Introduction
The Indian startup ecosystem is at the cusp of a new era, fueled by cutting-edge technologies and visionary investors who are redefining the way businesses grow and scale. Across AI, SaaS, and MarTech, a select group of venture capitalists and investment leaders is driving innovation, shaping market trends, and backing entrepreneurs who dare to think big. These investors bring a unique blend of strategic insight, operational experience, and sector expertise, helping startups not only secure funding but also navigate complex growth challenges. In this special edition, The VC Power 100: AI, SaaS & MarTech, celebrates influential leaders whose investments, mentorship, and foresight are powering India’s technology-driven transformation and positioning the nation as a global innovation hub.
Sunil Cavale, Investment Principal, Speciale Invest: Sunil focuses on deep science and deep tech investments spanning climate tech, AI, robotics, and frontier technologies. Before moving into venture capital, he worked in supply chain and procurement at Toyota Kirloskar Motor and later in startup operations at RayIoT Solutions. His experience combines engineering, manufacturing, and early-stage startup execution. Sunil holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from BMS College of Engineering and a Master’s in English Literature from IGNOU, reflecting his interest in both technology and the humanities.
Rishen Kapoor, Principal, Peak XV Partners: Rishen focuses on investments across AI, SaaS, cybersecurity, robotics, and defence technologies. Before joining Peak XV as Principal, he co-founded and led Toplyne, an AI-driven platform for sales and marketing teams backed by leading global investors. Earlier, he was part of the investment team at Sequoia Capital and a founding member of the Surge early-stage startup program. His career also includes product leadership roles at CleverTap and experience in product consulting in Berlin.
Aditya Singh, Principal, Tomorrow Capital: Aditya leads early-stage investments in consumer, healthcare, and education startups, while working closely with founders to scale their businesses. At Tomorrow Capital, he actively supports portfolio companies with growth strategy, GTM planning, partnerships, and organizational development. Before venture capital, he held leadership roles in marketing and brand strategy at The Economic Times and Housing.com. His earlier career also includes consulting experience at PwC.
Satish Kataria, Principal Officer, Inflection Point Ventures: Satish Kataria is a venture capital professional and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience across venture investments, fundraising, and startup mentoring. At Inflection Point Ventures, he focuses on strengthening early-stage investment ecosystems and supporting high-potential startups. Over the years, he has played a key role in introducing innovative funding models in India, including crowdfunding and revenue-based financing platforms. He is also the co-founder of Fandora, a Web3 content licensing platform, and the author of UNBLOC, a book on entrepreneurial mindset and success.
Vardhan Dharnidharka, Principal, Stellaris Venture Partners: Vardhan Dharnidharka is a technology leader and venture investor with deep experience in AI, machine learning, and large-scale product engineering. Before joining Stellaris Venture Partners, he built and led high-impact engineering teams at Lyft, driving core rider products and marketplace innovations. His work spans AI/ML systems, pricing models, and experimentation platforms that generated significant business impact. With a background across companies like ClickUp and Bloomberg, he brings deep technical insight to early-stage AI and SaaS investments.
Sonia Shukla, Principal, 1Crowd: Sonia Shukla is an investment professional with extensive experience across energy, climate tech, and sustainability sectors. At 1Crowd, she focuses on backing early-stage startups building innovative and technology-driven solutions. Prior to venture capital, she held leadership roles at International Institute for Energy Conservation and Idam Infrastructure Advisory, driving projects in renewables, clean mobility, and sustainable agriculture. Her background in policy, advisory, and financial analysis brings a strong sustainability perspective to emerging technology investments.
Varun Kapoor, Principal, Siana Capital: Varun Kapoor is an investment professional with over a decade of experience across venture capital, banking, and investment advisory. At Siana Capital, he focuses on pre-Series A and Series A investments in deep tech sectors including AI, enterprise SaaS, health-tech, and mobility. Prior to this, he was part of the investment team at Menterra Ventures, where he supported investments in healthcare and edtech startups. A CFA charterholder, he brings strong expertise in company valuation, transaction advisory, and scaling early-stage technology ventures.
Shibangi Barua, Vice President – Investments, SenseAI Ventures: Shibangi Barua leads investments at SenseAI Ventures, focusing on early-stage AI-first startups and working closely with founders to scale innovative technology businesses. As the first hire at the fund, she drives the end-to-end investment process and supports portfolio companies across sectors. Prior to venture capital, she worked as a data scientist at AB InBev, building forecasting models and ML pipelines across global markets. An alumna of Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), she brings strong technical expertise in AI and machine learning to venture investing.
Anusha Nyapathy, Principal, Pontaq: Anusha Nyapathy is an investment professional focused on backing early-stage, technology-led startups across emerging sectors. At Pontaq, she engages with founders building deep tech and innovation-driven businesses. Prior to this, she led investments at MiraiNxt and gained investment and portfolio management experience at Goldman Sachs. Her background spans venture investing, due diligence, and financial analysis across global investment ecosystems.
Shachi Shah, Principal, z21 Ventures: Shachi Shah is a venture capital professional and entrepreneur focused on supporting early-stage technology startups. At z21 Ventures, she works closely with founders to identify and scale innovative companies across global markets. Prior to venture capital, she held strategy and operations roles at Plug and Play Tech Center and worked in financial services with ICICI Bank. An alumna of University of California, Berkeley and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, she brings a strong global perspective to venture investing.
