The Breakout school
Curated networking events for India's startup ecosystem.
The founders
AS
The company
The Breakout School runs curated, invite-only networking for India's startup ecosystem, with a flagship After Hours series that vets attendees so founders, operators and investors in the same room can actually be useful to one another. The offering sits on three pillars: high-signal networking, operator-led workshops, and structured investor access into angel networks and micro-VCs.
India's founder scene is crowded with events but starved of signal, and seed-to-Series B founders increasingly want curated rooms over open-door mixers. The company is betting that thoughtful selection — not scale — is what makes networking pay off.
Founded in 2026 by Ayaan Shaikh, the company is built on a simple premise: most startup networking wastes everyone's time. Beyond the founder's name, the team's specific pedigree isn't disclosed, so the proof will be in who ends up in the room.
With a single named founder and no track record provided, the team's edge is a clear, opinionated thesis on curation rather than a stated CV. Delivering consistently invite-only quality across founders, operators and investors is the bar they've set themselves.
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