Planify Capital: What It Does, Why It Matters, and What You Should Know

1. Planify Capital: What It Does, Why It Matters, and What You Should Know Private investments, startups, pre-IPO shares, and SME equity have historically been a closed-door game. You needed connections, inside info, sometimes just a ridiculous amount of wealth to even see opportunities. Planify is trying to change that. Founded in 2019 by Rajesh Singla, Planify Capital built a marketplace that brings investors and private companies together. It’s based in India. And it’s grown fast. But speed isn’t the only interesting part. What’s more important is how they’ve built a product for a gap that actually exists — people want to invest in private companies, and private companies want to raise money, but the process has always been messy, informal, and tilted toward insiders. What Planify Actually Does Planify connects retail and institutional investors with companies that aren’t listed yet — startups, family-run businesses, SMEs, and even unicorns. It’s not a stock exchange. You don’t get in and out in a second like on NSE or BSE. But it lets investors buy equity in private companies — usually through direct placements or secondary sales — without having to be part of a VC fund or wait for an IPO. As of now, they offer: Equity deals in pre-IPO companies: This is a big one. If you’ve ever heard about people buying shares in companies like OYO or PharmEasy before they go public, this is how it often happens. SME and startup investments: These are typically earlier-stage deals, and Planify helps with valuation, projections, and all the paperwork. Secondary share trading: Existing shareholders (employees, early backers, etc.) often want to sell before an IPO. Planify connects them with buyers. Their model also supports the other side of the table — the startups. If you’re a founder, Planify can help with: Cap table restructuring Business valuation Finding investors Legal documentation Setting up for an SME exchange listing Growth Stats — Not Just Hype Here’s where the numbers start to tell a story.

2. In FY 2024-25, they hit ₹150 crore in revenue. Their goal is ₹273 crore in the next fiscal year. They've helped raise more than ₹100 crore from individual and institutional investors. Over 10,000 investors are already using the platform. They’re aiming for 50,000 soon. They’ve worked with more than 300 companies, and at least 34 have had successful exits. Some investors saw returns in the 250% to 2000% range. Combined valuation of their startup portfolio: ₹1,600 crore+. All this has happened in about five years. It’s aggressive growth, but it’s been driven by actual demand. There’s a hunger in India’s middle class for access to investments beyond real estate, gold, and mutual funds. Planify’s banking on that shift. How It Works for Investors (And What Can Go Wrong) If you’re an investor, here’s the rough process: 1.Browse deals: You’ll see profiles of companies raising funds. Think revenue, valuation, risk level, industry. 2.Commit to invest: This could be anywhere from ₹10,000 to lakhs, depending on the deal. 3.KYC and payment: Standard verification. You pay Planify, which handles the equity transfer. 4.Hold or sell later: You wait for an IPO, acquisition, or other exit event. Or in some cases, use Planify’s platform to resell to another investor. Now here’s where people often mess up: thinking this is like buying listed stocks. It’s not. You could be stuck with shares for years. Or lose your money if the company fails. Returns can be great, but risk is high, and liquidity is low. Planify doesn’t remove that risk — it just makes the process more accessible. What’s in It for Founders and SMEs? Raising money in India if you’re not in tech, or not based in Bangalore or Mumbai, is hard. Banks are cautious. VCs mostly want high-growth tech startups. That leaves a lot of real businesses — exporters, regional brands, D2C companies, logistics firms — with nowhere to go. Planify gives them another path. Not just funding, but help with: Valuations that make sense

3. Making a pitch deck that investors understand Setting up for SME listing on exchanges like NSE Emerge or BSE SME Fixing up messy equity structures before taking on new capital For founders, that can be a huge time-saver and credibility boost. Not Without Problems In late 2024, the company got into a regulatory gray zone. The Registrar of Companies (RoC) sent them a notice for allegedly breaking private placement rules under the Companies Act, 2013. The concern was that Planify Enterprise (a subsidiary) was issuing securities in a way that counted as a public offer — without filing the paperwork that public offers require. Why does this matter? There are tight rules in India around who can buy unlisted shares and how many people can be approached in a single offering. If you’re offering shares to more than 200 people, it starts to look like a public issue. That requires SEBI approval, detailed filings, and more oversight. Planify’s response has been low-key, but they’ve reportedly taken steps to correct the issues. It’s a reminder, though: when platforms try to make private investments more public, they’re walking a legal tightrope. Investors and startups need to keep that in mind. What Happens Next? Planify’s roadmap includes: Launching its own investment fund — VentureX — focused on SME and pre-IPO investments Scaling its user base to 50,000 investors Building better tools for partners, like dashboards, CRMs, and analytics Possibly expanding internationally (though nothing’s been confirmed) They’ve also said they want to become profitable at scale, not just grow for growth’s sake. If they can keep their unit economics in check, they may have a shot.