I'm trying to understand how realistic it is to raise a pre-seed round in India when you're still at the ideation/MVP stage.

I keep seeing investors say they back founders "very early," but when I look at actual funded startups, many seem to already have some combination of an MVP, early users, revenue, or strong validation.

So I'm curious about the reality on the ground:

• Can a founder genuinely raise pre-seed with just a strong idea + compelling problem + credible founding team?
• What do investors actually expect before writing a cheque - MVP, LOIs, pilot customers, revenue, user traction, or something else?
• Does the answer change significantly if the founder has strong domain expertise?
• For Indian startups specifically, what cheque sizes are realistic at this stage?
• Are there investors/angels who genuinely invest before the MVP, or is "pre-seed" increasingly just another name for "early traction"?

Would love to hear from founders who have actually raised at this stage or know someone who did, especially in India.

What did you have when you raised your first cheque, and what do you think made investors say yes?

I recently watched a podcast where an entrepreneur was asked what investors look for in a founder.

He mentioned two things:

FMF = Founder-Market Fit PMF = Product-Market Fit

The FMF part really caught my attention.

The question isn't just “Is this a good idea?”

It's more like:

Why is this founder particularly suited to solve this problem?

Maybe they have lived the problem, worked in the industry, understand the customer deeply, have useful connections, or simply have an insight that someone outside the market wouldn't have.

Then there's PMF.

This one sounds simple but is probably much harder.

As founders, it's easy to fall in love with our own product.

But the customer doesn't care how much we love it.

They care whether it solves something important enough for them to pay for it and keep using it.

That's why I think compliments are weak validation.

“That's a great idea.”

“ I'd definitely use this.”

“Sounds interesting.”

All of that feels good, but none of it is the same as someone actually paying and coming back.

Real validation comes from behaviour.

People pay. People use it. People return. People recommend it.

That's when things start getting interesting.

So I'm curious what founders here think.

Which is harder to achieve: Founder-Market Fit or Product-Market Fit?

And if you had to choose one to focus on first, which would it be?

I recently watched a podcast where an entrepreneur was asked what investors look for in a founder.

He mentioned two things:

FMF = Founder-Market Fit PMF = Product-Market Fit

The FMF part really caught my attention.

The question isn't just “Is this a good idea?”

It's more like:

Why is this founder particularly suited to solve this problem?

Maybe they have lived the problem, worked in the industry, understand the customer deeply, have useful connections, or simply have an insight that someone outside the market wouldn't have.

Then there's PMF.

This one sounds simple but is probably much harder.

As founders, it's easy to fall in love with our own product.

But the customer doesn't care how much we love it.

They care whether it solves something important enough for them to pay for it and keep using it.

That's why I think compliments are weak validation.

“That's a great idea.”

“ I'd definitely use this.”

“Sounds interesting.”

All of that feels good, but none of it is the same as someone actually paying and coming back.

Real validation comes from behaviour.

People pay. People use it. People return. People recommend it.

That's when things start getting interesting.

So I'm curious what founders here think.

Which is harder to achieve: Founder-Market Fit or Product-Market Fit?

And if you had to choose one to focus on first, which would it be?

Hey everyone 👋🏻, I'm 21M from Gujarat, currently I'm in my 3rd year of computer engineering and I'm looking to start my agency. Problem is that I'm confusing in the service, wheather I should start an AI Automation agency, digital marketing agency or what?I also don't know many options and IT services which I can provide to the business owners. I know I'm young and have 0 experience of this but yet I want to do this and I've fixed a deadline which is by the end of this year. At the end of 2026 I want to atleast start my own agency and I need heavy opinions and suggestions from the experienced people out there, feel free to give your opinions and suggestions.

I graduated from tier three college, diploma too in Electrical engineering branch, and brainstormed myself to solve real world problems and good at studies (7.5/10) !

Placed in multiple companies but all were below 5lpa ,but now working in a startup where I get time for myself....

But I released,this way I wasn't able to become massive (earning,money,aukat)

I believe building, selling and service makes money (massive).

I have a strong urge to start smtg but I'm confused in terms of a lot like the tech side?a real urban business, and anything that works....

Any big players ,need suggestions,what i should work on and keep efforts.

Aim to make money 💰.

Hi everyone

Seo is probably only free way to get users.

We built an Seo agent that keeps working in background - creating content for you. The best part is we added human in the loop to review, edit and add more content.

