Early-stage founders often find themselves lost in a maze. They have the idea, the passion, and the potential, but what they lack is access. Access to capital. Access to mentorship. Access to a community that believes in their vision before the world does. In a noisy ecosystem flooded with pitch decks and LinkedIn DMs, promising ideas often die quietly, never getting the fuel they need to take off.
It was this very gap that Honish Zaveri noticed, not from a distance, but from within the system. Having personally invested in startups since 2021, he saw a pattern repeating: brilliant founders struggling not because they lacked conviction, but because the ecosystem was fragmented, cold, and inaccessible.
That’s where Kiani Ventures was born, not as a formal firm, but as a WhatsApp group of four family members. It was informal, experimental, and deeply human. But what started as a group chat quickly turned into a movement. Within months, it grew into a thriving angel syndicate of 500+ members. Today, it stands as a Startup India-recognized LLP, focused on funding and mentoring early-stage B2B startups in sectors ranging from AI to proptech.
As a Partner at Kiani Ventures, Honish brings not just capital, but clarity. His strength lies in simplifying the journey for founders, helping them pitch better, negotiate smarter, and scale faster. Because at its core, Kiani Ventures isn’t just about investment. It’s about building a bridge, for ideas, for people, and for a better tomorrow.
Stepping into the World of Wealth Management and Community Investment Strategies
While Honish was investing in stocks and mutual funds like any other investor, he was also seeking to generate alpha returns from his investments. A regular reader of startup stories on platforms like YourStory and Inc42, he decided to begin investing in startups in a small way in 2022.
That moment proved to be a turning point, since then, he has invested in around 12 startups. With increasing knowledge in the field of angel investing, he launched his own angel syndicate, Kiani Ventures, in January 2024. What began with just 4 members has now grown into a thriving community of over 570.
Early Experiences That Shaped His Professional Outlook
Honish’s journey into the world of investing began with mutual funds and later transitioned into direct stock investments. When he started around 2007–08, startups were not even considered an asset class. Coming from a technology background, with a BE in Electronics and Communication from Gujarat and an MBA from Symbiosis, Pune, he has worked in the IT industry for about 14–15 years across both services and product companies.
This exposure enhanced his understanding of the tech ecosystem, leading him to focus on tech startups both personally and through Kiani Ventures, where the investment thesis centers around B2B tech ventures.
Leadership Style in the World of Finance and Investments
Honish believes in empowering people, trusting them, delegating responsibilities, and avoiding micromanagement. He emphasizes the importance of allowing individuals the freedom to fail without fear, encouraging them to try new ideas and share fresh perspectives.
According to him, mistakes are acceptable as long as they lead to learning and are not repeated. He believes that today’s generation is far more intelligent and informed, and his role is to guide them to become the best versions of themselves professionally.
Redefining Traditional Wealth Management for a Modern Audience
At Kiani Ventures, transparency and honesty in data and disclosures are paramount. In addition to startups, the venture is also active in the unlisted and Pre-IPO shares segment, catering to both retail and bulk investors. Through a WhatsApp community, real-time investment queries are addressed directly by Honish himself.
Many first-time investors have gained the confidence to explore startup and unlisted share investments because of this model. Founders personally present pitch decks and participate in Q&A sessions during deep-dive calls. All materials are stored in accessible Google Drive folders. Investments are routed via Invstt Angel Fund, a SEBI-registered fund, which adds a layer of trust and regulatory compliance.
Key Initiative That Impacted Wealth Building
One notable initiative introduced by Honish was the launch of Pre-IPO shares for Swiggy in September 2024. After receiving a tremendous response, Kiani Ventures enabled 24×7 investment in Pre-IPO and unlisted shares by partnering with multiple institutional brokers. This initiative not only raised awareness about a lesser-known asset class but also allowed investors to build wealth through a trusted source.
Fostering Community-Driven Investing
Community-driven investing is at the heart of Kiani Ventures. Honish believes that it is the community that defines the success of the platform. This approach ensures that all relevant investment information is equally accessible to everyone, with uniform terms and transparency.
