Kunal Wadhwa – VentureSoul Partners

With over two decades in banking, Kunal has excelled in consumer and corporate sectors across India, leading local and multinational client groups. His leadership extended to the real estate division on a pan-India basis and the inception of the new economy startup segment for HSBC India, enhancing the bank’s integration into the startup ecosystem.

Kunal’s engagements with startups, VC networks, and intermediaries have been pivotal in growing the bank’s new economy business.

He has driven strategic transactions, including equity deals, fundraisings, and complex financing, contributing significantly to business expansion in every vertical he’s managed.

His entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with sharp commercial insight, enables him to spearhead new initiatives, fueling the organization’s ongoing evolution and success.

Nitin Kaushal

Co-founder Country delight

I was reporting directly to Kunal during my stint at HSBC . Kunal exhibits great commercial acumen while dealing with his portfolio companies. He has a solid understanding of credit risk and varied business models and has an eye of small details . He is an excellent team manager who likes to get his hands dirty and is very forward looking and execution focused . He has fostered long term relationships with his portfolio clients who place 100 percent trust in his ability to assist them during intricate financial transactions . I wish him the absolute best in his next role as an entrepreneur.

Ankit Jain

Vice president & head finance

Kunal’s relationship transcends beyond a regular professional one. He gives practical financial solutions to problem statements and doesnt shy away from saying No if he knows that his org cant deliver. I loved doing business with him & look forward to do more in his new avatar.

Arun Subramoniam

Senior Vice President – Corporate Banking Relationship Management at HSBC

Worked in Kunal’s team for >4 years. His energy and enthusiasm are a stand-out feature, something which can’t be missed in any interaction. This, coupled with deep knowledge and strong presence of mind would enable him to effortlessly stand out in any situation. He thinks several steps ahead at any point in time, and wants his work (and time spent) to make an impact, a difference. All these aspects put together places him in a very good stead to be a leader – one who leads by example and whom people can look up to. As I write this, I believe he is all set to take boundless flight in VentureSoul (recently co-founded by him), for which i wish him the very best.

Soumendra Ghosh

CIO, Vivriti Asset Management

Kunal is a rare blend of an analytical mind with appreciation of risk & credit, and sharp business acumen. His understanding of how businesses work, being able to see through clutter, attention to detail, and applying a practical lens to solution for issues were key to his success as a banker.

Kunal turns an entrepreneur armed with with these qualities, a strong professional network of corporates and financiers that hold him in high regard, and his ability to be decisive and stay focused on execution. He is well placed to make his mark in the venture funding industry.