“It took me 25 years to become an overnight success.”
TUSHAR KANSAL – Founder & CEO, Kansaltancy Ventures | Venture Capitalist | TEDx Speaker | Thought Leader, Finfluencer & Spiritual Coach
There are stories of success, and then there are stories that teach.
Tushar Kansal’s journey belongs firmly in the second category. Born in the heartland of India, raised amidst the serenity of the Himalayan foothills, sharpened by the brutal honesty of corporate finance, tested by entrepreneurial failure, and ultimately vindicated by a Venture Capitalist empire that today spans 70+ countries — Tushar Kansal is, at his core, a builder.
A builder of companies, of minds, of futures, and of a content ecosystem that has touched over 100 million lives.
Today, as the Founder and CEO of Kansaltancy Ventures, as a Venture Partner with Loyal VC (the INSEAD-led Canadian VC Fund), as a TEDx Speaker, as a media personality on CNN-News18 and Business World, and as a Thought leader and Finfluencer whose content has generated over 100 million views globally — Tushar Kansal stands at the intersection of capital and conviction.
But the path here was anything but linear.
1. Roots, Rhythms, and the Road Less Taken
Tushar Kansal was born in 1976 in Uttar Pradesh, to Virendra Kumar Kansal — an engineer from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi — and Chandra Kansal.
His father’s government postings meant that his childhood unfolded across small hill towns of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh — Roorkee, with its gushing canal streams, mango orchards, lychee groves, and the chirping of Baya birds building nests in farmhouses.
These landscapes seeded in him a deep reverence for nature, simplicity, and introspection — values that quietly define his philosophy to this day.
The family later moved to Delhi, and Tushar completed his schooling at Montfort School — ranked today as the number one school in Delhi and among the top five in India by Education Today.
At Montfort, he was not only a high academic achiever but also a gifted artist, earning the coveted title of “Tansen” for his outstanding contributions to Hindi classical music. The dual identity of rigorous intellect and creative sensibility would remain a defining thread throughout his life.
He pursued a B.Tech in Textiles from the Technological Institute of Textile & Sciences (TIT&S), Bhiwani — affiliated with the prestigious Textile Institute Manchester, UK, and part of the illustrious Birla Group’s educational network.
His instincts, however, were pulling him firmly towards finance and capital. He went on to pursue MBA Finance from the University of Delhi’s Department of Financial Studies — serving as Treasurer of the Placement Committee — and secured a campus placement in the M&A division of SBI Capital Markets.
He later completed an Executive Education in Leadership from Harvard Business School in 2020, rounding out one of the strongest academic foundations in India’s venture capital ecosystem.
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2. The Corporate Crucible: Building Expertise Brick by Brick
Tushar’s corporate journey is best understood as a deliberate, multi-layered accumulation of expertise — from every angle of the capital markets.
After his MBA, he co-founded IITS — an educational institute for IIT-JEE aspirants — which grew to 800 students and three centres in North Delhi. By 2006, with competition intensifying, he executed a clean exit, selling the business to Narayana Educational Institutions at a good valuation. It was his first entrepreneurial exit — and the first demonstration of a discipline that would define his investment philosophy: knowing precisely when to stay and when to step away.
He then joined Deloitte & Touche in their Financial Advisory practice in 2007, executing Private Equity assignments, valuations, and due diligence. He was subsequently recruited by Brand Capital (formerly Private Treaties), the venture arm of Times of India Group (Bennett Coleman), where he participated in deploying approximately INR 100 crore across companies. Here, he learned the art of the buy-side — spotting growth potential, structuring deals, and navigating investor-founder dynamics.
A stint at the Central Treasury of Aircel (a USD 5 billion telecom company owned by Malaysia’s Maxis Group) followed, before Tushar stepped into one of the most defining roles of his career: heading the Debt and Treasury functions at MTS India — the Indian arm of Sistema, the Russian telecom listed on the London Stock Exchange. He raised USD 2.5 to 3 billion in debt for MTS India over three years — executed under the shadow of the 2G scandal and intense media scrutiny. One extraordinary cross-border transaction involved structuring a deal spanning four countries — Austria, Russia, India, and Singapore — to raise INR 1,240 crore when Indian banks were unwilling to lend, involving Deutsche Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and ING Vysya.
The apex of his corporate journey came with his appointment as CFO of DLI — a company owned by Guggenheim Partners, managing USD 350+ billion in assets. As CFO, Tushar managed financial operations, international PE fund compliance, and strategic financial planning — rounding out expertise across every dimension of corporate finance. By the time he stepped away, he had been a consultant, an investor, a treasury head, and a CFO. He understood capital from every angle.
