MONTH : JULY 2024

Navigating Related Party Transactions

Understanding how to navigate Related party transactions (RPT) is crucial for both founders and investors to ensure transparency and the overall health of the company. These relationships are fairly common in the business landscape, particularly in startups where founders and their networks often play multiple roles. While these transactions can offer benefits, they also carry the risk of conflicts of interest and potential governance issues.

 

What Are Related Party Transactions?

Related party transactions involve dealings between a company and individuals or entities that have a pre-existing relationship with the company. These parties can include:

  • Founders and their family members
  • Key executives in the company and their families
  • Entities in which these individuals have a significant interest
  • Companies with common directors or significant shareholders

Examples of common transactions with related parties are:

  • Sales, purchases, and transfers of real and personal property
  • Services received or furnished, such as accounting, management, engineering, and legal services
  • Use of property and equipment by lease or otherwise
  • Borrowings, lendings, and guarantees

 

Why Are RPTs Important?

RPTs should be a cause for concern because they often lack independence, leading to terms that may not reflect what would be agreed upon in a competitive, unbiased market.

  • Conflict of Interest: Decisions might be influenced by personal relationships rather than the best interests of the company.
  • Governance Risks: Lack of transparency can erode trust among shareholders and stakeholders.
  • Financial Risks: Transactions may not be economically favorable to the company, impacting its financial health.

What Should Founders and Investors Check For?

  1. Disclosure:
    • Full and timely disclosure of all RPTs is crucial. This includes the nature, terms, and parties involved in the transaction.
    • Founders should maintain a comprehensive list of related parties and update it regularly.
  2. Approval Process:
    • Establish clear policies and procedures for approving RPTs. This often involves board approval, particularly from independent directors who have no vested interest in the transaction.
    • Some companies set up a related party transaction committee to review and approve these transactions.
  3. Fair Valuation:
    • Ensure that RPTs are conducted at arm’s length. Engaging third-party valuation experts can help in determining fair market value.
    • Comparing the terms of the RPT with similar transactions in the market can also be a good practice.
  4. Documentation:
    • Maintain thorough documentation of the rationale behind the transaction, how it was approved, and how it benefits the company.
    • This documentation can protect the company in case of future disputes or audits.
  5. Regular Audits:
    • Conduct regular internal and external audits to review RPTs and ensure compliance with established policies.
    • Investors should scrutinize audit reports for any red flags related to RPTs.

Acceptable Reasons for RPTs

While RPTs can be fraught with risks, they can also be beneficial under certain circumstances:

  • Operational Efficiency: Leveraging related parties can streamline operations, reduce costs, and utilize existing relationships and networks effectively.
  • Access to Resources: Startups might access crucial resources, expertise, or capital from related parties that might not be available elsewhere.
  • Business Continuity: In some cases, related parties might step in to support the company during difficult times, ensuring business continuity.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, related-party transactions can be a sensitive topic in the boardroom. To minimize the risks associated with these transactions, companies need to establish clear guidelines, and procedures and disclose the transactions in a transparent manner. Shareholders must also be fully informed about potential conflicts of interest, and the board must ensure that the company's and its shareholders' best interests are always prioritized. By taking these steps, companies can minimize the potential for conflict and ensure that related-party transactions are conducted in an open, fair, and transparent manner.

By ensuring transparency, fairness, and regular oversight, founders and investors can manage related party transactions effectively, protecting the company’s interests and fostering a culture of trust and integrity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing The Elefant, the Ultimate Toy Library for Kids

In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring that children have access to a variety of educational and entertaining toys can be challenging. Parents want to provide their kids with the best tools for development, but purchasing a multitude of toys can be expensive and often results in cluttered homes.

Enter The Elefant, a revolutionary app that transforms how parents manage their children’s playtime by offering a subscription-based toy rental service for kids aged 0-12. The platform offers a selection of toys and books, sourced from over 70 top brands with over 600 options. The company is operational in 16 cities and has over 13,000 registered users and 1,000 fully paid subscribers in less than 10 months since its launch.

 

The need for innovation in toy libraries

In the past, parents had limited options to buy toys for their children and primarily depended on traditional toy shops. However, these conventional toy stores come with various limitations.

First and foremost is the inconvenience of physical visits. Most parents often struggle to take their children to a brick-and-mortar toy library as they have a fixed time of operation and it might also be more expensive.

