India's startup ecosystem is booming, with more than 1.59 lakh established startups and over 16.6 lakh jobs generated by 2025, making the nation the world's third-largest startup base. While this is a promising trend, numerous early-stage founders are charting their paths alone without organized mentorship or a reliable support structure.

With almost 50% of startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and a half with at least one woman director—the ecosystem is obviously moving towards decentralization and inclusivity. Nevertheless, solo entrepreneurs and from smaller cities tend to lack access to actionable guidance and community connect. Although the access to funding is also improving, emotional and strategic mentorship still lags behind.

This imbalance is most pronounced in places such as Mumbai, where funding for startups jumped by 154% in 2024. The capital has not been complemented by an increase in founder-led communities that foster resilience, peer learning, and trust.

Aiming to rise to this need is YBF (Your Best Friend), a Mumbai venture established in 2025 by Avikaa Singh. In contrast to traditional networks that operate on transactions, YBF seeks to build authentic relationships, marrying mentorship with peer support and self-improvement.

Motivated by her own experience of starting a startup without any support group, Singh founded YBF as a platform based on trust, relationships, and timely advice. "I had ambition, but no mentors or community to grow with," she recalls.

YBF provides a hand-vetted digital environment blending professional mentorship by experts with connection-based networking. Its aim is to offer not only business guidance, but also mental clarity, emotional support, and long-lasting connections founders can trust.

As India's startup ecosystem evolves, platforms like YBF are necessary  not just for building companies, but for fostering the communities that support them. For India's entrepreneurial wave to maintain itself, it needs to balance investments in capital with equal attention to community.