3. The Birth of Kansaltancy Ventures: A Mission in Motion
In 2013, Tushar founded Indus B2C Global, a consumer startup in the hair extensions space. Without deep domain expertise in this segment, the startup struggled. Rather than persisting in unfamiliar territory, he pivoted — stepped back from operational control, handed management to his co-founder, and asked the most important strategic question a professional can ask: what do I truly do better than anyone else?
The answer was unambiguous. Finance. Capital. Startups. The intersection of all three.
In 2016, Tushar Kansal founded Kansaltancy Ventures — an eponym derived from his surname ‘Kansal’ combined with ‘Consultancy,’ capturing both the personal brand and the deeply consultative nature of the firm’s work. The mission was simple and powerful: to be the bridge between change-makers and the capital they need to realise their dreams.
“I founded Kansaltancy Ventures because I saw the gap between what startups need and what companies were offering to help them. I wanted to fix that — with depth, with integrity, and with a genuine passion for founders.”
Today, Kansaltancy Ventures has supported over 5,000 to 10,000+ startups and growth-stage companies, built a network of 1,700+ investors and lenders globally, facilitated over USD 100 million in funding, and established itself as the numero uno investment bank for venture capital, debt, and M&A in the Indian startup ecosystem. The firm operates across deal sizes from USD 300,000 to USD 50 million, across India, Singapore, Dubai, the US, and the UK.
The Master Class on Investments – Tushar Kansal, Kansaltancy Ventures
Services Offered
Financial Documentation — Pitch Decks, Financial Models, Valuations, Term Sheets, Due Diligence, Shareholder Agreements.
Funding Assistance — Access to 1,700+ global investors including Angel Investors, VC Funds, Family Offices, IPO Anchor Investors, and Institutional Lenders.
Strategic Services — M&A advisory, Virtual CFO, Go-To-Market strategy, and Growth Planning.
Mentorship & Ecosystem — Through IITs, IIMs, global accelerator and incubator partnerships.
Saffron First — A global angel network and fund headquartered in Singapore, investing in the APAC and India region.
Kansaltancy Ventures is currently developing a USD 100 million VC Fund and a Venture Builder / Accelerator in India/ Dubai/ APAC themed around Sustainability.
4. The Finfluencer Quotient: Where Influence Meets Capital
One of the most compelling demonstrations of Tushar Kansal’s influence in India’s financial ecosystem is what can only be called his Finfluencer Quotient — his unique ability to shape investor sentiment, drive deal visibility, and generate institutional trust at scale.
The clearest proof point: Tushar was invited to join the Board of Directors of GP Eco Solutions ahead of its IPO. The company’s IPO size was just USD 4 million (INR 31 crore). Yet when the issue opened, it attracted IPO bids worth USD 2 Billion (INR 16,600 crore) — an oversubscription of extraordinary proportions that sent shockwaves through India’s SME IPO ecosystem and became one of the most talked-about capital market events of its time.
This is not merely a story about a successful IPO. It is a story about what genuine thought leadership and trusted influence can do to investor conviction. When Tushar Kansal associates himself with a company, the market takes notice. His name has become a signal of credibility — for investors, for founders, and for the broader ecosystem.
This Finfluencer quotient also extends to his written work. His contrarian piece for Inc42 — arguing that investors should remain confident in tech startup listings in India at saner valuations, even as markets were pessimistic post the Paytm and Zomato IPO declines — demonstrated his willingness to take bold, reasoned positions in public discourse rather than simply follow the consensus.
5. Over 1,000 Talks, Events & 50 Million Views: A Content Empire Built on Purpose
Perhaps the most astonishing dimension of Tushar Kansal’s professional identity is his sheer scale as a public educator and content creator. Over the last ten years, he has delivered more than 1,000 talks, events, panel discussions, judging sessions, webinars, television episodes, and podcast recordings — spanning Ivy League institutions, global corporate forums, entrepreneurship cells at IITs and IIMs, television studios, and digital platforms across the world.
The cumulative impact: over 50 million views generated across the public domain, including YouTube, OTT platforms, Tata Play, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and AI ecosystems such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Gemini, and Claude. The content has reached and served over 100 million people across 70+ countries — an extraordinary reach for an individual practitioner from India.
