Protonn

Protonn was a digital solutions startup founded in November 2020 by former Flipkart executives Anil Goteti and Mausam Bhatt. With operational bases in San Jose, California, and Bengaluru, India, the company aimed to provide a 'business-in-a-box' platform for independent professionals and freelancers. The founders brought significant experience from the tech industry; Goteti previously served as a senior vice president at Flipkart, while Bhatt held product leadership roles at Google, RetailMeNot, and also Flipkart.

The company's core product was a platform designed to empower professionals such as lawyers, graphic designers, and nutritionists to launch and manage their businesses online. It integrated several tools into a single offering, including features for creating short marketing videos, scheduling client appointments, processing secure payments, and a CRM to track business performance. The business model was intended to be subscription-based, charging a flat monthly fee to each business owner. In July 2021, Protonn announced a significant milestone, having raised $9 million in a seed funding round led by Matrix Partners India, with participation from 021 Capital, Tanglin Venture Partners, and prominent angel investors. The capital was earmarked for team expansion and further product development, following an initial product launch in the United States.

Despite its promising start and substantial backing, Protonn ceased all operations in January 2022, less than a year after its major funding announcement. Reports indicated the shutdown was due to an inability to achieve product-market fit. This was compounded by internal disagreements between the founders on whether to pivot the business model. In a notable move, the company returned the entirety of its $9 million in seed capital to its investors upon shutting down.

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