Top 10 Financial VCs Shaping India's Startup Ecosystem
The support from the best venture capital firms in India and their vision is the very heart of this vibrant upsurge in India's startup ecosystem. The Indian venture capitalists are investing in fintech, health tech, climate solutions, and deep tech innovation, besides fostering creativity, training founders, and scaling bold ideas globally.
This venture capital class is critical to defining the direction that Indian entrepreneurship will take in an area rife with competition and rapid technological development. Their strategic skillfulness, wide international network, and steadfast commitment to disruptive potential pave the way for a new generation of startups with the potential to shake whole industries.
This article highlights the top venture capitalists in India. These Top 10 Financial VCs Shaping India’s Startup Ecosystem are the front-runners managing the Indian innovation boom and are ever-growing their influence, whether you are an aspiring founder, co-investor, or industry watcher.
Neeraj Arora is the founder of Venture Highway, an early-stage venture capital firm supporting innovative startups and actively contributing to the Indian startup funding landscape. He was previously the Global Business Head at WhatsApp, where he played a key role in its growth. Before that, he worked at Google and Times Internet, focusing on investments and acquisitions.
Neeraj holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from ISB. At Venture Highway, he invests in areas like SaaS, AI/ML, and consumer tech, with a portfolio including Applied Intuition, BetterPlace, and CheQ. His experience makes him a leading figure in Indian VC.
Aparna Chaganty is an early-stage investor at Bessemer Venture Partners in Bangalore, playing a key role in shaping the landscape of VC investment in India 2025, especially in sectors like cloud software, internet marketplaces, and machine learning platforms. With a strong interest in startups that have South Asian roots and global potential, Aparna brings deep technical and strategic insight to her investments.
Before joining Bessemer, she was a lead data scientist and product manager at Salesforce in San Francisco. Aparna holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and IIITDM Jabalpur. Her portfolio includes companies like Canva, Bumble, Lentra, and Entropik. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, bouldering, and singing Indian classical music.
Shailendra Singh, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners(formerly Sequoia Capital India), plays a vital role in startup funding in India by backing bold founders and believing in real, lasting impact. Raised in a family rooted in social service, Shailendra grew up with strong values and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully. His journey hasn’t been easy; he battled a major illness in school, faced the pain of losing his entrepreneurial brother, and experienced startup failure early in his career.
However, these challenges made him more empathetic to founders. He looks for authenticity, grit, and clarity in entrepreneurs, those who are deeply self-aware, driven by purpose, and eager to grow.
Nruthya Madappa is a Partner at 3one4 Capital, where she supports VC funding for startups in India and helps startups grow faster and smarter. She works closely with founders to boost their revenue, raise funds, and plan big moves like mergers and acquisitions.
With experience across the U.S. and India, Nruthya has led teams in tech, finance, education, and real estate. Before joining 3one4, she started The CoWrks Foundry, an accelerator that backed 25+ startups and partnered with top universities like Yale and Columbia. A Stanford and Harvard graduate, Nruthya brings sharp insight, a global perspective, and a passion for building strong businesses from the ground up.
Karthik Rampalli is a venture capitalist at Beyond Next Ventures, passionate about backing startups in deep tech and digital transformation. A MEXT Scholar, he studied Information Technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, focusing on AI and deep learning. Before joining BNV, Karthik worked on innovation projects with Japanese companies at an AI startup and Deloitte.
He also helped invest in startups across Japan and the U.S., identifying promising investment opportunities in India. Now at BNV, he supports global expansion for portfolio companies. Fluent in five languages, Karthik is active in global startup and investor communities and is especially excited about sectors like semiconductors, 5G/6G, and cybersecurity.
Also Read: Top 5 Indian Venture Capitalists Shaping the Future of Startups
Dravya Dholakia, the Founder of Dholakia Ventures, is considered one of the top Indian VCs in tech, bringing fresh energy and a bold mindset to the world of venture capital. With a BBA from Pace University and advanced VC training from Harvard, he blends global learning with real-world experience from his family’s diamond business. Since 2018, he has backed exciting startups like Agnikul, Better Opinions, and Melorra.
Beyond investing, Dravya is a licensed pilot and passionate traveler who enjoys exploring new ideas and cultures. His mix of business sense, curiosity, and risk-taking makes him a standout figure among India’s new generation of venture capitalists, shaping the startup ecosystem.
Arjit Johri, Vice President at Mars Shot Ventures, is one of the leading Indian venture capitalists for early-stage startups, passionate about helping new ventures grow and succeed. With experience at the Bharat Innovation Fund, CIIE.CO and EY, he brings a solid mix of investing know-how and hands-on startup support. At Mars Shot, Arjit works closely with founders, guiding them on fundraising, growth strategies, and building meaningful businesses.
His portfolio includes exciting names like Newton School, Hashnode, and Anveshan. Backed by the Razorpay team, Mars Shot aims to give back to the startup world, and Arjit plays a key role in that mission, fueling India’s next wave of innovation with energy and insight.
