Pre-seed is the
New seed

India’s startup ecosystem is snowballing, but early-stage founders still face a major hurdle: lack of accessible pre-seed funding. As seed cheques grow and the focus shifts to scaling, many startups struggle to secure the initial capital needed to launch. This funding gap often leads to premature scaling and failure. 

As the first dedicated guide to raising pre-seed capital in India, The Pre-seed Playbook aims to serve as a much-needed roadmap to navigate the complexities of the pre-seed funding stage and lay a solid foundation for long-term success.

pre-seed deals since 2021

and counting invested till date

$ 0 M+

of all 2023 deals were pre-seed.

0 %

The Pain Points Of Starting Up

(According to a primary survey of >500 founders)

83% feel ready for pre-seed funding;

60%+ struggle to find investors.

70% first-time founders struggle with building credibility.

92.9% believe investor support beyond capital is vital for success.

80% say resources and mentorship enhance their funding chances.

Insights From Industry Experts

“While India is seeing a rise in pre-seed funds, there is still a lack of a dedicated approach to solving the founder problem. The factory models, while helpful in discovering new founders, do not provide the right support needed to help them raise the next round and take them to the next level.”

Pearl Agarwal

Founder and Managing Partner,
Eximius Ventures

“The Indian startup ecosystem has transformed over the last decade, producing world-class products at a rapid pace. This growth demands top talent, true risk capital, and strong networks from the very early stages. Pre-seed funding is key, offering structure and guidance to help founders navigate this crucial phase.”

Arvind Radhakrishnan

Head of WeWork Labs,
WeWork India

Case Studies

Eximius Ventures
and Finarkein

Kalaari Capital
and WinZO

Artha Venture Fund and Everest Fleet

Curated Resources

HR Toolkit

Legal and Financial Due Diligence Checklist

Curated Pitch deck Resources

Thought Leaders

ABOUT EXIMIUS VENTURES

Eximius Ventures is a dedicated pre-seed fund that combines smart capital with deep industry expertise, following a thesis-driven approach focused on sectors like FinTech, SaaS, and Consumer Tech. We invest up to $500K for 10% equity, reserving a substantial amount for follow-on funding. We aim to back exceptional founders who leverage India’s demographic advantage to scale globally. In addition to funding, we provide strategic support through a dedicated platform, having backed notable companies such as Vegapay, STAN, Finarkein, Skydo, Jar, Shuru, and Eka.care.

ABOUT WEWORK LABS

At WeWork Labs, we are committed to creating a hub for business innovation. Our platform empowers early-stage ventures to tap into a global community of experts and mentors, along with access to our spaces at subsidised rates. Founders also benefit from exclusive networking opportunities and tailored resources designed to support their growth. Additionally, WeWork Labs provides access to pre-seed and seed capital for startups, further enhancing their potential for success.

India’s first-ever Pre-seed Playbook is here! Download now.

Pre-seed is the
New seed

The Pain Points Of Starting Up