Rina G. Patel

As I navigate the landscape of PEVC, I strongly believe that equity isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of a thriving and inclusive workplace. Here are some tips for promoting women's equity in PEVC: - Empowering women through ownership opportunities, fostering accountability in investment decisions. - Advocating for women's advancement is crucial - think mentorship programs and sponsorship. - Open communication is vital. Every voice, every perspective, matters. - Flexibility in the workplace benefits everyone, not just the women. - Pay parity is non-negotiable. It's about fairness and equality for all. #pevc #equity #workplace

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💼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆. Nurseries play a crucial role in early childhood development, but running one has never been more challenging. With rising costs, tighter margins, and increasing regulatory demands, many nursery providers are grappling with how to maintain high standards of care while staying financially viable. One of the most significant areas for potential cost savings lies in staff management automation. Traditionally, this has been a labour-intensive and costly part of nursery operations, requiring countless hours spent on DBS checks, safeguarding compliance, training records, and maintaining the single central record (SCR). However, with the rapid advancements in automation and technology, the way nurseries manage compliance is set to change dramatically. 🌟 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝘆𝗘𝗱. 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 At HeyEd, a purpose-built platform for Ofsted-registered childcare providers, we are building the tools to automate compliance and operational management. DBS applications, safeguarding, references, and SCR records, will seamlessly flow. This reduces the administrative burden on nursery staff, enhances accuracy, and ensures compliance with the latest regulations. Whilst automating references and delivering embedded e-learning experiences, HeyEd is revolutionising how nurseries will approach staff compliance. 💰 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 In today’s challenging economic environment, automation offers nurseries a way to significantly reduce costs while maintaining high standards of care: • Reduced Administrative Costs: By automating repetitive tasks, nurseries can allocate resources more effectively. • Improved Compliance: Automation minimises the risk of fines or penalties by ensuring records are always up to date. • Optimised Staffing: AI-powered scheduling helps prevent overstaffing, saving on unnecessary wages. 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 As technology continues to evolve, the potential for automation in nurseries will only grow. Platforms like HeyEd are paving the way with predictive analytics, machine learning, and fully integrated systems to handle every aspect of nursery management. For nurseries facing tight budgets and increasing demands, automation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. By embracing innovative tools like HeyEd, providers can reduce costs, streamline operations, and focus on their core mission: delivering outstanding care and education to children. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 @ heyed.co.uk #ChildcareManagement #NurseryOperations #EarlyYearsEducation #ChildcareCompliance #OfstedReady #EarlyYearsProviders #EducationTechnology #SafeguardingChildren #NurseryLeadership #HeyEd #EarlyYearsSupport

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No one teaches you how to be a founder. You learn as you go. When I started Sama Health, I thought building the product would be the hardest part. Turns out, the real work is figuring out who you need to become as a founder. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1/ Customer discovery is everything. 2/ Sales isn’t a dirty word. 3/ Your personal brand opens doors hustle can’t. Paul Graham said, “Startups don’t die from competition. They die from not having customers.” But in 2025, there’s more to it: They also die from founders not standing out. Look at leaders like: Naval Ravikant – “Your reputation is your moat.” Alex Hormozi – Built trust before he scaled. Sahil Bloom – Leveraged storytelling to grow. What I’ve realized? 💡 People trust people more than products. 💡 Thought leadership isn’t optional — it’s essential. So if you’re a first-time founder, focus on: 1. Talking to customers. 2. Selling your vision. 3. Building your brand. Because the best product doesn’t always win. The most trusted person does. What’s your biggest founder lesson? Let’s share and learn together. ♻️ Share with a fellow founder. 🔔 Follow for more startup + mental health insights. __ 👋🏽 I’m Misha Akbar, Founder of Sama Health, making mental health support in the UAE as relatable as karak chai and heartfelt conversations.

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As a founder, you’ll often face tough challenges. ​ One of the most powerful pieces of advice I can offer is this: ​ Go towards where it hurts. ​ Don’t shy away from the difficult questions or uncomfortable truths. ​ These are the areas where you might uncover the most valuable insights. ​ When you face the questions you're scared to ask, you tackle the real issues head-on. ​ This might mean addressing problems within your team. ​ Facing customer feedback that’s hard to swallow. ​ Or questioning your marketing strategy. ​ It’s uncomfortable. ​ But it’s essential for growth. ​ Hiding from the pain only delays progress and can lead to bigger issues down the road. ​ But embracing discomfort can drive your business forward in ways you never imagined. ​ It’s through this process that you’ll: ​ Find clarity. Make informed decisions. Build a stronger, more resilient company. ​ So, don’t be afraid of the hard truths. ​ Embrace them. ​ Remember, success starts where comfort ends.

