Utsav Somani, who departed from AngelList India in July, has introduced “Offline,” an exclusive club designed for tech startup founders and CEOs. This member-exclusive platform aims to replicate the success of peer-based membership networks like Tiger 21, Hamptons, and Chief.
Indian founders are not exposed to the idea of executive coaching, which is prominent in countries in the US. The ecosystem has matured but founders need more in terms of intellectual honesty,” Somani said during an exclusive chat with reports
Somani, a prominent early-stage investor known for bringing AngelList to India, left his position to create this venture. Offline has already secured $2 million in funding from micro-VC funds such as Better Capital, DeVC, Huddle, Riverwalk Ventures, and India Silicon Valley. Additionally, 45 founders from companies like Groww, Razorpay, CoinDCX, and others have invested in the initiative. Influencer-turned-investors Tanmay Bhat and Shlok Srivastava have also joined as investors.
Offline is designed to offer experienced startup founders and CEOs a private and secure space for personal and professional growth. The platform is expected to have a maximum of 100 members who meet specific criteria, including having raised $5 million, generated $5 million in revenue, or achieved a $10 million exitorganizednts undergo multiple rounds of evaluation before acceptance.
Members, organised into groups known as “pods,” will participate in off-the-record monthly meetings facilitated by trained executive coaches. These meetings will cover a wide range of topics, including investment strategies, delegation, mental health, routines, and best practices. Additionally, Offline will host speakers and workshops on various topics beyond the startup world.
The membership fee for Offline is set at Rs 5 lakh per year. While the community-building phase is the initial focus, the company plans to introduce additional products in the future. Future expansion includes chapters in Singapore and Dubai.
This venture aims to capitalize on the success of global paid communities like Hamptons, Tiger 21, and Chief, offering selective founders and CEOs a platform for networking and personal development within a trusted community.
The concept of exclusive founder and CEO member clubs has been present in India to some extent, with various SaaS founders and VC firms launching similar initiatives. However, Offline aims to provide a hyper-curated and specialised experience for its members, emphasising personal growth and collaboration.
We are starting off with building a community first and would eventually launch products,” the founder said, without divulging further details about the number or names of members.
