Chill is Real for Early Startups—Can Rukam Capital's ‘Startup Table with AJ’ Be Their Lifeline?

At a time when India's startup ecosystem is racing toward its projected $1 trillion mark by 2030, not all founders are feeling the wind in their sails. Funding headlines often celebrate unicorns and late-stage behemoths, while the ones quietly building in co-working corners and home garages—India’s very early-stage startups—struggle to find visibility, capital, and mentorship.

Enter ‘Startup Table with AJ’, a fresh initiative by Rukam Capital, India’s consumer-focused venture capital firm, that’s doing more than just talking about change—it’s making it happen. Launched in 2024, the initiative aims to fill a glaring gap in the ecosystem: a lack of meaningful platforms for idea-stage and early-stage founders to be seen, heard, and helped.

And what a powerful difference it’s made. So far, more than 130 startups have been spotlighted through ‘Startup Table with AJ’, with some even securing pre-seed funding, mentorship, and strategic opportunities that might have otherwise taken years to come by.

Startup Table with AJ

While much of the startup media focuses on funding rounds and valuation milestones, ‘Startup Table with AJ’ looks elsewhere. It shines a light on passionate founders who are still laying the foundation—those in sectors as varied as D2C, gaming, personal care, travel, and even deep tech.

The format is refreshingly simple yet profound. In each episode, Archana Jahagirdar, Founder and Managing Partner of Rukam Capital, sits down with a curated cohort of early-stage founders. Through honest, unscripted conversations, they dive deep into the realities of building a startup in India—challenges, opportunities, future trends, and everything in between.

These aren’t promotional panels. They are insight-packed discussions, honest dialogues, and, at times, therapeutic sessions where founders speak of their highs, lows, and visions for the future.

“We wanted to create a platform where early-stage founders don’t just get visibility but also genuine help—funding, mentorship, and most importantly, belief,” said Archana Jahagirdar. “And we’ve seen this belief translate into real impact.”

More Than Just a Mic: It’s a Launchpad

For some, the impact was immediate.

Take Antithesis, a sustainable brand founded by Aparna Saxena. After being featured on Startup Table with AJ, it received pre-seed funding from Rukam Capital and V3 Ventures.

Similarly, Gyde XP, a travel-tech startup based in New Delhi, managed to secure its first funding round thanks to its visibility on the show. Even more telling is the story of Meine Electric, a deep-tech startup innovating in fuel cell technology, which found its first customer through an opportunity generated by the platform.

“One thing I took away from the series was that I found my first customer there,” said Priyansh Mohan, Co-Founder & CEO of Meine Electric. “They’re building portable water generators and our fuel cells are the perfect fit.”

Then there’s Covooz, an influencer marketplace startup that now walks into investor meetings with a new edge—a strong backing and the vote of confidence from Rukam Capital. Many other startups from the cohort found mentors, customers, and partnerships that would have been hard to imagine otherwise.

Going Where Startups Are Born

The real magic of the initiative lies in its grassroots spirit. Instead of limiting itself to metros, the show has traveled to diverse startup hubs like Kashmir and Varanasi, unearthing stories from regions often overlooked by the mainstream startup narrative.

This outreach reflects a deep commitment to democratizing the startup ecosystem, making space for visionaries who may not have an IIT-IIM badge or VC warm introductions—but do have ideas that can change the game.

What’s Next: The Future of Innovation Is on the Table

With two seasons and 18 powerful episodes under its belt, ‘Startup Table with AJ’ is now gearing up for its next edition in Bengaluru—India’s very own Silicon Valley. This time, the spotlight will shift to startups building in AR/VR, Aerospace, and the Defence sectors—emerging spaces where innovation could redefine India’s global footprint.

The episodes are freely available on Rukam Capital’s YouTube channel, ensuring that the conversations are not just limited to a privileged few but accessible to every aspiring founder, investor, and ecosystem stakeholder.

Rukam Capital isn’t new to backing bold ideas. Their portfolio already includes high-growth consumer brands like Beco, Sleepy Owl, Indus Valley, GO Desi, Burger Singh, and Antithesis. But through ‘Startup Table with AJ’, they’ve created something more enduring than a fund: a platform that builds belief at the very beginning.

In a climate where early-stage startups often face shrinking funds and lukewarm interest—especially post the funding winter—initiatives like this one offer hope and momentum. They also serve as a reminder: the future of India’s startup story doesn’t lie only in unicorns but in the tiny sparks that need space to ignite.

And if 'Startup Table with AJ' continues at this pace, those sparks could very well become the next wave of disruptive Indian startups we all root for.