Announcing MoneyX Dialogues: 30+ VC Leaders On 2025’s Funding Playbook

Capital is flowing back into India’s startup ecosystem — but with sharper scrutiny than ever. Growth minus the cash burn is the new ask.

The shift is clear in the numbers. In H1 2025, over 450 startups raised capital to the tune of $5.7 Bn, led by $2 Bn for growth stage startups. Five new unicorns took India’s tally to 124. 

According to Inc42’s investor survey, AI tops sector preferences for both early and growth stages, with its role in reducing CAC, automating operations, and improving margins driving interest.

To unpack these shifts, Inc42, in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank, is launching MoneyX Dialogues — Venture Capital Unplugged.  Set to convene on August 21 in Bengaluru, MoneyX Dialogues will bring together over 30 key stakeholders, including early and growth stage fund managers, HNIs, family offices and angel investors, all united by a shared commitment to fuelling the growth of India’s startup industry.

The event will feature a closed-door roundtable, a fireside chat where V Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank, will join Vaibhav Vardhan, cofounder and CEO of Inc42, for an exclusive conversation, followed by a high-value networking dinner.

Some of the top investors and leaders joining the event include:      

• Amit Nawka, partner, deals at PwC
• Anant Vidur Puri, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners
• Anoop N Menon, principal, investments at Chiratae Ventures
• Ankur Dubey, principal at Capria Ventures
• Arjun Rao, general partner at Speciale Invest
• Bhavesh Jatania, head of startup banking at IDFC FIRST Bank
• Gaurav Gulati, founder and managing partner, Aroa Venture Partners
• Gaurav Ranjan, principal at Prime Venture Partners
• Kushal Bhagia, founder & partner at All In Capital 
• Karthik Prabhakar, managing partner at PeerCapital
• Navin Honagudi, managing partner, Elev8 Venture Partners
• Prachi Sinha, principal at Axilor Ventures
• Shanti Mohan, founder and CEO of LVX
• Sheetal Bhat, head of private equity investments at Catamaran
• Shiva Shanker, partner at Ankur Capital

The evening is designed to bring together sharp insights, spark new ideas and highlight real challenges shaping early and growth stage investing in India.

Rethinking Venture Capital: What India’s Top Investors Want In 2025

The post-2023 investing in India has prompted a quiet recalibration in the minds of India’s VCs. At MoneyX Dialogues, the key stakeholders of the game will discuss the sharper playbooks, which they are building, often in close partnership with banks, platforms and other capital providers. 

The closed-door roundtable themed ‘Rethinking Early-Stage VC: Inside The New Investing Playbook’ will host India’s top VC leaders will discuss how funds are operating, changing approaches in founder filters, capital deployment trends and what makes a startup idea truly investable amid the emerging technology.

Following the closed-door discussion, the spotlight will shift to a fireside between V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank and Vaibhav Vardhan, cofounder and CEO of Inc42. 

They will dive into the evolving partnership between capital providers and VCs, and how banks are rethinking their role in startup funding.

The night will fall with an experiential, high-value networking dinner, bringing together a carefully curated mix of attendees, from early and growth stage fund managers to family offices, HNIs and active angel investors.

The high-profile networking will unlock ideas, foster future partnerships and connect the dots that might just shape the next big moves in India’s startup ecosystem.

Want a sneak peek into the investing playbooks of India’s smartest investors?

Register today for MoneyX Dialogues.