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𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. As an INTJ (the 'I' surprises the best of you 🤣), and startup founder, sometimes I have to pry myself out of the 'zone' (my work cave) to ensure I'm participating in events that align with Kindr's objectives. I am very thankful that I attended LG NOVA Innofest this year. One of the incredible connections I made was with Camille Getchell. She and one of her team members reached out to ask me some questions on camera about my experience at the event. Off-camera, we clicked instantly, and I shared Kindr’s mission to drive social and environmental impact through stakeholder collaboration and quantifiable outcomes. Camille lit up as she proceeded to tell me about Mammha , an innovative platform that screens, refers, supports, and educates pregnant and postpartum women (and their partners!) facing maternal mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. Fast forward to yesterday, when I had a 30-minute meeting with Camille and Maureen Fura, MPA , Mammha’s incredible founder and CEO. That 30 minutes turned into 1.5 hours of inspiring conversation! These women are truly amazing, and I’m beyond excited about what’s ahead. We’re working together on a few projects, including bringing Mammha onto the Kindr platform. Maternal mental health is such a vital, yet often silent issue globally, and I can’t wait to support their mission through Kindr’s tools and resources. Mammha is on an aggressive growth plan to support as many postpartum mamas that need it - regardless of their geographic location. Here’s to the strength in networking and the incredible impact, and new friendships, it can unlock. #Networking #MaternalHealth #Impact #Entrepreneurship #Kindr #Mammha #postpartum #medtech #healthtech

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Wow, great stuff on this first episode. I got the run down from Ataes Aggarwal and Arya Satish, and I see that critically important business and life topics will be covered in this podcast series. Follow, tune in, and spread the word. PSA: Some super thoughtful and practical content to be had here with this podcast. 🙌

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One of the truths in business we've forgotten over the years is that businesses don't exist to make money. Businesses exist to meet a need. Making money and generating profit are the means by which businesses earn the right to continue meeting customer needs over time. Show me a business that can't tell a clear, succinct story of how they meet customer needs (in ways customers would say themselves), and I'll show you the Achilles heel in their product or business model that will be their undoing. In VCs, firms like Forum Ventures and Redesign Health will win out over time. Their lifeblood is positioning founders to win. They know they don't succeed unless their founders succeed, not the other way around. I'm not sure how we reverse this trend, but I'm glad to see firms like these two leading the way. Who else is doing this right?

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One evening, my co-founder and I were sitting in our room at BITS, bouncing around ideas for our startup’s name. The excitement was palpable, and the importance of getting the name right was clear to both of us. We spent hours discussing various options, each name carrying its own promise and potential. One thing we learned quickly is that a good name needs to tick several boxes. First, we checked the domain name availability. Having the good domain, along with other key extensions, is crucial for your online presence. We then verified with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to ensure the name wasn’t already taken by someone in our industry. Otherwise, getting a No Objection Certificate would be a headache. Next, we did a trademark search. We didn’t limit it to India; we looked at other countries where we might expand in the future. This step was essential to avoid any legal issues down the road. We also made sure the name didn’t have any unwanted meanings in other languages. Imagine launching your product only to find out its name is offensive or silly in another language! Lastly, we tested the name with friends and potential customers. We wanted to ensure it was easy to read, pronounce, and remember. Their feedback was invaluable in making our final decision. A fun story that always comes to mind when thinking about names is how Zepto got its name. Zepto wanted to be the fastest. Delivering groceries as soon as possible. They were thinking of names. And it struck them, 'Whats the shortest unit of measurement of time?' And this is how ladies and gentlemen, Zepto became 'Zepto.' That evening at BITS, we knew we were onto something special.

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My Entrepreneurial Kickoff for 2025 In 2024, a dream of mine came true: co-founding my own startup with my childhood best friend, Aayush Shah. We incorporated our company, kickstarted beta development, tackled compliance hurdles, and laid out a multi-year roadmap. Now I’m stepping into 2025 with a positive outlook—knowing we’re just months away from our beta launch! Our startup, Zennoia, is transforming how early-stage ventures interact with investors — from the very first pitch to long-term collaboration. What type of content to expect from us: • Bi-weekly updates on our journey • Short videos & reels to share behind-the-scenes moments • Candid conversations about both the highs and lows of startup life This year, Aayush Shah and I will both be sharing content from our unique perspectives—though not limited to just “tech” or “business.” As an engineer, Aayush Shah will talk about coding challenges and product development, but he’s also diving into the business side of things to understand how engineering decisions align with market realities. Meanwhile, I (Sharvil Ved) bring a business perspective, but I’m immersing myself in the technical foundation that fuels our vision. Each new insight shows how engineering decisions shape strategic outcomes—and how real impact arises when business insights and technical execution work in tandem. If 2025 is your year for bold moves—whether you’re starting something new, scaling up, or stepping outside your comfort zone—let me know! I’d love to cheer you on or swap stories. Where to Find Us Zennoia • LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit: @zennoia • X (Twitter), YouTube: @zennoiaofficial Sharvil Ved (Me) • LinkedIn, instagram and youtube: @sharvilved • X: @sharvil_ved Aayush Shah • All Platforms: @shahaayush1999 Here’s to turning big ideas into realities and celebrating every step along the way!

