119. Manisha Rathore

Manisha Rathore

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisharathore/ Manisha Rathore Angel Investor & Mentor in promising startups Thane, Maharashtra, India

My portfolio companies include:

  1. HOBBYLU – India’s first and largest hobby and experiences discovery platform based out of Hyderabad www.hobbylu.com (2016 )

  2. POPUP LEARNING - An e-learning initiative focussed on the technology sector to bridge the last mile skill enhancement gap for employability (2014 )

  3. INDIA BEACONS Sojourn – A new age travel company based out of Kolkata. www.indiabeacons.com (2012)

Thanks! Here's a refined and final persona profile for Manisha Rathore, based on her angel investing activity, sector focus, and mentoring approach:

Manisha Rathore – Impact-Oriented Angel Investor & Startup Mentor

Demographics

  • Name: Manisha Rathore

  • Age Range: 40–55 years old (based on investment activity since 2012)

  • Location: Thane, Maharashtra, India

  • Education: Likely background in Business, Education, or Consumer Services (not listed, inferred from portfolio themes)

  • Professional Level: Angel Investor / Startup Mentor / Consumer Tech Enthusiast

Firmographics

  • Industry Focus:

    • Consumer Platforms & Marketplaces

    • TravelTech & Experience Economy

    • EdTech & Employability

    • Lifestyle & Discovery Tech

  • Portfolio Companies:

    1. HOBBYLU – India’s first hobby and experience discovery platform (Hyderabad, est. 2016)

    2. Popup Learning – Tech-focused e-learning platform for employability (est. 2014)

    3. India Beacons Sojourn – New-age travel company (Kolkata, est. 2012)

  • Job Role:

    • Active Angel Investor

    • Mentor & Advisor to Early-Stage Startups

    • Growth Partner in Product & User Strategy

Psychographics

  • Core Beliefs & Values:

    • Invests in founders solving real-world problems

    • Passionate about bridging opportunity gaps (skills, travel, hobbies)

    • Encourages creative, user-centric products that enhance life experiences

    • Values startups with clear customer validation and potential for scale

  • Hidden Interests (Inferred):

    • May be drawn to women-led, purpose-driven, or impact-first startups

    • Enjoys working with teams solving urban and lifestyle challenges

    • Likely interested in tech-enabled access to learning, travel, and wellness

Pain Points & Challenges

  • Challenges faced when investing:

    • Poor product-market fit in early-stage teams

    • Founders without understanding of user psychology

    • Shallow business models with unclear monetization

    • Startups overbuilding before validating demand

  • Frustrations:

    • Lack of founder-user empathy

    • Founders who overlook customer retention

    • Businesses that scale marketing before solving the core UX

    • Pitch decks that lack real traction or clarity in problem-solving

Skills & Competencies

  • Angel Investing in Consumer and EdTech Ventures

  • Mentorship in User Experience & Market Fit

  • Product Discovery & User Engagement Strategy

  • Early-Stage Growth Strategy

  • Sector Insight in Learning, Travel, and Lifestyle Platforms

Communication Preferences

  • Preferred Channels:

    • LinkedIn: For startup intros or mentoring requests

    • Email: For pitch decks or portfolio updates

    • Virtual Calls / In-person (Mumbai/Thane): For relationship-building and investment readiness

    • Founder Circles or Startup Communities: For networking and support

🔍 Founder-Fit Snapshot:

Ideal For

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Consumer & lifestyle platforms

✅

EdTech & skill-based learning startups

✅

Founders focused on discovery, engagement, and UX

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Ventures with real users and impact potential

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Let me know if you'd like this added to your PDF deck, Notion CRM, or founder matchmaking toolkit alongside the other 27 investor personas!

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