Appalla Saikiran founded and runs Scope App, a global networking platform that simplifies startup fundraising. Saikiran is one of the TOI #Unstoppable21 Indians under 21 selected by the jury…
Appalla Saikiran founded and runs Scope App, a global networking platform that simplifies startup fundraising. Saikiran is one of the TOI #Unstoppable21 Indians under 21 selected by the jury…
As the founder-CEO of a platform that streamlines startup funding, Appalla Saikiran has met startup luminaries. The TOI #Unstoppable21 jury selected the 20-year-old boy from Hyderabad as an under-21 Indian.
While kids struggle with academic anguish and placement issues, Saikiran is making waves in the startup world. This student-entrepreneur founded and runs Scope App, a by-invite-only worldwide networking platform for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups to connect with investors, business mentors, and professional partners.
Data science third-year BTech student Saikiran floated Scope at 17. He now runs a 60-person company. Scope has around 20,000 angel investors, HNIs, and 7,000 venture capital firms in India, the US, Europe, Singapore, and Dubai. He boasts that around 200 family offices, including Sergei Brin’s Bayshore Global, are part of the network.
I wanted to cut fundraising time. While the usual term-sheet signing takes six months and 18 meetings, we have decreased the time to close a business to 3-4 months “Saikiran sounds more like an investing tzar than an engineering student. Saikiran is inspired by Elon Musk’s comment, “Instead of baby showers, let’s host business showers for startup company entrepreneurs”.
“Time is money in startups, but most entrepreneurs struggle with investors’ ambiguity. Many entrepreneurs had to wait for pitching events to meet investors. That inspired me to create a portal where companies could connect with investors and get a yes or no so they could go on to other investors without wasting time “. Saikiran has won many awards worldwide and is now part of the Lynn Forester de Rothschild-founded Council for Inclusive Capitalism, which includes Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. I aim to develop a startup equivalent of Y-Combinator: the gold standard. He claims that India has the best talent but requires unwavering support, exposure, and resources.
Conclusion
20-year-old Appalla Saikiran, from Hyderabad, founded and runs Scope App, a global networking platform that simplifies startup fundraising. Saikiran is one of the TOI #Unstoppable21 Indians under 21 selected by the jury. Scope App matches companies and entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and collaborators. Launched at 17, it has 20,000 angel investors, high-net-worth individuals, and 7,000 venture capital firms across India, US, Europe, Singapore, and Dubai. Saikiran wants to finalize deals in 3–4 months to speed up funding. The Council for Inclusive Capitalism’s exclusive stewards include Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
