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Hykr bets on builders as venture studio flips the startup playbook
MUMBAI: If ideas are cheap, execution is the real currency and Hykr wants skin in that game. Hykr has announced the launch of its venture studio, set to go live in March 2026, with an ambition to rethink how early-stage startups are built in India. Steering away from the familiar roles of investor or accelerator, the firm is positioning itself as an institutional co-founder, embedding deeply with founders from day one and pairing capital with hands-on execution.
Backed by an initial commitment of Rs 100 crore, the studio plans to co-build up to 20 high-growth ventures across two cohorts by FY27. Its focus areas Deep Tech, Health and Bio, and Construction and PropTech reflect sectors where India’s talent base is strong but execution gaps often stall scale.
The timing is deliberate. While India’s startup ecosystem has grown rapidly in funding and founder participation, many young companies continue to falter after the idea stage. Capital and advice are abundant; operational depth is not. Hykr is attempting to plug that gap by acting as a long-term operating partner, helping founders move faster and build with greater discipline in the early, fragile stages.
At the heart of the model is co-creation. Rather than writing a cheque and stepping back, HyKr embeds itself in the build process, working closely with pre-seed and seed-stage teams. Founders gain access to shared capabilities across product, engineering, operations, finance and go-to-market. Capital deployment typically ranges between Rs 2 crore and Rs 4 crore per company, allowing entrepreneurs to stay focused on customers and problem-solving while the studio supports the fundamentals of company-building.
The first six months are designed to be intense. Within that window, founders are expected to move from a promising idea to an investor-ready business complete with a working product, early user validation, core legal and financial systems, and an initial operating team.
HyKr is led by Krishna Dunthoori, founder and CEO of Apty, and is backed by a leadership and advisory network of seasoned operators. Strategic partnerships with global technology platforms including AWS, Google Cloud and Nvidia are intended to strengthen support for technically complex ventures from inception.
Explaining the rationale, Krishna Dunthoori said India is entering a phase where ambition is widespread, but consistent execution separates enduring companies from short-lived ones. He noted that many founders are forced to tackle product, organisation and scale simultaneously, often without the operating depth required at that stage. HyKr, he said, is built to bring structure and shared accountability into the early journey, helping convert strong ideas into resilient companies built to global standards.
Unlike a traditional fund, the studio follows an evergreen model and typically takes a co-founder-level equity stake. While the mandate is India-first, HyKr aims to support founders with global ambitions as their businesses mature.
Alongside the studio launch, Hykr has also announced the Hykr Build Challenge, a national initiative aimed at identifying founders with execution capability rather than presentation polish. Teams will be required to build real, working products. The first edition targets over 1,000 team registrations and offers Rs 35 lakh in total prize money, with winners eligible for direct consideration into the venture studio.
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Deepak Halder appointed CEO of Sarvottam India
Real estate veteran with 23 years’ experience takes the helm
MUMBAI: Sarvottam India has appointed industry veteran Deepak Halder as its chief executive officer, bringing more than two decades of experience in real estate and business strategy to the role.
Halder has built a reputation as a growth-focused leader during a career spanning over 23 years, including nearly two decades in the real estate sector. He began his journey in the industry in 2007 and has since held senior leadership roles at several prominent developers, including Bestech Group, Paras Buildtech, Hero Realty, ATS Infrastructure Ltd and Rajdarbar Group.
Across these organisations, Halder has been closely involved in shaping expansion strategies, strengthening brand positioning and steering large-scale residential and commercial project launches. His work has also centred on accelerating revenues while building strong customer-focused business models.
Interestingly, Halder’s professional roots lie in marketing. He started his career at a leading advertising agency, a background that continues to influence his approach to real estate leadership. The combination of brand-building insight and market intelligence has helped him craft strategies that connect closely with evolving consumer expectations.
At Sarvottam India, Halder is expected to steer the company’s next phase of growth, with a focus on innovation-led development and sustainable expansion. His leadership will centre on creating long-term value for customers, partners and stakeholders while strengthening the company’s presence in an increasingly competitive property market.
The appointment signals Sarvottam India’s intent to sharpen its strategic direction as it prepares for the next chapter in its growth story.
