US-based Bessemer Venture Partners on Wednesday closed its second India-dedicated early-stage start-ups fund with a corpus of $350 million. The fund will focus start-ups across various sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), SaaS (software-as-a-service), fintech, digital health, direct-to-consumer brands, and cybersecurity.
The company, in an official statement, stated that more than 80% of its investments in India over the last five years have been in early stage companies. “This fund deepens our commitment to India’s start-up ecosystem as we continue backing the next generation of entrepreneurs building technology-led businesses,” said Bessemer Venture Partners Partner and Managing Director Vishal Gupta.
“We remain focused on identifying and investing in founders who are driving innovation, solving complex challenges, and building market-defining companies. Beyond providing capital, we bring deep sector expertise, a global network, and hands-on support to help founders navigate their growth journeys and scale sustainably,” he added.
As AI adoption accelerates, the firm sees immense opportunities for innovation, said Bessemer Partner Anant Puri. He added that this fund will allow the founders to back entrepreneurs shaping the next phase of India’s digital economy.
"India is at the forefront of the AI-driven transformation, with founders building domestic as well as globally-competitive businesses across enterprise software, fintech, and consumer technology," said Puri.
Bessemer established its India presence nearly two decades ago in 2006 and has since invested in more than 80 start-ups in the country. The firm has a history of taking a roadmap-driven investment approach that enables its investors to build conviction in emerging areas across industries before they become obvious, and better help founders navigate evolving industry landscapes.
This approach has led Bessemer to invest early in shifts in the market like the onset of the mobile revolution, India’s digital infrastructure, and its healthcare revolution, resulting in investments such as Urban Company, Perfios, and Medi Assist.
The firm’s first dedicated India fund backed notable startups including Boldfit, MoveInSync, Pepper Content, Shopdeck, Vetic, and Zopper, while its broader portfolio includes category leaders like BigBasket, Livspace, Perfios, Swiggy, and Urban Company. The firm has also seen nine IPOs within its India portfolio.
