About StartSmart
We're on a mission to help B2B founders build successful, sustainable businesses by ensuring they're thoroughly prepared before they launch.
Our Story
StartSmart was founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs who saw too many promising startups fail due to inadequate preparation. We believe that with the right guidance, tools, and preparation, more founders can build successful, sustainable businesses.
From Idea to Impact
Our journey began when our founders, who had collectively built and exited multiple B2B startups, noticed a pattern: many founders were jumping into building their startups without adequate preparation, leading to preventable failures.
We created StartSmart to address this gap, providing a structured program that helps founders validate their ideas, understand their market, and build a solid foundation before they fully commit to their startup journey.
Since our inception, we've helped over 100 B2B founders launch successful startups, with a 70% success rate in securing funding within 6 months of completing our program.
Our Values
At StartSmart, our values guide everything we do. They shape our program, our interactions with founders, and our vision for the future.
Preparation Over Haste
We believe in thorough preparation as the foundation for success. Rushing into execution without proper groundwork often leads to preventable failures.
Data-Driven Decisions
We encourage founders to base their decisions on data and evidence rather than assumptions or hunches. This approach leads to more sustainable business models.
Founder-First Mentality
We prioritize the founder's growth and well-being, recognizing that a startup's success is intrinsically linked to the founder's readiness and resilience.
Continuous Learning
We foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, essential traits for navigating the ever-changing business landscape.
Community Support
We believe in the power of community and peer support. Our network of founders, mentors, and investors provides invaluable resources and connections.
Excellence in Execution
We emphasize the importance of excellence in execution, helping founders develop the skills and systems needed to implement their ideas effectively.
Meet Our Management Team
Our leadership team brings decades of experience in entrepreneurship, business strategy, and startup mentorship.
Archimedha Mohapatra
Director
Experienced leader with expertise in business strategy and entrepreneurship.
Rajiv Mukherjee
Advisor
Seasoned professional with a strong background in business development and startup mentorship.
Meet Our Mentors
Our mentors are industry experts who provide valuable guidance and insights to help our founders succeed.
Savan Bellur
Mentor
Savan Bellur is a 3x founder and active startup mentor who helps early-stage startups build sharp GTM strategies, validate their MVPs, and become investor-ready. With experience across SaaS, HRTech, and PropTech, he brings hands-on insight from building ventures like Kalibre and mentoring founders at Dena Startup Lab. Startups trust him for clear, practical guidance rooted in real entrepreneurial experience.
Vineet Kotecha
Mentor
A repeat founder and growth strategist, Vineet has built ventures across tourism, food tech, and supply chains. He actively mentors through community-led startup initiatives and is building ONTE—a decentralised protocol for tourism. His strength lies in helping startups operationalize strategy, digitize business models, and scale with purpose.
Manu Kumar
Mentor
A seasoned marketing leader and certified T-Hub mentor, Manu brings 25+ years of expertise across Hero Electric, Airtel, and Chevron. He mentors startups on GTM, brand strategy, and investor-facing communication. As a former founder and marketing head, he combines corporate insight with entrepreneurial execution that resonates with early-stage founders.
Ravindra Jadhav
Mentor
Founder of Apeiron Marketing Consultancy and a marketing veteran with 15+ years in B2B and B2C brand building, Ravindra brings deep entrepreneurial and strategic marketing experience. He has worked with leading and emerging brands like Polycab, Godrej, and Highbar, enabling growth through unconventional, tech-led marketing strategies. As a mentor to MBA students and startups, he combines executional depth with creative thinking to help new ventures stand out and scale.
Rajiv Mathew
Mentor
Rajiv Mathew is a seasoned startup mentor and digital marketing strategist with deep expertise in GTM execution, investment readiness, and growth strategy. As Program Head for Oracle's Scaleup Accelerator (JAPAC), he has enabled high-potential startups to scale through strategic partnerships and operational excellence. With prior leadership roles at global tech firms and an INSEAD education, Rajiv combines strategic insight with hands-on mentorship—making him a trusted advisor for founders navigating early-stage challenges.
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Ganesh Chandrasekaran
Mentor
Ganesh Chandrasekaran brings over two decades of entrepreneurial and mentoring experience across AI, IoT, and digital transformation. A founder himself and ex-leader at Samsung, Yahoo, and Microsoft, he has guided numerous startups on product strategy, GTM, and monetization. His sharp insights into emerging tech and his hands-on mentoring make him a valuable ally for early-stage founders.
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Upendra Namburi
Mentor
A serial founder and digital transformation expert, Upendra has launched 30+ products and 6 businesses across fintech, loyalty, insurance, and banking. As the founder of Ideaearth and co-founder of Rippl, he helps early-stage ventures unlock growth from 0 to 1 and scale 100X. With 20+ years in product strategy, GTM execution, and digital innovation, he mentors founders on launching high-impact businesses in complex markets.
Our VC Partners
Get connected to our network of venture capital firms looking for promising B2B startups.
Early-stage venture capital firm focused on technology startups.
Angel investment platform backing innovative startups across sectors.
Join Our Mission
Help us empower the next generation of B2B founders to build successful, sustainable businesses.
Connect With Our Team
Have questions about StartSmart or interested in learning more about our programs? Fill out the form below and our team will get in touch with you.