Shajive Jeganathan created ICOCMN’s first live investment competition, Loon’s Lair, securing millions in on-the-spot funding for local startups.
Minnesota’s entrepreneurial scene witnessed a groundbreaking moment, led by none other than Shajive Jeganathan, President and Co-Founder of the India Chamber of Commerce Minnesota, as he brought a live, Shark Tank-style investor pitch competition to the Twin Cities and secured millions in on-the-spot investment pledges. Under his leadership, the chamber, launched just this past March, has quickly positioned itself as a powerhouse in the state’s innovation ecosystem.
The event, titled Loon’s Lair, took place on June 7, 2025, at the Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack in Columbus, Minnesota. In front of a packed house of business leaders, elected officials, and community investors, six hand-selected startups pitched their ventures to a distinguished panel of investors fondly referred to as “The Loons.”
Four out of the six companies successfully secured on-the-spot investment offers during the live event. These included Pizza Karma, CorRen, Octin Health, and Desi High. The presenting companies were selected from a competitive pool of twenty applicants, with Loon’s Lair serving as the launchpad for what’s already being seen as a game-changer in early-stage funding in Minnesota.
While the final investment amounts are subject to ongoing due diligence, millions of dollars in verbal commitments were made live on stage, a powerful signal of what’s possible when capital, culture, and community converge.
The transformation of Minnesota’s investment landscape didn’t happen overnight. When Jeganathan first explored the idea of a public, high-stakes pitch competition, the response was mixed. Traditional networking events and panel discussions were safer, more predictable. But Jeganathan had witnessed firsthand how Minnesota startups struggled to access capital, often losing talented founders to coastal cities where venture funding flowed more freely. He knew the state needed something bold, something that would put Minnesota on the national venture capital map.
The event was moderated by Glenn McMohan, Vice President and Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, and attended by dignitaries such as Senator Eric Pratt and Representative Kristin Robbins, alongside dozens of venture capitalists, founders, and corporate leaders from Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. Their presence wasn’t merely ceremonial. Each attendee represented a potential connection, partnership, or future investment opportunity for the presenting companies.
The Loon investors themselves brought decades of combined experience to the table. Dr. Prem Kumar, Nabeel Momin, Ajit Patel, Hasmukh Patel, and Mahi Mahipathi played a pivotal role in backing bold ideas and making real-time investment offers, showcasing the depth of talent and capital interested in scaling Minnesota-grown ventures. Each investor had committed to bringing substantial capital to deploy, understanding that the public nature of their commitments would hold them accountable to follow through.
The program was led by Aanchal Singhal, Assoc. Director, Office of Enterprise Development & Innovation, who led logistics and program flow on behalf of the Chamber, with BETA serving as a strategic partner. Media coverage was exclusively provided by Bharat Media Group (BharatTV and Bharat FM), which livestreamed the entire event to viewers across the country.
Shajive Jeganathan is a dynamic force in Minnesota’s civic and business landscape. In addition to serving as the elected President of ICOCMN, He serves as President of HSMN and was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID, where he serves as a public member overseeing regulatory governance for architecture, engineering, and related professions. He works closely with the White House, federal and state agencies, and public policy stakeholders to strengthen cultural and professional networks. He also recently earned national recognition as the winner of Master of the Universe – Mr. South Asia 2025, symbolizing his multifaceted leadership across sectors.
What makes Loon’s Lair different is its real-time, high-stakes pitch environment—where millions are pledged on the spot and the audience witnesses the dealmaking live. It is bold, raw, and entrepreneurial to its core. “This is not just a pitch event,” said Jeganathan. “It’s a movement to bring serious capital to Minnesota’s doorstep—and to connect our local founders with national investors ready to bet big.”
As buzz continues to build, ICOCMN is now gearing up for a Spring 2026 edition of Loon’s Lair, where the stakes will be even higher, the pitches sharper, and the spotlight even brighter. Dates and application details will be released soon.
Stay tuned for application details and event dates on the official website: www.icocmn.org/loonslair
Follow ICOCMN on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/icocmn