Suraj Kumar Majee, Principal, TVS Capital Funds: Suraj Kumar Majee is an investment professional focused on supporting high-growth businesses through strategic capital and operational insights. At TVS Capital Funds, he works with emerging companies across technology and consumption-driven sectors. Prior to this, he gained transaction and investment experience at UBS Investment Bank, working on healthcare deals across the US and EMEA markets. A graduate of National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, he brings a strong analytical and entrepreneurial perspective to venture investing.
Rohit Garg, Vice President – Investment, SWC Global: Rohit Garg is an investment professional focused on partnering with early to growth-stage startups building disruptive technologies across India and Southeast Asia. At SWC Global, he works closely with founders across sectors including AI, SaaS, and emerging technology-driven businesses. Prior to venture capital, he gained strategy and transaction advisory experience at EY-Parthenon and consulting exposure with Boston Consulting Group. An alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he brings a strong analytical and strategic perspective to venture investing.
Aayush Arora, Vice President, Zeropearl VC: Aayush Arora is a venture investor focused on supporting early-stage startups building scalable technology businesses. At Zeropearl VC, he works with founders across sectors to help accelerate growth and build high-impact companies. Prior to this, he spent over four years at Titan Capital, where he backed startups across consumer, fintech, B2B, and SaaS. His earlier experience also includes roles at PhonePe, bringing strong operational and investment expertise to the startup ecosystem.
Karan Sethi, Principal, Rukam Capital: Karan Sethi is an investment professional with over nine years of experience across venture capital, investment banking, and financial due diligence. At Rukam Capital, he focuses on early-stage investments across consumer brands, consumer technology, AI, and healthcare. Prior to venture capital, he worked with KPMG India and Deloitte India, advising companies on M&A, fundraising, and strategic transactions. A Chartered Accountant, he brings strong financial and deal-making expertise to supporting high-growth startups.
Rishabh Iyer, Vice President, ChrysCapital: Rishabh Iyer is a Vice President at ChrysCapital, where he focuses on investments in enterprise technology and SaaS platforms with global relevance. With over eight years of experience in private equity, he has led multiple growth investments and control buyouts across software, digital transformation, product engineering, and BPO platforms. His investment portfolio includes companies such as MoEngage, ProHance, Xoriant, and ResultsCX. An INSEAD MBA graduate, Rishabh brings deep expertise in evaluating scaled technology platforms and AI-driven business models.
Naveli Jain, Principal, Waaree Ventures: Naveli Jain is an investment professional with over a decade of experience across venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. At Waaree Ventures, she focuses on strategic investments, M&A, and partnerships in energy transition, climate tech, AI, SaaS, and deeptech. Previously, she served as VP Investments at Ankur Capital and spent over seven years at Edelweiss Financial Services leading large infrastructure and renewable investments. She began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs.
Aashish Gupta, SVP – Investments, IvyCap Ventures: Aashish Gupta is an early stage investor focused on emerging technologies including AI, SaaS, robotics, biotech, and clean energy. At IvyCap Ventures, he leads Series A investments and has sourced and closed multiple deeptech and AI deals across the portfolio. Previously, he worked with BrightChamps driving strategy and M&A, and with Info Edge Ventures investing in seed and pre-Series A startups. Aashish holds a B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
Pranav Koshal, Vice President, Kalaari Capital: Pranav Koshal is part of the investments team at Kalaari Capital, focusing on deeptech opportunities across AI, robotics, spacetech, and emerging technologies. He supports end to end investment processes including sourcing, evaluation, deal execution, and portfolio management for early stage startups. Prior to venture capital, he worked in investment banking at J.P. Morgan covering consumer and retail sectors in the US markets. Pranav holds a degree in Computer Science Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Sarthak Rastogi, Associate Vice President, Huddle Ventures: Sarthak Rastogi is an early stage investor focused on pre-seed and seed stage startups across technology-driven sectors. At Huddle Ventures, he manages the end to end investment cycle including sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, and portfolio support. He also contributes to refining fund investment theses and driving strategic initiatives for founders. Sarthak is a founding member of The Venture Folks and an active angel investor supporting early stage startups.
Rohil Bagga, Vice President, Lightspeed India: Rohil Bagga is an early stage technology investor at Lightspeed India, focused on backing high potential startups across emerging technology sectors including AI and enterprise software. He works closely with founders through the early stages of company building and growth. Prior to venture capital, he worked as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company and earlier with JSW Ventures. Rohil holds a degree in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College.
Sahil Dhingra, Vice President, Info Edge Ventures: Sahil Dhingra is an early stage investor at Info Edge Ventures, backing founders across consumer tech, B2B, AI, and SaaS startups. He partners with companies from Seed to Series A, supporting founders in building scalable technology driven businesses. Previously, he was part of the investment team at Riverwalk Holdings and also worked with OYO across the UK and Europe. Sahil is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and is also the co founder of BusinessBar, a curated startup community initiative.
Apurva Beniwal, Vice President – Investment & Strategy, Ortella Global Capital: Apurva Beniwal leads investments and strategic initiatives at Ortella Global Capital, working closely with founders to build and scale high growth startups. She focuses on supporting businesses across consumer and technology driven sectors through capital and brand led growth strategies. Earlier, she was an early team member at She Capital where she helped build the fund and backed multiple startups including Clovia, Samosa Singh, and Brainsight.ai. Apurva holds a degree in Economics from Miranda House.