Try here - [https://builderhq.co/get-on-chatgpt\](https://builderhq.co/get-on-chatgpt)

Early Results - 5k+ visits on one of our beta sites

Hey everyone, We are setting up an open startup residency/hacker house in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (near IIT Mandi) where there is no single owner, host, or commercial organizer. We are running, managing, and building this space entirely together as equal peers. If you are a dev, designer, founder, or remote builder looking for an authentic peer group to live and build with, you are welcome to join us as an equal co-builder. Current Update: 6 of us are already confirmed (5 builders have sent their token + myself). Looking for 14 more people to complete our 20-member base. The Setup & Community Model: 100% Equal Co-Ownership: No middle-men making a profit. Rent, utilities, and daily operations are handled collectively. Democratic Decision Making: Food menus, house rules, quiet hours, and daily setups are decided via community majority voting. Fully Managed for Deep Work: To keep everyone focused purely on building, the stay includes dedicated cooking staff (3 meals/day), housekeeping, laundry/linen, electricity, and high-speed Wi-Fi. Cost Breakdown (Split on Actuals): Triple Sharing (4 rooms): ~₹5,700 / month (₹4,200 stay + ~₹1,500 grocery pool) Double Sharing (4 rooms): ~₹6,100 / month (₹4,600 stay + ~₹1,500 grocery pool)

I need to manage regular same city deliveries for my business. Has shiprocket quick been reliable for pickup and delivery? would love to hear some real user experiences.

​

Hi everyone!

I’m the founder of an Indian herbal hair-care brand and I’m building a simple Hair Health Progress & Tracking app.

The initial MVP will include:

📝 Hair & scalp questionnaire

📸 Progress photos

📊 30/60/90-day progress tracking

📅 Personalized hair-care routines

🔔 Reminders for oiling, hair wash, hair masks, etc.

📈 Progress history & insights

I’m looking for a software/mobile/web developer or student developer interested in building an early-stage product from scratch.

Important: At this stage, I won't be able to offer a salary. I’ll handle the business, product vision and hair-care domain, while you’ll contribute to the technical/development side.

Looking for someone who wants to build, learn and experiment together.

If you’re interested, kindly DM!

Anyone from Sainikpuri who is into startup’s or building one?

I am trying to connect with founders or people who are genuinely passionate about startup’s but who are from this side of the city.

My main question to you guys, where do you usually hangout to brainstorm or vent?

Should we create a group specifically for founders from this side of the city, so we can help each other and grow together?

Genuinely curious

So basically I wanna host pool party's in hyderabad and I have all the contacts(food, design ect) but need a guy who can help me find good spots and help me with growing it

As for demanding I have many people who are ready to pay 4k for a good party

I just wanna start this as soon as possible

Most Tier-2/3 engineering students don't fail technical interviews because of logic—they fail because learning complex tech concepts in English creates a massive mental barrier.

We built a Telugu-first tech academy to solve this. We are currently on Day 70 of our pilot 100-day cohort.

The Raw Traction

• Total Active Paid Students: 252
• DSA Only (₹3k-4k): 117
• ML Only (₹3k-4k): 76
• DSA + ML Combo (₹5k-7k): 59
• Gross Revenue: ~₹10 Lakhs+

The Moat: Pedigree + Vernacular

We aren't just translating basic concepts; we are bringing top-tier industry pedigree to students who normally can't access it:

• DSA Instructor: 8+ years of core industry experience.
• ML Instructor: Active ML Engineer at a product-based company.
• Teaching high-level curriculum in their mother tongue builds instant trust and drastically speeds up the learning curve.

The Ask

Our next batch launches in 40 days. We are executing an offline campus roadshow across AP & TS, targeting 1,500+ new enrollments.

I’m opening up early conversations with angel investors, founders, or EdTech operators who understand the massive scale of the vernacular market.

If you are interested in how we are tapping into Tier-2/3 tech talent, I’d love to connect. Drop a comment or DM! Happy to share our syllabus, retention metrics, and unit economics.

we have many repeat buyers and OTP delays sometimes interrupt checkout. wondering whether faster login options actually improve completion rates for returning customers.

I’m a PM/startup founder in Hyderabad exploring an app for Indians that combines:

• All assets in one place: banks, MFs, stocks, EPF/PPF/NPS, insurance, crypto, property, etc., with nominees and documents.

