Shobana Prakash
Investment Analyst at Ventana Ventures
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Overview
Work Experience
Investment Analyst
2024 - Current
At Ventana Ventures, we invest in passionate gaming founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Our support includes mentoring in engineering, design, market research, and team building to help create world-class games. We make small investments (up to Rs. 1 Crore / $130k) in multiple companies, aiming to build a strong community and facilitate peer support among gaming founders. Our Portfolio cos: Metashot - Building the world's first console-like cricket game for the masses. Brewed Games - Is an indie game development studio based in Bangalore, India. SportVot - Leading sports-tech platform in India, offering sports associations, tournament organisers, and clubs solutions for live streaming sports matches via the SportVot Cloud Technology. Norian Games - Aldian of Ancients immerses players in a prehistoric world of unique biomes, where they lead their species to dominance, battle rival packs for mating rights, and explore for surprises, all while striving for realism in an evolving, adventure-filled landscape. If you are building in this space write to us - pitch@ventanaventures.in / shobana@ventanaventures.in My Role: Sourcing and assessing promising early-stage startups for investment opportunities and managing deal pipeline Reviewing pitch decks, financial statements, performance data, and engaging with founders to evaluate their business strategies and financial viability. Preparing comprehensive investment decks for the Investment Committee based on these insights. Negotiating investment terms and structuring deals in collaboration with founders and other key stakeholders. Coordinating with legal, accounting, and technical experts to perform detailed due diligence. Building and maintaining relationships with family offices, corporations, VCs, angel networks, HNIs, and other stakeholders in the investment ecosystem. Working closely with portfolio companies to gather regular updates and connect them with potential partners, customers, and investors.
Investment Associate
2022 - 2024
My BAUs: Scouting and evaluating potential investible early-stage startups for 100X.VC & maintain corporate CVC clients deal pipeline Evaluating pitchbooks, financials, performance metrics and interaction with founders to assess their business strategy and financial viability. Based on inputs and observation, preparation of detailed investment memo for the Investment committee Negotiating investment terms/ Structuring the deal with the founders & other stakeholders Working closing with legal, accounting & technical experts to conduct due diligence Establish relationships with family offices, corporates, VCs, angel network, HNIs & other players in the ecosystem Working closely with the portfolio companies, getting regular updates & connecting them with potential partners, customers and Investors Led the Pidilite.vc engagement, overseeing and managing key deals throughout the process: Buildnext: Tech enabled construction company building customized homes. Transaction size USD 3.5 Mn. Finemake: Leading supplier of premium modular kitchen & wardrobes for IDs. Transaction size USD 1.5 Mn Onsite: Project mgmt app for construction companies. Transaction size ~USD 700k Kaarwan: Upskilling the architecture & construction industry through tech enabled project based learning. Transaction size ~ USD 500K Imagimake - Range of toys right from educational aid to DIY craft activities loved by 1 Mn+ kids. Transaction size USD 3.2 Mn. I played a key role in the Panasonic Ignition (Corporate Innovation Accelerator Program) in partnership with 100X.VC, focusing on startups in the energy management sector. My responsibilities included scouting and evaluating startups, as well as ensuring the smooth execution of the accelerator program.
Analyst
2021 - 2024
100X.VC is the first VC to invest in early stage startups using India SAFE Notes. We look at being the first institutional investors in startups using below criteria to fund them. 1. Founding Team 2. Market Size Opportunity 3. Business Model Strength 4. Unfair Advantage, Moat 5. Conviction of a minimum 20X returns. Best way to reach me is by mail at shobana@100x.vc We are a SEBI Registered Investment Adviser and CAT I AIF. My Role: • Sourcing and scouting for investible start-up’s and deep diving into their business plan, financial projections, product roadmap, and go to market strategy • Carrying extensive research on various sectors and industries, preparing competitive analysis reports and market insights report for 100X.VC portfolio companies • Scouting start-up’s for Corporate Venture Capital practice and helping in deal closure, negotiation of term sheet, detailed company report, competitive landscape, financial projections, coordinating for financial and legal due diligence and execution of Shareholders Agreement
Senior Associate
2018 - 2021
My Role: • Sourcing and scouting for investible start-up’s and working directly with the start-up founders on assisting them for fundraising on Mumbai Angels Platform • Analyze start-up in terms of their business diligence, competitive landscape, financials, company/promoter profiles and reviewing the financial models • Managing all stakeholders across deal lifecycle such as sourcing of start-up, deal due diligence, deal subscription and closure • Preparation of detailed investment reports, getting inputs from domain experts and recommending deals to the members of the network • Structuring of the deal – term sheet and valuation negotiation of the proposal • Lead the deal towards closure and providing periodic updates to the investors Key deals include: Adonmo (Backed by Bace Capital) - Is bringing the best online advertising to outdoor advertising. Toch (Backed by SOSV) - They are a video AI platform that auto detects any touch point inside video content and auto meta tags information inside. DrSheths - They are a luxury, vegan skincare line developed by three generations of Indian skin doctors. CarterX - Is a tech startup that provides logistic support for baggage transfers. Leadstart (Backed by SOSV & Artesian) - Enables writers to create multiple types of content in 60 languages, continuously enhancing their work powered by meaningful reading insights. Dhruva Space - Dhruva Space is building small satellite constellations for Earth applications. Nutrisattva (Acquired by Parag Foods) - Offers protein based health foods for individuals across age groups. Celcius – Online cold- chain logistics marketplace. BRB Popped Chips – Packaged snacks targeted at Gen-Z ZFW Hospitality – Optimising under-utilized Cloud Kitchens Dave.ai – Boosts sales for retail and BFSI enterprises through AI-driven solutions. Guaranted – Online premium furniture and appliances rental store Blu Smart - Blu Smart is an all-electric ride-hailing platform.
Junior Research Associate
2016 - 2017
Copal Amba (subsidiary of Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) the leading provider of offshore research and analytics services to the global financial and corporate sectors. Clients include leading bulge-bracket financial institutions, Fortune 100 corporations, mid-tier companies, boutique investment banks, and funds. We support over 200 institutional clients through our team of 2500+ employees. We have our offices across the globe in US, UK, UAE, Hong Kong, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, China, Costa Rica, and Czech Republic. My role: • Scouting and screening of companies for PE/VC for their potential investment opportunities • Preparing a detailed company profiles/ decks including business model, competitive positioning, financials, technology and industry parameters • Conduct exhaustive secondary research using journals, annual reports, company website, government and ministry websites and prepare industry reports • Generated detailed industry report and opportunity analysis report for industries like fiber market in India, sterilization, port industry etc. • Competitive benchmarking and also managing their infrastructure fund portfolio company • Information assimilation from different sources like Capital IQ, Bloomberg and Reuters • Analyze financial statements and identify revenue and cost drivers
Analyst - Transaction Advisory Services
2015 - 2016
Role: • Review financial data received from EY US team and understand the expectation of data schedules • Convert raw financial data into well-structured financial schedules in a data book conforming to standardized formatting requirements and deliver a complete data book to US team on timely basis • Performing trial balance mapping, categorizing debt and debt like items, internal and intercompany cash reconciliation • Calculating the key performance indicators and also industry specific indicators
Ernst & Young is a provider of assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services.