Participated · Equity · Sep 2021

Astrome develops 5G wireless hardware and systems, with its first two products—GigaMesh and GigaSat—targeting mobile and broadband communication infrastructure. The company says the combined addressable market for those products is $34 billion globally. Astrome will use its newly raised capital to expand into the US market, strengthen global operator trials, and accelerate commercialization through new products. It has offices in Bengaluru, India, and San Diego, California, and signed its first overseas deal with a Southeast Asian telecom operator in 2021. Financially, the company recently raised $3.4 million in a funding round. Management cites rapidly growing demand due to increased mobile and broadband needs following lifestyle changes over the past two years.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2021

Shuttle operates air-conditioned minivans that carry 10–11 passengers, offering segmented services (women-only, Shuttle for Business, and select unisex routes) to provide safer, lower-cost alternatives to ride-sharing. The company began in 2018 with a women-only service and expanded in 2020 to serve businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shuttle reports more than 20,000 women registered for its women-only service and has completed over 1 million rides. It plans to expand unisex B2C routes and aims to replicate its model in other developing countries and densely populated cities. Management cites a $7.5 billion total addressable market in Bangladesh alone. Financially, Shuttle has raised seed and pre-seed funding and is eligible for an Impact Ready Matching Fund of up to $100,000 from the Biniyog Briddhi program.