Rohit Murmuria, Vice President, Multiples Alternate Asset Management: Rohit Murmuria focuses on buyouts and growth investments across enterprise technology, business services, and healthcare at Multiples. He has led investments in companies such as QBurst and Quantiphi and works closely with portfolio companies to drive strategic growth. Previously, he spent nearly four years at TA Associates evaluating investments across software, financial services, and IT services. Rohit earlier worked with McKinsey & Company and began his career in investment banking at Ambit Holdings.
Sumangal Vinjamuri, Associate Vice President, Blume Ventures: Sumangal V. co-leads B2B AI and software investments at Blume Ventures, focusing on cross-border enterprise AI, vertical AI, and AI services startups. He has backed companies such as Atomicwork, Sprinto, Bluecopa, and Pixxel while supporting founders building global-first SaaS businesses from India. Prior to venture capital, he was part of the founding team at Clarisights, where he led growth, product, and business initiatives through the company’s early scaling journey. Sumangal is an MBA graduate from Indian School of Business.
Raghav Gupta, Vice President, Endiya Partners: Raghav Gupta focuses on investments in enterprise technology and deep tech startups at Endiya Partners, supporting founders building globally competitive companies from India. Prior to venture capital, he worked at Invest India where he helped shape national initiatives including the Production Linked Incentive program and the National Programme for Semiconductors. He was also part of the founding team at Plumage and previously worked as a hardware engineer at Qualcomm. Raghav holds degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Shiv Kapoor, Vice President, Titan Capital: Shiv Kapoor is a startup operator turned investor with deep experience across global technology ecosystems. Before joining Titan Capital, he spent over four years at Urban Company where he worked closely with the founders and co-led the company’s international expansion across the UAE, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. Earlier in his career, he was part of the growth phase at Dropbox in San Francisco. Shiv holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School.
Pranav Mahajani, Head of Investment, LVX: Pranav Mahajani leads early and growth stage investments at LVX, working closely with founders and a network of over 350 family offices to unlock long term value in private markets. With nearly two decades of experience across venture investing and investment banking, he focuses on opportunities across AI, SaaS, fintech, and deep tech. Prior to LVX, he held senior investment banking roles at ITI Capital Limited, Citi, and ENAM. Pranav has also completed a senior management programme from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
Sai Shanmukha Yadavalli, Vice President – Investment & Portfolio Management, The Chennai Angels: Sai Shanmukha Yadavalli leads investments and portfolio management initiatives at The Chennai Angels, supporting early stage startups across emerging technology sectors. Prior to this, he spent nearly six years at Brand Capital focusing on venture and growth investments. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking and financial analysis roles at Bank of America. Sai brings strong experience in deal evaluation, valuation analysis, and supporting founders through early stage growth.
Vaishak Prashanth, Vice President, Nexus Venture Partners: Vaishak Prashanth partners with founders building innovative companies across consumer technology and SaaS at Nexus Venture Partners. He brings multi stage investing experience, having previously worked with IndiaQuotient, Sofina, and Stakeboat Capital. Earlier in his career, he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company advising technology and media companies. Vaishak holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
Venkatesh Kempalingaiah, Head of Investment, Aarin Capital: Venkatesh Kempalingaiah brings over two decades of experience across investment banking, fund management, and early stage venture investing. At Aarin Capital, he leads investments in technology driven startups across sectors including healthcare, life sciences, and enterprise innovation. Earlier in his career, he held roles at SBI Capital Markets and Cazenove, focusing on capital raising, M&A, and corporate advisory. Venkatesh holds an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar and an engineering degree from University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.
Nishant Batra, Investment Lead, Dholakia Ventures: Nishant Batra leads early stage investment initiatives at Dholakia Ventures, focusing on identifying and evaluating high growth startups across emerging sectors. He has assessed over a thousand startup opportunities and plays a key role in investment negotiations, due diligence, and portfolio strategy. Prior to this, he worked with Windrose Capital where he focused on startup scouting and investment analysis. Nishant brings a strong blend of data driven insights and founder centric thinking to support the next generation of innovative startups.
Sarvesh Agarwal, Senior Principal, B Capital: Sarvesh is based in Singapore and focuses on growth investments across Southeast Asia and India, with expertise in healthcare and AI-driven technology. He previously worked with SoftBank Vision Fund and Temasek, covering sectors such as enterprise software, marketplaces, and digital media. He began his career in investment banking at Credit Suisse. Sarvesh holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia.
Manish Advani, Principal, Elevation Capital: Manish focuses on early-stage consumer technology investments and partners closely with founders from day zero to build scalable businesses. He previously worked in the Investment Management Division at Goldman Sachs. A Gold Medalist from IIM Ahmedabad, he holds a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur. He is passionate about backing founders solving hard problems with grit and ambition.
