Startup Sprint June Batch-1 (15–20 June): Bringing Together Founders, Mentors, and Investors

Last week, the PedalStart Innovation Hub hosted the first batch of Startup Sprint, a curated 7-day founder evaluation and support program designed to help promising startups accelerate their growth.

After screening over 1,000 startup applications, we handpicked 7 startups to join the Sprint. The cohort brought together founders building across AI Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Computer Vision, AI Security, Compliance Tech, FinTech, and Applied AI.

Over the course of the week, the PedalStart team worked closely with founders on key areas of company building, including business strategy, product development, technology, team building, and fundraising readiness.

Inside the Sprint: Founder Sessions and Mentorship

One of the highlights of Startup Sprint is the access founders receive to experienced operators, investors, and ecosystem leaders who have built and scaled companies themselves.

The week began with **Mohit Sethi (Ex-OLX Group & Snapdeal)**, who worked closely with founders on business fundamentals, scaling challenges, and building sustainable growth engines in competitive markets.

On the second day, Kishore Mundra (Ex-Flipkart & Co-founder, Liv.ai) shared lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, helping founders think through product-market fit, company building, and the realities of scaling a technology startup.

Midweek, **Gaurav Ranjan (Principal, Prime Venture Partners) provided an investor’s perspective on market opportunities, venture-scale businesses, and fundraising readiness, while Vikas Lachhwani (Co-founder, mCaffeine & Hyphen)** shared practical insights on brand building, execution, and scaling consumer businesses in today’s market.

This was followed by a session with Shweta Shandilya (Managing Director, Data & AI, Accenture), who engaged with the cohort on emerging AI trends, enterprise adoption, and building technology-driven businesses for long-term growth.

The final mentoring day featured Neeraj Vyas, who worked with founders on business strategy, investor preparedness, and building companies that can sustain long-term growth.

Beyond these sessions, more than 40 mentors, venture capitalists, family offices, investors, and operators from the PedalStart network actively participated throughout the Sprint, offering feedback, guidance, and support to the founders.

Demo Day at the PedalStart Innovation Hub

The Sprint culminated in Demo Day on 20 June, where the startups pitched to PedalStart’s Investor Committee Panel.

Founders presented their vision, traction, business fundamentals, and growth plans while receiving valuable feedback from investors and mentors. The event also created opportunities for startups to network with investors, ecosystem leaders, and fellow founders, leading to meaningful conversations beyond the pitch itself.

Building the Next Generation of Startups

The startups in this cohort are not just building exciting products; they are already demonstrating early customer validation and commercial traction. Throughout the Sprint, founders refined their narratives, strengthened their go-to-market strategies, sharpened their fundraising stories, and built valuable relationships within the startup ecosystem.

At PedalStart, we believe exceptional founders grow faster when they are surrounded by the right people, support, and opportunities. Startup Sprint is designed to create exactly that environment.

A big thank you to all the founders, mentors, investors, and partners who made June Batch-1 (14–20 June) a success.

What’s Next?

The journey continues with Startup Sprint June Batch-2 (22–27 June), which is currently underway at the PedalStart Innovation Hub, Bangalore.

You’re invited to join us for Demo Day on 27 June, where the cohort startups will pitch to the PedalStart Investor Committee Panel, followed by a networking session with founders, investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders.

If you’re in Bangalore, we would love to have you there.

For more information and updates on the cohort, Demo Day, and future Startup Sprint batches, stay tuned to PedalStart’s social media channels.