Manu Chandra is one of the prominent investors in Indian startups and the Founder of Sauce.vc, a fund that backs exciting early-stage consumer brands in India. With over ₹850 crore under management, Manu has helped build popular names like Mokobara, Hocco Ice Creams, The Whole Truth, Epigamia, and XYXX. Before starting Sauce.vc in 2019, he was an investment director at 3i Group, a global private equity firm.
A Ratan Tata Scholar and IIM Ahmedabad graduate, Manu brings deep experience and sharp instincts to the table. He loves spotting ideas early and helping them grow into household names, proving that great consumer brands begin with bold bets and a clear vision.
Chirag Gupta is the Managing Partner at 8X Ventures, where he backs bold deep-tech startups creating real-world impact. Known as India’s 'Youngest Coder' in his early days, Chirag’s journey has taken him across 11 countries, with top roles at 500 Global, Careem (acquired by Uber), McKinsey, PwC, and Korn Ferry. He’s also built AI models for civil defence in Saudi Arabia and advises the innovation board at IIT Chennai.
An MBA grad from Chicago Booth and NTU Singapore, Chirag blends tech, strategy, and heart. When he’s not investing in the future, he enjoys family time with his wife and son.
Ankit Kedia is a second-generation entrepreneur and the founder of Capital-A and Caremont. After leading Manjushree Technopack, South Asia’s largest rigid plastic packaging firm, Ankit sold it to Advent International in 2018. He then launched Caremont, a fast-growing healthcare venture bringing cutting-edge medical devices to India. With Capital-A, he backs early-stage startups that solve real-world problems with purpose and scalability.
Known for his hands-on leadership, Ankit started his journey on the shop floor, learning the ropes the hard way. A passionate investor, marketer, and relationship builder, he now blends business with impact, investing in people, innovation, and the future of healthcare and startups.
In conclusion, India’s startup revolution is being shaped by visionary VCs who do more than fund companies; they fuel ambition, nurture bold ideas, and open doors to global opportunities. These ten leaders are redefining what it means to invest, combining passion with purpose and sharp business acumen with human insight. Their belief in India’s entrepreneurial spirit, especially in areas like seed funding in India and fintech VC funding in India, is creating ripples across industries, economies, and borders.
As India charges ahead into a future powered by innovation, these venture capitalists stand as the catalysts behind its brightest changemakers. Whether you are a dreamer with a pitch or a believer in innovation, these are the names to watch.
This venture capital class is critical to defining the direction that Indian entrepreneurship will take in an area rife with competition and rapid technological development. Their strategic skillfulness, wide international network, and steadfast commitment to disruptive potential pave the way for a new generation of startups with the potential to shake whole industries.
This article highlights the top venture capitalists in India. These Top 10 Financial VCs Shaping India’s Startup Ecosystem are the front-runners managing the Indian innovation boom and are ever-growing their influence, whether you are an aspiring founder, co-investor, or industry watcher.
Neeraj Arora, Founder, Venture Highway
Neeraj Arora is the founder of Venture Highway, an early-stage venture capital firm supporting innovative startups and actively contributing to the Indian startup funding landscape. He was previously the Global Business Head at WhatsApp, where he played a key role in its growth. Before that, he worked at Google and Times Internet, focusing on investments and acquisitions.
Neeraj holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from ISB. At Venture Highway, he invests in areas like SaaS, AI/ML, and consumer tech, with a portfolio including Applied Intuition, BetterPlace, and CheQ. His experience makes him a leading figure in Indian VC.
Aparna Chaganty, Early-Stage Investor, Bessemer
Aparna Chaganty is an early-stage investor at Bessemer Venture Partners in Bangalore, playing a key role in shaping the landscape of VC investment in India 2025, especially in sectors like cloud software, internet marketplaces, and machine learning platforms. With a strong interest in startups that have South Asian roots and global potential, Aparna brings deep technical and strategic insight to her investments.
Before joining Bessemer, she was a lead data scientist and product manager at Salesforce in San Francisco. Aparna holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and IIITDM Jabalpur. Her portfolio includes companies like Canva, Bumble, Lentra, and Entropik. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, bouldering, and singing Indian classical music.
Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners
Shailendra Singh, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners(formerly Sequoia Capital India), plays a vital role in startup funding in India by backing bold founders and believing in real, lasting impact. Raised in a family rooted in social service, Shailendra grew up with strong values and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully. His journey hasn’t been easy; he battled a major illness in school, faced the pain of losing his entrepreneurial brother, and experienced startup failure early in his career.
However, these challenges made him more empathetic to founders. He looks for authenticity, grit, and clarity in entrepreneurs, those who are deeply self-aware, driven by purpose, and eager to grow.
Nruthya Madappa, Partner, 3one4 Capital
Nruthya Madappa is a Partner at 3one4 Capital, where she supports VC funding for startups in India and helps startups grow faster and smarter. She works closely with founders to boost their revenue, raise funds, and plan big moves like mergers and acquisitions.
