Sonal Biyani - Co-Founder, Basic Roots

Sonal Biyani

Co-Founder, Basic Roots

More about Sonal Biyani

Basic Roots | Raising funds for technology startups and capital advisor to Founders | Board-Level Strategy

I’m a serial entrepreneur, investment banker, and early-stage angel investor with hands-on operating experience across both traditional industries and technology-led ventures. I began my career at Lehman Brothers and ENAM, leading IPOs, M&A, and private equity transactions for some of India’s largest companies. I’ve also worked with global teams, including my time at Banker without Boundaries, a UK-based climate finance advisory firm, where I collaborated on sustainable finance and infrastructure mandates across emerging markets.

Later, I moved to Surat, where I built a textile trading and manufacturing business from scratch and launched one of the city’s first coworking spaces. These ventures gave me a deep understanding of tier-2 markets—their potential, limitations, and the realities of scaling outside the metro lens.

Today, I co-lead Basic Roots, a strategic advisory and investment firm focused on early to growth-stage companies in consumer, fintech, SaaS, and B2B commerce. I work closely with founders, investors, and boards on fundraising, M&A, and long-term growth strategy.

I’m also a regular voice on Bloomberg TV, speaking on macro trends, startups, and capital markets. Recognized as an Emerging Female Entrepreneur by Union Minister Smriti Irani, I remain deeply committed to supporting more women in business and leadership.

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Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
Surat Startup Day : November Edition
Fundraising Masterclass
Friends of eChai Social in Surat
Startup Growth Stories from Surat
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

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Bhavin S Bhagat - Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
Bhavin S Bhagat
Co-founder of Indiabizforsale and IBGrid, TiE Ahmedabad President
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Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
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Viraj Rajani
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