Latest news with #Richa
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Campus Fund Launches Third Fund of $100 Million
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India: Campus Fund , India's pioneering and only SEBI-registered AIF Category II venture capital fund dedicated exclusively to student – and college dropout-led startups, has announced the launch of its third and largest fund, a $100 million corpus. With more than 50% of the fund already committed, the fund has completed its first close and has already made two early investments. Founded by serial entrepreneur Richa Bajpai, Campus Fund reimagines venture capital by backing first-time founders while they are still in university, have dropped out of college, or are within three years of graduation. After co-founding Goodera (backed by Nexus, Omidyar, Elevation, and Binny Bansal), Richa developed the Campus Fund thesis while studying at London Business School in 2020. What began as a humble experiment has now evolved into a $100 million institutional platform powering India's next generation of builders. 'Campus Fund is not just a VC firm — it's a movement to unlock the genius scattered across campuses,' said Richa. 'With Fund III, we double down on our conviction that student founders aren't just dreamers — they're doers, redefining the future from dorm rooms, garages, and labs.' Richa began her own entrepreneurial journey in 2009, during her final year of engineering. 'This is a full-circle moment for me,' she added. 'I started in a dorm room with nothing but an idea and ambition. To now back students chasing bold ideas — that's the most meaningful chapter of my career.' Today's student founders aren't limited to elite institutions. They're emerging from Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges, small towns, and unconventional backgrounds. Many are college dropouts who've chosen to build. As knowledge becomes more accessible, Fund III aims to democratize access to capital. 'The next unicorn may not come from Silicon Valley or Bengaluru — it might come from a hostel room in Bhopal or a garage in Surat,' Richa added. Campus Fund operates with a network of 100+ student scouts across universities and evaluates over 7,000 startups annually. Fund III will invest in up to 60 startups over the next four years, writing initial cheques ranging from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 8 crore, with 50% of the fund earmarked for follow-on investments. Campus Fund has previously backed companies such as Expand My Business (managed marketplace for Digital Services), Digantara (space situational awareness), EtherealX (fully reusable rockets), Sama (online dispute resolution), D-Nome (decentralized genomics infrastructure), Sarla (flying taxis), GreenGrahi (insect protein), among many others. Several of these startups have gone on to raise follow-on capital from marquee global investors, including Peak XV Partners, Accel, a16z, AlphaWave, and DST Global. Fund III is supported by a diverse mix of family offices, successful entrepreneurs, industrialists, and financial institutions — including 360 One — with many Limited Partners re-upping after Fund II. Notable backers include Kanwaljit Singh, Founder of Fireside Ventures; Bharat Shah, Co-founder of HDFC Bank; Jaimin Bhatt, former Group CFO of Kotak Mahindra Bank; Asha Jadeja Motwani, first investor in Google; and Sameen Farooqui, Global Head of FX at Deutsche Bank. With this momentum, Campus Fund cements its position as India's most active early-stage backer of youth-led innovation — and a bold blueprint for venture capital in emerging markets. Backing student and dropout founders is no longer just a visionary bet — it's one of the smartest investments of this decade. The returns are not just financial, but generational.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Hyderabad author Richa Sharma's book explores ideas of home and identity
A recurring theme in Richa Sharma's debut novel, Finding Home Again (published by Nu Voice Press and distributed by Penguin Random House India), is the search for belonging. Is home the place where one is born and raised? Or is it the space one builds in a new city through education, career, or marriage? Can one truly belong to more than one place, absorbing the best of multiple cultures? Set in the aftermath of a train derailment following floods in Assam, the novel traces characters searching for their loved ones — unfolding deeper ideas of home, identity, and displacement. Richa was raised in Arunachal Pradesh, though her parents hail from Uttar Pradesh. 