On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2022. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Vivek ↗
In their words
Over the last four years I've talked to probably 500 to 1000 companies at varying levels of detail.
The target for most venture capitalists is a 10x growth in five to seven years, so the market has got to be big enough for that.
One thing which I always recommend to early stage founders is surround yourself with smart people.
Quick answers
Who is Vivek Chandra?
A Toronto-area startup advisor and the president of Univentures Consulting, which works with early and growth-stage technology companies on product-market fit, pitch decks, fundraising and enterprise sales. He is a volunteer advisor at MaRS Discovery District and at ventureLAB.
What does he look for before a seed round?
Three things, in his order: why you — the founding team's skills, track record and credentials; then the size of the opportunity; then the digital footprint that has to match the pitch. He told the TechTO audience in May 2022 that venture investors are looking for roughly 10x in five to seven years, so a lifestyle business is a fine outcome but not a venture one.
What was his TechTO talk?
A HustleStruggz fireside in May 2022 on evaluating seed sources — where seed money actually comes from in Canada, what belongs in the deck for each type of investor, and the mistakes founders make in the process.
What did he do before advising startups?
He spent decades in banking in increasingly senior roles, working in product management and risk management and using technology as an enabler, with experience in Thailand, India and the UAE. He has an engineering degree from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.