Ishpreet Singh
Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, the visionary behind Stride Ventures and StrideOne has a profound passion
for the vibrant startup ecosystem. He is always keen to connect with ambitious entrepreneurs and
empower their transformative ideas daily. Under his leadership, Stride is re-imagining financial
solutions for startups to truly empower the enterprising ambitions of India, by enabling inclusive and
exponential growth in the startup ecosystem. Stride has emerged as a founder-friendly financial
institution sanctioning over INR 5000 Cr to new-age businesses in India. By seamlessly aligning its
offerings with the unique needs of founders, Stride has become the go-to partner for budding
businesses.
Back in 2015, when the startup landscape in India was at a nascent stage, as a banker Ishpreet
pioneered the first-ever debt solutions for startups in India. In 2018, Ishpreet founded Stride
Ventures, leaving his secure job to drive the penetration of Venture Debt as a founder-friendly
alternative to equity. Under Ishpreet's leadership, Stride Ventures has nurtured an exceptional team
that has achieved tremendous success, solidifying the firm's position as the most active and trusted
lender for startups. The fund boasts a well-diversified portfolio of 100+ companies across various
sectors. It has demonstrated industry-leading returns with best-in-class asset quality and a portfolio
of market leaders. The firm has consecutively received multiple prestigious awards including the
Venture Debt Fund of the Year, for spearheading alternative funding in India.
In 2021, Ishpreet astutely observed the shifting dynamics of the ecosystem, perceiving the demand
for refined and customised financial solutions for the entire startup value chain. This pivotal
realisation marked the birth of StrideOne, a dynamic and innovative platform that swiftly responds to
the evolving banking needs of entrepreneurs. It caters to the vast demand for tailor-made short-term
solutions for growth-stage businesses and MSMEs. Enabling the democratisation of credit across
sectors, the platform has achieved tremendous growth in the first year of operations, disbursing more
than INR 1500 Cr to over 5000+ borrowers. StrideOne delivers an end-to-end digital lending
experience to all stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, utilising tech-enabled underwriting to
achieve this goal.
The annual editions of industry-first reports like The Venture Debt Report and the Startup Economy
Report are a testament to Stride's resolve to enhance the startup ecosystem. With a steadfast
commitment to innovation and a pioneering spirit, Stride remains firmly positioned at the forefront,
delivering groundbreaking solutions that fuel the soaring growth of Indian startups.
