Shravan Shroff

Shravan Shroff is a prominent entrepreneur and Co-Founder of ESOPDhan, a financial services startup that facilitates employees of unlisted companies in exercising their Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) upon vesting. This innovative service allows employees to gain liquidity and optimize tax implications associated with their stock options, addressing a significant gap in the market for early exercise of ESOPs, especially in the context of unicorn startups in India.

Background and Career

Shroff has an extensive background in investment and entrepreneurship. He co-founded VentureNursery in 2013, which is recognized as India's first angel-based accelerator. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved with various angel funding platforms such as Indian Angel Network and Mumbai Angel Network, participating in over 75 startup funding ventures from 2011 to 2020. His investment portfolio includes notable companies like Oyo Rooms, ZipDial, and Uniphore.12

In addition to his role at ESOPDhan, Shroff has held various positions on investment committees and has served as a chief mentor and lead investor for numerous startups. His contributions have significantly impacted the startup ecosystem, particularly through his mentorship and investment strategies.12

ESOPDhan's Mission

Founded alongside Nitin Agarwal, ESOPDhan aims to provide structured financial solutions to employees who find it challenging to subscribe to their ESOPs due to immediate financial constraints. The company has successfully lent substantial amounts to employees of tech companies, planning to expand its loan book significantly in the coming years.23

Through its unique business model, ESOPDhan focuses on unicorns—companies valued at over USD 1 billion—ensuring a more secure investment landscape amidst market volatility.2

Shravan Shroff's expertise in finance, investment, and startup incubation positions him as a key player in the evolving landscape of employee stock ownership and venture funding in India.