Mangaluru: Silicon Beach Angels, a collective of angel investors launched under the Silicon Beach Program and TiE Mangaluru Chapter, is all set to power startup ecosystems along coastal Karnataka. The newly launched network brings together around 20 founding angel investors who will collectively fund and mentor early-stage startups, with a primary focus on ventures emerging from the Mangaluru–Udupi region.Rohit Bhat, convener of the Silicon Beach Programme, said the initiative is designed to provide early-stage capital and guidance to promising entrepreneurs. Each investor contributes a small amount, and together we can raise to Rs 50 lakh for a startup. The intent is not just funding, but also mentoring and supporting local startups, he said.Going ahead, more angel investors will join the platform. Unlike a traditional fund, SBA operates as a collaborative investment network in which individual angels evaluate startup pitches and decide independently whether to participate. Startups at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to Product-Market Fit (PMF) stage, or in early revenue stages, will be considered.Prashanth Rao Aroor, one of the founding angels, said the initiative fills a crucial gap between mentorship and institutional funding. Startups at an early stage are often not ready for venture capital; angel funding helps them reach proof of concept and become investment-ready. SBA builds on existing efforts such as the TiE Nurture Programme, where startups undergo structured mentorship. After this phase, startups can pitch to angel investors. If viable, multiple angels come together to fund them, he explained.To streamline the process, another venture has been appointed as the coordinating body. It will evaluate startups, monitor their progress, and provide day-to-day guidance, while angels will offer strategic mentorship. The network has already piloted investments in three startups over the past year: Sitaara, an AI-driven early child development platform; Crop AI, focused on container-based farming solutions; and Canara Farms, an organic dairy venture. These were test cases, and we have seen measurable progress, Aroor said.Aroor also revealed that the SBA plans to host regular pitch sessions, with incubators and accelerators acting as feeder channels. “We want to ensure that promising ideas from this region do not fail due to lack of capital,” Aroor added.BOXManjunath Bangera, founder of Sitaara, a modern parenting platform and app, a startup backed by the network, helped the company close its pre-seed round and build its initial product. Having returned to Mangaluru after nearly a decade working in startup ecosystems in other cities, he said he was initially testing whether a startup could be built from the coastal city. The company launched its app in March this year and has since onboarded around 10,000 users. Support is extended beyond funding, particularly in terms of guidance and hiring, he said.
