Aviral Bhatnagar

I am the Founder and Managing Partner of ajvc, a pre-seed fund investing in Indian startups

If you want to connect with the fund for a company you've started, please apply at ajuniorvc.com. If you would like to speak with me, reach out at aviral@ajuniorvc.com

I graduated top of class from IIM Ahmedabad and built my first few startups at IIT Bombay

Founder

Making startup conversations more accessible - find out more at ajuniorvc.com

Oil giants like Schlumberger would hire for roles in Iraq from IIT Bombay, and pay 40-50L in 2014

Worth 60-70L today, they would pay 2-3x McKinsey

But they also had a clause where they would pay ransom if you got kidnapped once, but not the second time

High pay, life risk

UPSC attempt limit being reduced from 6 to probably 2 would save a lot of grief and better employ a sizeable young population

Incredible that people spend best young years attempting an exam that they may not be fit

JEE keeping attempts limited to 2 years was the best thing

Cousin's friend has a starting salary of 4L per annum

Buys a MacBook, iPhone and airpods together worth probably 4L 

At the same time is renting a 3BHK flat shared with 6 people to save 5K/month of rent

Status more important than functioning life for many young people

My goal is to do 28 pre-seed investments of 1.5 Cr this year, and deploy about 45 Cr in Indian startups

I did 28 investments last year as per my goal, and have already made my first commitment this year in the first week

Given our larger fund, we are capable of investing in more than 2 high quality teams every month

If you know any promising founders, or you plan to raise, please apply to ajvc

Deepinder stepping down as Eternal CEO was not on my bingo card

I guess there has been some cumulative effect of all the non-Zomato projects + the conversation around gig workers spiralling

I'd say one of the best public CEOs in recent times created almost $20B of value

545 Indian students chose Harvard this year, down 30% from 788 last year:

- 1st gen went to Ivy to escape
- 2nd gen for prestige
- 3rd gen asking why play H1-B lottery

IITs easily placing at ₹30L, startups raising at $100M+ valuations, 1 Cr+ jobs rising

Reverse brain drain

Groww bought Indiabulls' mutual fund business in 2023 for about 180 Cr

State Street is now buying 23% of that business valuing the mutual fund at 2,500 Cr

Groww was a minnow acquiring a giant's MF business, but it has delivered a 14x multiple in 3 yrs

Tech distribution power

Books that will help you understand startups, VC and tech a lot better:

- Zero to One: Why competition is for losers
- Hard Things about Hard Things: Reality of running a startup
- Power Law: Why VC works the way it does
- Alex Ferguson: How to manage stars and egos
- Shoe Dog: How to start a disruptive brand from scratch
- VC: How risk capital started with whaling expeditions
- Golden Tap: Starting up in India is both exciting and hard
- Like, Share and Subscribe: How YouTube became the machine it did
- Big Billion Startup: Why Flipkart's story was not as easy as it seems
- Innovator's Dilemma: How to spot a disruptive company before anyone
- Matchmakers: Why platforms like FB, GOOG and AMZN are closer than you think
- Bad Blood: When startup dreams evolve into fraud
- Steve Jobs: Why confrontation drove the biggest innovator of this century
- The Thinking Machine: How Nvidia's overnight success took 35 years
- No Rules Rules: How to build a startup culture

Big gap on Indian startups and tech which I hope to fill, but these will take you very far ahead

India has just 5 firms with a market cap of greater than $100B, with the youngest being Airtel at 31 years old

US has 89 firms, the youngest being AppLovin at 13 years old

China has 17 with the youngest being PinDuoDuo at 10 years

India needs more $100B cos who are also young

Indian towns that are quietly exploding economically:

1. Hosur: Electronics
2. Warangal: Textiles
3. Sri City: Exports
4. Belagavi: Aero
5. Durgapur: Steel
6. Ayodhya: Tourism
7. Neemrana: Manufacturing
8. Deoghar: IT
9. Gopalpur: Port
10. Jabalpur: Vehicles

Engines of growth

India iPhone exports from 0 in FY20:  

FY21: $0.5B 
FY22: $1B 
FY23: $5B 
FY24: $10B 
FY25: $14B
FY26: $28B (P)

India has out of nowhere become an iPhone machine, 50x in 5 years with ~20% of global production

I'm Dharaneetharan G D, a digital lifestyle expert and founder of Social Eagle. With a wealth of experience, I've discovered the transformative synergy between mindset and marketing. 

By merging these elements, I facilitate immediate mindset shifts and implement strategic marketing approaches, ensuring predictable sales for my clients. 

My focus is on inspiring and empowering individuals, leveraging a substantial following of 450K+ across platforms. 

Let's propel your business to new heights through the perfect blend of mindset and marketing. 🚀💡 
#BusinessGrowth #MindsetAndMarketing

Dharaneetharan D

It was a great opportunity for me to talk to 2500+ students of Maatram Foundation at Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai this weekend.


