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Do you want to become a venture capitalist in India? Well, we are here to help you become one of the top venture capitalists in India. However, before that, let us understand what venture capital is and how it can help you with investments.
Venture Capital is a type of private equity financing that new companies can avail of if they do not want to borrow from private lenders. As an NRI, you can invest in companies that you believe have great potential and will sustain long-term.
These investments may benefit you by giving you high returns. However, you must understand that they come with certain risks as well. So, choosing the right venture capital firms or a venture capitalist in India is vital before investing.
Venture capital is different from other forms of private equity investments. Venture capitalists in India mainly invest in new companies at their seed stage. Hence, if you invest in venture capital, you will most likely be investing your money indirectly, with high risks.
VC investment is worth Rs 10 lakh crore. Before investing in any company, it is vital to know about the best venture capitalists in India and the companies they invest in. This will help you understand the best companies and industries to invest in and guide you if you want to learn how to become a venture capitalist in India.
Here are the 20 top venture capital firms in India:
This is one of the biggest venture capital firms in India, widely regarded as a famous venture capitalist. Its office is in Bangalore, India. Sequoia Capital prefers investing in early-stage technology, healthcare, consumer products, and service line-based companies.
The company has a team of daring, risk-taking business leaders. It picks approximately 15 to 20 companies to invest in every six months and is established as a limited liability company. If you invest in it, you will become a limited partner and get insights from a top venture capitalist in India.
This is a US-based venture capital firm with establishments in the UK, India, and China. It has played a major role in boosting a few of our Indian start-up companies, such as Swiggy, Flipkart, and Blackbuck, making it one of the best venture capitalists in India.
The company has grown into such a big entity by offering mentorship to its investment companies. It is also known to stay with them throughout the different stages that a private company sees, rather than only the early stage of investment, an approach typical of a famous venture capitalist in India.
This is one of the Indian venture capital companies whose main goal is to help their chosen companies bloom, as suggested by their name, “Blume.” They have their headquarters in Mumbai and provide seed-stage financing to companies.
Moreover, they offer mentoring services and financing. They mainly invest in technology-based companies that will succeed in the Indian markets, following the path set by the top venture capitalist in India. This company is said to be driven by motivation, and the whole team is united by ambition.
Earlier known as SAIF Partners, Elevation Capital believes it can never be too early to fund a start-up. They have helped several companies like MakeMyTrip, Swiggy, ClearTax, Urban Company, and Paytm grow, reinforcing their name among the top venture capitalists in India.
Founded in 2011, they have their headquarters in Gurgaon and focus on consumers, enterprises, the logistics sector, and other B2B companies. They are known for their investments in seed-stage companies and are admired by many who are looking to become venture capitalists in India.
Tiger Global Management LLC is a company that has businesses in India, China, and the US. It has been investing in private and public companies in the technological industries, namely, the payment sector, the internet, and software.
Their private equity segment was founded in 2001, and the public equity segment was founded in 2003, when they started researching deeply into their chosen sectors and became one of the top 10 venture capital firms in India.
They have invested in more than 400 early ventures in their journey. The VC firm has played a vital role in establishing India’s biggest start-ups, like Flipkart, Moglix, and Urban Company, further marking their place as famous venture capitalists in India.
As one of India’s best venture capital funds, this company invests in technology sector companies. It was founded in 2006 and envisions helping start-ups that actively contribute to the evolution of the standard of living in our country, a vision shared by any venture capitalist in India.
They plan to make an early partnership with the founders, aiming to guide them through their financial journey and help them face various challenges.
They have over 90 investments in India, some of which have been in giants like Myntra and other companies like Snapdeal and Zivame. Although they have made their exit from some of these companies, their role as a top venture capitalist in India remains influential.
This US-based company invests in seed-stage and early-stage companies in India and the US. It came to India in 2006 and currently has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. They have invested in companies like Ola, which is used significantly by the Indian audience.
The company specializes in e-commerce, travel, health, fintech, ed tech, and other B2B model companies. They also have Indian companies set as their preference, showcasing their strength as a top venture capitalist in India.
Fluid Ventures is an early-stage, direct-to-consumer-focused VC fund registered with SEBI that invests in Indian entrepreneurs. The firm’s current portfolio is focused on the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and consumer sectors.
Fluid Ventures’ proactive approach to start-ups has quickly made them a rising name among the famous venture capitalists in India.
Venture Highway is a private equity firm that focuses on seed funding companies. Established in 2010, it currently caters to young companies in the information technology sector, following the models followed by the best venture capitalists in India.
To date, Venture Highway has raised a total of Rs. 560 crores across two funds, the most recent of which is Venture Highway Fund II.
Axilor Ventures is a start-up accelerator and early-stage seed fund formed by Kris Gopalakrishnan and SD Shibulal, two of Infosys’s co-founders.
