career guidance,” “marriage clarity”).

-  Productized funnels → Direct booking links, codes, quick app onboarding.

-  Trust amplified → Verified astrologers, ratings, real-time consult previews.

This combination made creator trust = customer acquisition engine.

Why it scaled so fast

1  Astrology is emotional → creators transfer trust faster than ads.

2.  Local language creators unlocked Tier 2/3 India.

3.  Retention was natural → 1 good consult = multiple repeat sessions.

4.  Distribution > disruption → they didn’t reinvent astrology, they just made it accessible.

 You don’t need to invent a new category. Sometimes the biggest wins come from:

-  Taking something old

-  Making it relevant

-  Scaling it with the right distribution

AstroTalk shows that influencer marketing isn’t a “trend.”

It’s the modern trust engine especially when your product lives at the intersection of belief and decision-making.

Do you think influencer-led trust can scale in non-emotional categories (say, SaaS or B2B)?

Most founders think capital is their biggest fuel.
It isn't.

I've seen term sheets run dry.
I've seen businesses collapse after raising millions.

But I've never seen curiosity run out on someone who's obsessed.

When I look back at my own journey, the real breakthroughs didn't come from bank balances.
They came from late-night rabbit holes.

From recording podcasts where one question spirals into ten more.
From listening to a founder explain a business model I thought I already understood... and
realizing I didn't.

Capital is finite. But curiosity compounds.

The best founders I've backed weren't the loudest pitchers or the most polished decks.

They were the ones who couldn't stop learning.
Who took rejections as research.
Who showed up with more questions than answers.

That hunger is what keeps you alive when money is tight.

That hunger is what outlives the funding cycle.

Here's the contrarian truth: You don't run out of resources first.
You run out of imagination.

So if you're building right now, ask yourself: When was the last time you got lost in a question?
When was the last time you followed your curiosity beyond the deck?

Because in the long game, capital can keep you afloat.
But curiosity is what makes you unstoppable.

✨ 90% of Indians ignore oral care.
But here’s the truth behind celebrity smiles…...🦷💡
It’s time to rethink how we care for our teeth!

👉 What’s your daily oral care habit?

Watch the full video ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dsHvgBjT

TÜSK Nikunj Choudhari
#oral #levelup

The very first episode of Level Up with Devansh still feels special to me.

Because it wasn’t just the start of a podcast journey, it was the start of conversations that remind me why founders and leaders think the way they do.

And in that very first episode, with Arjun Vaidya (Founder, Dr. Vaidya's by RPSG Group), one story stayed with me.

As a kid, Arjun had a challenge: a hand-eye coordination problem.

While others batted in cricket or controlled the ball in football, he struggled.
Every year from the 3rd to the 8th grade, he tried out for his school’s football team. Every year, he didn’t make it.

Most kids would’ve quit after two or three rejections.

But in college, Arjun chose a different path.

He stopped trying to be the most skilled on the ball. Instead, he doubled down on what he could control: effort.

“I’ll run the most on the field. By the time others get tired, I’ll still be moving.”
And it worked.

That mindset, to convert weakness into endurance shaped not just his football game, but his entrepreneurial journey.

You don’t always need to be the slickest or the most naturally talented.

Sometimes, the compounding effect of sheer effort is what makes you stand out.

That’s what Level Up is about: finding the human stories behind business journeys.

The full episode is here : https://lnkd.in/dV9gxQSJ

When I started out, “professionalism” meant one thing: Polished decks. Formal shirts. Perfect answers to investor questions.

But over the years, sitting across 500+ founders and seeing startups rise and fall  I’ve realised professionalism isn’t about polish.

 It’s about practice.

Here’s what I mean :- 

1. Professionalism is keeping promises, not making them. Any founder can promise 10x growth in a deck. Few deliver even 2x with consistency.

I’d rather back the one who quietly delivers every month than the one who dazzles in one board meeting.

2. Professionalism is being human. I’ve seen founders who try to act like machines. Never admitting doubt, never showing vulnerability.

But here’s the truth: teams don’t trust a robot. They trust a human who says, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll figure it out with you.”

3. Professionalism is a process under pressure.:  Markets tank. Customers churn. Competitors undercut. In those moments, you don’t rise to the occasion — you fall to the level of your systems.

Clear governance, clean cap tables, transparent communication: that’s what keeps a startup alive when adrenaline fades.

 4.. Professionalism is treating everyone with respect.
 Not just investors.

But employees, suppliers, even the chaiwala who delivers to your office daily. Culture isn’t built in all-hands meetings. It’s built in how you behave on ordinary Tuesdays.

Founders often ask me: “What do investors really look for?”
My answer: I look for professional founders.

Not the most polished. Not the loudest. But the ones who:

- Deliver consistently

- Lead with empathy

- Build systems, not chaos

- Respect every stakeholder

- And can stay resilient without burning out.

That’s the new professionalism. It’s what separates hype from longevity.

Curious to know — what does professionalism mean to you as a founder?

Didn't know creators play garba so well 🫢 

Super meeting Raj Shamani and many others 💫

It’s not about big budgets, it’s about smart moves. 

🚀 New-age brands can beat giants by going online-first & building stories that connect. 💡 

#startuplife #brandbuilding

Nikunj Choudhari TÜSK

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