GSF Superangels launches accelerator programme to fund tech start-ups

GSF Superangels, a network of 30 leading digital founders and investors in India, will launch a 3-city start-up accelerator programme called GSF Accelarator across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, in October. Claiming to be the single largest funding platform for Indian start-ups, GSF accelerator will provide 12 start-ups with personalised and intensive mentoring, unparalleled access to funding and business networks and initial capital.

“GSF Accelerator program is built around three unique values: intensity of mentorship, deep collaboration with the ecosystem, and creation of a global springboard for the next generation of Indian start-ups. This programme is designed to create the next wave of product-oriented technology start-ups in the areas of mobile, social, local and cloud. There is no reason that Indian entrepreneurs cannot create the next Instagram, or the next twitter, or the next InMobi,” said Rajesh Sawhney, founder, GSF Superangels network.

The program will run simultaneously in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru between October and November, 2012, with each location hosting four start-ups. Extensive coaching will be provided for each of the 12 GSF start-ups for seven weeks by a mentor pool of over 200 leading co-founders and digital masterminds from across the world. The GSF accelerator start-ups will attend 25 intensive and proprietary workshops conducted by global experts.

“Twelve start-ups will receive initial funding from GSF this year. GSF Superangels will provide further funding to a few start-ups at the end of the programme. Twelve start-ups will also be showcased at the GSF2012 (The Second Global Superangels Forum) on November 26-27, 2012, where 400 leading early stage investors from across the world will meet start-ups,” Sawhney added.

Leading Indian funds such as Kae Capital, and Blume Venture have also partnered with GSF Accelerator.

“GSF has tied up with the renowned 500 start-ups by Dave McClure to provide access to its Silicon Valley networks,” said Sawhney. Five hundred start-ups is a renowned seed fund and start-up accelerator programme in Mountain View, California.

“India is booming with innovation, and 500 start-ups are excited to be partnering with GSF Accelerator in one of the world’s most exciting entrepreneurial ecosystems. Five hundred start-ups have already made several investments in India and we plan to do more in the future,” said Dave McClure.

GSF has also entered into similar agreements with a European accelerator and mentorship programme called Seedcamp and a Singapore based fund, Ruvento to help GSF start-ups in Europe and Singapore.

The key advisors to GSF include Naveen Tewari, CEO and founder of InMobi, a leading global mobile platform and Avnish Bajaj, founder of Matrix Partners, a leading Venture fund.