TLDR:
- Serial entrepreneur Aakash Anand launches venture studio Wolfpack Labs.
- The studio will invest in early-stage startups with cheque sizes between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1 crore for up to 15% equity.
Full Article:
Serial entrepreneur Aakash Anand, known for founding BellaVita Organic, has announced the launch of a new venture studio called Wolfpack Labs. Anand has earmarked Rs 50 crore of his personal wealth to back early-stage startups in the idea stage through Wolfpack Labs. The studio will initially start with a cohort of five startups and focus on sector-agnostic investments.
Wolfpack Labs plans to invest in cheque sizes between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1 crore on average for an equity shareholding of up to 15%. The venture studio aims to create a platform for venture capital funds looking to invest in early-stage companies. Anand also mentioned that a portion of the equity will be allocated to creating an ESOP pool for all the founders of the cohort to promote collaboration among startups.
Looking ahead, Wolfpack Labs plans to roll out one cohort each quarter starting from next year. Anand revealed that nearly Rs 20 crore of the initial capital has been allocated for incubating startups, with the remainder set aside for participation in follow-on rounds. The venture studio is open to bringing external LPs on board for the incubation fund after a few successful cohorts.
Anand, who serves as a partner at Ananta Capital, continues to focus on strategic investments and partnerships for D2C and digital startups. His current portfolio includes companies like BellaVita, Better Alt, Bevzilla, the Guardian chain of pharmacies, and GNC, collectively making up about a Rs 1000 crore ARR business. Wolfpack Labs signals Anand’s commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Indian startup ecosystem.