Chandrasekhar Venugopal, Principal, Z47: Chandrasekhar Venugopal invests in early stage technology startups at Z47, supporting founders building innovative companies for both Indian and global markets. Prior to venture capital, he led creator and celebrity led D2C brand initiatives at Glance. He has also held leadership roles at foodpanda India driving revenue and growth strategies. Chandrasekhar began his career in consulting at Boston Consulting Group and holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Kunal Sawant, Principal, Valour Capital: Kunal invests in deep tech, defence, and manufacturing startups building critical technologies for India’s future. He previously founded Neutron, a B2B fintech platform focused on streamlining payment collections. At Valour Capital, he partners with ambitious founders across sectors such as quantum computing, nuclear fusion, space tech, and AI inference. His background includes private equity and due diligence roles at TresVista.
Akshat Prakash, Principal, IAN Alpha Fund: Akshat leads early-stage investments with a focus on fintech and AI-driven startups. Before joining IAN Alpha Fund, he spent over eight years at Capgemini, where he led investments in Generative AI and fintech ventures. He brings strong experience in strategy, financial planning, and business transformation. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Calcutta, he combines operational depth with investment expertise.
Akshat Saxena, Principal, Alteria Capital: Akshat invests in consumer internet and enterprise tech startups, with focus areas including Gen AI, ecommerce, marketplaces, and enterprise content. Prior to Alteria, he founded the Venture Debt business at Kotak Mahindra Investments and led structured finance across North and East India. He has also worked with ICICI Bank and Synergy Consulting across India and global markets. An MBA from IIM Indore, he combines innovation-driven thinking with deep investment and structured finance expertise.
Ritik Singh, Principal, Golden Sparrow: Ritik focuses on investing in generational software and hardware companies, writing checks up to $1 million. He previously worked as an Investment Analyst at Golden Sparrow and z21 Ventures, where he sourced and led diligence on multiple AI and deep tech startups. He also gained early investing exposure through Titan Capital and completed a research internship at the University of Regina. An IIT Kharagpur graduate, Ritik brings strong analytical depth and entrepreneurial exposure to his investing role.
Subhash Prajapat, Principal, 4U Venture Partners: Subhash Prajapat is a Principal at 4U Venture Partners, where he focuses on identifying and backing early stage startups across sectors including AI, SaaS, fintech, and consumer technology. He plays a key role in shaping investment strategy, sourcing high potential founders, and supporting startups through their early growth journey. Prior to venture investing, he held product roles at companies such as BeatO and Easiloan. Subhash began his career at Flipkart and holds a Civil Engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Saurabh Gunwant, Associate Principal, 8X Ventures: Saurabh Gunwant focuses on backing high-impact DeepTech startups across cybersecurity, semiconductors, robotics, and Industry 4.0 at 8X Ventures. He has supported early investments in innovative companies such as Solinas Integrity, Tiea Connectors, and XYMA Analytics. With a background in computer applications and finance, he combines technical insight with investment strategy to identify disruptive technologies. Saurabh is passionate about emerging technologies and actively engages in discussions around public markets, financial planning, and the future of computing.
Yash Mehta, Principal, SiriusOne Capital: Yash Mehta is a Principal at SiriusOne Capital, where he focuses on backing technology-led startups and building scalable investment platforms. A Chartered Accountant with strong expertise in corporate finance, investments, and business analytics, he plays a key role in driving strategic initiatives and evaluating high-growth opportunities. His experience spans due diligence, financial modeling, and startup investment strategy. Yash is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs who are building innovative, tech-enabled solutions for the future.
Jatin Unarkat, Principal Officer, Mplier Capital: Jatin Unarkat is the Principal Officer at Mplier Capital, where he focuses on early-stage investments across AI, SaaS, fintech, edtech, and enterprise technology startups. With deep experience in capital markets and regulatory frameworks, he previously held key roles at National Stock Exchange of India and NSE International Exchange. His expertise spans securities regulation, investor relations, and financial markets compliance. Jatin combines regulatory insight with investment strategy to support emerging tech ventures building scalable digital solutions.
Arun Thathachari, Principal, Anicut Capital: Arun Thathachari is a Principal at Anicut Capital, where he focuses on investments across early-stage and growth companies in technology, consumer, and internet sectors. With over 18 years of global experience, he has held leadership roles in investment banking, consulting, and corporate development. Prior to Anicut, he led corporate development at Sulekha and worked with global financial institutions including Bank of America Merrill Lynch and DC Advisory. Arun brings deep expertise in M&A, strategic growth, and capital advisory to support high-growth startups.
Sonal Saldanha, Principal, 3one4 Capital: Sonal Saldanha is a Principal at 3one4 Capital, where he focuses on investments across fintech, enterprise software, and deep-tech startups. Over nearly a decade with the firm, he has played a key role in building investment processes and strengthening sourcing and evaluation capabilities. Sonal has contributed to several high-impact investments and works closely with founders to scale technology-driven businesses. His experience as a founder further shapes his perspective in backing innovative startups and emerging tech ecosystems.
Viren Rajani, Principal, Bain Capital: Viren Rajani is Principal at Bain Capital, with a focus on private equity investments across India. He has over a decade of experience spanning private equity, consulting, and financial advisory, having worked with Kedaara Capital, Boston Consulting Group, and DVS Advisors. A Chartered Accountant and CFA charterholder, Viren has expertise in portfolio management, investment structuring, and financial analysis, supporting high-growth businesses and strategic deal execution.