'My father moved to Arunachal in 1970. As a state government schoolteacher, he helped establish schools in remote interiors,' she says, over coffee at a café in Hyderabad. She and her siblings eventually moved to different cities for higher education. Richa studied journalism, psychology, and literature in Bengaluru before pursuing a Master's in mass communication at the University of Hyderabad — where she met actor Priyadarshi Pulikonda, whom she later married. Her love for books, she says, stems from her parents. 'My mother was a voracious reader,' she recalls, picturing her lost in books at libraries in Agra. 'Her family read and wrote extensively. My father also encouraged me to read.' The storytelling Reflecting on the lasting influence of her mother, whom she lost recently, Richa says, 'Mum wrote poems and even compiled a book of recipes. She was a gifted storyteller, often regaling us with anecdotes about her parents and grandparents —progressive thinkers in the 1940s who defied norms. All of that shaped who I am today.' Both her parents were Hindi teachers, and their empathy left a deep impression on her. 'I remember mom making tea for our house help, noticing when she was upset. Dad, on the other hand, would calmly wait for a snake to slither away rather than harm it. That sensitivity stayed with me.' Shades of these qualities appear in some of the characters in her book. The idea for Finding Home Again took root over a decade ago, inspired by the annual floods in the North East. 'I've witnessed firsthand how the monsoons affect lives in the region, but until recently, much of the country remained unaware of their severity. While studying in Bengaluru, I often had to explain that Arunachal lies beyond Assam.' Several portions of the novel pay homage to the North East — its food, its rhythm, its people — though set in fictional towns. The use of imagined news clippings about floods and a train derailment was a conscious choice, to avoid any direct parallels with real-life tragedies. Richa coined the town names — Maajorghat and Sigo Dolung — with care, wanting them to reflect a sense of place, yet remain unanchored to one specific location. 'Maajorghat refers to a large river bank, and Sigo Dolung to an underground water source in a village. I checked with friends, who in turn asked their elders, to ensure the names felt rooted and authentic.' However, the book does not currently contain a note clarifying that the towns are fictional. 'Maybe we'll include one in the next print run,' she adds thoughtfully. Question of identity Richa admits she once felt a sense of displacement. Her understanding of home and identity evolved over the years. 'At home in Arunachal, we spoke a purer form of Hindi, but with friends, we'd switch to Arunachali Hindi. I often found myself wondering — who am I? Over time, I came to realise that it is possible to belong to more than one place. ' Writing, she says, became the space where she felt most at home. 'I tried various jobs, including a brief stint in journalism, but nothing felt right.' Her novel began as a love story and underwent several transformations across six drafts. After she completed it, Richa submitted the manuscript to numerous publishing houses. 'It was rejected 35 times over two years,' she says. 'Along the way, I was advised to make it pacier, to tone down the characters' internal conflicts. Some said, 'Who wants literary fiction from a debut writer?' But I stayed true to what I believed in.' The story centres on three main characters — Kranti, Maya, and Mridula — each on a journey of search and reckoning. Richa confesses there is a part of her in each of them, and traces of her mother in Maya's mother. The writing process was unhurried. 'I waited for the characters to bloom. I had to be patient enough to see the world through their eyes.' Not every character finds the closure they seek — whether that means reuniting with a loved one or even finding their body after the accident — but they come to terms with their reality. 'Transformation takes time,' she reflects. 'It involves internal conversations.' To write about the aftermath of a train derailment, Richa read extensively on railway accidents and survivor testimonies. 'It was emotionally difficult,' she admits. Through it all, she is grateful for the support she received from her husband Priyadarshi, her in-laws, her sister, and close friends. 'Darshi is an artist — he understands what it takes to create something from the ground up.' Finding Home Again marks the beginning of Richa's journey as a writer. 'There are more ideas brewing,' she says, smiling —'fiction, non-fiction, even poetry.'
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First Post
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
'Mrs' and 'Jawan' actress Sanya Malhotra talks about the best content creators: 'My favourite is...'
