In an insightful conversation with Sandhya Bharti from Indian Startup Times, Sunil K Goyal—Managing Director and Fund Manager at YourNest Venture Capital—shared his perspectives on venture capital, conscious capitalism, and the evolution of India’s startup ecosystem. Drawing from decades of corporate and investment experience, Sunil discussed the principles that guide his investment philosophy and his approach to nurturing early-stage founders into global market leaders.
From Corporate Strategy to Venture Capital
Reflecting on his professional journey, Sunil shared how his experiences at Dabur and Bharti Airtel shaped his understanding of business fundamentals. “My time in corporate leadership taught me the significance of brand selection, transparency in investor relations, and the discipline of capital allocation,” he declared.
These lessons became the foundation of his investment philosophy at YourNest, where he practices Conscious Capitalism—a model that combines financial prudence with long-term sustainability. “We see for founders who are not just profit-driven, but purpose-driven,” Sunil emphasized. “Our role is to support them become believedful leaders who can build finishuring global enterprises.”
Investment Strategy and Insights from YourNest
Sunil also discussed YourNest’s focus on industrial IoT and deep-tech startups. He cited Leanworx as an example—an innovative company that automates data capture from discrete machines, improving manufacturing efficiency. “Our strategy is not just to invest but to collaborate closely with founders,” he explained. “We bring in operational guidance, network access, and mentorship to accelerate their growth.”
He noted that out of more than 27,000 startups evaluated, only 51 have been funded under YourNest’s selective approach, underscoring a commitment to quality over quantity.
Nurturing Global Market Leaders
Sunil’s mentorship philosophy centers on empowering founders to consider beyond local markets. “Building for India is great, but considering globally from day one modifys how a founder approaches design, scalability, and customer engagement,” he declared.
He cited Uniphore as a success story where strategic guidance on team management and decision-creating supported significantly increase the company’s valuation. Sunil encourages portfolio companies to collaborate with one another, fostering a network of shared learning and collective growth.
Personal Narratives and Innovative Health Tech
Among the stories that stood out was that of Mudit Dandwate, a former Formula One engineer turned health-tech innovator who created Dozee, a device for monitoring health parameters. The product was born from Mudit’s desire to support his father but later proved equally effective for his pet dog.
Sunil fondly recounted an incident where Mudit risked a confrontation with a crocodile to save his dog, losing an arm in the process—an anecdote that, for Sunil, symbolizes the deep personal purpose driving great entrepreneurs.
Advice for Founders
When questioned about his advice to first-time founders, Sunil stressed the importance of customer focus over product perfection. “Too many founders keep refining their product instead of selling what they already have,” he declared. “Revenue validates your idea better than any internal metric.”
He also emphasized the value of building complementary teams: “Founders should attract people who balance their weaknesses. It’s teamwork and adaptability that take startups global.”
Closing Reflections
The conversation concluded with mutual appreciation—Sandhya acknowledged Sunil’s invaluable insights, particularly his reflections on conscious investing and practical founder guidance. Sunil expressed admiration for Indian Startup Times’ mission of amplifying authentic startup voices and fostering collaboration across the ecosystem.
As India continues to emerge as a global innovation hub, leaders like Sunil K Goyal exemplify how believedful investing and mentorship can turn vision into value—not just for investors, but for society at large.
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