I spoke about the journey of mine and what cues they can take from my learnings.

I missed earlier edition due to travel. When Sujith Kumar brother asked this time, I was more than happy to be part of the Sangamam event!!

Sujith brother and the entire team at Maatram are creating magic in the lives of students who are lacking socially due to lack of support system and economically backward.

Sujith brother is an inspiration to me. 
Have been following him and his activities since 2013!

Happy to have known him in my life!

Speaking and listening to the stories of these students definitely inspires all of us!

I left the venue, moved!!

Udaya Sankar C K Kumaravel Archana Stalin Arun Titan Sudharsanan Ganapathy

Dharaneetharan G D

Founder & CEO | 2 x Million Dollar Businesses | Helping People Master Mindset & Technology for Holistic Living |

No alternative text description for this image

May be an aspiration
Was in my bucket list
May be a manifestation 
May be an ego satisfaction factor
Was staying long in my pending list 

But we didn’t want to prolong further!
We didn’t want to give another reason for not doing it!!

Flew private ✅- First of our many trips to come.

With another crazy fellow Sudharsanan Ganapathy 

We had a third person - let it remain a surprise for a reason.

Bucket List -  Flying Private ✅

I said “No” to having a plan.
And it booked me a flight to Mumbai.

“Do you have any serious plans for tomorrow?”
C K Kumaravel  sir asked me when we met day before yesterday at the Behindwoods Moonwalk function.

I said, “No.”

Within minutes, an early morning flight to Mumbai was booked.

Touched down, Mumbai along with Dhamayanthi, Swetha and Arunpaul Sugumar .
A quick breakfast at Taj Lands End.
And we proceeded for a full-day ad shoot with Jemimah.

I had recently listened to Jemimah’s speech!
Super powerful and it stayed with me.

Clear thinking.
Quiet confidence. 
And a strong sense of purpose.

Meeting her in person only reinforced that impression.

Despite an incredibly tight schedule, she was kind, focused, and fully present.

Super dedicated!!

What stood out the most was her attitude:

- Smiling through a long, demanding day
- Performing with the same intensity in every frame
- And kind to everyone around.

Meanwhile, Dhamayanthi and Swetha are building something exciting with their Gen Z & Millennial beauty brand #NextFace.

Watching the experiments, the pace, and the intent behind the brand is a real delight.

Roping in Jemimah was a natural fit.
Youthful. Confident. A true go-getter.
Perfectly aligned with the brand’s values.

Morning: I gifted her a copy of my book.
Evening: I walked away with a signed bat and ball.

Some days don’t start with a plan.
They start with openness.

And they end with inspiration.

A truly fulfilling day.

Grateful for a truly special Pongal celebration at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu.

It was a privilege to meet and interact with the Hon’ble Governor, who showed genuine excitement about our 21 DC Community  initiatives and Social Eagle and shared that we should have a more detailed discussion on this soon. That encouragement meant a lot.

I’m deeply honoured that he graciously received my book, “Reclaim Your Life” a moment I will always cherish.

Also wonderful to meet Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, whose warmth and presence added to the spirit of the occasion.

Pongal truly reminds us of:
• Gratitude
• Community
• Rooted values with a forward-looking vision

Feeling humbled, inspired, and more committed than ever. 🙏

Official photos to follow

#Pongal #RajBhavan #Gratitude #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #ReclaimYourLife #TamilCulture

Sudharsanan Ganapathy  LakshmiNarayanan Sethu Priya Dharaneetharan

This isn’t about a private jet.
It’s about permission.



Permission to dream beyond where you started.
Permission to want more without guilt.
Permission to believe that your current reality is not your final destination.

Aspirations are easy to have.
Goals are where aspiration meets discipline, time, and sacrifice.

Every big outcome you see in someone’s life was once:
	•	a quiet decision,
	•	followed by boring consistency,
	•	protected from distractions,
	•	and repeated long enough to look “overnight”.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be is not luck.

It’s clarity + execution.

If this image triggers something inside you; good.
That discomfort is aspiration asking you to become more intentional.

Dream boldly.
Plan ruthlessly.
Act daily.

Your goals will eventually catch up with your aspiration.

Attended this wonderful event yesterday! Startup Singam | Season 2 🦁



What made it extra special for me.
The organisers are not just friends; 
they were my first clients.

Watching their journey from an idea stage to building a powerful entrepreneurial movement across Tamil Nadu is deeply fulfilling.

This is what long-term relationships, trust, and shared vision can create.

Season 2 is not just a launch.
It’s a statement
bigger ambition,
bolder execution, and 
deeper impact.

Proud to see the ecosystem growing.
Grateful to be part of the journey from day one. 

Happy for all of you brothers HEMACHANDRAN L Balachandar R Arun Nair 
Kumar Vembu sir, always a pleasure to meet you and exchange energy!

