Hottest & Most Active Venture Capital Companies Making Investments in Startups In 2020

A venture capitalist (VC) is a firm which helps you when no one else does. It is basically a private equity investor that provides capital to companies exhibiting high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake. This could be funding start-up ventures or supporting small companies that wish to expand but do not have enough funds.

2019 was the second-most active year globally for venture capital (VC) investments. Investments went at a very high stake. It was a milestone year for the Indian VC industry with $10 billion in capital deployed, the highest ever and about 55% higher than 2018. India also witnessed a 30% increase in deal volume over 2018 as well as larger average deal sizes across all stages.

80% of VC investments in 2019 were concentrated in four sectors: consumer tech, software, fintech, and business-to-business commerce and tech. Consumer tech continues to be the largest sector, accounting for approximately 35% of total investments, with several scale deals exceeding $150 million. There are various options available who can fund you if you convince them enough. There have been instances when a plan or an ideology has been rejected by one firm but the other one funds it at a very good stake.

Here is a list of about 20 VCs in India.

1. Sequoia Capital India

This is one of the biggest venture capitalist firms in India and helps the startups come up. This is an American multinational which was started in 1972 by Don Valentine and has funded number of startups for sectors like financial services, healthcare, Internet, technology and outsourcing. SCI invests up to $1 Million in seed stage, up to $10 Million in early stage and $100 in the growth stage of a company for the best results. Companies they have funded include Practo and Justdial. 

2. Accel

Accel Partners is a venture capital firm based in America. It was started in 1983 by Arthur Patterson and Jim Swartz. The philosophy and ideology of the company is based out on the saying “Chance Favors Prepared Minds.” The firm invests in information technology, the internet, mobile, media, and other domains. In 2001 Accel expanded its operations in London to enter the European market. In Europe, it invested in BlaBlaCar, Spotify, Supercell, etc. It raised $450 million separately for the Indian market in 2016 after raising $350 million in 2014. The firm has successfully invested in Flipkart, Baby Oye, Myntra, Book My Show, etc.

3. Helion Venture Partners

This is originated in our nation and was started in 2006 by Rahul Chandra, Ashish Gupta, Sanjeev Aggarwal, and Kanwaljit Singh with its office in Bangalore and Gurgaon. The firm focuses on the Indian market and invests in businesses at their seed stage. The company has focused mostly on technology, but it also invests in environmental and education ventures. It has created funds of $140 million, $ 210 million, $255 million, and $300 million in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015 respectively. In 2012, Economic Times addressed the firm as the largest domestic venture capital firm. The company has invested money in ventures such as MakeMyTrip, YepMe, PubMatic, Red Bus, etc.

4. Nexus Venture Partners

This is a very large venture capital firm in India. The company has offices in India and Silicon Valley. They invest in companies in India that address Indian or global markets or based out of US with technologies relevant for India and emerging markets. Their investment size ranges up from $500,000 to $10 million in early / early-growth stage companies. Their portfolio includes companies like Snapdeal, Shopclues, Craftsvilla, etc

5. Kalaari Capital

This is a venture capital firm in India which is headed by technopreneur-turned-investor Vani Kola. It is based out in the city of Bangalore. Kalaari Capital is an early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm with $650 million in assets under management. There portfolio includes companies like Instamojo, Urbanladder, Zivame, Myantra, etc

6. Intel Capital

Intel capital is an extension of Intel Corporation. This firm invests in risky businesses who have the potential to grow. It was started in 1991 by Avram Miller and Les Vadasz. It invests in hardware, software, data center, and cloud domains. By 2012 Intel Capital has invested $12.5 billion in 1550 companies in 57 countries. Intel Capital has offices across the world including, Brazil, China, India, Germany, Ireland, etc. In total there are 26 offices in the world. It has invested in companies like Hungama, Snapdeal, etc.

