In conversation with Ankita Vashistha
As if it was destiny, oneSTEPcloser got a chance to begin the year 2021 right.
In conversation with a woman who bets on other women, recognized by the PMO for her exemplary efforts pursuing women upliftment, a young entrepreneur, a mother, and a visionary.
Meet, Ms Ankita Vashishta, founder and CEO of SAHA fund, Asia’s first of its kind capital fund emphasizing women-led, women-focussed, women-enabling, startups driven on the wheels of scalability and technology. Being the eldest daughter, Ankita knows responsibility so much so that it has become her second nature, which is pertinent to her role as a Venture Capitalist. Raised all over the World to powerful working parents, she firmly believes that
“Whatever you want to do, you can do, if you discipline yourself.”
On starting StrongHer Capital…
After the incredible success of the SAHA Fund, Ankita recognized the importance of expanding the numbers for not only women-led but also women-focused and women enabling ventures. “Before becoming a mother, I didn’t understand the need for a platform that supports new mother-concerns,” says the Director of Tholons Capital. As a result, the new fund focuses heavily on FemTech, specifically towards enabling women to be successful; FinTech, solutions-driven towards microloans, financing women-centred startups even if they are led by men.
On what a Venture Capitalist looks for…
Quoting Rei Inamoto’s theory ‘Hacker, Hipster, and Hustler’, the new fund inclines towards startups with “co-founders”, set on an aligned vision withstanding a unique scalable idea.
With years of experience, Ankita recommends in their early stages, which builds credibility, an imperative trigger. Another effort of endurance towards a startup adds when they solve Further goes without saying, VCs prefer companies that have shown
To belong to the StrongHer Capital’s portfolio, a startup must be in their series A investment round, a ticket ranging from about 1–3 million USD, must endure a rigorous due diligence process and occasionally, a dedicated board seat for the fund.
Once in though, the fund pulls pedal to the metal and goes all in even if it means “allocating our own resources if and when needed,” says Ms Vashistha.
On escalating women VCs…
Everyone gets lucky one time or the other in life, but in the startup world, the trick is to get lucky early. Though it may seem like it at first, a VCs job isn’t simply writing a check, with great power comes great responsibility. Like a mother nurtures her children, a VC also provides the environment for the right development of the startup.
A generation where women supportive cults are not covert anymore, Indian women entrepreneurs still need an enormous movement of empathy. Neither does it help when the table of 20 VCs comprises 18 men and the pitching concerns breastfeeding postnatal depression. The sight of women on both sides of the table would indeed be a gigantic positive stimulus.
“A woman’s life is defined by many roles, a mother, a daughter, a wife, a boss, sometimes we get consumed by it all, but instead of following all the roles maybe first do those that make you happier.”- Ankita Vashistha.
Originally published at https://shaktipreneurs.org.
