Question 1

What is the stage of companies presenting?

Accepted Answer

• At Keiretsu, we focus on funding companies at the pre-Series A stage that have existing revenues and are seeking growth capital to scale up to their Series A round.

• We do not prioritize companies at the pre-revenue stage, as a startup's ability to achieve product-market fit is just as important to us as the strength of its idea.

• These are typically companies that have been bootstrapped or have raised seed funding from "friends and family" or early investors.

• Keiretsu does not serve as an incubator for pre-revenue companies.

• The only exceptions for pre-revenue companies are those that have already raised a seed funding round, established an MVP, and demonstrated a clear path to profitability within the next 6-12 months.

Question 2

What are the sectors you generally look at?

Accepted Answer

• We are sector-agnostic.

• Our forum members invest in high-quality, diverse opportunities across emerging technologies, life sciences/healthcare, clean technology, consumer goods, aerospace, food tech, real estate, and any other segment with high growth potential.

• Keiretsu investors bring diverse industry backgrounds, enabling domain-focused investing across a wide range of sectors.

Question 3

What are your Investment Criteria?

Accepted Answer

1. A real problem paired with a clear, easy-to-understand solution that customers are willing to pay for.
2. Sustainable and recurring revenue streams.
3. Reasonable operating margins to ensure the business remains viable.
4. A large and compelling market capable of supporting a successful business.
5. A sustainable competitive advantage.
6. An experienced and driven management team with a mix of technological expertise and strong execution skills.
7. Proprietary products or distribution channels with significant early-mover advantages, network effects, or a market large enough to support multiple successful players.
8. A clear path to profitability.
9. Credible exit options for investors.

We typically focus on companies that have begun demonstrating market traction.

Question 4

What is the selection process for companies that present to the Keiretsu Forum?

Accepted Answer

1. Submit a pitch deck and executive summary.
2. Undergo pre-screening with the Keiretsu team to discuss terms and sign the application document.
3. Present at the Keiretsu deal screening session (45 minutes to 1 hour).
4. If selected, pay the platform fee and collaborate with the Keiretsu team to refine your pitch into a 10-minute presentation.
5. Deliver your investment pitch at the monthly Keiretsu Forum meetings. We only showcase three companies per monthly meeting.
6. Participate in a deep dive call with investors who express interest after the monthly meeting.
7. Engage in further due diligence as needed, typically taking 1-3 weeks depending on the venture’s industry and stage.
8. Aim to close the funding round within a month of the pitch.

Keiretsu members collaborate throughout the due diligence process to ensure informed investment decisions.

Question 5

What are the Keiretsu meetings like?

Accepted Answer

During a Keiretsu meeting, three companies typically pitch to a panel of Keiretsu angels virtually.

The pitch process includes:

• A 10-minute presentation.
 • A 10-minute Q&A session.
 • A mindshare session where founders are temporarily moved to a waiting room. During this session, Keiretsu members openly discuss their thoughts, share opinions, and gain insights from one another to make more informed decisions.

Founders are also welcome to attend the meeting to observe the other pitches.

Question 6

When will we know whether our company has been selected to present at the Forum?

Accepted Answer

We will follow up within 3-5 working days after the Keiretsu team screening.

Question 7

What materials do we need for the Forum?

Accepted Answer

We require your investor pitch deck and executive summary, including financial figures and projections. Additional information, such as audited financials from the previous year, may be requested based on specific needs.

Question 8

How long are the presentations?

Accepted Answer

• 10-minute core presentation deck
 • 10-minute Q&A session with Keiretsu Forum investors
 • 3-5 minute mindshare session among investors after the founder is temporarily moved out of the room

Question 9

How large are the investment rounds?

Accepted Answer

• Keiretsu Forum does not recommend deals or invest as a fund. Instead, it is a network that facilitates deal discovery and validation.

• Members invest individually and directly in the companies.

• Keiretsu funding typically varies from INR 50 lakhs to INR 3 crores in the first round of funding.

• Individual members have a minimum ticket size of INR 10 lakhs.

• Subsequent rounds for existing portfolio companies can range up to INR 10 crores through multiple funding rounds.

Question 10

How many companies that presented to the Forum have achieved funding directly from Keiretsu Delhi Bangalore activities?

Accepted Answer

• Investment interest that companies receive depends on several factors, including the specific company, industry, management, and stage of development.

• From past presentations, it has been observed that typically 5 to 7 companies present at the deal screening.

• Out of these, 3 are selected to attend the full Keiretsu Forum meeting, and 1 to 2 of them receive investment traction from Keiretsu Forum members.

• Investment traction varies across chapters for each meeting.

Keiretsu Forum Delhi NCR & Bangalore

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