Fashion Entrepreneur Fund

Last updated
Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF)
Founded2023
FounderSanjay Nigam
TypeVenture studio / fashion venture fund
HeadquartersIndia
ProductsFunding, mentorship, investment, entertainment formats
Website thefef.net

Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) is an Indian venture studio and investment platform focused on the fashion and lifestyle industries. Founded by entrepreneur Sanjay Nigam, it supports fashion startups through funding, mentorship, and brand-building initiatives. FEF co-produced the reality television series Pitch to Get Rich , which features celebrity investors including Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar, and manages programs such as “FEF Atelier Week” and “Miss Entrepreneur.” [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

FEF was launched in 2023 as an initiative to strengthen the business infrastructure behind India's fashion and creative economy. The fund describes itself as a bridge between artistic talent and commercial scalability, providing investment, mentorship, and marketing guidance to designers, and emerging fashion brands. [4]

In August 2024, it was announced that Indian filmmaker Karan Johar and industrialist Gaurav Dalmia had joined as an investor and promoter in FEF. [5]

Activities and Projects

Pitch to Get Rich

Variety (magazine) and Fortune India reported that FEF co-produced the reality television series Pitch to Get Rich, in collaboration with Dharmatic Entertainment and Jio Studios. The show premiered on Jio Hotstar in 2025 and features fashion entrepreneurs pitching their startups to celebrity judges and investors including Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Malaika Arora, and Manish Malhotra. [6] [7] [8]

As per Livemint the series includes a ₹40-crore investment pool for participants’ ventures. The show is positioned as India's first fashion-focused entrepreneurial reality show. [9] [10] [11]

Support for Startups

FEF operates as a venture studio offering mentorship, retail partnerships, and brand-building services to early-stage fashion companies. It positions itself as India's first dedicated fund combining creative arts with entrepreneurial growth. [1]

FEF also organizes ecosystem programs including “FEF Atelier Week” and “Miss Entrepreneur,” and runs the retail platform MadeAsMe for portfolio brands. [12]

Reception

The launch of Pitch to Get Rich received coverage in entertainment and business media for connecting Bollywood personalities with startup funding. [6] [8]

Events

In June 2024, FEF hosted a gala event in Mumbai attended by prominent figures from the entertainment and business industries, including Akshay Kumar, Janhvi Kapoor, and Malaika Arora. [13] [14] [15]

Earlier in 2024, FEF organized an interactive dinner and networking session in Nagpur in association with entrepreneur Ujjwal Pagariya. The event was attended by senior political leaders Nitin Gadkari and Devendra Fadnavis, alongside actress Malaika Arora, to promote collaboration between policymakers, entrepreneurs, and the fashion industry. [16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Fashion Entrepreneur Fund overview" . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "JioHotstar announces new reality series 'Pitch to Get Rich'". The Economic Times. 2025-09-12. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Karan Johar, who has a whopping net worth of Rs 1,400 Crore, has invested his wealth in 9 successful brands". GQ India. Condé Nast India. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "About Us" . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Our Story" . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar to Judge JioHotstar's 'Pitch to Get Rich'". Variety. 2025-09-10. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "JioHotstar's 'Pitch to Get Rich' brings Bollywood and business together to back India's fashion entrepreneurs". Afaqs. 2025-09-18. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 "JioHotstar to put next-gen fashion entrepreneurs in the spotlight with 'Pitch to Get Rich'". Fortune India. 2025-09-20. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Pitch to Get Rich: JioHotstar unveils India's first fashion-focused reality series". Deccan Herald. 2025-09-25. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Pitch To Get Rich: Karan Johar-backed fashion reality show features Akshay Kumar, Malaika Arora as mentors". Cinema Express. 2025-10-03. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Pitch To Get Rich OTT release date: when and where to watch Karan Johar's fashion reality show online". Livemint. HT Media. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025. The fashion-focused reality show features judges Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar, and Malaika Arora, and includes a ₹40-crore investment pool for entrepreneurs, co-produced by Dharmatic Entertainment and the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund.
  12. ↑ "Fashion Entrepreneurship Fund initiatives" . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Janhvi Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Akshay Kumar shine bright at Fashion Entrepreneur Fund gala". News18. Network18. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Janhvi Kapoor, Malaika Arora serve glamour, Akshay Kumar wears all white at Fashion Entrepreneur Fund event". Hindustan Times. HT Media. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Fashion Entrepreneur Fund hosted the biggest fashion night in Mumbai". Forbes India. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Fashion Entrepreneur Fund and Ujjwal Pagariya host interactive session with Malaika Arora ahead of gala dinner night". Business Standard. ANI. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
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