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The unabated rise of startups in the country has cemented India’s position as one of the world’s technology powerhouses. 

The country is home to over 50K startups, and investors are taking note of this growing asset class. The fact that Indian startups raised $19 Bn in funding across 900 deals in H1 2022, marking an all-time high in terms of funding amount and deal count, is a testament to the rising interest of investors in startups. 

According to Inc42’s ‘Indian Tech Startup Funding Report’, 1,934 unique investors participated in funding deals in H1 2022, marking the highest ever half-yearly investor participation and a 57% surge in investor participation between H1 2018 and H1 2022. This, combined with the fact that India’s 105 unicorns have collectively raised over $93 Bn in funding, proves that technology and innovation will indeed shape the future of entrepreneurship in India. 

Since 2014, more than 2,500 angel investors have participated in 3,500+ funding deals, and this pool is only getting bigger and bigger. If you were not part of this group, now is the time to join the journey of Indian startups and support the next generation of entrepreneurs, while building a solid investment portfolio for yourself. 

To help India’s HNIs (high-net-worth individuals) understand the technology landscape, evaluate startups and plan their investment strategy, Inc42 has announced its first live cohort-based programme AngelX, where you can learn angel investing from India’s top angel investors.

We are combing through 300+ applications to select 50 fellows to be part of this cohort program which starts from August 20, 2022. 

Over 45 HNIs have already joined the programme, including angel investors, serial entrepreneurs, people from India’s biggest family offices, and investors from Japan, Singapore and the Middle East. More than 65% of the participants have already invested in at least three startups, while 30% have invested in more than 10 startups.

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“Angel investing means always being in spring mode. You cannot be scared of a winter or invest recklessly when there’s a boom. You have to be consistent and not react to cycles,” according to Rajesh Sawhney, founder & CEO of GSF Accelerator

We have brought together 15+ mentors and guests including the likes of Sawhney; 3one4’s Siddarth Pai; 100X.VC’s Sanjay Mehta; LetsVenture’s Shanti Mohan; Innov8 Coworking’s Ritesh Malik; Info Edge’s Sanjeev Bikhchandani, among others, to help the participants learn the art of angel investing. 

Together, these investors have invested in some of India’s leading startups across sectors such as ecommerce, fintech, healthtech, edtech and more. Unicorns such as Licious, OYO, Open, and Unacademy, and soonicorns like Jupiter, Shiprocket and HealthifyMe are some of the startups backed by these investors.

The interactive sessions of AngelX will be a mix of open talks, panel discussions, insightful masterclasses and networking opportunities. At the end of the programme, all fellows will get a chance to be part of a startup showcase and potentially invest in startups. 

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From developing the right investment thesis, planning exit strategy to finding the right startups, AngelX is your one-stop destination to level up your investment knowledge, invest in winning deals and reduce risks.

Here’s what you will learn in the AngelX program over the course of four weeks: 

In the first week, AngelX fellows will learn the secret mantras of some of the biggest and most successful angel investors in the startup ecosystem. Learn how angel investing really works and build your investment thesis. Our mentors will answer some pertinent questions around evaluating sectors, business models, ticket sizes, and identifying the right deals. 

You will also learn about the most lucrative industries to invest in, how to narrow down your focus on deals, the difference between VC and angel investor thesis and a lot more. 

How to identify winning deals and what is the role of syndicates? What are the fundamentals of cap tables and dilutions? How can novice investors master the art of deal negotiation? These are some of the burning questions our expert investors will answer during this power-packed week.

During this week, you will also learn how to build and evolve your investment thesis, why speed is crucial and how to identify the right time to exit a startup. Additionally, our guest speakers will take a deep dive into the world of deeptech to help you navigate the maze of Web3 and crypto startups, evaluate legal risks and core value propositions. 

During this week, you will learn about regulations, taxation challenges, and the ways to overcome them. You will also learn how to evaluate term sheets, shareholder agreements and the criteria for assessing deals. This is the week when aspiring investors take their first step into the real world of angel investing.

At AngelX Startup Showcase, the participants will get to attend live pitching sessions and get hands-on experience from actual startups and an opportunity to invest in them.

This week will be all about networking, discussions and conversations!

Fellows will get the chance to attend an offline event and meet the mentors and guests at a convocation ceremony in Delhi. During this week, you can engage with AngelX peers to co-invest and build momentum by creating a syndicate or micro fund to accelerate the investment pace.

But that’s not all!

You will also receive Inc42 Plus membership to help you stay up to date with the hottest trends in the startup ecosystem and give you an exclusive opportunity to attend year-round marquee events.  

We’re calling senior executives and leaders working across corporates, startups, banks and MNCs; entrepreneurs, founders and creators from the tech world; and rising entrepreneurs from family businesses who are looking to diversify to join us for this one-of-a-kind program and accelerate their journey towards becoming a super angel investor.

Apply For AngelX