Startup Singam Gains Momentum as Tamil Nadu’s Top Business Leaders Join Baanhem Ventures
Chennai: Baanhem Ventures has closed its second funding round for Startup Singam, onboarding Tamil Nadu’s leading business icons as advisors and investors. Joining early mentor Kumar Vembu are Gopal Srinivasan (TVS Capital Funds), Girish Mathrubootham (Freshworks), Mithun Sacheti (CaratLane), K.Mahalingam (TSM Group), Mohan Karuppiah (IppoPay), Shyam Sekhar (ithought), Ashwini Asokan (Mad Street Den), and Madhusudanan Rangarajan (M2P Fintech).
The expanded board will drive Startup Singam’s mission to simplify fundraising and amplify startup success across Tamil Nadu. Season 1 saw ₹40 crore in commitments to 35 startups; Season 2 promises ₹100 crore, 75 selected ventures, and a 26-episode run showcasing founder journeys and investment-ready pitches.
Founders Hemachandran and Balachandar said the new leadership will strengthen mentorship, governance, and growth. The initiative continues to spark entrepreneurship across metros and smaller towns, positioning startups as Tamil Nadu’s future growth engine.