Anoop N, Principal, Chiratae Ventures: Anoop N is Principal at Chiratae Ventures, focusing on growth-stage investments in ConsumerTech and B2B enterprise startups. He has extensive experience building and scaling organizations, having led Asianet News Digital to become a top regional news platform and co-led Accenture Ventures’ technology investments. Anoop is also Founder and Investment Committee Member of the IIM Indore Alumni Angel Fund and an active angel investor, mentoring startups across Mediatech, Fintech, and other emerging sectors.
Manpreet Singh, Principal (Lead), Dynamis Ventures: Manpreet Singh is Principal at Dynamis Ventures, focusing on early-stage fintech startups and partnering with founders to drive growth and innovation. He has extensive experience across consulting, operations, and venture investing, having led strategy and growth at ZipLoan and StrideOne, and served as a senior management consultant at Monitor Deloitte and KPMG. Manpreet is skilled in deal negotiation, go-to-market strategy, and building scalable businesses, bringing both operational insight and strategic guidance to his portfolio companies.
Sunith Mandala, Investor – Principal, Exfinity Venture Partners: Sunith Mandala is Principal at Exfinity Venture Partners, specializing in AI, deeptech, SaaS, and enterprise investments across India, USA, and SEA. He manages a diverse portfolio including Maieutic Semiconductors, Awiros, Rezolve.ai, and Zyla Health, and has played a key role in high-profile M&A transactions such as Kinara.ai’s acquisition by NXP. Sunith brings expertise in deal sourcing, portfolio management, and strategic fundraising, combining a strong technical background from IIT Bombay with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.
Preetham D., Principal, Asiana Alternative Investment Fund: Preetham D. is a Principal at Asiana Alternative Investment Fund, focusing on long-term technology investments in advanced manufacturing, materials science, future computing, and climate tech. He has co-created and invested in deeptech and AI startups, including Agentic AI, IIoT, and Edge AI, and has extensive experience as a founder, co-founder, and tech advisor across multiple startups. Preetham combines hands-on entrepreneurial experience with strategic investment expertise, leveraging his IIM Bangalore background to drive innovation and growth in the tech ecosystem.
Aayush Singhal, Principal, Premji Invest: Aayush Singhal is a Principal at Premji Invest with extensive experience in private equity and investment management. He has held key roles at Temasek, Elevation Capital, and Max Life Insurance, focusing on deal sourcing, portfolio management, and growth strategy. Aayush combines strong analytical expertise with hands-on investment experience, leveraging his IIM Bangalore background to support high-impact investments across sectors.
Karan Saini, Principal, Indicorn Angels: Karan Saini is a Principal at Indicorn Angels with expertise in early-stage investments and startup evaluation. He has supported over 11 investments across Fluid Ventures and Real Time Angel Fund and has a strong background in deal sourcing, financial analysis, and post-investment support. Karan combines his investment banking and consulting experience with a deep understanding of founder dynamics and emerging consumer trends to drive startup growth.
Pulkit Dak, Principal, Pavestone VC: Pulkit Dak is a Principal at Pavestone VC with a strong track record in venture capital, product management, and global business strategy. He has co-founded and scaled multiple startups, led P&L and acquisition initiatives, and driven technology and market expansion across industries. Pulkit leverages his ISB and NIT background to identify high-impact investment opportunities and support growth-focused ventures.
Himanshu Jain, Principal, Steadview Capital: Himanshu Jain is a Principal at Steadview Capital with extensive experience in early-stage investments across AI, SaaS, and consumer platforms. Previously with Vertex Ventures and McKinsey & Co, he has led multiple Series A and B investments while bringing strong analytical and strategic insights. Himanshu holds an MBA from IIM Calcutta and a B.Tech from IIT Delhi, combining top-tier academic credentials with hands-on investment expertise.
Vasanthakumar A P, Investment Principal and Partner, Ascent Capital: Vasanthakumar A P is a seasoned investment professional with over two decades of experience in private equity and venture capital. At Ascent Capital, he focuses on software, auto ancillaries, media, telecom, light engineering, and alternate energy sectors. He has expertise in M&A, fund raising, valuation studies, and due diligence, supporting high-growth ventures across industries. Vasanthakumar holds an MBA from Bharathidasan Institute of Management and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from PSG College of Technology.
Nishchal Mittal, Principal, Singularity AMC: Nishchal Mittal leads growth-stage investments at Singularity AMC, focusing on Enterprise SaaS, B2B, and consumer internet startups. He has previously driven strategic initiatives at Snapdeal and Shuttl, and co-founded Campus Box, a SaaS solution for school safety. With a Chartered Accountant background, he has extensive experience in corporate strategy, fund raising, and operations across e-commerce, mobility, and tech sectors.
Saurav Jain, Principal, Prosus Ventures: Saurav Jain focuses on growth-stage investments in AI, SaaS, and consumer tech at Prosus Ventures. He has led investments in companies including Meesho, PharmEasy, Rapido, and ElasticRun. Prior to Prosus, he held strategy and operational roles at Naspers, Rocketbox, and Indus Insights, and co-founded Idea Rise. He is an IIT Bombay alumnus with a background in civil engineering.
Sparsh Kumar, AVP, pi Ventures: Sparsh Kumar is an AVP at pi Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage DeepTech startups across space technology, robotics, and clean energy. With over five years of venture investing experience, he previously led investments and portfolio management at Unicorn India Ventures. Sparsh has also founded startups in electric last-mile mobility and distributed computing, bringing a strong entrepreneurial perspective to venture investing. He holds a B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and an MBA from INSEAD.
