Pankhuri Shrivastava, founder of Grabhouse and Pankhuri, dies at 32

Pankhuri Shrivastava, the founder of a Sequoia Capital-backed women-centric social community platform start-up called Pankhuri, passed away after a cardiac arrest on Friday, her company said on Monday. She was 32.

“With profound grief and sorrow, we regret to inform the sad demise of our beloved CEO, Pankhuri Shrivastava. We lost her on 24th December 2021 due to a sudden cardiac arrest. May her soul obtain Sadgati. Om Shanti,” the company informed on Twitter on Monday.

Pankhuri Shrivastava launched Pankhuri in 2019 for women members to socialise, explore and upskill through live interactive courses, expert chat, and interest-based clubs. She raised $3.2 million led by Sequoia Capital India's accelerator programme, Surge, and India Quotient and Taurus Ventures.

Before that, Shrivastava founded rental startup Grabhouse, which was sold to online classifieds company Quikr in a cash and equity deal in 2016. 

Several venture capitalists and top executives condoled the untimely death of Pankhuri Shrivastava on social media. They included Vani Kola, the founder of Kalaari Capital, and Sequoia India managing director Rajan Anandan.

"Yesterday it came as a shock to me when I found out that ©pankhuril6 is no more. I remember her as a vivacious bright woman full of ideas and full of life. She was confident. That was something you noticed about her immediately!” Kola tweeted on Sunday.

“Hailing from Jhansi, she felt that the spirit of Jhansi Ki Rani was in her blood. She was incredibly satisfied that she opened an office in Jhansi & gave opportunities to girls to work in jobs that gave them a strong identity," Kola said. 

“She was proud of these girls and how much they could do if only given an opportunity. I saw in Pankhuri a young woman who continued to inspire and give back generously."

Kola added, "My heart reaches out to her family at this untimely tragedy. Her demise is a loss for our startup ecosystem. We lost a bright and young founder, but I know her legacy will live on. It was truly a privilege to know Pankhuri. Rest in peace, Pankhuri."

“Deeply saddened and shocked by this sudden loss. Pankhuri was so full of life, ideas and passion and had a missionary zeal. We loved having Pankhuri in our Surge family and will miss you so dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this very difficult time,” Rajan Anandan also posted on Twitter.