We are back with the 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards. As we approach the main event, here are the nominees in one of the eight categories: Midas Touch.The award will recognise the most lucrative exit in the year. The decision will be made based on the volume of deals as well as the size of the exit.Here are the nominees:Shailesh LakhaniPartner, Ambition CapitalBased in: BengaluruKey investments: Zetwerk, Truecaller, Porter, Healthkart, IxigoInvestment strategy: Lakhani spent over 18 years at Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India) before founding his own investment firm, Ambition Capital. He has made early bets in multiple companies, three of which have already gone public and a fourth has filed its IPO papers.Manu ChandraManaging partner, Sauce VCBased in: New DelhiKey investments: Innovist, The Whole Truth, Mokobara, XYXX, SupertailsInvestment strategy: Chandra has developed an investment strategy around small initial cheques and follow-on backing for companies showing traction. He has built Sauce VC into a disciplined and high-conviction firm with a sharp focus on the consumer sector.Anu HariharanManaging partner, Avra CapitalBased in: San FranciscoKey investments: Groww, Meesho, Razorpay, ZeptoInvestment strategy: Having led Y Combinator’s Continuity Fund before cofounding Avra Capital, Hariharan has focussed on backing high-growth technology companies and supporting founders through successive stages of growth. Groww and Meesho have gone public.Mukesh BansalAngel investor, Meraki LabsBased in: BengaluruKey investments: Groww, Skyroot Aerospace, Cred, FirstClub, TempleInvestment strategy: Bansal founded fashion etailer Myntra and fitness startup Curefit before launching the venture studio Meraki Labs. He has approached investing with an operator’s lens, backing founders early and staying invested. His portfolio includes Groww, Skyroot Aerospace, Cred, and FirstClub, with sizeable gains recorded across fintech and deeptech.