Abhishek Kshirsagar, Principal, Investments, PROMAFT Partners: Abhishek Kshirsagar is a Founding Principal at PROMAFT Partners, where he focuses on early-growth investments across AI, deeptech, SaaS, fintech, and consumer technology. He previously worked in investment roles at General Atlantic and Premji Invest, backing high-growth technology companies. With a background spanning venture capital, private equity, and strategy consulting, he brings strong expertise in scaling innovative startups. Abhishek is passionate about supporting founders building category-defining technology businesses from India.
Raghav Syal, Vice Principal, Bertelsmann India Investments: Raghav Syal is a Vice Principal at Bertelsmann India Investments, where he focuses on growth-stage investments across AI, SaaS, health, wellness, and education sectors. He plays an active role in identifying high-potential startups and supporting portfolio companies through their scaling journey. Prior to Bertelsmann, he worked with early-stage investors and startup accelerators including Lumis Partners, Huddle, and Investopad. Raghav holds a Master’s degree in International Management from ESADE Business School and is passionate about backing technology-driven entrepreneurs building for India and global markets.
Rahul Chadha, Principal, Cactus Partners: Rahul Chadha is a Principal at Cactus Partners, where he focuses on early-growth investments and supporting founders in building scalable, purpose-driven businesses. He brings over a decade of experience across investment management and technology equity research. Prior to this, he was Associate Portfolio Manager at Tokio Marine Asset Management International and spent seven years covering Asia’s semiconductor and technology sectors at J.P. Morgan. Rahul began his career with Larsen & Toubro and holds an integrated dual degree in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
Rahul Prigawat, Lead Investment, India Accelerator: Rahul Prigawat leads investments at India Accelerator, focusing on sourcing and executing later-stage startup deals across the Indian ecosystem. With over a decade of experience in venture capital and startup enablement, he has led 30+ investments and supported startups through fundraising, strategy, and scale. Previously, he held investment roles at Camel Capital and LetsVenture, managing deal flow and investor relations. Rahul is passionate about strengthening the startup ecosystem by enabling founders with capital, networks, and strategic guidance.
Devesh Vij, Vice President, The Fundamentum Partnership: Devesh Vij is Vice President at The Fundamentum Partnership, where he focuses on scaling high-growth technology startups across sectors including fintech, consumer tech, AI, and B2B commerce. He works closely with founders on investments and portfolio growth, while also serving as investor and board observer for companies such as Kuku FM and ProcMart. Prior to joining Fundamentum, he built his investment banking career at Citi and Edelweiss Financial Services. Devesh holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and a BTech from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
Himanshu Kashyap, Principal, Lightrock: Himanshu Kashyap is a Principal at Lightrock, focusing on investments in high-growth technology and financial services companies. Prior to joining Lightrock, he was part of the private equity team at Apollo Global Management, where he worked on late-stage buyouts and hybrid investments in India. He has also held investment roles at Investcorp and British International Investment, backing growth-stage businesses across sectors. Himanshu holds a BTech from Indian Institute of Technology BHU and an MBA from Management Development Institute Gurgaon.
Parth Doshi, Vice President, Elev8 Venture Partners: Parth Doshi is Vice President at Elev8 Venture Partners, where he focuses on evaluating and backing growth-stage startups across consumer, fintech, SaaS, and B2B platforms. A Chartered Accountant with over six years of M&A and investment experience, he previously worked with InnoVen Capital, leading deals in fintech, EV, and D2C sectors. Earlier in his career, he was part of the strategy and transactions team at EY, advising private equity and corporate clients on financial due diligence. Parth combines strong financial expertise with hands-on experience in sourcing, executing, and scaling high-growth startup investments.
Anoushka Bhatia, Vice President, Evolvence Equity Partners: Anoushka Bhatia is Vice President at Evolvence Equity Partners, where she focuses on investments, investor relations, and fundraising across private market opportunities. With over a decade of experience spanning venture capital, corporate development, and investment banking, she brings strong expertise in scaling businesses and managing large funding rounds. Prior to this, she led corporate development and investor relations at Dunzo, helping raise over $400 million in equity and debt financing. She has also worked with Lightbox Ventures and Avista Advisory Group and is a CFA Charterholder.
Devesh Kabra, Assistant Vice President, Ascent Capital: Devesh Kabra is Assistant Vice President at Ascent Capital, where he evaluates investment opportunities across sectors and supports portfolio monitoring and valuation reviews. With a strong background in investment banking and financial advisory, he previously worked at o3 Capital focusing on healthcare sector deals. He also completed training stints with Motilal Oswal Financial Services and EY. Devesh is a Chartered Accountant and CFA charterholder, and a graduate of Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.
Anshu Pandey, AVP – Investments, Athera Venture Partners: Anshu Pandey is AVP – Investments at Athera Venture Partners, where he focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and supporting early-stage technology startups across deep tech, consumer tech, and SaaS. With a strong operator background, he previously worked on product and strategy initiatives at Navi and contributed to building user engagement features at ShareChat, including its short-video platform Moj. Earlier, he also gained investment exposure through roles with Bessemer Venture Partners and Hummingbird Ventures. Anshu holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and a BTech from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Vamsi Karedla, VP Investments, PeerCapital: Vamsi Karedla is VP Investments at PeerCapital, where he focuses on early-stage investments in AI, SaaS, and gaming startups. With a multidisciplinary background spanning law, product development, and venture investing, he brings a unique perspective to identifying and supporting emerging founders. Prior to venture capital, he worked in capital markets at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas advising private equity clients, and later built AI-driven regulatory products at RegGenome. Vamsi holds a law degree from Gujarat National Law University and is passionate about backing innovative technology-led ventures.
