Chennakeshav (Keshav) Adya | Startups, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Finance, M&A, Strategy, Investment Banking, Business and Digital Transformation, Growth Zymurgist, Investor, Author, Podcaster, Artist

Startups are designed to fail.

Entrepreneurs are not.

I have first-hand experience of the startup and investor ecosystem

I realised that the "pain of regret" is more than the "pain of failure" early on in my life. I started fairly early and ran a book-library when I was 10, compounding the pocket money and proceeds into more books, which fuelled my passion for learning.

Over the years, have gained experience across a wide range of sectors, geographies, business functions, deal-types, deal-sizes and in the process, has developed a leadership style of an agile-athlete to handle ambiguity by constantly learning from successes and failures; setting up processes and systems to scale startups; building multi-tiered leadership teams; revising risk appetite; resolving multiple constraints and dependencies creatively and frugally; and using effective planning, organizing, prioritising and communication skills.

Am a resourceful entrepreneur

Am resourceful with a wide variety of personal and professional skills(coding, engineering, product management, sales, corporate finance, marketing, M&A, legal, operations, memes, branding, PR, HR); have a strong and vast industry network at all levels globally; a penchant and reputation for getting things done with empathy, creativity, discipline and humour.

Have scouted, built and trained global high-performing teams and introduced sustainable governance structures to ensure transparency, accountability and growth.

24 times Founder
in the last 15 years

3 Successes / Exits
in the last 6 years

30 Startups
mentored/funded

3 billion USD
deals originated

I love speaking to Founders and Investors

Over the past 10 years, have had stints in the entrepreneurial world : as founder, investor, growth advisor, investment banker and also as a mentor.

Since Feb-2020

Entrepreneur Mentor in Residence (EMiR)

London Business School

As an Entrepreneur Mentor in Residence (EMiR), am associated with London Business School's experiential entrepreneurship activities supporting students and alumni who are interested in transitioning into entrepreneurship, launching or growing their own ventures.

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Since Feb-2020

Mentor and Investor, Judge at events

Techstars

Mentors are an essential part of Techstars' culture. In my capacity as a mentor, have assisted founders with refining their GTM strategy, putting together their funding pitchdeck, and other support as required. Have also been a judge at pitching events.

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Since Jan-2018

Mentor in Residence, Judge at events

London Business School

The ACCEL Awards is an annual business start-up contest organised by LBS' Africa Club in collaboration with the Club Alumni and Corporate partners including FTSE 100 companies, venture capital firms, entrepreneurship incubators and media companies.

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I love writing about my experiences as a startup Founder

Read The Zymurgist Diaries
@ London Business School

Am a seasoned entrepreneur with Cradle-to-Grave experience

Over the years, have gained experience across a wide range of sectors, geographies, business functions, deal-types, deal-sizes and in the process, has developed a leadership style of an agile-athlete to handle ambiguity by constantly learning from successes and failures; setting up processes and systems to scale startups; building multi-tiered leadership teams; revising risk appetite; resolving multiple constraints and dependencies creatively and frugally; and using effective planning, organizing, prioritising and communication skills.