Queries and concerns are addressed openly within the group, benefiting all members and supporting collective decision-making. Regular polls help gauge investor sentiment, and members are consistently encouraged to share questions and thoughts within the group.
Ensuring Inclusivity and Accessibility for New Investors
At Kiani Ventures, Honish Zaveri ensures that inclusivity is not just a statement—it’s a practice. No special preferences are given, not even to family members. Everyone is welcomed into the community with equal respect and encouraged to attend calls, ask questions, and make informed decisions based on their preferences and risk appetite. Just a day prior, a new member appreciated how well the group is managed and praised the supportive environment where no one feels awkward or hesitant to clear their doubts. That, he believes, is how a culture of comfort and inclusion is truly built.
Navigating Challenges in a Competitive and Complex Financial World
Honish acknowledges that the financial and wealth management space is intensely competitive and often seen as complex, especially due to the lack of financial literacy among many Indians. A major part of his work involves debunking myths, such as:
- Myth: Startup investing is only for the rich.
Fact: At Kiani Ventures, one can begin angel investing with as little as Rs 2 lakhs. - Myth: All startups fail.
Fact: While risk exists, thorough due diligence minimizes potential pitfalls. - Myth: IPOs are the only way out.
Fact: Exits also happen via secondary deals or M&As.
To spread awareness, Honish has been hosting free sessions on angel investing, covering topics like term sheets, valuation, and key startup traits. These efforts have demystified many core concepts and highlighted the importance of compliance, like maintaining a Client Master List (CML). Rather than competing, Kiani Ventures has formed partnerships with angel networks, VCs, and IB firms to widen the pool of investment opportunities for their community.
Balancing Profitability with Social Responsibility
According to Honish, trust is the cornerstone of wealth management. If trust is lost, everything else, customers, partnerships, and reputation, follows. That’s why, in Kiani Ventures’ journey so far, the priority has never been returns, but trust.
After 18 months of operations, he proudly says that Kiani Ventures has become synonymous with reliability. Investors are assured their funds are safe, shares will reach their demat accounts, and they will receive competitive pricing. While returns can’t be guaranteed, transparency always can be.
The Exciting Future of Wealth Management
Honish is deeply optimistic about the future of wealth creation. He sees three big waves:
- The integration of AI and the blurring lines between public and private markets.
- A boom in Pre-IPO funding, as more startups and SMEs gear up for stock market listings.
- Asset tokenization, allowing retail investors to access formerly exclusive assets like luxury goods, real estate, and alternative funds.
He believes these changes are creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Indian investors.
New Projects and Expanding Horizons
Exciting things lie ahead for Kiani Ventures. Honish has cleared the NISM V-A MFD exam and is in the process of securing a corporate Mutual Fund Distributor registration. This opens doors for strategic partnerships across multiple asset classes:
- Foreign stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds
- Structured products
- Fixed-income bonds
- Equity advisory
These expansions are poised to further diversify opportunities for Kiani’s growing investor base.
Staying Grounded Amidst Market Uncertainty
What keeps Honish grounded is a timeless principle from the Bhagavad Gita: “Do your Karma to the best of your ability and detach from the outcome.” He views life, and markets, as transient. This understanding gives him strength to weather uncertainties with calm.
A Message to Aspiring Wealth Strategists
His advice to budding professionals is clear: Don’t wait for the “right time.” Chase your dreams now. Focus on earning trust before chasing returns, and above all, never stop learning.
The Legacy He Hopes to Leave
When asked about legacy, Honish reflects deeply. In his own words – “I think the legacy I want to leave behind with Kiani Ventures in the Investment world is that here was one guy who was very ethical, trustworthy and who helped thousands and hopefully lakhs of people with multiple investment opportunities, increasing their wealth manifold thereby impacting their lives and their families in a positive way. I guess if people remembers that way during my lifetime and even after that, I believe it will be a legacy I can happily depart with from Planet Earth.”