Arjun Singh, Vice President, Samara Capital: Arjun Singh is Vice President at Samara Capital, where he leads the firm’s B2B technology investing initiatives across Services and SaaS. He brings strong private equity and investment banking experience, having previously worked at Kotak Investment Banking on M&A and capital market transactions across multiple sectors. At Samara, he focuses on both buyout and growth investments while supporting portfolio companies across logistics, consumer, med-tech and services. Arjun holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and an engineering degree from Delhi College of Engineering, where he graduated with strong academic distinction.
Sakshi Jain Shah, Investment Vice President, EvolutionX Debt Capital: Sakshi Jain Shah is Investment Vice President at EvolutionX Debt Capital, where she focuses on growth-stage debt financing for technology companies across Asia. She brings experience across private equity and investment banking, having previously worked with British International Investment and Goldman Sachs. Her career spans deal origination, investing, portfolio management and exits across sectors and geographies. Sakshi holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode and a B.Com (Hons) from Shri Ram College of Commerce.
Manthan Shah, Principal, WestBridge Capital: Manthan Shah is Principal at WestBridge Capital, where he focuses on partnering with high-growth technology companies across stages. He brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial and venture investing experience, having previously worked with Matrix Partners India and founded HandyHome, which was later acquired by UrbanClap. Earlier in his career, he also worked in strategy and operations at Postmates. Manthan holds a dual degree in engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and actively supports Indian athletes through his association with Olympic Gold Quest.
Ronak Mehta, Principal, Warburg Pincus LLC: Ronak Mehta is Principal at Warburg Pincus, where he focuses on growth investments across high-potential sectors. He has been with the firm since 2020 and previously worked with SAIF Partners and Boston Consulting Group. Ronak brings strong experience in strategy, private equity and venture investing across technology and consumer sectors. He holds an MBA as a Palmer Scholar from The Wharton School and a dual degree in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Anshul Tyagi, Vice President, BAT VC: Anshul Tyagi is Vice President at BAT VC, where he leads early-stage investments across AI, fintech and enterprise SaaS, backing globally ambitious startups from pre-seed to Series A. He combines venture investing with cross-border corporate finance advisory, working with technology companies on capital raising and M&A transactions. Previously, he advised on international tech deals at Carlsquare and continues to support growth-stage companies through strategic advisory roles. Anshul holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Management from Cranfield University.
Anirudh Siddharth, Vice President – Investments, Capital-A: Anirudh Siddharth is Vice President – Investments at Capital-A, where he focuses on backing early-stage startups across deeptech, AI, SaaS and advanced manufacturing. A Chartered Accountant by training, he brings strong experience in venture investing, deal execution and portfolio operations. Previously, he played a key role in evaluating and supporting early-stage startups at Inflection Point Ventures. Anirudh is also an active angel investor, having personally backed around 20 startups across the Indian startup ecosystem.
Ritika Sinha, Director – Investment, CapitalOven: Ritika Sinha is Director – Investment at CapitalOven, where she focuses on sourcing and evaluating high-potential early-stage technology startups. She plays a key role in guiding investments across AI, generative AI and emerging tech sectors, while supporting founders with strategic and operational insights to scale their ventures. With over a decade at the firm, Ritika has helped identify and back innovative startups from seed to Series A stages. She holds a Master of Computer Applications in Computer Science from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering Tirupati.
Harshwardhan Saklecha, Vice President – Investment Team, ValleyNXT Ventures: Harshwardhan Saklecha is Vice President at ValleyNXT Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage startup investments, investor relations and supporting founders with fundraising and strategic advisory. He also serves as Vice President at ASCO Capital, working on M&A, equity and cross-border transactions. A Chartered Accountant with All India Rank 10 in the CA Final examination from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he brings strong financial expertise to the venture ecosystem. Harshwardhan holds a B.Com (Hons.) from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.
Sanjay Mehta, Principal, Mehta Ventures Family Office Investments: Sanjay Mehta is a seasoned early-stage investor and Principal at Mehta Ventures, with investments in more than 150 startups across diverse sectors. He is also the Founder and Partner of 100X.VC, one of the first funds in India to invest using iSAFE notes. Recognized as Angel Investor of the Year by LetsVenture, he has backed several high-growth startups including CoinDCX and Wow! Momo. With four unicorns in his portfolio, Sanjay is widely regarded as one of India’s most active and influential angel investors.
Parth Bhuta, VP – Investments, White Unicorn Ventures: Parth Bhuta is an investment professional at White Unicorn Ventures, focusing on identifying and supporting early-stage startups across multiple sectors. He has been associated with the firm since 2016, contributing to seed funding, strategic guidance, and ecosystem development for emerging ventures. Alongside his investment role, he serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Easy Home Finance Limited. With a background in accounting and finance, Parth actively supports founders in scaling innovative startups.