Furthermore, the choices are limited, and the toys might not always cater to the evolving choices of today's tech-savvy generation. As per the studies, 27% of parents observed that their children lost interest in a toy in the first 11 hours of play. Thus parents have to buy new toys every few days.

Modern-day problems require innovative solutions and there the toy libraries started, bridging the gap between traditional toy libraries and modern demands, providing children access to a treasure trove of toys. Toy libraries serve a vast collection of toys where children can explore, experiment, and learn through play.

It provides a user-friendly platform, simplifies the toy selection process, and delivers flexible subscription options to match the diverse needs of parents and their children.

 

Why The Elefant?

The Elefant was born out of the desire to make high-quality toys accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Here are the key factors that make The Elefant an essential service for modern families:

 

1. Cost-Effective Access to Quality Toys

One of the primary advantages of The Elefant is the cost savings it offers. Instead of purchasing expensive toys that children may quickly outgrow or lose interest in, parents can subscribe to The Elefant and rent a variety of toys for a fraction of the cost. This subscription model allows families to enjoy a constant rotation of new toys without breaking the bank.

 

2. Clutter-Free Homes

Toys have a way of taking over living spaces, creating clutter and chaos. The Elefant helps manage this by allowing parents to return toys once their children have outgrown or lost interest in them. This way, homes stay organized and free from the accumulation of unused toys.

 

3. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

In an era where sustainability is a growing concern, The Elefant offers an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional toy industry. By promoting the reuse of toys, The Elefant reduces waste and the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of toys.

 

4. Curated Toy Selection

The Elefant prides itself on offering a curated selection of high-quality, educational, and developmentally appropriate toys. Each toy in the library is carefully chosen to ensure it meets the needs of children at various developmental stages, from infants to Twelve-year-olds. This means parents can trust that the toys they receive are not only fun but also beneficial for their child’s growth and learning.

 

5. Convenience and Flexibility

With The Elefant, convenience is key. The app makes it easy for parents to browse the toy library, select toys, and manage their subscriptions. Toys are delivered directly to their doorstep, and returning them is just as simple. The flexible subscription plans allow parents to choose the frequency of toy exchanges, ensuring they always have new and exciting toys on hand.

 

6. Hygiene and Safety Assurance

Parents can rest assured that all toys rented through The Elefant are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between uses. The company follows strict hygiene protocols to ensure that every toy is safe and ready for the next child to enjoy.

 

7. Encouraging Shared Play and Learning

The Elefant encourages shared play and learning experiences among children. By offering a variety of toys that promote cooperative play, problem-solving, and creativity, the app helps foster important social and cognitive skills.

 

 

Getting started with The Elefant is simple:

 

 

Building Libraries across India

Who Can Start an Online Toy Library Business?

The beauty of an online toy library business is its inclusive nature, welcoming enthusiastic individuals from various walks of life. If you are a woman who possesses a passion for promoting playful learning and has a flair for entrepreneurship, you are the perfect candidate to embark on this exciting journey. Here are some profiles of women who can thrive in the world of online toy libraries:

Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you dream of running your own business and making a positive impact on children's lives, starting an online toy library can be an excellent avenue to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit.

Stay-at-Home Mothers: For stay-at-home mothers seeking a flexible and fulfilling career, running an online toy library from the comfort of the home provides the perfect balance between family life and professional aspirations.

Educators and Childcare Providers: Teachers, preschool owners, and childcare providers already have a passion for children's development and learning. An online toy library business complements their existing expertise, enhancing the learning experience for young minds.

Community Builders: Aspiring entrepreneurs who thrive in building vibrant communities can use an online toy library as a platform to connect families, educators, and children in a joyful ecosystem.

 

Regardless of your background or profession, the online toy library business welcomes women who share a common goal: to create a world where children can explore, learn, and grow through the magic of play. These are some things to consider if you want to set up a library for your community!

 

 

The Future of Play

We are excited to announce that we co-led the seed round for The Elefant along with Venture Catalysts and other investors. We are thrilled to partner with them to transform the way families think about play!

By providing a cost-effective, convenient, and sustainable toy rental service, The Elefant ensures that children have access to a diverse range of high-quality toys that support their development and learning.

 

Join The Elefant today and discover the joy of a clutter-free home and endless play possibilities for your kids.

