Malpani Ventures

Monetization vs User growth in Consumer apps Most consumer AI apps follow a freemium approach and often hit a stage where monetization and user growth seem to sit at a crossroads. One of the common quips I hear from founders is that a startup can only focus on growth or monetization. While in the short-term this may be true over the long-term monetization almost always flows from user activity & growth, especially in a consumer app. Startups need to think deeply about whether they add enough value in their free version to drive growth. This is especially relevant for AI-first applications where data is the oil! Too often, founders chase monetization aggressively when growth starts to stall. This is akin to killing the golden goose that lays the eggs. While there is some merit in pursuing this strategy once a company corners a large chunk of its addressable market, this almost always does not apply to a startup. I share my ground-up thoughts on building a consumer application in my latest blog: https://lnkd.in/deUzVVJA Feedback welcome!

A larger fund-raise does not equate to faster Growth SVB’s State of the Markets H2 24 report:“There is little to no marginal benefit in the form of additional growth. Instead, companies increase burn on non-core .. line items. Whereas, lean startups are fundamentally healthier.”

We are #hiring! At Malpani Ventures, we are committed to supporting impact-based startups that can drive meaningful change in society We are now looking to hire a full-time manager who can oversee the impact portfolio. This is great role for someone looking to empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs! Please help spread the word

One of the most common quips we hear from founders is that investors don’t want to give their companies a second chance. It is common for investor fatigue to set in if they don’t see progress. This actually may be counter-intuitive as the founders could have figured out an insight to scale through their toil in the market. To overcome this, we are pleased to launch the Second Innings program - a funding initiative designed specifically for startups that have faced near-death experiences and are looking for a chance to recharge or pivot their businesses. We understand that the path to success is rarely linear - At Malpani Ventures, we want the Second Innings Program to offer resilient startups a chance to access capital for a pivot or recharge after significant setbacks, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Who should apply: Startups with a B2B focus that have spent adequate time in the market (Prefer startups that have undergone a near-death experience) We intend to deploy capital worth $300k to $500k in such companies! Application link in comments below

🚀 We're thrilled to announce our recent pre-seed investment round! 🚀 A massive shoutout to our incredible backers for their unwavering support. With this boost, we're not only enhancing IntelloAI and Co-pilot but also revolutionizing how legal teams tackle contract reviewing and daily operations. This funding fuels our trajectory towards accelerated growth, marking a pivotal moment in our journey. Stay tuned for more groundbreaking solutions ahead! 🌟 Malpani Ventures KRS Jamwal Dinesh Godara Dhruv Sane https://lnkd.in/gFYMzu7z