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Sep 17, 2025

Lessons From VC 101 Bootcamp: What Founders Need to Know

Last week, I attended VC 101: Bootcamp for DeepTech Founders, organized by Kerala Startup Mission. Walking in, I expected investor networking. What I got instead was something more important: clarity. Clarity on how VCs think, what they actually care about, and how we — as founders — can prepare better. Written by Amal Antony, Founder of TNK NXT

Starting the day at VC 101 Bootcamp — ready to learn, listen, and connect.


Session Highlights

The bootcamp had two powerful sessions:

  • Vishesh Rajaram (Speciale Invest) shared how he chose to invest in some of the most successful startups in his portfolio. Hearing why he backed them early — and what signals convinced him — gave real perspective.

  • Sandith Thandasherry, a founder from Kochi (Navalt), spoke about his journey bootstrapping, raising from friends & family, and later the difference between approaching VCs vs PEs.

  • The Q&A and coffee conversations in between were equally valuable. Founders asked questions we didn’t know we needed answers to. And the informal chats turned into connections, potential collaborations, and even client conversations.



    Vishesh Rajaram breaking down what drives conviction in early-stage investing


Key Insights for Founders

Here are some of the takeaways I believe every founder should know:

  1. Founders > Pitch Deck
    Investors look at the people first. Your background, your past projects, even prototypes — they all matter in building conviction.

  2. Do Your Homework on VCs
    Not every investor is right for your startup. Just like customers, VCs have their own focus. Understand their portfolio, their values, and whether they align with your sector before reaching out.

  3. Conviction Is Earned, Not Sold
    The way you tell your story, your clarity of thought, and small but real signals (like prototypes or traction) are what turn interest into conviction.

  4. VC vs PE – Know the Difference Early

    • VCs: Take risks, write early checks, back vision.

    • PEs: Prefer stable businesses, restructure for growth, often linked to IPO paths.
      Knowing the difference changes who you approach — and when.

  5. Community Matters
    The informal chats over coffee? As valuable as the stage. Founders supporting founders, sharing bottlenecks, and swapping hard lessons.

Final Thoughts

As the founder of TNK NXT, I walked away from this bootcamp with more than just notes. I left with a better lens to look at funding — not as a race to secure capital, but as a process of alignment.

Events like this remind us that building a startup is never about shortcuts. It’s about listening, learning, and making small adjustments that compound over time.

For me, the value wasn’t in pitching to a VC that day.
The value was in understanding how to be ready when the right moment comes.

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Written by Amal Antony, Founder & CEO of TNK NXT