She then named Anjali Mehta, and said, 'She puts her art on her Instagram handle.' The next name was Namita Dubey for her book recommendations. read more PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 26: Sanya Malhotra of 'Photograph' attends The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village on location at The 2019 Sundance Film Festival - Day 2 on January 26, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo byfor IMDb) 'Mrs' and 'Jawan' actress Sanya Malhotra in a recent interview talked about her favourite content creators. She said her favourite currently is Shazeb Sheikh. 'I dance with him quite often,' said Malhotra. Her next name was She spoke about all of this in an interview with Chalchitra Talks. She then named Anjali Mehta, and said, 'She puts her art on her Instagram handle.' The next name was Namita Dubey for her book recommendations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, when asked about her prep for Mrs, Sanya said, 'I think we had a very solid script in our hand. Our writer, Anu, and our director, Arati, they worked on the script for a year. They brought their own lived in experiences to make the film personal, and I think I had that. When I was preparing for it, I met and interviewed a lot of women to know where they were coming from, if they have faced similar challenges and struggles as Richa, which was really helpful.' She added, 'I think that helped me to make Richa's character what she is on screen because I have seen it very up close and personal with the women around me who have been in these sort of situations, but I have never experienced it myself.' She also revealed, 'Like, some some parts definitely I have. But to make it more personal, I wanted to really understand where she's coming from. I kept her journal as Richa to know her thoughts and her relationship with her family, what her conditioning is as a woman. And I think all of that really helped me to step into her shoes.'
Business Standard
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
The Future of Luxury Is Personal: How 'About the Space' Designs for Form, Function and 'Feelings'
PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 30: In a sea of interior design firms chasing trends and surface aesthetics and Pinterest inspirations, About the Space stands grounded in something far deeper: meaning. Founded by principal designers Aneri Shah and Richa Shetty, the firm is an all-in-one architecture and interior design studio that approaches every project as a narrative -- not just a layout. From structure to styling, About the Space is built on one core belief: spaces should reflect people, not Pinterest boards. This isn't design for attention. It's design for emotion. And that changes everything. "I walked into the home and immediately felt seen," recalls a client of About the Space, Mr. Kothari. "It wasn't just my style -- it was my story, my habits, my morning light. They understood what I didn't even know how to articulate." More Than Clients--About the Space's Creative Partners What sets About the Space apart isn't just its designs -- it's the way they're created. Aneri and Richa believe that great spaces are co-authored. Every project begins with a deep dive into the client's life: their routines, memories, aspirations, and quirks. The firm doesn't just send moodboards -- they schedule long conversations, make site visits personal, and treat every client like a creative partner. "We prefer having a lot of discussions over coffee so much so that we know all the good coffee places in and around Mumbai and Pune," jokingly Aneri said. No detail is too small, because no emotion is too trivial. Whether it's the curve of a hallway that mimics a childhood home or the placement of a window that invites a specific kind of morning, every decision is layered in intention. Crafted Exclusivity: Why About the Space Take Fewer Projects In a world obsessed with scale and speed, About the Space does something radical -- they slow down. The studio takes on only a limited number of projects at a time. Out of respect -- for the process, for the client, and for the craft. This exclusivity is also maintained with the client. It's the backbone of the studio's ability to give undivided attention to every project -- ensuring no space ever feels rushed, recycled, or remotely like the last. Beyond Flashy: Where Luxury Meets Real Life Today, many interior designers are caught in the race for visual drama -- creating homes that look great on Instagram but feel impossible to live in. At About the Space, aesthetics are only half the story. The other half is functionality. From sourcing materials that age beautifully to designing storage that works seamlessly behind luxe facades, the team makes sure that their spaces are as livable as they are luxurious. "We don't just design for a photoshoot," says co-founder of About the Space, Richa. "We design for people who will live, grow, and make memories here -- every single day." Designing With Soul, Building for Legacy From honoring India's cultural richness through locally sourced materials and artisan collaborations, to layering contemporary design with traditional meaning, About the Space crafts homes that last -- emotionally and structurally. Because for this studio, beauty isn't just about how it looks. It's about how it feels five years later. And that? That's a space worth remembering. About Us: About the Space is a multidisciplinary design studio led by architects Aneri Shah and Richa Shetty, focused on crafting experimental yet affordable architecture and interiors. Blending classical and contemporary sensibilities, the studio emphasizes thoughtful materiality, function, and innovation. With a collaborative and detail-driven approach, the team engages clients, artisans, and consultants alike to create meaningful, expressive spaces rooted in precision and poetic vision. For more information, visit Because clients' space should feel like them -- just more grounded, more beautiful, and more alive.