What makes this content empire distinctive is not its volume, but its extraordinary breadth of subject matter. Tushar has built a reputation as one of the very few voices in India who speaks with authority and authenticity across all of the following domains simultaneously:
Business, Finance & Capital
Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystems; Venture Capital, Angel Investment & Private Equity; Funding Strategy and Fundraising; SME / MSME Growth Strategies; DeepTech Investing in India; IPO and Public Markets; Financial Modelling and Valuation; Mergers & Acquisitions; Virtual CFO Advisory.
Mindset, Leadership & Human Potential
Founders’ Mindset and Leadership Thinking; Personal Development and Self-Engineering; Management Knowhow and Organisational Culture; Networking and Relationship Capital; Life Motivation and Purpose Finding.
Macro, Society & Philosophy
Geopolitics and its impact on Global Capital Flows; Indian Nationalism and India’s Economic Destiny; Hinduism, Indic Faiths and Vedic Philosophy; ESG — Environmental, Social and Governance Investing; Social Development and Impact Investing; Capitalism, Welfarism and the Ethics of Wealth; Spirituality as a Framework for Professional Excellence.
This diversity is not accidental. It reflects Tushar’s core conviction — that life and business are inextricably intertwined, and that meaningful success requires wisdom across both dimensions.
Television: ‘The Hustler’ on Tata Play
His life story aired on Channel 510 of Tata Play (partially owned by Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty) under the title ‘The Hustler: Tushar Kansal.’ An accompanying 9-episode series titled ‘Business ki Pathshala by Tushar Kansal’ also ran on the channel — making complex financial concepts accessible to a mass audience in Hindi.
VCTV: 51 Episodes of Venture Capital Television
He appeared in 51 episodes for Venture Capital TV (VCTV) — Singapore’s premier VC media platform — covering sector trends, investment strategies, and the global startup landscape.
Podcasts: Right! and Aradhya
His business podcast ‘Right! by Tushar Kansal’ and his spiritual podcast ‘Aradhya by Tushar Kansal’ have both built dedicated listener communities. Collaborations with leading Finfluencers including Abhishek Kar, Deepak Wadhwa, and Garima Kaushal have generated over 50 million views across reels and short-form content alone.
Publications & Written Work
Tushar has authored articles for Business World (14 published pieces), Inc42, Business & Economy, Tech Thirsty, and Digital Market Asia. A search of ‘Tushar Kansal’ on Google returns over 100,000 results. His early blog ‘Indus Churning’ — covering nationalism, corporate strategy, and spirituality — achieved 2.6 million hits in 2013-14 before being brought down by hackers.
LinkedIn: 100+ Recommendations — The Most Authentic Metric
With over 100 recommendations on his LinkedIn profile — from founders, investors, co-workers, and industry leaders across the globe — Tushar’s LinkedIn presence is perhaps the most authentic measure of his real-world impact. These are not awards or media mentions: they are testimonials written freely and publicly by the very people he has served. Founders thank him for helping them raise their first round. Investors commend his deal sourcing and due diligence. Students describe how a single talk changed their career trajectory. It is a living, breathing record of a career spent in genuine service to others — virtually unparalleled in India’s VC advisory space.
6. Loyal VC and Global Investment Footprint
Beyond Kansaltancy Ventures, Tushar serves as Venture Advisor to Loyal VC — the INSEAD-led Canadian VC Fund with over 365+ investments spanning 15+ sectors across 70+ countries, with more than 40% of its portfolio in women-led businesses. As Venture Advisor, he contributes deal flow, sector expertise, and Indian ecosystem access.
He also serves as Venture Partner with a US-based Angel Fund investing up to USD 2 million per deal, and maintains an affiliation with a marquee IPO anchor investor managing USD 2.7 billion in AUM and participating in 130+ IPOs — placing him at the very heart of India’s public and private capital markets.
7. Awards and Institutional Recognition
“Best Startup Supporter” at the IndiaFirst Tech Startup Conclave 2022, Le Meridien, New Delhi — presented by Dr. Kiran Bedi, India’s first female IPS officer, on behalf of AICRA.
“Entrepreneur of the Year 2022” — awarded by Business Connect Magazine.
“Business Leader of the Year in Investment Management 2021” — conferred by the Asian African Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“Best Investment Bank in Venture Capital 2023” and “Brands to Watch Out in 2024” — by Great Companies.
Media recognition: Times of India (‘Dynamic Entrepreneurs’), Hindustan Times (‘Tribute to Entrepreneurs on National Startup Day’), Times Now (‘Innovative Leaders’), Economic Times (’15 Business Leaders to Look Out For’).