7. Blume Ventures

Blume Ventures focuses on start-up’s coming out from India. Blume invests for Digital media, mobile and Internet companies. It supports businesses in every possible way from mentoring to any other kind of support which is needed. It gives funding of Rs100 crore for 2.5years. the top start-ups funded by them are Exotel, Printo, Carbon Clean Solutions etc

8. Inventus Capital Partners

Inventus Capital is funding more than 100 small and big companies’ worth of over $30 billion. Inventus invests in wide range of companies like mobile, ecommerce, financial, internet, healthcare etc. In first round of funding it gives up to $2 million and in second round up to $10 Million. The biggest start-up’s it has funded include Savaari, Poshmark, Policy Bazaar etc

9. SAIF Partners

SAIF Partners have invested in companies with worth of over $1 Billion. It came to India in 2001. It invests in sectors like IT, consumer products and Internet. It invests $.5 Million in seed stage and up to $35 Million in growth stage. The major startups who have been funded by this firm are Paytm, Just Dial, HomeShop 18, Book My Show.

10. Chiratae Ventures

Chiratae Ventures (previously known as IDG Ventures India) is an extremely popular name in the Indian VC circuit.  They have an experience of more than 15 years in start-up funding with a portfolio of over 200 companies in various sectors like Mobile, Engineering, Media & Technology and Health-Tech to name a few. IDG Ventures funds between $1 million to $10 million in the early stage. Major companies who have benefitted from Chiratae Ventures are FirstCry, Yatra, Lenskart, Myntra, Zivame etc.

11. Matrix Partners

Matrix Partners is a US-based venture capital firm that provides funding to the growing start-ups. The firm has the philosophy of being “Founders First” i.e. not only they invest capital in high-growth potential companies but also helps them in important domains like hiring, strategic partnerships etc. Major companies it has invested in include Limeroad, Housejoy, FIITJEE, Ola, mSwipe etc.

12. Bessemer Venture Partners

BESSEMER a USA based Venture firm with an office in Bangalore, India and was founded in 1911. It invests in tech companies like cyber security, mobile, financial, healthcare etc. It could invest from $100,000 to $50 Million in a given company. Top start-ups’ funded are Snap Deal, Taxi for Sure, Motilal Oswal etc

13. Canaan Partners

Canaan Partners is a global venture capital company which started its operations in India in 2000. In 2006 they opened an office in New Delhi. In India it has invested over $200 million in different companies. It invests $50k to $50 Million depending upon the company. The unique thing about Canaan Partners is that it exists the investment within 7 to 10 years. Major companies they have funded include Bharat Matrimony, Naaptol, Car Trade, UnitedLex, and Loylty Rewardz.

14. 3one4 CAPITAL

3one4 Capital is a promising venture capital firm started by the son of the most popular investor, Mohandas Pai. With more than 50 investments, 3one4 not only invests capital in new-age technologically driven companies but also helps founders in their key business problems. Till date, the most popular firms it has invested in include Faircent, Licious, i2e1, Tripoto, YourStory etc.

15. Naspers

Naspers is one of the technology funding company catering to more than 120 countries around the world including India. This old company is operating since the year 1915. Major companies who have received their funding in India include Movile, Makemytrip, Olx, etc.

16. Indian Angel Network

Indian Angel Network started their operations in India from the year 1996. It is a very high-grade network of reputed investors working together for a greater cause. Their portfolio includes brands like Tattva, Wow Momo, Tax Spanner, etc.

17. 500 Startups

This is one of the most active venture capital firms in India and abroad. It is based in Silicon Valley and has invested in more than two hundred startups all across the globe. Brands like Sendgrid, Credit Karma, Udemy are funded by this company.

18. Unicorn India

Unicorn India Ventures provide debt and equity products to technology- based high growth companies looking for funds for expansion. They have offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi. They provide debt and equity products to match the needs and complement existing capital structures for high growth technology businesses across geographies

19. Fidelity Growth Partners

Fidelity Growth Partners India is a subsidiary of Fidelity International Limited. They started investing in Indian companies since 2008. It invests in Healthcare, Consumer and manufacturing companies etc. FGPI invests from $10 million to $50 million with a stake in the company. The basic high class startups sponsored by it are Yebhi, Net Magic etc

20. Norwest Venture Partners

NVP is a global firm with Indian subsidiary present in Bangalore and Mumbai. It invests in startups like telecommunications, internet, financial etc. NVP could invest between $15 Million to $75 Million in a company at different stages. In early stages NVP could invest $2 million. Major startups funded by them include Indus Ind, Komli etc

Start pitching! You might be the next VC after flourishing and expanding.