The Angel Architect: Yamika Mehra's Journey in Building India's Startup Ecosystem With 1stCheque By Favcy Venture Builders

In the bustling corridors of India's startup ecosystem, where dreams transform into unicorns and ideas morph into million-dollar ventures, few names resonate as powerfully as Yamika Mehra. As a Partner at Favcy Venture Builders, she hasn't just witnessed the startup revolution—she's been one of its key architects.

From Founder to Ecosystem Builder

Yamika's story begins not in the polished boardrooms of venture capital firms, but in the trenches of entrepreneurship. Having built two ventures herself—one in the blockchain space and another as a social venture—she understands the sleepless nights, the rejections, and the eureka moments that define a founder's journey. This firsthand experience became her superpower when she transitioned from being a founder to becoming the person who helps shape other founders' destinies.

Yamika heads 1st Cheque, Favcy's investment network, managing a network of about 3,000-odd angel investors, including industry luminaries like Sumit Ghosh (Founder, Chingari) and Akshay Sarma (CFO, Capital Float). But numbers tell only half the story—it's the transformation she's orchestrated that truly matters.

The 1stCheque Revolution

Picture this: a first-time entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea but no network, no validation, and certainly no angel investors knocking down their door. This is where Yamika's brainchild, 1stCheque Angel Network, steps in. What started as a platform has evolved into something far more profound—a democratization of early-stage investments.

"We're not just building startups; we're building an ecosystem where founders, investors, and industry leaders collaborate seamlessly," Yamika recently shared at the Favcy VB Summit 2025.

Her vision extends beyond traditional investment paradigms, focusing on what she calls the "science of early-stage startup evaluation" rather than leaving it to chance.

The Numbers That Tell a Story

With over 15 years of experience spanning P&L management, revenue growth, and fundraising, Yamika has orchestrated some impressive milestones. She's pitched over 20 'pure idea stage' startups to angels and has been instrumental in raising over $10 million in pre-seed funds. But perhaps her most significant achievement lies in the 3,000+ strong angel network she's built at 1stCheque—a testament to her belief that investing in startups shouldn't be an exclusive club.

Her approach to angel investing is refreshingly practical. When budding investors tell her they don't invest in pre-product, pre-revenue stage startups, she challenges them with a simple truth: the biggest returns often come from the earliest risks. This philosophy has shaped how 1stCheque operates, focusing on risk mitigation while maintaining the potential for exponential returns.

Beyond the Boardroom

What sets Yamika apart isn't just her business acumen—it's her holistic approach to ecosystem building. As a participant in Horses Stable Season 4 and an active member of WICCI (Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), she's consistently worked on building India's startup ecosystem "right from the grassroots level."

Her involvement with Favcy's various initiatives, from the Build-To-Sell program that recently raised ₹1.8 crores to the new 1to10 Accelerator targeting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, showcases her commitment to inclusive growth. She understands that India's next unicorn might not emerge from Bangalore or Gurgaon—it could come from anywhere, and her job is to ensure it gets the support it needs.

The Future She's Building

As Favcy Venture Builders celebrates its 10th anniversary and secures over ₹40 crores in funding, Yamika's vision continues to evolve. The 1to10 Accelerator represents her latest initiative to uncover hidden gems in India's startup landscape, particularly focusing on revenue-generating startups that are often overlooked by traditional investors.

"The 1to10 Accelerator is our next big leap, ensuring startups not only launch successfully but scale with purpose," she explains, embodying the philosophy that has driven her throughout her career—building not just for today, but for sustainable tomorrow.

Yamika Mehra's story is ultimately about transformation—transforming ideas into companies, first-time angels into seasoned investors, and most importantly, transforming India's startup ecosystem into one that's accessible, inclusive, and built for long-term success. In a world where venture building is often seen as an exclusive game, she's proved that the real magic happens when you open the doors wider, not close them tighter.

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