ET Startup Awards 2026: Midas Touch Nominees Revealed

The Economic Times has revealed the nominees for the “Midas Touch” category of its 12th annual Startup Awards for 2026. This prestigious award spotlights individuals achieving the most lucrative exits within the startup ecosystem.

Recognizing Lucrative Exits

The Midas Touch award selection considers both the number of successful deals and the overall size of the exits achieved by investors. This framework aims to capture a comprehensive view of market impact.

Shailesh Lakhani’s Early Bets

Shailesh Lakhani, a Partner at Ambition Capital, stands out among the nominees. Based in Bengaluru, Lakhani brings over 18 years of experience from Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital India, before founding his current firm.

His strategy focuses on early-stage investments. Key portfolio companies include Zetwerk, Truecaller, Porter, Healthkart, and Ixigo. Several of these ventures have already gone public or filed for IPOs, demonstrating his foresight.

Manu Chandra’s Consumer Focus

New Delhi-based Manu Chandra, Managing Partner of Sauce VC, is another contender. Chandra’s investment philosophy involves deploying small initial capital, then providing follow-on funding to companies showing significant traction.

Sauce VC is known for its disciplined approach and strong focus on the consumer sector. Their notable investments feature Innovist, The Whole Truth, Mokobara, XYXX, and Supertails, reflecting a diverse consumer portfolio.

Anu Hariharan’s Tech Guidance

Anu Hariharan, a Managing Partner at San Francisco’s Avra Capital, also made the list. She previously led Y Combinator’s Continuity Fund before co-founding Avra Capital. Her expertise lies in guiding founders through growth stages.

Hariharan supports high-growth technology companies. Her impressive portfolio includes Groww, Meesho, Razorpay, and Zepto, with both Groww and Meesho having already achieved public listings.

Mukesh Bansal’s Operator Insight

Completing the nominees is Bengaluru-based angel investor Mukesh Bansal. A founder of Myntra and Curefit, Bansal offers an operator’s perspective to his investment decisions, backing founders early with long-term involvement.

His diverse portfolio features companies like Groww, Skyroot Aerospace, Cred, and FirstClub. Bansal has realized substantial gains, particularly within the fintech and deeptech sectors, highlighting his strategic picks.