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Sridhar Arunagiri

@imsri.bsky.social
377 followers 20 following 678 posts

general partner, founder @16VC.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
We’re launching the 16VC Accelerator, our first accelerator We’re bringing together 25 ambitious early-stage founders across SF, NYC and London Each selected founder gets $200K upfront, with the 16VC team working alongside you Read the full details + apply by Oct 4: tiny.cc/16vcapply
tiny.cc
16VC Accelerator | $200K for Ambitious Founders
16VC Accelerator - a selective, on-site accelerator investing $200K in ambitious pre-seed and seed-stage founders across AI, enterprise, fintech, deep tech, and emerging technology.
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
the best startup ideas usually sound stupid at first too small too niche too early then someone finds 10 customers who desperately want it and suddenly everyone says “of course this was going to work” hindsight is undefeated what’s one idea you had that sounded stupid but you wish you hadn’t quit?
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
september is here and only 3 months left in 2026 founders, what’s the one thing you need to get done this month? the one thing that would make you look back at september and say, that moved the company forward
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
spent a lot of time with the team this week thinking about what we should build next at 16VC one question we kept coming back to: what do founders actually need more of right now? curious what you think
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
building a startup rarely gets harder because you run out of ideas it gets harder when you have too many the real challenge is figuring out what to ignore every yes means saying no to something else
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
i hear the same startup idea from 10 founders i’m still looking at the founder first how far have they taken it, what have they learned, and how quickly are they moving? the idea can change, the founder has to figure out what survives
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
its going to be september soon we’re more than halfway through the year made me stop and think what have i actually done with it so far? some things went well some didn’t and some plans changed completely what about you? what’s one thing you’re proud of building, learning or changing this year?
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
i’m hiring 3 people to help me build @16vchq founder’s office / chief of staff 📍Bengaluru / London / SF we're building an early-stage VC from the ground up our team is already spread across NYC, Dublin, London, SF, Boston, Prague & Bengaluru
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
i've met founders who are very intentional about how people reach them no random calls, unexpected meetings, or “quick question” messages across five apps it sounds strict, but protecting your attention is part of the job what's one boundary you've had to set?
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
we have a hiring problem. we're moving fast, but hiring isn't. interviews and paid trials aren't giving us enough signal, and we're spending weeks figuring out fit. what does your hiring process look like?
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
wfo ❌️ wfh ❌️ wfc ✅️ every morning we start at the office with a very clear plan by 4pm, we're in a café we've tried to fight it we've accepted it we're apparently a café-based company now
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
we hosted around 30 founders at 16VC the best conversations weren't about what people were building they were about what wasn't working customer problems bad assumptions hiring decisions deals that fell through the stuff that rarely makes it into a pitch deck next one is already in the works :P
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
a founder told me they'd rather read one messy customer call transcript than another market report. i get why. the report tells you the size of the opportunity. it says nothing about why someone actually paid, or why they didn't.
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
founders of bengaluru we are ready for you! very excited to host you and know about your ideas see you at 6 :)
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
New discussion on r/16VCFund: What should a founder actually prove before approaching a VC? We’d love to hear different perspectives from founders and investors. Read the discussion → www.reddit.com/r/16VCFund/s...
reddit.com
https://www.reddit.com/r/16VCFund/s/g2zf051NaX
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Pitch what you're building. We invest $100K to $2M in ambitious founders through our Fellowship, Studio, Accelerator, and Fund. www.16vc.co
16vc.co
16VC – Backing the Future of AI & Tech
16VC backs bold founders building the future of AI & Tech with capital, studio co-building, and fellowship support for early-stage startups.