Mainly, they invest in early-stage businesses related to the consumer internet, enterprise SaaS, healthcare tech, artificial intelligence, fintech, and industrial IoT. Their impact is often discussed when learning how to become a venture capitalist in India.
Ventureast is an early and growth stage fund focusing on technology, healthcare, life sciences, food/Agri, and cleantech. It has been investing since 1997, making it one of India’s early venture capital organizations and among the famous venture capitalists in India.
Some brands in their portfolio include Acko, Portea, and Ekincare. The single venture fund of VentureEast has received contributions totaling Rs. 6 billion to date. It is the only Indian fund manager with specialized funds and personnel for each industry, reflecting the practices followed by the best venture capitalists in India.
At VentureEast, the emphasis is on rapidly growing start-ups with distinct competitive advantages, similar to how a top venture capitalist in India operates.
Trifecta Capital Advisors is an investment firm that helps Indian start-ups with funding. In May 2021, during the pandemic’s second wave, the Trifecta Leaders Fund – I opened for business and held its first close in July.
Box8, Cure.fit, and BharatPe are just a few of their well-known ventures, aligning them closely with strategies deployed by a venture capitalist in India aiming for growth sectors.
They invest mostly in consumer technology, healthcare, and government sectors. In total, Trifecta Capital Advisors has attracted Rs. 730 crores in funding, showcasing its ambition to be among the top venture capitalists in India.
Zodius Capital was established in 2011. It provides financial backing to Indian start-ups operating in big data analytics, digital media and commerce, and educational technology.
Their portfolio includes Zivame and Pepperfry, among others. Zodius Technology Fund II, the more current of the two funds managed by Zodius Capital, has earned Rs. 12.5 billion.
They have made investments in businesses with a strong potential for growth and the ability to disrupt the industry, making them famous venture capitalists in India.
Because they have a deep understanding of the topic and have conducted considerable research into the digital practice business, Zodius is in an excellent position to recognize emerging industry leaders, exactly the kind of expertise needed to be among the best venture capitalists in India.
It is the investment arm of Qualcomm Inc., known as Qualcomm Ventures. The fund began operations in 2000 and has invested in more than 150 different companies so far, making it a top venture capitalist in India in the technology sector.
Ola, Ninjacart, Zoom, and other companies are some of its most well-known investments. Mainly, they put money into consumer electronics, internet of things devices, automobiles, and artificial intelligence.
They put money into businesses that use Qualcomm’s core technologies to broaden the mobile ecosystem, a strategy well recognized among the famous venture capitalists in India.
Nirvana Venture Advisors finances innovative start-ups in the internet, mobile, and electronic payment sectors. The firm focuses on industry leaders with proven business strategies and a solid foothold in the local market.
Unbxd, Bombay, and UrbanPro are just a few of their products, reinforcing Nirvana’s presence among the top venture capitalists in India.
Nirvana Venture Advisors has amassed Rs. 327 crore over two separate funds so far. When trying to gain an edge in a competitive market, they look for capable entrepreneurs with unique insights into their target demographic’s minds—a key trait of every best venture capitalist in India.
Over 175 years of combined Indian GP experience makes Ascent one of India’s most seasoned and reliable GP teams. More than a hundred of the most brilliant business minds in the world have received growth capital from Ascent to create industry-altering enterprises.
The firm invests in diverse sectors, including information technology and information technology services (IT & ITES), consumer technology (e-commerce, fintech, edtech), healthcare and pharmaceuticals (H&P), and the financial services industry (BFSI).
Ascent Capital, founded in 2001, is an India-centric venture capital firm with a reputation as a famous venture capitalist in India. BigBasket, MyGlamm, Cure. fit, etc., are just a few of the brands in their portfolio, establishing them as one of the top venture capitalists in India.
Kae Capital is an early-stage investment firm with no industry-specific preference. Their portfolio companies range from 1MG to Nua to Porter and beyond.
Two separate funds have brought in a total of Rs. 4 billion for Kae Capital, securing their place as one of the best venture capitalists in India for early-stage start-ups.
Kae Capital has been investing in India for ten years and counting, making it one of the country’s earliest and most active venture capital firms. It works with start-ups to create products for the Indian and international markets, sharing practices often studied by those exploring how to become a venture capitalist in India.
Helion Ventures is a venture capital firm supervised by the DIFC and located in Dubai. It invests in early-development projects in tokens, fintech, blockchain, metaverse, and DeFi.
They have had a significant presence in the Middle East since 1999. Over the years, they have cultivated solid connections and established themselves as dependable presences, recognized by peers as famous venture capitalists in India.
Helion Ventures Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in tech-enabled and consumer service firms. The firm operates in both the early and mid stages of the venture capital industry, embodying the growth-driven philosophy of the top venture capitalist in India. Their portfolio includes products such as Whatfix, Slintel, and Livspace.
