The Chennai Angels

Before you apply

• Check the stage. TCA's funding page is written for early revenue stage startups. Pre-revenue teams should read the eligibility points first.
• Prepare the deck first. The application asks for basic information and a presentation in TCA's required format.
• Show traction and defensibility. Reviewers are looking for early market traction, proprietary technology and barriers to entry.

How applications work

• Visit the platform by clicking the Login button at the top right of the website, or use the Apply for funding button on the funding page.
• Create an account, complete the online application and upload your presentation and required documents.
• If you run into trouble on the platform or with uploads, write to connect@thechennaiangels.com or reach out on LinkedIn.

How selection works

• A screening committee reviews your application. If shortlisted, you present to the investors.
• A deep-dive meeting follows, on your business model, financials and operations.
• Term sheets and due diligence come next, then deal closure.

Plan for the timeline

• The process can take 4 to 6 months from start to finish.
• Keep key information ready in advance and be available for meetings to keep the process moving.

The Chennai Angels (TCA) is an angel network founded in 2007. Its 150+ experienced investors back early-stage Indian startups and act as mentors to the founders they fund. Startups apply through an online platform, then go through a screening, a pitch, a deep-dive evaluation and due diligence before a deal closes.

How the network invests

TCA looks for teams with a unique value proposition and a competitive edge that is hard to copy. It expects protected intellectual property, a solid business plan, realistic financial projections, and a plan for sales and exits that can deliver high returns. It also values founders who are open to working with TCA's board and governance structure.

The funding page names early revenue stage startups as its focus, with scalable ideas and strong potential for rapid growth. Proprietary technology, early market traction and defensible barriers to entry are listed as expectations.

Who it is for

The network is built for founders who already earn revenue and can show that customers are engaging with the product. The funding page asks for experienced management teams, validated concepts with early market engagement, and founders who are open to mentoring. It also expects a reasonable valuation that fits the investors' risk and reward expectations, and a clear exit strategy. Founders should be ready to discuss both.

How the funding process works

The network runs a four-stage process:

• Prescreening and investor presentation: a screening committee reviews the application, and the startup then pitches to potential investors.
• Deep-dive evaluation: investors scrutinise the business model, financials and operations in a detailed meeting.
• Term sheet and due diligence: deal terms and company valuation are negotiated, followed by a review of the company's records.
• Deal closure: the investment agreement is finalised and the funding round is formally closed.

The page says the process can take 4 to 6 months from start to finish, depending on how complex the venture is. Founders can speed it up by preparing key information in advance and staying available for meetings. Investment size is set case by case, and TCA may syndicate a larger deal with other investor groups. Quarterly review calls follow funding.

Costs and terms

TCA charges a deal facilitation fee on deals it invests in. Due diligence costs (financial, legal and business) are charged at actuals by the agencies it appoints. TCA does not sign NDAs. It shares plans it receives only with its members, and those members sign an undertaking. It also reserves the right to invest in competing startups.

Portfolio examples

Portfolio companies include Cultyvate, a climate smart agritech business that helps farmers improve crop quality and yield, and E-Coil Green Energy, which collects waste cooking oil and converts it into biodiesel. The portfolio page lists each company with its funding year, location and status, so a founder can check the network's past deals in their own sector.

Track record

TCA's about page says it has backed 99+ promising startups across diverse sectors, across 177+ deals. Its homepage shows 80+ startups funded. The two counts differ, so both are given here. The portfolio page lists companies in agritech, cleantech, fintech, consumer brands and SaaS, and it names the founders of Hitwicket, Kreedo and Chai Kings. Some portfolio companies are marked as partly exited or exited.

Who runs it

The board of directors includes Gopal Srinivasan, Lakshmi Narayanan N, Ramaraj R and Shankar V, who also heads the executive committee. An executive committee of further investors and a secretariat team with a vice president complete the leadership. The member bios describe people who have founded and exited companies, and people with experience in private equity, investment banking and corporate finance.