Appalla Saikiran was only 17 when he entered the startup world, a teenager figuring out the intricacies of founder forums, investor decks, and startup jargon. Five years later, the 22-year-old is the founder and CEO of SCOPE, a quickly expanding startup ecosystem platform that brings together resources, mentors, and investors for entrepreneurs in one digital location.
With more than 800 investors and 5,000 entrepreneurs already on board, SCOPE is poised to emerge as one of India’s most reputable early-stage platforms.
The Initial Spark
Saikiran, who was born and reared in India, developed an early interest in entrepreneurship. He was working on app concepts and mapping startup ecosystem pain points while the majority of students were getting ready for entrance exams. He remembers, “I saw that founders, particularly new ones, had trouble figuring out what to do and who to contact.” “There was no one location for organised support—everything felt disorganised.”
When Entrepreneurs Today featured his work at the age of 19, he became well-known across the country. Using data points to generate compatibility scores between funders and founders, he had developed an app that made matching startups with investors easier. The project caught the attention of media outlets, early-stage venture capitalists, and even other business owners.
The SCOPE Vision
Today, SCOPE is a growing collection of startup tools and services. It provides access to micro-VC networks, due diligence assistance, pitch coaching, AI-powered investor matching, and educational materials for founders at different phases.
Fundamentally, SCOPE is based on Saikiran’s views on founder-first thinking and capital efficiency. One of his tenets? He advises startups to raise money as if it were their final round. “The hustle can be destroyed if too much money is raised too quickly. Founders require more than just checks; they need strategy.
A new generation of entrepreneurs outside of India’s traditional startup hubs have found resonance in his approach, which is equal parts tech-savvy and profoundly human. From working professionals starting side projects in Jaipur to college founders in Coimbatore, SCOPE is providing them with a reliable starting point.
Looking Ahead
Saikiran is interested in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and his goal is to create a global network of founders and investors based on ethics, education, and teamwork. In an effort to facilitate Indian startups’ access to international mentorship and funding, SCOPE is presently testing collaborations in Singapore and Dubai.
Saikiran, however, stays grounded despite all of the ambitious plans.
He smiles and declares, “I’m not here to build a unicorn.” “For those who will, I am here to construct a runway.”
The Legacy He’s Building
Appalla Saikiran is far from finished at the age of 22. Young, ambitious, team-oriented, and purpose-driven, he epitomises the development of India’s startup ecosystem as one of the youngest founders to be highlighted in mainstream business media.
Saikiran’s journey is refreshingly focused on creating something enduring: a platform that makes entrepreneurship easier rather than more glamorous in a sea of funding headlines and overnight success stories.