Antler India is an early-stage venture capital firm worldwide. It invests in e-commerce, education, mobile, and financial technology businesses and has notable clients, such as Flint, Codedamn, and Payd, among others, in its portfolio.
The firm has brought in a combined amount of Rs. 620 crores over its four funds.
Antler was founded on the premise that people innovating is the key to creating a better future. With this belief as its foundation, Antler partners with extraordinary founders across six continents to develop and scale firms that address important opportunities and issues, thus becoming a top venture capitalist in India for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Founded in 2013, Artha India Ventures is a seed capital firm in the Indian economy. They spread their money around by investing in many sectors, including the financial technology sector, retail and consumer technology, online commerce, and supply chain management.
Talview, Purplle, Goodloans, and others feature in their portfolio. Artha India Ventures’ first venture fund in India raised a total of Rs. 2.2 billion, strengthening their position among the best venture capitalists in India.
The foundation of Artha’s investing approach is the company’s prowess in spotting promising start-ups and helping them become market leaders, a strategy modeled by every famous venture capitalist in India.
The following are the critical features of venture Capital Investments and essential knowledge for anyone exploring how to become a venture capitalist in India:
Most Venture Capitalists have a clear exit strategy when they invest in a start-up. Understanding these nuances is crucial if you want to become a venture capitalist in India.
The time involved in venture capital funding is a very significant element. Many start-ups go through various investment rounds because they haven’t yet reached the level to entice people to replace venture capital investors.
Most venture capital investments lack liquidity and, therefore, are illiquid. Unlike publicly traded assets, VCs don’t often get quick payoffs. An IPO has significant returns for venture capitalists in the long run. Most venture capitalists in India invest in small businesses, implying that there are very few ways to get their money back.
VCs invest in newly founded and started businesses. These businesses are typically motivated to capitalize on a new concept or technological advancement. This shows that venture capital is risky, as venture capital-funded start-ups can either succeed or fail, a fact every venture capitalist in India must remember.
While the startup grows and starts looking for funding, an entrepreneur starts exploring choices. Here are key considerations, especially important for those curious about how to become a venture capitalist in India:
Great VCs don’t just provide funding—they bring expertise, strategies, and mentorship. Choosing a top venture capitalist in India means gaining an advantage beyond just capital.
Understand whether the VC firm invests in early-stage or growth-stage companies, which sectors they prefer, and align your strategy accordingly.
Review the companies they have funded to ensure their investment patterns align with successful growth stories. Many famous venture capitalists in India have built their legacy through strategically performance-backed investments.
Cultural and operational fit is vital for long-term business growth.
Institutional or private investment is made in early-stage or start-up businesses. Money invested in start-ups or small enterprises with enormous growth potential is known as venture capital. Venture capitalists in India make these investments.
Venture capitalists in India play a key role in offering funding, mentorship, and strategic advice in exchange for equity. This relationship helps start-ups expand rapidly and meet bigger performance requirements.
Read More: Angel Investors: What Is Angel Investing & How Does It Work?
VC firms give funds to start-ups and small companies to either start their business from scratch or grow their ongoing small ventures. Venture capitalists in India invest their money in a company in exchange for equity. They usually invest in the firms they see as having high potential for profit and growth.
In this article, we have discussed the top venture capitalists in India for NRI Investment. This is a tailor-made list of all these capitalists and everything you need to know about them.
If you want to enter this exciting investment ecosystem and are wondering how to become a venture capitalist in India, this guide sets a strong foundation. With insights from some of India’s most famous venture capitalists, you are now better equipped to make your move!
Read More:- Bootstrapping for Startups – Strategies for Success
Accel Partners is the most prominent venture capitalist in India. It mainly invests in Software, Infrastructure, Consumer, & Internet services ventures.
Some of the top list of venture capital firms in India include Sequoia Capital, Blume Ventures, Elevation Capital, Kalaari Capital, Matrix Partners, Nirvana Ventures, and Artha India Venture Fund, among others.
The future of venture capital plays a crucial role in the growth and success of early-age startups, this career is ideal for individuals who possess a keen interest in merging financial expertise with the capability to identify potential winners in early-stage companies.
To become a venture capitalist, you need a good education and the right work experience. Most people cannot become venture capitalists after graduation. Before you may become a venture capitalist, you need to spend seven to ten years working in the financial sector. Venture capitalists have various educational backgrounds, but degrees in business, finance, economics, or similar fields hold particular value.
Venture Capitalists make around 25 lakhs to 50 lakhs per year in India.
Venture Capitalists work like any funding agency in India. Because they see the potential for growth shares in a business and its plans, they evaluate it and invest money accordingly.
Venture capital companies in India are wealthy firms or investors that put their money into start-ups in exchange for equity. Through this capital investment, they own shares of a company and become its financial partner.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
