Investment Process
How to apply for Funding?
Just write to us at hello@soonicorncapital.com and tell us about what you are up to. Make sure you cover the following in the pitch deck or your email:
– What are you are solving for and how?
– Size of the opportunity
– Your product and how it works?
– Founding team / background
– How will you make money?
– Traction / key metrics
– How much funding you are looking for?
Can I pitch before lunch?
Yes, as long as you are 100% working on the startup idea after leaving any other full-time job etc.
How long does the investment process take?
Within 2 weeks maximum, we will either confirm our interest to invest or regret our inability to participate.
Funding Rounds
What kind of funding rounds do you participate in?
Seed: We co-lead seed investment rounds where the startup is looking to raise $100k to $400k, where we contribute up to 50% of the total round size. Where we are co-leading the round, we will finalize the terms of the round and we will also help you bring other investors including seed funds.
Series A: In institutional rounds, where the startup is raising $500k to $5mil, we are happy to be a smaller but useful investor, co-investing on the same terms along with a larger investor who may be leading the round. In such a round, we can invest $300k to $500k per deal and we will go with the terms decided by the larger investor and you.
We generally avoid bridge rounds and co-invest only in rounds where there is new investor who is leading the funding round.
Why should I choose you as a co-investor, when I have a term sheet from a reputed VC?
The VC will bring in capital and enormous guidance strategically. As a smaller co-investor in the round, we will bring in a group of high-quality angels who can:
– be great bouncing boards for you
– open doors with potential customers, investors and partners
– refer and help with hiring
– provide domain expertise
What kind of share holder right do you seek?
The rights we ask for (pro rata rights, liquidation preference, information rights etc) are standard and fair. This will help simplify the process of closing the seed round quickly.
Do you provide follow-up funding?
Normally, we seek pro-rata participation rights and we aim to participate in subsequent rounds to the extent of maintaining our ownership.
Do you ask for a board seat?
Usually, in rounds where we are co-investing with a bigger investor, we ask for a right to nominate a Board Observer. Observers, if nominated, can participate in Board meetings but do not vote.
In seed rounds where we are leading, we may ask for a right to nominate a board member.
Normally, we don’t exercise the right unless it is necessary.
Do you have any minimum ownership requirment?
As a smaller investor who brings in high quality angels, we don’t have any defined minimum ownership requirement. Of course, we will look to invest on fair terms that are win-win for everyone.
Mechanics
of funding
Do I have to pitch to all the angels in the syndicate?
No. As a founder, you interact only with the Lead Investor (Abhishek Chandra). The Lead Investor may consult some of the domain experts in the Syndicate for their inputs, during the evaluation process. So, you get the benefit of bringing in some of the best angels in India but the process is way simpler than talking to 50 angels or a fund.
Are there multiple layer of Pitching?
No. You don’t have to go through 3 levels of pitching before you reach the Investment Committee. You pitch to the Lead Investor and once he confirms the interest, you will get a Term Sheet.
Will every participating angel come directly on my cap table?
No. You don’t have to go through 3 levels of pitching before you reach the Investment Committee. You pitch to the Lead Investor and once he confirms the interest, you will get a Term Sheet.