With experience across the U.S. and India, Nruthya has led teams in tech, finance, education, and real estate. Before joining 3one4, she started The CoWrks Foundry, an accelerator that backed 25+ startups and partnered with top universities like Yale and Columbia. A Stanford and Harvard graduate, Nruthya brings sharp insight, a global perspective, and a passion for building strong businesses from the ground up.
Karthik Rampalli, Venture Capitalist, Beyond Next Ventures
Karthik Rampalli is a venture capitalist at Beyond Next Ventures, passionate about backing startups in deep tech and digital transformation. A MEXT Scholar, he studied Information Technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, focusing on AI and deep learning. Before joining BNV, Karthik worked on innovation projects with Japanese companies at an AI startup and Deloitte.
He also helped invest in startups across Japan and the U.S., identifying promising investment opportunities in India. Now at BNV, he supports global expansion for portfolio companies. Fluent in five languages, Karthik is active in global startup and investor communities and is especially excited about sectors like semiconductors, 5G/6G, and cybersecurity.
Also Read: Top 5 Indian Venture Capitalists Shaping the Future of Startups
Dravya Dholakia, Founder, Dholakia Ventures
Dravya Dholakia, the Founder of Dholakia Ventures, is considered one of the top Indian VCs in tech, bringing fresh energy and a bold mindset to the world of venture capital. With a BBA from Pace University and advanced VC training from Harvard, he blends global learning with real-world experience from his family’s diamond business. Since 2018, he has backed exciting startups like Agnikul, Better Opinions, and Melorra.
Beyond investing, Dravya is a licensed pilot and passionate traveler who enjoys exploring new ideas and cultures. His mix of business sense, curiosity, and risk-taking makes him a standout figure among India’s new generation of venture capitalists, shaping the startup ecosystem.
Arjit Johri, Vice President, Mars Shot Ventures
Arjit Johri, Vice President at Mars Shot Ventures, is one of the leading Indian venture capitalists for early-stage startups, passionate about helping new ventures grow and succeed. With experience at the Bharat Innovation Fund, CIIE.CO and EY, he brings a solid mix of investing know-how and hands-on startup support. At Mars Shot, Arjit works closely with founders, guiding them on fundraising, growth strategies, and building meaningful businesses.
His portfolio includes exciting names like Newton School, Hashnode, and Anveshan. Backed by the Razorpay team, Mars Shot aims to give back to the startup world, and Arjit plays a key role in that mission, fueling India’s next wave of innovation with energy and insight.
Manu Chandra, Founder, Sauce.vc
Manu Chandra is one of the prominent investors in Indian startups and the Founder of Sauce.vc, a fund that backs exciting early-stage consumer brands in India. With over ₹850 crore under management, Manu has helped build popular names like Mokobara, Hocco Ice Creams, The Whole Truth, Epigamia, and XYXX. Before starting Sauce.vc in 2019, he was an investment director at 3i Group, a global private equity firm.
A Ratan Tata Scholar and IIM Ahmedabad graduate, Manu brings deep experience and sharp instincts to the table. He loves spotting ideas early and helping them grow into household names, proving that great consumer brands begin with bold bets and a clear vision.
Chirag Gupta, Managing Partner, 8X Ventures
Chirag Gupta is the Managing Partner at 8X Ventures, where he backs bold deep-tech startups creating real-world impact. Known as India’s 'Youngest Coder' in his early days, Chirag’s journey has taken him across 11 countries, with top roles at 500 Global, Careem (acquired by Uber), McKinsey, PwC, and Korn Ferry. He’s also built AI models for civil defence in Saudi Arabia and advises the innovation board at IIT Chennai.
An MBA grad from Chicago Booth and NTU Singapore, Chirag blends tech, strategy, and heart. When he’s not investing in the future, he enjoys family time with his wife and son.
Ankit Kedia, Founder of Capital-A & Caremont
Ankit Kedia is a second-generation entrepreneur and the founder of Capital-A and Caremont. After leading Manjushree Technopack, South Asia’s largest rigid plastic packaging firm, Ankit sold it to Advent International in 2018. He then launched Caremont, a fast-growing healthcare venture bringing cutting-edge medical devices to India. With Capital-A, he backs early-stage startups that solve real-world problems with purpose and scalability.
Known for his hands-on leadership, Ankit started his journey on the shop floor, learning the ropes the hard way. A passionate investor, marketer, and relationship builder, he now blends business with impact, investing in people, innovation, and the future of healthcare and startups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, India’s startup revolution is being shaped by visionary VCs who do more than fund companies; they fuel ambition, nurture bold ideas, and open doors to global opportunities. These ten leaders are redefining what it means to invest, combining passion with purpose and sharp business acumen with human insight. Their belief in India’s entrepreneurial spirit, especially in areas like seed funding in India and fintech VC funding in India, is creating ripples across industries, economies, and borders.
As India charges ahead into a future powered by innovation, these venture capitalists stand as the catalysts behind its brightest changemakers. Whether you are a dreamer with a pitch or a believer in innovation, these are the names to watch.
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