1. Top VC Firms In India In 2011
Fremont: 2011 have been an interesting year for the Indian VC market. With ecommerce
taking off the big pie from the cake, most VC firms had multiple revelation to this space
either through fashion, daily deal sites, baby products or generic e-tailing. VCs preferred co-
investment or club deals to solo ones.
Most VCs have taken a bet on the early stage startups making investments in Series A or
Series B. Below mentioned are few such VC firms who were among the most active VC
firms of 2011 making investments and mentoring startups.
Intel Capital
The world’s largest chip makers corporate
venture firm in India had a quite busy year. Intel capital invests in India from the $250
million Intel Capital India Technology Fund set up in December 2005, and has invested about
80 percent of this fund across 40-odd companies so far. Besides closing nearly half a dozen
deals, the VC firm is also looking to allocate a new corpus to India.
Among the fresh investments made by Intel Capital in India in 2011 are Yatra.com,
Fashionandyou, Dealsandyou, Saankhya Labs, Testing Czars, and several others. The interest
sectors of the VC firms include mobility, education and cloud services.
Nexus Venture Partners
2. The VC firm completed 10 transactions in the
process and continued to focus on technology, business services, agriculture and Internet
startup in 2011. Nexus Venture Partners manages $320 million raised over two India-
dedicated fund and has invested in more than 30 companies so far. The firm made multiple
bets in ecommerce companies including Craftsvilla.com, BigshowBazaar and others
including SnapDeal, Komli and Druva Software. The firm has also backed Aryaka Networks
and Genwi.
Helion Venture Partners
The early to mid-stage Helion Venture Partners
is a $350 million India-focused venture fund, and invests in high growth technology powered
businesses and consumer services in sectors like outsourcing, internet, mobile, technology
products, retail services, education and financial services. The firm has invested in over 35
companies so far including Exclusively, Komli and Jivox. Other companies where the firm
has made investments are Azure Power,Agni, Mast Kalandar, NetAmbit and several others.
Sequoia Capital
3. The U.S-based marquee venture capital firm
Sequoia Capital firm, which has backed companies like Google and Apple, currently invests
from a $300 million fund raised in 2008 and a $725 million growth fund both dedicated India
funds. Sequoia Capital continued to invest in the ecommerce space besides focusing on areas
like internet, mobile, consumer services and healthcare. The firm also completed several
follow-on rounds in 2011. Sequoia has invested in companies like Fashionandyou, Druva
Software and Sourcebits including several others.
IndoUS Venture Partners
IndoUS Venture Partners provides early to mid-
stage funding to new or growing businesses in India. It manages nearly $300 million raised
over two India-dedicated funds and has invested in over 24 companies so far. The sector on
which IndoUS Venture Partners focuses includes Internet, software and telecom. Their
portfolio company includes Snapdeal, Myntra and Apalya among Attero, Basiz, and several
others.