This launch was one more opportunity to catch up with friends and ecosystem partners!

Wishing the entire Startup Singam team massive success ahead 🚀

It was supposed to happen last year!



And not too late now.
Last year I got an opportunity to participate in Startup Singam as a HNI investor but had to miss that opportunity due to my hectic travel plans. 

I have been investing small in friends businesses and partnerships earlier but this is special.

This season joining StartupSingam as an angel investor.

Thanks to HEMACHANDRAN L Balachandar R  Arun Nair for the trust!

Sadayappan Subramanian you are doing a great job in facilitating the processes. Happy for you.

Glad to wear a different cap this time. 
More great things are on the way!

7 years back…
I trained 150+ rural photographers on Facebook for Business.


From humble background.
Big dreams.
First-generation entrepreneurs.

One simple belief: online platforms can change lives.

Today…
➝ 40,000+ people impacted directly
➝ 1000s of digital entrepreneurs created

Same intention.
Same hunger to share.
Same joy in seeing people grow.

When you stay consistent with purpose,
small beginnings compound into massive impact.

Grateful. Grounded. Just getting started.

We meet weekly once!


which is a 90 day follow up of the 21DC - Enhance session. 


After meeting for 3 days in a private villa where we dive deep into personal preferences taking time out of the busyness, we have a 90 day follow up work to do. 

We sync every week and ensure that we stay on track!

Bringing in changes in schedule, developing habits, growth professionally and personally- we talk about everything!


I’m super happy to do this as the change is visible and measurable!

I did something unusual during the Pongal holidays.



Off late I am involved in too many things and it has drained my energy. 

Somewhere I felt the core was getting affected and I started missing my “me time” and the relationship with myself.

When the relationship with your own self is getting affected it might reflect in all other areas.

I became super aware of this state and exactly then Surendran Jayasekar brother spoke about the launch of #PAL and he strongly suggested me to experience that. 

He infact shared his experience too and how it might help me as well.

I enrolled myself for the 4 days training program with #SuccessGyan exactly during the Pongal holidays.

Undoubtedly one of the best training sessions and it has helped me evolve beautifully. 

Thaddeus Lawrence trained and made us go deep with both mind and body. As a strict teacher he facilitated the entire process with love and care.

This gave me a different perspective about myself!! And I’m thankful to all the coparticipants and the team.

Murali Sundaram Dr. Sharmila Anand and Ashliee gave us a great experience by being stewards.
Thanks to Akhila for all the support.

Pathway to Authentic Living

I have this habit of dedicating my marathons to my loved ones. 🏃‍♂️❤️

Running has always been my way of expressing gratitude.

But this time… 
the gratitude came back to me as a surprise.

The Tata Mumbai Marathon has a beautiful concept called the Inspiration Medal; 
a platform where runners dedicate a special medal to someone who inspired them through their journey.

Arun kumar R,
who recently completed his full marathon, chose to dedicate his “Inspiration” Medal to me.

I loved the concept.
But honestly… 
it moved me immensely.

Moments like these remind me that impact happens silently.

Sometimes, 
it quietly shows up as 
trust, 
respect, and 
acknowledgment 
from people you’ve crossed paths with.

Grateful. Humbled. Inspired - all over again. 🙏

Keep running.
Keep inspiring.
You never know whose journey you’re shaping.

#Gratitude #Inspiration #TataMumbaiMarathon #RunningCommunity #Impact #Leadership #LifeLessons

Ajith Kumar’s situation highlights a deeper truth that applies far beyond 
cinema or 
celebrity culture: 

credibility is built on consistency, not intent.

For years, his refusal to engage in promotions was seen as a principled stand!
An authentic rejection of noise and spectacle. 

Fans respected the clarity of that position. The moment that same individual actively promotes a personal business interest, the narrative shifts. 

Sensitive participation breaks the logic that once justified silence.

In any ecosystem
films, 
business, 
leadership, or 
entrepreneurship

stakeholders don’t expect perfection; 
they expect fairness. 

When effort appears optional for collective outcomes
but 
essential for personal ventures, trust erodes. 

This isn’t entitlement from fans; 
it mirrors how customers, employees, or partners react when leaders show up differently depending on who benefits most.

The backlash around the Campa Cola association is not about branding or money. 
It’s about alignment!!!!

People are willing to defend unconventional choices as long as those choices are applied uniformly. 

The moment principles look negotiable, even loyal supporters start asking uncomfortable questions.

The larger lesson is simple:
Silence can be a value. 
Selective silence becomes a signal.

In a world driven by perception and trust, what you choose to engage with speaks louder than what you avoid. 

And once expectations are set, consistency becomes responsibility;
not obligation, but leadership.

taplio

The Battle

Aviral Bhatnagar

Dharaneetharan D

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taplio

The Battle

Aviral Bhatnagar

Dharaneetharan D

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Aviral Bhatnagar's LinkedIn Performance

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