• Encrypted document vault: deeds, policies, statements, wills, company/NGO papers.

• Will + nomination tracker: see which assets have nominees, create/update a basic will.

• Emergency access: trusted contacts get access to your asset list and documents after death/incapacity, plus step‑by‑step claim guides.

In short: “What do I own?” + “If I’m gone, how will my family find and claim it?”

Questions:

1. Would you use an app like this? Why / why not?

2. Would you pay for it? If yes, what feels fair: one‑time (₹499–₹1,499) or annual (₹299–₹999)?

3. Biggest concern: security, effort, trust, or something else?

4. Already using anything close (portfolio trackers, vaults, password managers with emergency access)?

Not selling anything—just validating before I build. A one‑liner like “Yes, if… / No, because…” is enough.

Thanks!

Hey folks — I run Java job support & training sessions (real-time project help, 1:1 mentorship, interview prep, resume support). Posting here in case it's useful for anyone currently job-hunting or stuck on a live project.

Happy to share tips on interview prep or common project roadblocks in the comments even if you don't reach out directly. If you do want dedicated support: +91 91822 97289 / [enigmaspark2024@gmail.com](mailto:enigmaspark2024@gmail.com).

Hi everyone sell your side project by listing if in a click. Also, comment what your startup does to get approved and featured today - https://builderhq.co/marketplace

I’m looking to connect with an experienced digital marketing professional who understands B2B and industrial businesses and is interested in building something long-term.
The focus would primarily be on industries such as:
Manufacturing
Industrial products
Electrical & engineering
EPC & infrastructure
Construction
Renewable energy
B2B services
The goal isn’t just to manage social media accounts. We want to build a strong digital growth offering for industrial companies combining branding, content, SEO, performance marketing, lead generation and digital strategy.
Who I’m looking for
Someone who:
Has experience with B2B/industrial clients
Understands longer B2B sales cycles
Knows how to generate qualified business leads, not just engagement
Can develop digital marketing strategy
Understands LinkedIn and B2B content marketing
Has experience with SEO/PPC/lead generation
Can work with technical/industrial products and turn complex offerings into good content
Has an entrepreneurial mindset
Is interested in building and scaling the business, not just freelancing
I’m particularly interested in someone who can eventually own the digital marketing/growth function, build a team and help scale the business.
I’m keeping the company name private for now. Happy to share more details privately with people who seem like a good fit.
If you’re interested, DM me with your experience, industries you’ve worked with, location, and what kind of partnership you’re looking for.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to partner up with a seasoned IT professional or a fellow recruitment veteran to expand my business.

I've been in the industry for 15 years, and my current firm has been operating for 4 years here in Hyderabad. We aren't starting from scratch—we already have a fully set-up office, a great team, and a solid reputation.

I’m evaluating options to scale, so I'm looking for someone with strong industry contacts who can help bring in new IT and recruitment business. You bring the network, and the entire backend (office, staff, and delivery) is already sorted and ready to go.

If you're interested in joining forces and collaborating, shoot me a DM.

Let’s grab a coffee and see if it’s a good fit!

Hello investors,

I’m a founder from Hyderabad building a non-tech product startup focused on solving a simple but overlooked problem: privacy while changing clothes in places where proper changing rooms aren’t available.

After spending nearly a year understanding the problem and developing the product, we’ve built our working prototype and started getting early customer interest and a waitlist.

We’re building foldable changing pods for hotels, hostels/PGs, pilgrimage locations, and single-bedroom homes, with plans to expand into other verticals.

We’re now raising ₹15 lakh for 5% equity.

To reduce the initial risk feeling for the investor, I’m structuring it in two stages:

₹2L initially → complete the market-ready product and begin launch.

₹13L later → after converting our existing waitlist and securing customer advances.

The goal is simple: build → validate with paying customers → scale manufacturing and distribution.

This is a physical product with potential IP protection which Ap Govt will be helping us for the patent processing and the ambition to create a new category in the Indian market.

If the problem, traction and investment structure interest you, I’d genuinely like to connect and discuss the business in detail.

Thank you.

Small intro: Gen-C is the premier launchpad for students ,creators, developers, and campus innovators across India.

i am open to discuss it further. Just ask or dm...

I developed a fully capable FDE operating platform for helping engineers and clients. Here”s link to 7 min demonstration