Bipin Shah, previously the managing partner at Titan Capital, has unveiled his new venture: a micro-VC firm named Zeropearl. With a strong commitment to nurturing early-stage entrepreneurship, Zeropearl adopts a unique “founder-only” investment philosophy aimed at empowering startup founders during their crucial initial phases.
As Shah detailed in a LinkedIn post, Zeropearl will concentrate on leading investments at the friends & family or pre-seed stages, establishing itself as the first significant backer for emerging startups. While the firm takes a sector-agnostic approach, it shows a particular interest in Consumer (D2C/B2C) and SaaS/GenAI businesses.
Zeropearl’s investment strategy stands out for its decisive and rapid approach. Founders can expect an answer—either a “No” or a “Yes” accompanied by a term sheet—within a week. The process is streamlined to ensure deals are closed in under a month, providing a rare level of predictability and speed in the early-stage investment landscape.
When it comes to criteria, SaaS companies can attract Zeropearl’s support even before generating revenue, whereas consumer product startups need to demonstrate a minimum monthly revenue of Rs 1 lakh. The firm plans to invest in 12 to 15 startups annually, targeting an 8% ownership in each portfolio company. Beyond funding, Zeropearl offers hands-on guidance with a focus on scaling growth and gearing up for a robust Series A within 15 months.
While 80% of Zeropearl’s investments will adhere to these structured guidelines, Shah emphasized that the firm maintains flexibility to adapt to changing market dynamics. This adaptive approach ensures that Zeropearl can stay relevant and responsive in an ever-evolving startup ecosystem.
