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Over 130 startups have been spotlighted by ‘Startup Table with AJ’ platform; Gaining access to capital, strategic mentorship, and exposure to real-world startup dynamics
India, 7th May 2025: Indian start-up ecosystem is buzzing and is poised to contribute USD 1 Trillion by 2030. Recents reports have suggested that India’s funding winter is finally passing but the same cannot be said about very early stage start-ups. A clear indicative preference to later stage start-ups over very early stage start-ups have resulted in the segment shrinking to half its size in 2024 when compared with 2022(source) . In an endeavor to spotlight very early start-ups, entrepreneurs and founders with a vision, Rukam Capital, India’s leading consumer focused VC, introduced Startup Startup Table with AJ in 2024.
Over the years, a prevailing trend of focusing on established start-ups and founders have taken a centre stage, reducing opportunities of very early stage start-ups with enough avenues to talk, discuss and spotlight their innovation. Startup Table with AJ breaks through this clutter. The program has been conceptualised to empower them with a platform that enables them to discuss challenges and opportunities with like minded industry members, resulting in fundings, industry confidence, understanding nuances about the segment as well as peers who become their sounding board.
Rukam Capital is driven by its philosophy to nurture the next generation of Indian start-ups, giving them ample opportunities and a platform to connect with like-minded individuals. This philosophy is also translated during the 18 episodes and 2 seasons of Startup Table with AJ. Each episode features a different cohort that focuses on segments like D2C, gaming, personal care amongst others and is anchored by industry veteran, Archana Jahagirdar. Each cohort features very early stage start-ups pillared by the vision and strategies of a passionate founder. During the sessions, the invited founders talk about how they can work towards bettering the infrastructure, challenges as well as the opportunities that will shape up in the next 5-10 years in that sector.
Antithesis, founded by Aparna Saxena, is one of the many startups spotlighted by Startup Table with AJ that has received a pre-seed funding from Rukam Capital and V3 Ventures. Another startup that was featured on the podcast- Gyde XP,a New Delhi-based travel experience platform, also raised a maiden round of funding from Rukam Capital. Not just limiting the impact to funding, Meine Electric, India’s Deep-tech company at the forefront of innovation, got their first customer through an opportunity extended through Startup Table with AJ. Covooz, an online influencer marketplace, when entering a meeting is always backed by the Rukam Capital confidence that gives them an edge while some find their mentors.
Till date, Startup Table with AJ has showcased over 130 early stage startups and has also travelled to cities such as Kashmir and Varanasi.
Commenting on the success of the initiative, Archana Jahagirdar — Founder and Managing Partner at Rukam Capital, and the host and visionary behind Startup Table with AJ, said, “I am thrilled to see the impact of Startup Table with AJ, where we’ve not only showcased the resilience and innovation of India’s next-gen entrepreneurs but also provided a platform for them to connect, learn, and grow. The success stories of startups like Antithesis and Gyde XP are a testament to the potential of our ecosystem. As a VC, it’s fulfilling to nurture and support these talented founders, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for them.”
“One thing that I took away from the overall series was that I found my first customer there. They are building portable water generators and our fuel cells are the perfect fit for them as an energy source.” shared Priyansh Mohan, Co-Founder and CEO- Meine Electric
The upcoming episode of Startup Table with AJ, set to be held in India’s Silicon City, Bengaluru, will spotlight emerging startups in the AR/VR, Aerospace, and Defence sectors. ‘Startup Table with AJ’ editions are available on the Rukam Capital YouTube .
Rukam Capital, with a track record of backing high-growth consumer brands, has previously invested in brands like Beco, Sleepy Owl, Indus Valley, GO Desi, Burger Singh, Antithesis amongst others.