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I first met Mike Maples, Jr in 2010, when Founders Network was just an idea. Over the years, Mike and his team at Floodgate (special shoutout to Arjun Chopra) have been great mentors, sharing their insights and guiding our founders. Most recently, their advice played a pivotal role in helping us launch Founders Network Fund. Today, Mike shared the key ideas with FN'ers from his new book Pattern Breakers (https://a.co/d/buKBd5O ), which explores the insights he’s gained from backing companies like Twitter, Twitch, and Okta -- and which put him on the Forbes Midas List 8x. This is the most important book on startups in the last ten years, according to Steve Blank. My notes on the key concepts of his talk: 1) Inflections – "not a trend but a change event that represents a turning point in our ability to provide empowerment." e.g. The GPS chip in iPhone 4s 2) Insights – "a non-consensus and right insight about the future that's powerful and non obvious and leverages inflections." e.g. Lyft = GPS + strangers driving you 3) Founder future fit – "Living in the future before other people live in the future and then try to build what's missing in the future." If you're a founder, check out the book. Grateful for the impact Mike and Arjun continue to have on both me and the Founders Network community!

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Rebalance Cohort 07: Introducing one of the most energetic (and mindblowing!) scientist-duos 👩‍🔬 👨‍🔬 we've ever met in the last few years, Shruti Kutmutia and Dr. Pranav Nair who were recently part of Rebalance's 7th accelerator cohort that concluded in August 2024. <Applications for Cohort 08 are currently open! Link at the end of the post> Shruti and Pranav are long-standing friends who decided to start BacAlt Biosciences together on a mission to develop green alternatives to synthetic biopolymers found in personal care, agricultural practices, textiles, and many other industries. They have discovered a breakthrough platform to develop green biopolymers on a mission to address hidden plastics at the source.🫧 🤯 Hidden plastics are a $66Bn opportunity! Some cosmetic products contain as much plastic added as ingredients as the plastic they are packaged in. 🧴 87% of the top-selling cosmetic products contain microplastics (bulking agents, emulsifiers, opacifying agents, film formers, glitter, viscosity regulators, etc). 🧼 With growing awareness and impending bans globally, a wide range of industries that have relied on plastics in their formulations are now forced to pivot to green ingredients in record time. 💄The green ingredients market is worth $54.8Bn currently and growing at a CAGR of 16.5% It's not easy to traverse the journey from the lab to a VC pitch! If we can make this journey even a little easier and worthwhile for academia that are venturing into entrepreneurship, we'll feel we've done some good. It warms our hearts when we see feedback like this for our program because we know put our whole heart in it as a team. 🥹🥹 Thanks Shruti Singh for recommending us! You can watch it below or on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g_MRzUjk Applications for Cohort 08 are closing on 15 October 2024, apply on this link if you're a female-founded/co-founded startup and are looking to accelerate your journey from 0-1 or raise capital: https://shorturl.at/45z7W More about us: www.therebalance.com CC: Vikas Kumar Pallak Jain

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Most co-founder relationships fall apart. Why? It’s stressful, political, and deeply emotional. The founders get pulled and become disconnected from each other and the startup’s day-to-day. We’ve taken a few steps to avoid this. → Before Allister and I launched Fabric Health, we created a detailed 14-page document with tough but necessary questions. → We knew from the start that staying connected was crucial, so we prioritize keeping each other updated. My first meeting of the week is with him. We make sure we’re aligned for the week ahead. We create space for deep work times and time to vent and brainstorm – we talk constantly. → We also touch base with the leadership team to calibrate, celebrate wins, problem-solve, and tackle deeper issues. I make it a point to shadow the team and work in the laundromats because I can’t do this work if I don’t know what's happening on the ground. In a startup, if you and your co-founder aren’t in sync, everyone feels it.

