Startup Founders Gather in Kolkata for Game-Changing Funding Masterclass

Kolkata founders ecosystem saw a major highlight this weekend as founders and early-stage entrepreneurs came together for the much-anticipat...

Kolkata founders ecosystem saw a major highlight this weekend as founders and early-stage entrepreneurs came together for the much-anticipated Kolkata Founders Sit & Talk - a focused Seed Funding Masterclass hosted by Abhishek Rungta, founder of Indus Net Technologies and a guiding force in the city’s startup scene.

Held at the SDF Building in Salt Lake Sector 5, the event drew an energetic mix of startup builders, investors, and mentors, all looking to crack the real code behind startup fundraising. Organized by New Kolkata Founders and curated by Sunil Chandra Saha, co-founder of Blue Tea India, the event created space for raw, real conversations about building scalable and fundable startups.

The session, titled “Fireside Chat: Seed Funding Simplified”, dove deep into what it truly takes to raise capital in today’s fast-moving startup world. From understanding investor psychology to building a strong pitch deck, the insights shared were not only practical but refreshingly honest.

A Masterclass for Founders, By Founders

The highlight of the evening was Abhishek Rungta’s candid take on the real journey behind startup funding. As one of the most respected names in the Kolkata startup ecosystem, his experience as a venture builder and mentor brought a rare clarity to the room.

He emphasized four key lessons for founders:

• Be clear about the problem you are solving

• Know your product-market fit inside out

• Understand your revenue model and growth path

• Passion is essential, but never enough

“Clarity builds fundable businesses. Startups are not status symbols—they’re built on grit, not glamor,” said Rungta during the session, striking a chord with every founder in the room.

The audience included a mix of early-stage and scaling founders, like the team behind Tulayraa - a growing fashion and premium home salon startup with a mission to empower women through beauty and entrepreneurship. The event was attended by other startups like Wah Litti, Neuroncy, Lukse and Zynapte. 

What Makes This Event Different

What set Sit & Talk apart was its informal yet insightful format. Rather than a lecture, the event felt more like a conversation: free-flowing, real, and grounded. With only 60 curated seats, the setting allowed each founder to participate, ask questions, and share their own perspectives.

The inclusion of founders like Sunil Saha, whose brand Blue Tea made headlines on Shark Tank India, added weight and relatability to the advice being shared.

What’s Next for the Community

The Kolkata Founders network plans to keep this momentum going with more focused sessions on key startup challenges like brand building, D2C scale-up strategies, and investor-readiness. Their long-term goal? To make Kolkata a vibrant, founder-first startup hub in India where real advice meets real action.

Founders who missed this session are already lining up for the next edition, and based on feedback, these founder-focused masterclasses are quickly becoming must-attend events for Kolkata’s startup community.

In a space often filled with noise and hype, Sit & Talk brought founders back to what really matters—clarity, purpose, and strong fundamentals. For every founder wondering how to get funded or build something that lasts, the message was clear: focus on solving real problems, tell your story with heart, and stay grounded through it all.