Exclusive: Venture Catalysts To Launch $100 Mn Growth Fund

Mumbai-based startup incubator Venture Catalysts plans to launch a new growth-stage fund. According to people aware of the development, Venture Catalysts will be raising $100 Mn for this fund.

“Venture Catalysts in a discussion with its partners has informed that it will soon be announcing the fund, and the fund size would be around $100 Mn,” the source told Inc42. 

Venture Catalysts will utilise the fund to invest in growth-stage startups in sectors, including D2C, edtech, logistics, among others. The average cheque size is expected to be $5 Mn and above. 

Dr. Apoorva Rajan Sharma cofounder of Venture Catalysts and 9Unicorns denied commenting on the development.

Founded by Dr Apporva Ranjan Sharma and Anuj Golecha, Venture Catalysts is an integrated incubator that normally invests $200 K to $2 Mn in early-stage startups. The investments are syndicated with participation from HNIs, family offices, and CXOs. 

The Mumbai-based incubator claims to have invested in more than $500 Mn in 200 startups. It has presence in seven countries and a portfolio of over $4 Bn.  

The startup incubator has also made 60 successful exits from startups such as BharatPe, Reliance-backed Fynd, Rooter, and Pee Safe. 

In 2021, it participated in 207 deals and invested in 178 new startups. It has plans to invest over $100 Mn in early-stage startups in 2022. 

3one4 Capital, Accel Partners, Chiratae Ventures, Kalaari Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Sixth Sense Ventures are the other major funds backing growth-stage funding of startups. 

Last year, around $8.1 Bn was infused in 342 Indian growth-stage startups attracted by external investors.

Earlier this year, Silicon Valley-based Accel has raised $650 Mn  in its commitments towards seventh fund, the Accel India VII, aimed at funding startups in India and Southeast Asia. A couple of weeks back, Gurugram-based venture capital firm Elevation Capital launched a $670 Mn Fund VIII. The fund will primarily focus on early-stage and growth-stage startups.

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