The case is intended to help the student learn about an important source of startup funding in India, namely, angels. It also provides an opportunity to learn about how organisations emerge - in this instance angel networks - to solve economic problems that economic agents in a market face. The note also provides an overview of how angel networks manage their investment activity. Finally, it also brings out the strategic challenges faced by players in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Seedfund is an early stage venture capital (VC) fund focused on Indian companies building enterprises that address the growing Indian economy. The case traces the creation of the fund, the development of and the rationale for the investment theses for the fund, the way the investment team raised and constituted the funds taking into account the institutional regime governing the VC industry in India. In particular, it discusses how the investment team developed their investment theses, taking into account the competitive scenario in the market for early stage investing and the competences that they brought to the business. It also discusses the entire fund life cycle management, namely sourcing of deals, screening of deals, post financing value addition and exits. As a backdrop, the case provides an overview of the Indian VC and private equity (PE) industry in India.

GoCoop is a four-year old start-up that is creating an international market for Indian artisanal products such as handlooms through a B2B e-commerce platform. The company, founded by Siva Reddy, a former technologist with managerial experience in India as well as abroad has received a round of angel funding, followed by a Series A round recently. It has pivoted (i.e., changed its business model) twice and is now poised for a phase of rapid growth. The case traces the history of the company and examines some of the critical choices made by the entrepreneur and his key learning experiences. The case is anchored on the next steps that GoCoop will have to undertake to meet its growth aspirations. It also provides an opportunity for the class to deliberate and reflect on the choices made by the company and the entrepreneur so far. The case is accompanied by a background note on the marketing of Indian handloom products from an earlier period prior to the advent of electronic commerce. Company videos and those of Indian artisans are also available on YouTube.

Supplement to case IMB639. GoCoop is a four-year old start-up that is creating an international market for Indian artisanal products such as handlooms through a B2B e-commerce platform. The company, founded by Siva Reddy, a former technologist with managerial experience in India as well as abroad has received a round of angel funding, followed by a Series A round recently. It has pivoted (i.e., changed its business model) twice and is now poised for a phase of rapid growth. The case traces the history of the company and examines some of the critical choices made by the entrepreneur and his key learning experiences. The case is anchored on the next steps that GoCoop will have to undertake to meet its growth aspirations. It also provides an opportunity for the class to deliberate and reflect on the choices made by the company and the entrepreneur so far. The case is accompanied by a background note on the marketing of Indian handloom products from an earlier period prior to the advent of electronic commerce. Company videos and those of Indian artisans are also available on YouTube.