Page 4 - Venture Capital

Traditional VC model not enough for deep science: Social Alpha founder

Manoj Kumar, the founder of venture development platform Social Alpha, says that deep science is all about impact first, rather than return first, making it harder to find typical venture funding

India's venture capital funding rises 43% to $13.7 billion in 2024

India's Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem exhibited robust growth in 2024, with funding surging 43 per cent year-on-year to USD 13.7 billion, according to a report. This recovery was fuelled by a 45 per cent rise in deal activity, with 1,270 transactions recorded, reinforcing India's position as the second largest market for venture capital and growth funding in the Asia-Pacific region, the report by Bain & Company and IVCA said. "Small- and medium-ticket deals (< USD 50 million), which made up around 95 per cent of the deals, increased by 1.4x, whereas USD 50 million+ deals nearly doubled, rebounding to pre-pandemic levels as high-quality assets attracted deployments. Megadeals (USD 100 million+) also rebounded with 1.6x increase in volumes as investors backed high-quality companies that successfully weathered the two-year funding winter," it said. The report noted that the consumer technology, software and SaaS (including generative AI), and fintech sectors attracted over 60 per

India's venture capital funding jumps 70% in January, outpaces China

Notable VC funding deals announced in India during the first month of the year include fundraising by building materials platform Infra

OpenAI co-founder Sutskever's startup to raise funds at $30 bn valuation

Greenoaks Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, is leading the deal for the startup, Safe Superintelligence, and plans to invest $500 million

PE/VC investments in India off to a strong start in 2025: EY IVCA report

The report highlights a favourable macroeconomic environment, strong fiscal health, and stable government policies as key drivers of India's PE/VC ecosystem

Senior partners Shailesh Lakhani, Abheek Anand exit venture firm Peak XV

Lakhani and Anand have been with the firm for 17 years and 12 years, respectively. Both partners have made significant investments for the firm over the years

Raising funds this year will be tough for VCs: Pavestone Capital

However, the firm is not looking to raise any more for at least 12 months, having just closed Rs 816 cr in fundraising, said Managing Partner Laxmikanth V

VC investors take leading role in guiding startups through AI disruption

From advising on strategic integrations to connecting with top-tier AI talent, VCs are offering more than just capital

PE-VC bets grow 5% to $56 bn in 2024, 2025 to be challenging: Report

Investments by the private equity and venture capital industry grew 5 per cent to USD 56 billion in 2024, after declining for two consecutive years, a report said on Wednesday. The ongoing calender year is going to be a "challenging" one with many uncertainties expected to unfold, the report by industry lobby grouping IVCA and consultancy firm EY said. "The yet to be unveiled policies of the new US govt could have far reaching effect on international trade flows, exports, currency, crude oil prices and their cumulative impact will have a bearing on the Indian macro," the consultancy firm's partner Vivek Soni said. He said Indian consumption also appears to be slowing down, and it hopes government takes steps to address the same. The firm is "cautiously optimistic" and hopes for the ongoing corrections in markets to close the valuation gap which can help in deal closures. In the year gone by, PE and VC funds' deal volumes surged 54 per cent to 1,352 transactions, indicating a declin

With IPO hopes high, AIFs inclining towards late-stage startups: Report

Of the total investments by value, 39 per cent in FY24 went into late-stage startups, compared to only 18 per cent in FY14

With new $650 mn war chest for India, Accel eyes AI, fintech startups

Global venture capital firm Accel on Monday announced that it has raised a USD 650 million early-stage fund to fuel the next generation of category defining startups in the focus sectors of artificial intelligence (AI), consumer, fintech and manufacturing. Accel is the first institutional investor in 80 per cent of its portfolio companies. Its prominent portfolio companies include BlackBuck, BlueStone, Cult.fit, Flipkart, Freshworks, Swiggy, Urban Company and Zetwerk. "Accel, a leading global venture capital firm, today announced that it has raised a USD 650 million early-stage fund dedicated to supporting bold founders in India and Southeast Asia," the company said in a release. Accel said its latest fund eighth in India and Southeast Asia -- builds on its commitment to partnering with early-stage founders to establish disruptive, category defining businesses that create meaningful impact. Sectors in focus for this fund include AI, consumer, fintech and manufacturing. On Accel's