Avinash Kapur, Vice President – Investments, Z3Partners: Avinash Kapur has been part of Z3Partners since its inception, focusing on early-growth stage investments in technology and digital businesses. With experience spanning venture investing, financial due diligence, and audit, he brings strong analytical expertise to evaluating high-potential startups. Prior to venture capital, he worked with Deloitte India and KPMG India across audit and transaction advisory. A Chartered Accountant, Avinash holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.
Payal Punatar Doshi, Investment Director, Cornerstone Ventures: Payal Punatar Doshi is an Investment Director at Cornerstone Ventures, focusing on backing high-growth Enterprise SaaS and applied AI startups. She plays a key role in portfolio management and investor relations, supporting companies from early growth through scale. A Chartered Accountant with an All India Rank 26 from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, she brings deep expertise in finance, risk management, and operations. Payal has previously held leadership roles across audit, advisory, and consulting in the startup and professional services ecosystem.
Hasitha Reddy, Investment Lead, Tremis Capital: Hasitha Reddy leads early-stage investments and fundraising initiatives at Tremis Capital, supporting startups from seed to Series A. She works closely with founders to make businesses investor-ready, advising on capital raising, transaction structuring, and financial due diligence. With a background in finance, accounting, and audit, she brings strong analytical expertise to evaluating high-growth ventures. Hasitha focuses on sectors including consumer tech, D2C, fintech, and SaaS.
Partth Mahajan, Senior Manager – Corporate Development (VC), Flipkart Ventures: Partth Mahajan leads early to growth-stage investments at Flipkart Ventures, managing a $100M fund across sectors including AI, fintech, healthtech, consumer internet, logistics, and sustainability. He brings over eight years of investment banking experience, having advised high-profile deals such as the $9.6bn sale of Subway to Roark Capital and the $3.3bn acquisition of Tropicana by PAI Partners. Partth has worked with marquee clients and investors in India and the US, combining deep financial expertise with strategic guidance for startups. He holds an MBA from IMT Ghaziabad and a BMS from the University of Delhi.
Aditya Deshpande, Vice President, Lumikai Fund: Aditya Deshpande leads investments at Lumikai Fund, focusing on interactive media, digital platforms, and gaming. He has progressed through multiple roles at the fund, contributing to deal sourcing, analysis, and portfolio management. Aditya holds a Master of Science in Financial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a BA in Economics from Christ University, Bangalore. His expertise combines strong financial analysis with deep insights into emerging tech and entertainment sectors.
Abhijit Gupta, Director, Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India: Abhijit Gupta is a Director at Vertex Ventures, managing early-stage investments across Consumer Internet, Enterprise, FinTech, Healthcare, and Sustainability. He is a former founder and CEO of Dynamove, an AI startup focused on driving assistance systems, and has experience in operational and strategic roles at ITC. Abhijit holds an integrated BTech and MTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras. He combines deep technical knowledge with strong investment and entrepreneurial expertise to back transformative startups.
Mihir Vora, Vice President, Z Nation Lab: Mihir Vora is Vice President at Z Nation Lab, an early-stage startup accelerator supporting tech entrepreneurs with funding, strategy, and corporate connections. He helps startups scale globally by providing access to mentors, investors, Fortune 500 companies, and programs across India and Silicon Valley. Mihir has extensive experience in deal advisory and mergers & acquisitions from his tenure at KPMG India. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Com in Accounting from the University of Mumbai.
Deep Kothari, Vice President, Blue Ashva Capital: Deep Kothari is Vice President at Blue Ashva Capital, where he manages the end-to-end investment lifecycle, portfolio monitoring, and fund administration for early-stage and growth companies. He brings over nine years of expertise in tax, regulatory advisory, transaction structuring, and fund compliance, having worked with leading advisory firms and venture funds. Deep is a Chartered Accountant with a background in commerce and law, and he actively supports portfolio companies across sectors such as Agri, Energy, Health, and FinTech.
Anirvan Chowdhury, Investment Director, Qualcomm Ventures: Anirvan Chowdhury is Investment Director at Qualcomm Ventures, focusing on early and growth-stage investments in India across AI, SaaS, Healthtech, and Frontier Tech. He brings over fifteen years of experience in venture capital, corporate development, data science, and engineering, having worked with Premji Invest, Blume Ventures, Applied Materials, Cipla, and Accenture. Anirvan has led board roles and investments in companies such as LambdaTest, SpotDraft, Pixxel Space, and Sprinto, and combines deep operational expertise with strategic capital allocation to support transformative startups.
Conclusion:
The VCs and investment leaders featured in The VC Power 100 are more than financiers, they are catalysts for change. Through their strategic investments, advisory guidance, and relentless pursuit of innovation, they are shaping the future of India’s AI, SaaS, and MarTech landscape. Their ability to identify high-potential opportunities, support scalable ventures, and mentor visionary founders has created ripples across industries, driving technological progress and market growth. As these leaders continue to champion innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and set new standards of excellence, India’s startup ecosystem is poised to reach unprecedented heights, creating value, impact, and global recognition for years to come.
-Authored and Edited By Shivani Solanki
Disclaimer
The selection process involves rigorous evaluation but is based on subjective criteria, which may lead to variations. Parameters include industry influence, reputation, experience, contributions, education, accolades, and followership. While comprehensive assessments may not capture every aspect of a candidate’s profile. Selection does not imply endorsement or guaranteeing future performance. Feedback is welcome for improvement