Venture Capital

After an "enthusiastic" post-pandemic capital cycle, venture investors and founders alike have recalibrated expectations, shifting focus from rapid scale to resilient business models.

GST collections have remained robust, and the decline in the October Consumer Price Index is supposed to provide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with a bit of wiggle room for potential rate cuts - a move that could accelerate capex spending and consumption-led growth.

Speaking to Entrepreneur India, the company heads discussed the investment approach as it looks ahead to 2026.

Growth Fund II plans to back around 12 to 15 startups, with average investments ranging between USD 5 million and USD 8 million.

According to a joint October investments report by EY & IVCA, October 2025 recorded a USD 5.3 billion in PE/VC investments, with a 9 per cent y-o-y increase from USD 4.9 billion in October. The number of deals, however, decreased to 102, a 9 per cent drop y-o-y and a 14 per cent decline month-on-month, with 145 deals in September 2025.

This new consumer fund brings Fireside's total assets under management to INR 5,300 crore, with plans to back early and growth-stage brands

Gemba Capital typically invests in 8 to 10 startups annually, leveraging a sector-specific approach.

In this fireside chat at Entrepreneur Summit 2025, Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman & MD of TVS Capital Funds, predicts a 3–5X boom in venture capital and private equity investments in India. He shares insights on India's domestic capital potential, the rise of small business entrepreneurship, and why true success depends on fund managers built for entrepreneurs—not just money.

The company has said the funding will be used towards product development and to double down on industry-wide adoption of its flagship Centralized Underwriting Risk Environment.

The company has said that the fresh funds will be utilised towards customer acquisition, product category expansion, and strengthening supply-chain capabilities.

AgroStar said that the funding will enable it to accelerate its national omnichannel expansion, drive new product innovations across both input and output verticals, and invest in AI capabilities.

The investment will enable FSP to accelerate its growth strategy across key markets, expand into new categories.

Arise Ventures invests primarily in early-stage startups, from seed to Series A.

Bharat Innovation Fund typically invests at the pre-Series A and Series A stages.

AI entering the pool has also turned out to be a curveball for investors, primarily because AI-first companies behave differently from traditional deep-tech, SaaS, or fintech businesses. Investor expectations of them are also significantly higher.

Cactus invests primarily at the early growth stage, when companies have begun to prove their business models but require capital and strategic input to scale.

The rebound was driven by a surge in venture and growth deals, sectors rooted in technology and new-age consumption.

India's journey ahead demands bold risk-taking, confident capital, and resilient innovation to transform its wealth into sustainable, inclusive global leadership.

Lightbox typically invests at the Series A stage, when a company is still shaping its identity.

Goyaz has said that the capital will be used to fuel growth, with plans to expand retail presence across major Indian cities and also strengthen its design and manufacturing capabilities.

PointAI said that the funding will help accelerate product innovation, expand its market presence, and strengthen its technological capabilities. The company has raised nearly USD 10 million in overall funding.