Catch of the day: PE/VC funds reel in Rs 1.13 trillion in share sales

Net big from small and midcap exits

VC investments hit $16.7 billion this year powered by tech sector

At $6.50 bn, tech accounted for largest share, followed by consumer discretionary and financial sector

With $4 bn across 87 deals, PE-VC funds' investments see 156% rise in Nov

Private equity and venture capital (PE/VC) funds invested USD 4 billion in November, which was 156 per cent higher than the year-ago period but lower about 15 per cent compared with the preceding month, a report said on Wednesday. The month saw 87 deals -- 47 per cent higher than the 59 transactions in November 2023, as per the report by industry lobby grouping IVCA and consultancy firm EY. "While 2024 had started off on a strong note, geopolitical tensions, uncertainty over US elections outcome, and inflation weighed on the markets, as did the bid-ask spread between seller expectations and buyer valuations," the consultancy firm's partner Vivek Soni said. Soni said pure-play PE/VC investments in November totalled USD 3.5 billion in November, a 297 per cent increase compared to the USD 873 million in November 2023 and 27 per cent higher than the USD 2.7 billion in October 2024. The real estate and infrastructure asset class declined by a fifth when compared to the year-ago period t

Antler India plans to invest around Rs 211 crore in 50 startups in 2025

Venture capital firm Antler India is planning to invest USD 25 million, or about Rs 211 crore, in 50 startups in 2025, the company said on Wednesday. The venture capital firm has invested in 30 startups in 2024 through its maiden USD 75 million fund. "Antler plans to ramp up investments further in the next year and make 50 investments in 2025. We plan to invest USD 25 million in the 50 companies," Antler India Partner Rajiv Srivatsa told PTI. The company's 2024 investments include a wholesale marketplace for fashion retail Bizup, aluminium-air fuel cell technology company Meine Electric, open mobility platform Namma Yatri, personal loan facilitator firm Keeper, which uses paid leaves as digital assets for salaried employees, AI-powered dashcam provider Cautio, etc. "Our investment pace reflects both the quality of the founders we're meeting and our conviction that the next wave of global technology companies will emerge from India. We have invested in 30 companies this year, many o

Antler India plans to invest Rs 211 crore in 50 start-ups in 2025

Venture Capital firm Antel India is planning to invest USD 25 million, or about Rs 211 crore, in 50 startups in 2025, the company said on Wednesday. The venture capital firm has invested in 30 startups in 2024 through its maiden USD 75 million fund. "Antler plans to ramp up investments further in the next year and make 50 investments in 2025. We plan to invest USD 25 million in the 50 companies," Antler India Partner Rajiv Srivatsa told PTI. The company's 2024 investments include a wholesale marketplace for fashion retail Bizup, aluminium-air fuel cell technology company Meine Electric, open mobility platform Namma Yatri, personal loan facilitator firm Keeper, which uses paid leaves as digital assets for salaried employees, AI-powered dashcam provider Cautio, etc. "Our investment pace reflects both the quality of the founders we're meeting and our conviction that the next wave of global technology companies will emerge from India. We have invested in 30 companies this year, many of

PE-VC investments in India's healthcare sector fall in 2024, shows data

Experts feel that the sector will continue to attract $5-6 bn private capital annually

VC funding rises 44% to $9.2 billion in the first 10 months of 2024

Country continues to rank among top five markets globally for VC funding activity: Report

Robotics, precision manufacturing hot bets for investors: Accel's Prakash

Accel's Prakash says India will become precision manufacturing powerhouse for aerospace and defence in next few years

8i Ventures comes with 2nd edition of pre-seed funding Origami programme

'There is significant funding available today for business models which can demonstrate unit economics within a reasonable timeframe'