Japanese automotive giant Suzuki has unveiled Next Bharat Ventures, an India-focused venture investment arm, with a significant corpus of Rs 340 crore to support early-stage startups. This initiative underscores Suzuki’s commitment to fostering innovation and social impact within the Indian startup ecosystem.
Next Bharat Ventures will operate as a subsidiary of Suzuki, with the Japanese conglomerate serving as the sole limited partner (LP) for this inaugural fund. This structure allows Suzuki to directly influence and support the growth of promising startups.
The venture fund will deploy investments through a residency program, set to kick off its first cohort in October this year. Applications for the program open on Thursday. The residency will be modelled after renowned programs such as Antler and Y Combinator but with a unique focus on startups that aim to create significant social impact through their business models.
Over the next three to four years, Next Bharat Ventures plans to make up to 20 investments annually, with individual investment sizes ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 8 crore. The fund will target sectors including agritech, supply chain management, financial inclusion, and rural mobility. A significant emphasis will be placed on startups that benefit the informal economy, such as gig workers and waste management labourers, and those that support the rural economy, including farmers and artisans.
This initiative follows Maruti Suzuki India’s recent startup engagements. In June 2023, Maruti Suzuki India selected six startups—DriverShaab, Route2Jute, OiHelp, Hopun Innovations, Backyard Creators, and Salutem Ridegear—under its nurture program, conducted in collaboration with the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP). Additionally, earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki India acquired a 6.44% stake in Amlgo Labs.
Through Next Bharat Ventures, Suzuki aims to leverage its resources and expertise to empower Indian startups, drive innovation, and create a lasting social impact.