8. Philosophy and Leadership: The Mentor’s Creed
Tushar Kansal’s mentorship philosophy is deeply influenced by an unexpected source: the Bhagavad Gita, and Lord Krishna’s role as Arjuna’s guide at Kurukshetra. He believes a great mentor must show support in word and deed; provide constant encouragement without micromanaging; offer criticism without denigrating the protégé; give unconditional support in difficult tasks; and help the protégé develop honest self-awareness.
“Inspired by Krishna’s role at Kurukshetra, I believe a mentor should be a leader, manager, negotiator, mediator, motivator, and influencer — all rolled into one.”
His entrepreneurial life lessons, shared across hundreds of platforms with millions of listeners, distil to these principles: Identify the intersection of what you are uniquely skilled at and what the world needs — that is your calling. Engage in activities that feel like play to you but appear as work to others. Build a habit of reading for at least an hour daily. Be impatient in action but patient with results. Always know your why before your how.
The Spiritual Dimension
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Tushar’s public identity is his deep and unwavering spirituality. For over 30 years, he has dedicated a minimum of three hours daily to reading, contemplation, and inner practice. He is a practitioner of the teachings of Sadhguru, Sister Shivani, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hanh, Access Consciousness, and ISKCON. He practices Yoga, Pranayam, Meditation, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda — a holistic wellness regimen he credits with keeping his mind clear, his judgement sharp, and his energy balanced. His ‘Aradhya’ podcast brings this spiritual wisdom into accessible dialogue for contemporary audiences.
9. Personal Life: The Foundation Behind the Mission
Behind every great institution is a great personal story. Tushar’s is anchored in family. He is married to an accomplished investment banker who became the youngest-ever Vice President in the history of SBI Capital at just 29 years of age, and later served as Senior Vice President at Axis Capital overseeing the capital markets division. Her expertise and emotional partnership have been a pillar throughout his entrepreneurial journey.
Together, they are raising two children, while navigating thriving careers and a strong family foundation. His father — an IIT-Delhi alumnus — remains one of his earliest and most enduring role models. He draws professional inspiration from N.R. Narayana Murthy of Infosys, who demonstrated to India’s middle class that a knowledge-driven, values-based business can build lasting, billion-dollar value.
10. The Road Ahead: India’s Moment and Tushar Kansal’s Vision
Tushar Kansal thinks in decades, not quarters. He is actively building a USD 100 million VC Fund from Singapore, targeting DeepTech startups in the APAC region — with particular focus on AI/ML, Semiconductors, Robotics, Green Energy, and Space Technology. India’s DeepTech sector is growing at 40% CAGR, with nearly 4,000 DeepTech companies now operating in India and USD 1.6 billion raised by the sector in 2024 alone — a 78% year-on-year increase.
A Venture Builder and Accelerator is being developed in India, Dubai and APAC themed around Sustainability. The angel network Saffron First continues to grow, with a planned corpus of INR 250 crore in process.
“The next decade belongs to founders building for complexity, not convenience. As a Venture Capitalist, I am placing my bets on them — not just for returns, but for relevance.”
At the macro level, Tushar is unambiguously bullish on India’s moment — its GDP trajectory from USD 4 trillion toward USD 10 trillion, its demographic dividend, its DeepTech awakening, and its growing weight in global capital allocation. He has written and spoken compellingly about the need for stronger contract enforcement, a stronger Indian Rupee, and policy continuity in government schemes — as foundational prerequisites for India to achieve its full civilisational and economic potential.
11. Connect With Tushar Kansal
Corporate Website (Kansaltancy Ventures): https://www.Kansaltancy.com
Personal Speaking Website: https://www.TusharKansal.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tusharkansal/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TusharKansal
Medium: https://medium.com/@tusharkansal
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kansaltancyventures
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tusharkansal
Email: tk@kansaltancy.com
Epilogue: The Legacy Being Written
Tushar Kansal’s is a story still being written. But its themes are already clear: resilience in the face of failure; clarity of purpose; the courage to reinvent; the discipline of deep expertise; and a profound commitment to using one’s success in service of others.
From the Himalayan small towns of his childhood to the boardrooms of Deloitte, Guggenheim, and global VC funds — from a struggling Startup in 2013 to a 50-million-view content empire — from a personal setback in Class 11 to a TEDx stage and a Finfluencer quotient that turned a USD 4 million IPO into USD 2 billion in bids — Tushar Kansal’s journey is a reminder that the distance between where you start and where you end up is bridged by exactly one thing: the refusal to quit.
“Be very clear on why you want to do a certain thing. Similar to needing a guru in your spiritual journey — you need a guru in business as well. Find your purpose. Find your tribe. And never, ever stop moving forward.”
