Accel Partners Prosus To Expand Focus On Early Stage Indian Startups

SUMMARY

As part of this partnership, Prosus will match Accel’s capital commitments in each Atoms X portfolio startup

The firms will invest in startups at seed stage and beyond

Accel launched its Atoms programme in 2021 as a pre-seed scaling initiative, and later expanded the programme into two distinct tracks – Atoms AI and Atoms X

VC firm Accel has partnered European tech investor Prosus to co-invest in emerging Indian deeptech startups through Accel’s Atoms X programme.

As part of this partnership, Prosus will match Accel’s capital commitments in each Atoms X portfolio startup, providing founders with a “single cheque” investment approach to integrate early-stage discipline with late-stage scale and patient capital. The firms will invest in startups at seed stage and beyond.

“We’re seeing an unprecedented convergence of deep technology and entrepreneurship in India and globally — founders who are not just iterating, but inventing. Together, Accel and Prosus will help them scale faster with the right capital, mentorship, and conviction,” said Accel partner Pratik Agarwal

Accel launched its Atoms programme in 2021 as a pre-seed scaling initiative supporting early stage startups. Later, Accel expanded the Atoms program to include two distinct tracks – Atoms AI and Atoms X.

Atoms X was announced as a new track focused on “LeapTech” startups, which the firm says goes beyond deeptech. LeapTech startups combine engineering ambition and scientific breakthroughs that work at India’s scale to improve lives, as per Accel.

Under its Atoms programme, Accel claims to have backed more than 40 startups, with more than 30% of them securing follow-on investments.

Last year, Accel unveiled the fourth cohort of its Atoms programme with focus on startups operating in AI, as well as ‘Bharat’-focused startups working in sectors like ecommerce, financial services, healthcare, edtech, among others.

Earlier this year, Accel raised $650 Mn for its eighth India fund. The Silicon Valley-based VC firm counts Moneyview, Flipkart, Swiggy and Moglix among the unicorns in its portfolio.

Meanwhile, Prosus is an active investor in the Indian startup ecosystem, having invested over $8.6 Bn in the country. It was an early investor in Flipkart and Goibibo. It operates PayU in India, and its investment portfolio includes Swiggy, Meesho, Urban Company and Rapido.

Recently, Prosus purchased foodtech giant Swiggy’s stake in Rapido in a secondary deal. Additionally the investment firm is also investing INR 1,296 Cr in travel tech company ixigo.