Inside Investor's Mind: She Capital's Anisha Singh Reveals What Truly Wins Over Investors

Every startup dreams of scaling heights, but securing the right investment is often the game-changer that defines their journey. However, in the chase for capital, what founders often miss is a deep understanding of what really goes on inside an investor’s mind.

In this edition of Inside Investor’s Mind, we sit down with Anisha Singh, Founding Partner of She Capital — an entrepreneur-turned-investor who brings unique insights from both sides of the table.

From Entrepreneur to Investor: A Natural Shift Driven by Need

Anisha Singh's journey from being a celebrated entrepreneur to becoming a prominent investor wasn’t something she meticulously planned. Reflecting on her transition, Singh shared,

“During My Dala days, I was advocating a lot about female founders and noticed a significant gap — the ecosystem lacked women investors. Studies show that women investors tend to invest more aggressively in women. Since nobody was doing it, someone had to, and I decided to step up.”

Her move was less about career aspiration and more about fulfilling an urgent need in the startup ecosystem, she explained.

A Founder-First Approach to Investing

Coming from a founder's background, Singh has embedded empathy and respect at the core of She Capital’s operations.

“Building a startup is never easy. At She Capital, one clear mandate is: never waste a founder's time. If we're not interested after the first or second call, we communicate it directly instead of dragging things unnecessarily," Singh emphasized.

This founder-centric ethos is what makes She Capital a refreshing change in the otherwise grueling investment world, where ghosting or prolonged decision-making is a common grievance among entrepreneurs.

What Truly Makes a Startup Investment-Worthy?

When asked what makes a startup catch her attention, Singh offered a candid perspective:

“At the stage we come in, we primarily look for great founders and great ideas. The founder is absolutely key. A good founder with a strong business idea is a winning combination.”

She likened the founder-investor relationship to dating or marriage — emphasizing that just like personal relationships, alignment in vision and approach matters greatly.

Importantly, Singh urged founders not to take rejections personally.

“Investor rejections are often not a judgment of your capability. It's about fit. Sometimes, investors have already committed to similar ideas, or there might be different priorities at play.”

Women Founders vs Male Founders: Mindset Differences

Having funded both male and female founders, Singh shared interesting observations about gender-based differences in pitching styles.

“Women, despite knowing their numbers inside out, often hesitate to talk about them during investor meetings. Men, on the other hand, are more aggressive — sometimes overly optimistic — about numbers,” she noted.

Singh strongly advocates for women founders to confidently discuss their metrics, emphasizing that owning their data is crucial to gaining investor trust.

Common Mistakes Startup Founders Make While Pitching

When asked about the common pitfalls she notices in pitches, Singh pointed out two major mistakes:

1. Weak Elevator Pitch:

"If you can't explain your business clearly within the first 7–10 minutes, you've likely lost the investor's interest."

2. Poor Targeting:

"Many founders pitch to the wrong type of investors. Doing homework about the investor’s focus areas is non-negotiable."

Practice, preparation, and precision were her keywords for founders looking to make a memorable pitch.

Beyond Valuations: What Really Matters?

In an era glamorized by shows like Shark Tank and driven by sky-high valuations, Singh offered a refreshing reality check.

“For the longest time, founders were chasing valuations instead of focusing on building real businesses. But valuation is a vanity metric — it's the strength of your core idea and value proposition that truly matters."

She emphasized that an over-valuation early on can often backfire, and advised founders to prioritize sustainable growth over flashy numbers.

Sectors That Excite Anisha Singh Right Now

Unlike the US or China, where AI dominates the investment landscape, Singh believes India's consumer sector still holds massive potential.

“India is just waking up to consumerism at scale, and we see fantastic opportunities there,” she said.

She Capital’s portfolio currently reflects a mix — around 50% in consumer-focused startups and the rest in “interesting tech” sectors such as deep tech, AI, health tech, and sports tech.

However, Singh personally is on the lookout for innovations in travel tech.

“Travel as a sector needs disruption, and I would love to find startups reimagining travel experiences — not in aviation, but in how we explore and enjoy travel," she shared enthusiastically.

Inside Investor’s Mind continues to uncover candid insights that bridge the gap between startups and investors. Anisha Singh’s journey and her honest advice offer invaluable learnings for every aspiring entrepreneur seeking not just funding, but the right kind of partnership to fuel their dreams.