New Delhi, 30th April 2024: Serial entrepreneur and investor Aakash Anand (Founder, Bellavita- acquired by Ananta Capital), has announced the launch of Wolfpack Labs, a one-of-a-kind Venture Studio. Wolfpack Labs is a culmination of Aakash’s years of experience as a successful serial entrepreneur with a track record of building a 1000-crore ARR+ business empire through brands like BellaVita, Bevzilla, Better Alt, Guardian, and GNC under his leadership. His acute understanding of consumer market dynamics fuels his latest venture, focused on nurturing and empowering the next wave of entrepreneurs.
With Wolfpack Labs, Aakash aims to reduce the barrier to entry for early-stage startup founders by enabling them with the right resources and guidance required to rapidly scale their ventures. The venture studio model increases the chances of success by distributing risk across various projects. It leverages economies of scale like India, to provide resources and knowledge to its enterprises, thus accelerating growth and improving the likelihood of success. Wolfpack Labs will focus on early-stage (seed/pre-seed) startups that are currently in their 0-1 phase with 4-5 companies in each cohort. The average cheque size for the seed/pre-seed investment is going to be INR 25 lacs to 1 crore. Currently, the venture studio is backed by Aakash’s personal capital and would be open to external LPs post a few successful cohorts.
"The idea behind Wolfpack Labs is rooted in my journey as a young entrepreneur, and my vision of a supportive culture. India's young entrepreneurs are brimming with ideas and the right intent, but they often lack the support system and guidance to navigate the initial challenges. We chose the name Wolfpack, to signify the strength and unity of a pack led by the alpha, the founder in this case. Our ethos is derived from the key characteristic traits of a wolfpack like patience, curiosity, teamwork, planning and perseverance, which we believe are the key leadership traits that differentiate the successful founders. says Aakash Anand, Founder, Wolfpack Labs & BellaVita (acquired by Ananta Capital).
Our aim is to become the biggest seeder for GTM-ready startups for global VCS, angels and investors. It is our mission to create giant companies and successful businesses by focusing on these key values and to empower these early-stage founders with the capital, guidance and network needed to rapidly scale their ventures."
Wolfpack Labs operates on the distinctive principle of shared equity. Every founder in the cohort is given certain equity in all the startups in the same cohort creating a founders pool similar to an ESOP pool. This clever approach ensures that even if one business faces challenges, the collective strength of the pack safeguards all members, offering a sense of security and stability. This also ensures that every founder in a cohort is collaborative and helpful to the peers, creating a one-of-a-kind insight exchange platform.
Wolfpack Labs, already comprising a pack of five companies as a part of its first cohort, is open for applications from aspiring early-stage (Seed/Pre-Seed) startups. The first investment from the cohort will be announced in the upcoming weeks. The fund is sector-agnostic and will not only provide financial backing but also offer invaluable mentorship, guidance on go-to-market strategies, and access to various opportunities.
In addition to his role at BellaVita, Aakash is actively involved in other ventures and serves as a partner at Ananta Capital, focusing on strategic investments and partnerships in the D2C and digital sectors.
About Wolfpack Labs:
Wolfpack Labs is a pioneering Venture Studio founded by Aakash Anand, founder of BellaVita (exited to Ananta Capital), renowned for his exceptional track record in building consumer-centric brands. At Wolfpack Labs, their mission is to empower early-stage startups in their 0-1 phase by offering seed/pre-seed investments, coupled with unparalleled support and access to a global network of investors and mentors. By instilling key values such as teamwork, perseverance, and curiosity, they aim to cultivate GTM-ready startups poised for global success. Already comprising a pack of five companies as part of its first cohort, Wolfpack Labs is now open for applications from aspiring startups. The Venture Studio offers sector-agnostic financial backing, coupled with invaluable mentorship, guidance on go-to-market strategies, and access to various opportunities