The Sting of Rejection

Hey Readers

Good Morning.

So we did something very good in last 2 days.

I always keep saying about Pivot, and how it can shape your journey from failure to success.

We did also same thing in 100xstartup. We started with one mission but currently pursuing a different one.

The best part is we have not given up.

So we had grabbed 2 deals with two of our clients.

Don’t take pivot negatively. Because in the end if you are not generating revenue, you will be drained at some point of time.

That’s it from my side.

Let’s kickstart Thursday with a warm sip of coffee. ☕

THE LEAN LESSON

The Sting of Rejection: Why Every “No” is a Step Toward Success

Imagine this: You're sitting in front of a venture capitalist, pouring your heart out about your startup, your vision, your passion.

You feel like you're on the brink of something great… and then, no. The dreaded rejection. We've all been there, and it stings like nothing else.

But what if I told you that rejection isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something even bigger?

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I pitched my first startup to a venture capitalist, a big name in the industry.

I walked into that meeting thinking I had it all figured out. My business plan was solid, my pitch was rehearsed, and my passion was contagious. This was the moment I’d been waiting for.

But then, I heard those dreaded words: “We’re going to pass.”

At that moment, I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I wasn’t just rejected—I felt personally attacked.

My ideas, my business, my future, all shot down by one person’s opinion. And I’m sure you can relate to that feeling.

It feels like your worth as an entrepreneur is being questioned, even if that’s not the case at all.

Here’s the truth I learned years later: VC rejections are not about you. They’re not personal.

They’re about the investor’s strategy, their investment thesis, and whether your startup fits into their current needs. And that’s a huge distinction to understand.

For years, I carried that rejection like a scar. But I realized over time that those rejections weren’t meant to break me—they were meant to shape me.

They forced me to refine my ideas, rethink my strategies, and become a stronger entrepreneur.

FUNDING WEEKLY

Last week, 30 early and growth-stage startups cumulatively raised around $248.87 million in funding.

Growth-stage deals

In the growth-stage funding landscape,edtech startup Leap raised $65 million in Series E round led by Apis Partners.

B2B seafood startups Captain Fresh raised $30 million in its ongoing pre-IPO round.

SaaS IT management platform SuperOps raised $25 million, and the supply chain startup also secured $12 million in Series C round from Evolvence India, Mirabilis Investment Trust.

Early-stage deals

Further, 20 early-stage startups secured funding worth $107.15 million during the week.

B2B SaaS startup Atomicwork led the early stage funding with $25 million in Series A round followed by co-working firm Innov8, Senior citizen-focused healthcare services provider Geri Care, Telecom Astrome Technologies, Mobility startup VoltUp & others.

D2C handloom clothing brand Dressfolk, road safety products manufacturer Prisomoline & others also raised a sum but did not disclose the amount raised.

• This week, Venture debt firm Trifecta Capital has announced the first close of its fourth and largest venture debt fund to date of Rs 2,000 Cr ($230 million).

• Early-stage angel VC firm Peaceful Progress Fund closes its maiden fund at Rs 50 crore.

• Veloce Fintech, a part of the Lemon Group, has launched its SEBI-registered Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), the Veloce Opportunities Fund.

YOUTUBE TREASURE

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