8i Ventures, a prominent early-stage venture capital fund, has unveiled the second edition of its pre-seed funding program, Origami. This initiative, designed to empower early-stage founders, follows the success of its inaugural edition in March 2024. In its first iteration, Origami invested $600,000 across three startups:
- Cobalt – A SaaS platform enabling native integrations.
- Cautio – A fleet dashcam and video telematics solution.
- A yet-to-launch startup still in stealth mode.
The Origami program sets itself apart by offering a rapid funding process, aimed at removing friction for early-stage founders. The timeline includes a guaranteed response within one week, a term sheet in two weeks, and deal closure in just four weeks.
In support of this initiative, 8i Ventures has allocated $10 million from the $25 million raised in the first close of its $50 million second fund. The fund emphasizes finding founders with a clear vision, strong customer insights, and a well-rounded skill set in technology, product development, and sales.
Track Record of Success
8i Ventures has an impressive history of identifying and supporting high-potential startups. For example, its initial $200,000 investment in M2P Technologies yielded a remarkable 36x return, with M2P now valued at $800 million. Other successful investments include challenger brands like Slice, Kodo, and Blue Tokai, as well as fintech enablers such as BharatX, EzeTap, and Signzy.
The venture fund’s portfolio boasts over 50 seed and early-stage investments in the past decade, collectively creating more than $5 billion in shareholder value in India and globally.
Empowering Future Innovators
With Origami’s second edition, 8i Ventures aims to continue its mission of supporting visionary founders and transformative ideas. By combining streamlined funding processes with strategic support, the program ensures that startups can swiftly transition from concept to execution.
This initiative reflects 8i Ventures’ commitment to nurturing innovation and fostering growth in India’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