 

 

Launching "Second Innings programme” by Malpani Ventures

At Malpani Ventures, we want the Second Innings Program to offer resilient startups a chance to access capital for a pivot or recharge after significant setbacks, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

We launched our MVP programme in 2022  & the Catapult programme in early 2024 to provide an accelerated funding pathway for pre-seed stage companies

We understand that the path to success is rarely linear. That's why we've introduced the Second Innings Program, a funding initiative designed specifically for startups that have faced near-death experiences and are looking for a chance to recharge or pivot their businesses.

 

 

Applying to the program:

We wish to see an added emphasis on the following while applying to this programme:

 

  1. What Went Wrong: This involves a thorough analysis of the factors that led to the startup's near-death experience. Was it a flawed business model, poor market fit, financial mismanagement, or external factors beyond control?

 

  1. Lessons Learned: We place a strong emphasis on the learnings derived from these challenges. How has the startup adapted its strategies? What new insights have been gained about the market, customers, or operations? How has the team evolved in response to adversity?

 

  1. What has changed: This involves evaluating their new business model, strategic vision, and steps taken to ensure a more robust and sustainable approach.

 

  1. Why are your existing investors not backing you: There are always two sides to a story. We want to understand the change in perspective for your early backers and hear why you disagree with them.

 

We are backing ALL THINGS B2B!

We intend to deploy capital worth $300k to $500k in B2B focussed companies!

If you're building 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀, hospitality, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲, check us out! We are keen to partner early with founders to solve hard problems for Indian and global businesses.

Do apply here or refer your founder friends for the programme: Apply Now

 

Why should you apply?

·        Feedback for each startup within 14 days

·        Access to patient capital from a single-family office – We want to help build companies until they IPO! 

·        Significant reserves: Willingness to follow on with adequate reserves

·        Access to a network of other B2B focused founders + investors

 

The due diligence process at Malpani Ventures is enumerated here:

 

Our diligence process

Dhruv Sane

January 4, 2023

At Malpani Ventures, for all new investments, we undertake thorough diligence for a period of 4 to 6 weeks before issuing a term sheet. One oft-asked question from founders and investing peers alike is this: “If you invest so early, why does your diligence take so long?”

 

Read full story

 

The Road Ahead: A Partnership for Success

At Malpani Ventures, our support goes beyond funding. We provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to a network of industry experts to all startups building in a broad range of sectors within B2B (mid-market or Enterprise customers in India or global markets).

Our goal is to transform past failures into stepping stones, enabling these businesses to thrive and reach new heights. The Second Innings Program is our way of supporting courageous entrepreneurs who are ready to transform their challenges into opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you and being long-term partners in your journey!

 

You can visit the Second Innings website here

 

Apply to the program: Second Innings Application

Introducing our newest Analyst – Ishan Pendse

Greetings community! Today, we're thrilled to introduce our newest addition to the team, Ishan Pendse, who joins us as an analyst poised to bring fresh insights and energy to our investment team.

Malpani Ventures is dedicated to building a team that aligns closely with our investment thesis and values. We strongly support founders who share our commitment to innovation, integrity, and long-term growth. By assembling a team with diverse expertise and a shared passion for discovering and nurturing promising startups, we aim to empower entrepreneurs who are visionary and driven by principles that resonate with ours.

 

 

Ishan has graduated from NMIMS with a degree in Finance and has completed all three levels of the CFA Program. Having worked as an analyst in the realms of Quantitative trading and Equity Research at BluOpal Advisors & Elixir equities, he has developed a penchant for playing long-term games and keeping a steady hand at times of uncertainty. 

He comes to us with a background of investing in public markets, and a desire to create an impact by generating value for early-stage companies, making him a perfect fit for our mission to identify and nurture the next generation of innovative ventures.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with seasoned investors at MV and build my skills to find asymmetries in the startup ecosystem. I am excited to work with the team to be a value add for the founders we back.”

When Ishan is not working with founders, evaluating pitch decks, or carrying out financial due diligence, you will find him reading (currently- Thinking in systems), and on the lookout for new music, with his two dogs.

 

At Malpani Ventures, Ishan will work on our sectors of focus- SaaS, Health & Education. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn here and congratulate him on his email here, and on behalf of the entire MV community, please join us in congratulating Ishan and welcoming him into our team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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