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Building a startup? Join our 16VC Founder Office Hours for feedback on your idea, MVP, fundraising, or growth. 📅 July 31 | 9 PM IST 🌍 Free & online Register: luma.com/f5u2k0cp
luma.com
Office Hours · Luma
16VC Founder Office Hours | Online Join founders from around the world for an open session of honest feedback, practical advice, and meaningful…
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
in 2022, we started as angelfund. over the last few years, we experimented, failed, learned, and kept building. today, we're excited to launch the first cohort of the 16vc founder fellowship. this is just the beginning. meet the founders: medium.com/@16vc/announ...
medium.com
Announcing the 16VC Founder Fellowship Cohort: Meet the Next Generation of Builders
Inside the 110 global startups reshaping AI infrastructure, next-generation FinTech, Web3, enterprise software, healthcare, and the future…
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
🚀 The 16VC Summer Founder Fellowship launches July 1! A global, remote-first community of ambitious founders, with hubs in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Dubai, and Bengaluru. Stay tuned for our Founder Spotlight series. ✨ #16VC #FounderFellowship #Startups #Entrepreneurs #Innovation
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
the quality of your startup is often limited by the quality of the questions you ask. don't ask: "how do i get more users?" ask: "why aren't my current users inviting others?" better questions create better companies. #startups #founders #buildinginpublic
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The World’s Next Founders Are Building Everywhere 🌍 open.substack.com/pub/16vc/p/t...
open.substack.com
The World’s Next Founders Are Building Everywhere 🌍
A remote-first fellowship helping founders turn ambitious ideas into global companies.
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
⏳ 48 hours left. Applications for the Summer Founder Fellowship 2026 close on June 15 at 11:59 PM PST. If you've been thinking about applying, don't let the opportunity pass by. Apply now: tiny.cc/16VC_s26 #Founders #Startups
tiny.cc
16VC Founder Fellowship | Notion
A 9-week sprint to get fundable
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
16VC, Reddit Discussions, and the Questions People Ask Us Most open.substack.com/pub/sridhars...
open.substack.com
16VC, Reddit Discussions, and the Questions People Ask Us Most
A founder's perspective on the controversies, lessons learned, and where 16VC stands today.
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
what's the biggest mistake first-time founders make? 1. building too many features 2. hiring too early 3. raising too much capital 4. waiting too long to launch 5. something else drop your answer below. the best responses usually come from experience.
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
pitch me your company in 1 word.
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The fastest way to get clarity on your startup isn't another week of research. It's a conversation with a customer. ✅tiny.cc/16VC_s26 #startup
tiny.cc
16VC Founder Fellowship | Notion
A 9-week sprint to get fundable
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
if i gave you $100k today for your startup: what would you spend it on first? be specific. the answers tell me more than most pitch decks. #StartupFunding #Founders #Entrepreneurship #BuildInPublic
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
a lot of founders think they can figure out distribution later. but products rarely fail because they’re bad. they fail because nobody sees them. distribution isn’t just marketing. it’s making sure the right people see your product. the best founders build product and attention at the same time
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
founders: what's the one thing keeping your startup from growing faster right now? be honest. customers? product? distribution? funding? team? drop it below in one sentence 👇 #startup #founders #buildinpublic #startuplife #entrepreneur
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
something we see very often: after removing the $15k usd grant from founder fellowships, applications tend to drop. is it really about the fellowship, or was it mostly about the grant? #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #fellowship
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
nothing tests investor patience like: ✅ great meeting ✅ verbal alignment at $250k ❌ founder comes back next week with a brand new $600k pitch curious how many people here have dealt with this. #startuplife #angelinvesting #venturecapital #fundraising #founders
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
no cofounders? that’s okay. no investors? still building. no fancy office? don’t need one. just obsession, consistency, and the courage to start before you feel ready. ai is the greatest leverage in history. build now. #startup #buildinpublic #ai #founders #indiehackers
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
substack.com/@16vc/note/c...
substack.com
16VC (@16vc)
what are you building? 16VC is actively backing founders building the future of enterprise software, AI, and deep tech. we invest $250K–$2M into ambitious pre-seed and seed-stage startups. especial...