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What if hair loss wasn't just treated, but understood? That's Traya. By combining ayurveda, dermatology, and nutrition, they've made fighting hair loss feel personal, not generic. Their approach is centred on a plan that's tailored to you. The Traya brand is about reclaiming confidence, one strand at a time. #marketing #d2c

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The “chiriakhana (zoo)” of angel investors The Angel investor ecosystem WA is abuzz with debates about Vinod Khosla’s recently made statement that 90% investors add no value to their investment and 70% detract value. They inspired the title from the legendary director Satyajit Ray’s old thriller movie about the idiosyncrasies of a highly heterogeneous group of people in one contained colony… aka the angel investment ecosystem. Here’s my take on the different types of Angel investors. Any resemblance to anyone specific in my angel networks is, of course, purely coincidental if not totally unintended. 1. The “Divine angels”- they are the God’s gift to founders - those who strike up a close relationship with founders and get involved on a regular basis from making connects, to brainstorming ideas to being an agony aunt/uncle. They are a rare breed. 2. The “main bhi CEO”s- these are the ultra intrusive folks who gun for 100% credit of success, 0% of failure with 5 % of effort. Founders suffer them due to SHA constraints before being compelled to rudely refuse the persistent advances. 3. The “impact players” - these investors only get deeply active during critical events like fund raises, big business pivots etc. Founders may dislike them when challenged but sometimes grudgingly respect them post facto. 4. The “main bhi angel”s - they are typically the victims of peer pressure in funding someone familiar with a “change the world” story, usually having to write those initial (mis)adventures off and retreating into inactivity before falling again for FOMO. Failed founders, if contactable, have to deal with their “how could this happen” lament. 5. The “equal opportunity” investors - blessed with large corpuses they invest in anything that sounds interesting … law of averages inevitably catches up with them. Founders love them as much for the money as for their indifference. 6. The “probability punters” - they follow their own versions of optimum portfolio size aspiring to improve the abysmal probability of success by leveraging multiple levels of curation through experts and platform processes in addition to their own instincts. They may wear the hats of “impact players” and “divine angels” for a few of their investments. 7. The “Shashi Tharoor” investors - typically tenured large company professionals who have ill adjusted to the start up ecosystem…they attempt to apply mega businesses idioms to fledging startups leading to incredulous founders and co investors. 8. The “consultant uninvestor” - they love the sound of their own voices and on angel platforms typically ask questions which are longer than the answers and, unsurprisingly, find very few ventures worthy of investing in. Many angel investors are like chameleons.. they can change their colours for different founders. But all of them are convinced that they are at least always in the 30% and on a good day in the 10% as per Mr. Khosla’s definitions. We are all exceptions.

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✨ Breaking: Redesign Health Announces New Fund.- Redesign Health Redesign Health has closed a $175 million fund to create dozens of healthcare startups over the next few years. The fund focuses on addressing key areas such as healthcare labor solutions, value-based care, and data interoperability, supporting innovation in these critical healthcare sectors. https://lnkd.in/dGavkab4 Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

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Unlocking Taboos: My TEDx Talk Reveals the Truth about Fertility & Legacy 🚀 Join me in unraveling the mysteries behind societal pressures and the drive for progeny. From legal constraints to unconventional triumphs like Sidhu Moosewala's story, let's dive deep into the complexities of modern medicine and human desires. Watch now for eye-opening insights and a fresh perspective on what it means to leave a legacy! 🔗 Tedx Talk Link: https://lnkd.in/gP-Qi3rB #FertilityRevolution #BreakingTaboos #LegacyUnleashed

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As the founder of Narratus, I was always very passionate about the transformative power of storytelling. Inspired by the belief that everyone has a unique story worth sharing, We founded Narratus with the vision of providing individuals with a platform to amplify their voices and share their narratives with the world. At Narratus, we're not just another book writing service – we're your partners in storytelling. We built our company on three key pillars: Expert Writers, Personalization, and Connection. With a team of passionate writers dedicated to every story, Narratus goes beyond churning out generic tales to dive deep into the unique experiences and narratives of each individual we work with. Catering relatively more to thought leaders, we understood the value of time, particularly for them, and recognize the importance of providing support and creative freedom to both clients and writers alike. By empowering individuals to share their stories authentically, Narratus preserves legacies and highlights what makes each individual unique. #Narratus #Storytelling

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Being a founder is an incredible journey, often filled with unknowns. The excitement of building something new is equally matched by the challenge of navigating uncharted territory—and the stress that comes with it. The long hours, constant decision-making, and the pressure to succeed can easily lead to burnout if you're not careful. That’s why knowing when to seek help is so crucial. Surrounding yourself with experts who have been there before—whether it's in commercialization, regulatory hurdles, or quality assurance—can be a game-changer. Their experience helps bridge gaps in your knowledge, saving you from costly mistakes and lightening the mental load. It takes humility and confidence to say, "I don't know," but that's often when the real progress begins. Reaching out to those who know more, delegating, and taking time for self-care are all essential to avoiding burnout and staying focused on your long-term vision. #FounderLife #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #StressManagement #Burnout #MedTech #Commercialization #Leadership

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