Early-stage investing

The first cheque for startups born in India’s innovation labs

We back founders coming out of incubators, Atal Incubation Centres and university labs, at the moment a prototype needs its first believer. Then we stay for the whole journey.

Early belief. Lasting value.

Send us your deck Co-invest with us

What we back

Lab-born, founder-led, early

We meet founders inside the incubators that know them best, so we can judge the team, the mentors and the prototype, not just a pitch deck.

Stage
Pre-seed and seedOften the first outside money in the company.
Source
Incubators and AICsAtal Incubation Centres, university labs and innovation hubs.
Founders
Committed buildersA working prototype or first customers, and a team that is all in.
Instruments
Equity, CCPS, iSAFEStandard terms and simple documents.

How we work

From first cheque to final exit

  1. Step 1

    Meet

    Connecting with founders through incubators, AICs and our network

  2. Step 2

    Decide

    Quick evaluation and a clear yes or no

  3. Step 3

    Invest

    The first cheque, with co-investors when the round needs more

  4. Step 4

    Support

    Mentoring, introductions and follow-on capital

  5. Step 5

    Exit

    Patient holding and exits planned with founders

For founders

What you get when we invest

Fast, clear decisions

You speak with the people who decide. We aim to give you an answer in weeks, not months.

A clean cap table

Our co-investors stay out of your way. You work with one point of contact.

Founder-friendly terms

Standard instruments, short documents and no unusual control rights.

Beyond the cheque

Introductions to mentors, customers and the investors you will need for your next round.

Co-investor circle

Invest alongside us, by invitation

We invest our own capital in every deal. A small circle of people we know joins us deal by deal, each choosing only the startups they believe in.

Request an introduction

Thought Labs invests its own capital. Nothing on this website is an offer of securities or investment advice. Early-stage investing carries a high risk of loss.

Contact

Building something in a lab? Send us your deck.

A short email is enough to start. It helps if you include:

  • What you are building, in one line
  • Your incubator or AIC, if you are part of one
  • Who is on the team
  • Your stage and what you are raising
  • A link to your deck
Email yashika@thoughtlabsinnovations.in
Phone and WhatsApp +91 74285 58430WhatsApp
Email your deck