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
most startup positioning problems are actually clarity problems. founders keep adding features when the market still doesn’t understand the core problem being solved. clear companies scale faster because buyers instantly “get it.” clarity compounds. #startups #ai #founders
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
🚀 Founder GTM Strategy Session for AI & SaaS founders — learn ICP, acquisition, founder-led growth & traction strategies. 🗓 May 28 | Online 🎟 Register: [luma.com/san0b046](luma.com/san0b04…...) #Startup #GTM #AIStartups #SaaS #Founders #StartupGrowth
luma.com
Founder GTM Strategy Session · Luma
Early-stage startups often struggle with go-to-market strategy knowing who the real customer is, how to reach them, and how to build early traction. In this…
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
48 hours, zero budget, no audience — just pure execution to get first 10 real users. Would you pull it off? www.reddit.com/r/16VCFund/c... #Startups #GrowthHacks
reddit.com
From the 16VCFund community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the 16VCFund community
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
if you’re a founder, say hi — let’s connect #buildinpublic
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Introducing the 16VC Advisor Network: Global Operators Shaping Early-Stage AI and Enterprise Systems open.substack.com/pub/16vc/p/i...
open.substack.com
Introducing the 16VC Advisor Network: Global Operators Shaping Early-Stage AI and Enterprise Systems
Modern venture firms are no longer just capital allocators.
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
a big market size slide isn’t investor conviction. it’s optimism with a number. we see: “$120B TAM” no wedge no reason this team wins no why now market size ≠ clarity before: “$200B fintech market” after: “start with one broken workflow, then expand” investors fund entry, not size #startups #vc
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
fundraising in 2026 is not about traction. it’s about clarity of trajectory. most decks fail because they describe what exists, not what becomes inevitable. investors don’t fund metrics. they fund momentum they can underwrite. #startup #vc #founders #ai #fundraising #buildinpublic
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
founder gtm strategy session 🚀 icp, channels, founder-led growth & messaging that converts for early-stage startups. may 28 | 10:30–11:30 pm ist register: luma.com/san0b046 #founders #startups #gtm #saas
luma.com
Founder GTM Strategy Session · Luma
Early-stage startups often struggle with go-to-market strategy knowing who the real customer is, how to reach them, and how to build early traction. In this…
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Reposted by Sridhar Arunagiri
16VC @16vc.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
we’re launching the 16vc founder fellowship. a 9-week program to help early-stage founders get ready to raise. hands-on support. small cohort. focused outcomes. apply: tiny.cc/16VC_s26 #startups #venturecapital #founders #fundraising
tiny.cc
16VC Founder Fellowship | Notion
A 9-week sprint to get fundable
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
most founders don’t need more advice. they need to become fundable. that’s the gap. 16vc fellowship: a 9-week sprint to fix your narrative, positioning, and raise. applications open: tiny.cc/16VC_s26 #startups #fundraising #venturecapital #founders #buildinpublic
tiny.cc
16VC Founder Fellowship | Notion
A 9-week sprint to get fundable
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
attention is short. you don’t get time to “build up” your narrative. it either clicks quickly or it’s ignored. sharp ideas travel faster than detailed ones. clarity is leverage. #startups #fundraising
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
a simple rule: if someone can’t explain your startup in one sentence, it’s still fuzzy. clarity shows up in compression. the tighter the idea, the faster it spreads. #startups #positioning
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
big visions are easy to say. what builds trust is showing what already works. start with a real user a real problem a real moment of value then expand outward. grounded narratives convert better than abstract ones. #startups #fundraising
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
we’re selecting early-stage founders small group no fluff real work goal: make you fundable we invest in the best companies tiny.cc/16VC_s26 #startups #founders #venturecapital
tiny.cc
16VC Founder Fellowship | Notion
A 9-week sprint to get fundable
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
quick test: if you can’t answer this clearly → “who is this for and why do they care?” you’re not ready to raise #fundraising #startups
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Sridhar Arunagiri @imsri.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
founders spend months building but can’t explain what they built in 30 seconds that’s the real problem #startups #founders
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