Business Upturn
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
The Future of Luxury Is Personal: How ‘About the Space' Designs for Form, Function and ‘Feelings'
Designing with Intention, Not Just Aesthetics PUNE, India , May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a sea of interior design firms chasing trends and surface aesthetics and Pinterest inspirations , About the Space stands grounded in something far deeper: meaning. Founded by principal designers Aneri Shah and Richa Shetty , the firm is an all-in-one architecture and interior design studio that approaches every project as a narrative — not just a layout. From structure to styling, About the Space is built on one core belief: spaces should reflect people, not Pinterest boards. This isn't design for attention. It's design for emotion. And that changes everything. 'I walked into the home and immediately felt seen,' recalls a client of About the Space, Mr. Kothari . 'It wasn't just my style — it was my story, my habits, my morning light. They understood what I didn't even know how to articulate.' More Than Clients— About the Space's Creative Partners What sets About the Space apart isn't just its designs — it's the way they're created. Aneri and Richa believe that great spaces are co-authored. Every project begins with a deep dive into the client's life: their routines, memories, aspirations, and quirks. The firm doesn't just send moodboards — they schedule long conversations, make site visits personal, and treat every client like a creative partner. 'We prefer having a lot of discussions over coffee so much so that we know all the good coffee places in and around Mumbai and Pune ,' jokingly Aneri said. No detail is too small, because no emotion is too trivial. Whether it's the curve of a hallway that mimics a childhood home or the placement of a window that invites a specific kind of morning, every decision is layered in intention. Crafted Exclusivity: Why About the Space Take Fewer Projects In a world obsessed with scale and speed, About the Space does something radical — they slow down. The studio takes on only a limited number of projects at a time. Out of respect — for the process, for the client, and for the craft. This exclusivity is also maintained with the client. It's the backbone of the studio's ability to give undivided attention to every project — ensuring no space ever feels rushed, recycled, or remotely like the last. Beyond Flashy: Where Luxury Meets Real Life Today, many interior designers are caught in the race for visual drama — creating homes that look great on Instagram but feel impossible to live in. At About the Space, aesthetics are only half the story. The other half is functionality. From sourcing materials that age beautifully to designing storage that works seamlessly behind luxe facades, the team makes sure that their spaces are as livable as they are luxurious. 'We don't just design for a photoshoot,' says co-founder of About the Space, Richa. 'We design for people who will live, grow, and make memories here — every single day.' Designing With Soul, Building for Legacy From honoring India's cultural richness through locally sourced materials and artisan collaborations, to layering contemporary design with traditional meaning, About the Space crafts homes that last — emotionally and structurally. Because for this studio, beauty isn't just about how it looks. It's about how it feels five years later. And that? That's a space worth remembering. About Us: About the Space is a multidisciplinary design studio led by architects Aneri Shah and Richa Shetty , focused on crafting experimental yet affordable architecture and interiors. Blending classical and contemporary sensibilities, the studio emphasizes thoughtful materiality, function, and innovation. With a collaborative and detail-driven approach, the team engages clients, artisans, and consultants alike to create meaningful, expressive spaces rooted in precision and poetic vision. For more information, visit Because clients' space should feel like them — just more grounded, more beautiful, and more alive. Follow their journey: @_aboutthespace_ Contact Details: Email ID: [email protected] Contact No.: +91 77095 04999
