A Second Act After Good Glamm

In the vibrant Indian startup ecosystem, comeback stories tend to define resilience. Among such stories is that of Darpan Sanghvi, the founder of the content-to-commerce unicorn Good Glamm Group. Having gone from rapid growth and eventual teardown of Good Glamm, Sanghvi is back with a new and daring venture which is CoFounder Circle. Describing itself as an AI-native acceleration platform, it is set to nurture early-stage founders with resources, community, and capital while changing the way equity is distributed in the ecosystem.

The Concept of CoFounder Circle

CoFounder Circle stands out from conventional incubators or accelerators since it is a unified ecosystem. It brings co-founders, team members, interns, fractional operators, service providers, vendors, AI tools, mentors, incubators, and investors under one roof. The vision is evident, which is to offer everything a startup would require under a unified roof, cutting down on the fragmented methodology that most founders face.
Sanghvi describes the platform as working at the “intersection of AI, business, capital, and community,” highlighting how technology and collaboration can power smarter, more sustainable growth.

Community-First Equity Model

One of the most striking features of CoFounder Circle is its equity distribution strategy. Nearly around 50% of the company’s equity has been reserved for the community, which includes employees, ecosystem partners, mentors, and even former Good Glamm stakeholders with invested ESOPs.
It is a calculated move in order to restore confidence and inclusivity in an ecosystem that tends to bypass contributors. In his own words, the Good Glamm experience showed Sanghvi that pursuing “too much, too fast, too big” leaves holes. With CoFounder Circle, he is trying a more humble, shared approach.

AI at the Core

The platform is also differentiated by being AI-native from day one. Startups in CoFounder Circle will enjoy access to AI-driven tools that will help them boost productivity, automate operations, and make data-informed decisions. This makes the accelerator future-proof, particularly in an environment where AI adoption is fast becoming a competitive imperative.
By integrating AI into its core, CoFounder Circle offers a distinct advantage over traditional startup assistance programs.

Where It Stands Currently?

CoFounder Circle has initiated a waitlist for startups who wish to participate in its first cohorts. Although Sanghvi has not revealed details on governance arrangements or outside investments, the community equity pool and AI-powered infrastructure are still the distinguishing aspects of this new model.
For many, this venture is not only an accelerator but also a compensation-driven initiative, signaling Sanghvi’s intent to balance business with responsibility after Good Glamm’s turbulent journey.

Why It Matters?

CoFounder Circle’s emergence is a symptom of two broader trends in Indian startup ecosystem, which are the democratization of opportunity and the incorporation of AI into entrepreneurial ecosystems. If it succeeds, it can become a model for accelerators of the future, where technology, capital, and community intersect to enable founders better.