Antler Expands India Portfolio, Backs 30 Startups In 2024

Venture capital firm Antler has expanded its India portfolio by backing 30 startups in 2024 through its maiden $75 Mn (around INR 635.1 Cr) fund.

This takes Antler’s total India portfolio to 80 startups, the VC firm said in a statement.

“We are seeing exceptional founding teams emerge from India’s talent pool, many of whom have deep expertise in AI and emerging technologies. What’s particularly exciting is that these founders are not just building for India, but are leveraging India’s talent to solve global problems,” said Rajiv Srivatsa, partner at Antler India.

The investments span sectors including AI, consumer tech, fintech, deeptech, health and climate tech. The portfolio companies have been selected from over 25,000 founders who engaged with Antler’s platform in 2024.

“The firm plans to deploy $25 Mn from its existing fund in 2025, continuing its focus on emerging technologies across these sectors,” Srivatsa told Inc42. 

Nitin Sharma, founding partner of Antler India, said, “We doubled our investment pace in 2024. Through our residency programme, we are actively involved in the company-building process from day zero – from team formation and idea validation to early customer development.”

Among additions to the portfolio include Bizup, a wholesale marketplace for fashion retail; Meine Electric, which works on aluminium-air fuel cell technology; Namma Yatri, an open mobility platform; Keeper, which provides loans using paid leaves as assets; and Cautio, which makes AI-powered dashcams for fleets among others. 

Founded in 2017 in Singapore, Antler operates as both an incubator and accelerator globally. The firm expanded into India in 2020, with Srivatsa and Sharma joining as partners and cofounders of the Antler India Fund. 

Through its residency programmes, Antler India helps entrepreneurs find cofounders, develop business ideas, and form teams, while providing funding and mentorship.

The next Residency cohort, scheduled to commence in February 2025, will support pre- and post-idea stage solo founders through an 8-12 week programme. Participants can receive up to $500K in funding through Antler’s standard deal. “Through hands-on sessions by domain experts and office hours, we support founders in co-creating and building alongside other ambitious individuals,” Sharma told Inc42.

Antler operates across 30 locations globally, including Austin, New York, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Bengaluru, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. Antler claims to have invested in more than 1,300 startups worldwide and aims to support more than 6,000 by 2030.