WeWork India, the largest and leading flexible workspace provider in India, launched investments by WeWork Labs, in line with its aim to be the hub for business creation across India. The initiative is designed to unlock opportunities for India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and empower the next generation of founders and early-stage startups. The shortlisted startups will be able to apply for pre-seed/seed capital upto $200k, invested by WeWork India.
Investments by WeWork Labs will focus on helping early-stage startups through a blend of pre-seed capital, competitive guidance and comprehensive business support to help them scale. In order to introduce the initiative to the Indian startup landscape, WeWork Labs embarked on a 3-city roadshow series as well as other partner events, bringing together like-minded early-stage founders under one roof. These events took place in Bengaluru, Gurugram, and Mumbai, creating a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, and garnering over 800+ applications.
Commenting on the launch, Karan Virwani, CEO, WeWork India, said, "Over the years, India has cultivated a vibrant and unique startup culture that empowers local startups to generate ideas we know can succeed on a global stage. Investments by WeWork Labs marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to this cause. We are positioning ourselves as the driving force behind the forthcoming wave of innovations that will shape the future of the startup ecosystem."
The roadshow series received an overwhelming response, with over 420 founders and investors in attendance, collectively demonstrating the immense appetite for innovation within the Indian startup community. Entrepreneurs from various domains converged to connect, learn, and explore the transformative opportunities presented by WeWork Labs. The co-investor network includes Chiratae Ventures, Waterbridge Ventures, IIFL, Huddle, AdvantEdge Founders, and Lead Angels.
WeWork Labs will also host ‘Jumpstart’, a unique value-driven event for founders to showcase the investment portfolio to the world. Scheduled for January 2024, Jumpstart aims to equip founders with everything they need to launch and scale their startup, along with opportunities to secure investment. Since its inception, over 500+ startups have gone through WeWork Labs as part of the incubator and accelerator programme, over the last 5 years, and currently, over 330 active startup members are being accelerated. WeWork Labs serves as a nurturing ground for entrepreneurs and early-stage startups, offering them essential resources, mentorship, and a thriving community. With a steadfast mission to foster innovation and drive entrepreneurship, WeWork Labs has been a catalyst for numerous success stories across the country.
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