In the bustling corridors of India’s startup ecosystem—where innovation thrives and disruption is a daily affair—Sushanto Mitra stands out as a rare constant. A mentor, investor, and pioneer, Mitra has been quietly but powerfully shaping the country’s early-stage investment landscape for over two decades.
Today, he is best known as the Founder and CEO of Lead Invest, an organisation that began as a small angel network and has since grown into Lead Invest, a SEBI-registered angel fund. But to truly appreciate the breadth of Mitra’s journey is to understand the intersection of experience, intuition, and a deep commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs.
A Career Rooted in Cross-Disciplinary Insight
Mitra’s story starts in the software world, with an early stint at S-O-F-T-E-K, before he made a bold transition into finance. He would go on to become India’s first IT sector analyst—a unique role at the time, and one that allowed him to blend technology acumen with financial foresight. That dual lens—equal parts product and profit—would prove invaluable later on.
From there, he moved into startup consulting, before taking the reins as the first CEO of IIT Bombay’s incubator, where he worked closely with fledgling startups. “That time was transformational,” Mitra reflects. “It gave me a front-row seat to India’s startup boom just as it was beginning.”
The Birth of Lead Invest—and a Bigger Vision
It was during this phase that Mitra recognized a persistent gap in India’s startup ecosystem: while ideas and talent were in abundance, structured early-stage funding was still in its infancy. To bridge that, he co-founded Lead Invest.
What began as a classic angel network quickly evolved. Today, under the Lead Invest banner, the firm goes beyond seed rounds to also invest in late-stage unlisted equity. But perhaps the most game-changing aspect is its openness to retail investors and professionals—people who may not have time to actively scout startups but want a piece of the high-growth pie.
Riding the Wave of Retail Interest in Startups
Mitra has been quick to spot macro shifts in India’s investing behavior. “More individuals today want early access to companies that have the potential to become Unicorns, thereby approaching Indian Stock markets, there are several such successes in recent times Zomato, Swiggy, Oyo, he explains”.
Lead Invest has adapted by curating investment products tailored for busy executives and professionals—offering them exposure to vetted startups without requiring the deep involvement traditionally expected of angel investors.
Sector Watch: Healthtech, Agritech, and AI Hardware
When asked about trends, Mitra is precise. “Post-COVID, health tech has surged. But we’re also seeing strong traction in agritech, fintech, and AI-driven hardware,” he shares. One startup that caught his eye? Zippee , a cold-chain logistics firm that uses a tech-first, asset-light model. “They don’t own the infrastructure. They enable it. That’s the future”.
Lessons from the Pandemic: Agility and Opportunity
The COVID-19 pandemic, Mitra says, was a crucible moment for the Indian startup ecosystem. “It forced everyone—founders, investors, and even consumers—to re-evaluate priorities.” The best startups pivoted rapidly, meeting real-world needs with tech-first solutions. Platforms like Paytm and Planet Spark, he notes, filled crucial gaps in financial access and education, respectively—areas where government systems often fall short.
This movement reflects a deeper shift: Indian entrepreneurship today is no longer just about innovation—it’s about impact and necessity.
Real Talk: What Founders Often Get Wrong
Despite the optimism, Mitra doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges. One of the most common mistakes he sees? Overestimating product-market fit and underestimating time to profitability. “Founders sometimes pitch a dream that’s miles ahead of execution,” he says, adding that this misalignment can hurt cash flow and erode investor trust.
He believes that market orientation and business literacy need to be cultivated early—ideally before founders even start raising money.
More Than Capital: A Hub for Mentorship
Looking ahead, Mitra envisions Lead Invest not just as investors, but as educators. Plans are underway to launch resources that help founders understand how investors think, how to tell their stories better, and how to build businesses that scale sustainably.
Excitingly, he also hinted at an upcoming pitch event and knowledge-sharing session in Mumbai on June 20, in collaboration with The Indian Startup Times. “We need more platforms where startups can learn, connect, and grow. This is just the beginning,” he smiled.
A Steady Hand in a Fast-Moving World
In a space as dynamic—and sometimes chaotic—as the startup world, Sushanto Mitra’s calm pragmatism is a breath of fresh air. He’s not here for the spotlight. He’s here to build systems, nurture talent, and create smarter paths to success.
And as India’s startup dreams continue to soar, Mitra’s vision ensures they have a solid runway to take off from.
By Priyanka Chatterjee
