Introduction:
India’s fintech sector has emerged as a key driver of economic transformation, fostering innovation in digital finance, payments, lending, and more. A growing number of venture capitalists have recognized the vast potential within this space, leading to substantial investments in early-stage fintech startups. The following list highlights 30 prominent partner venture capitalists who are actively shaping the future of financial technology in India, providing funding, expertise, and strategic guidance to the next generation of disruptive fintech companies.
Abhinav Chaturvedi (Partner, Accel): A seasoned venture capitalist, Abhinav Chaturvedi is a Partner at Accel, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s fintech landscape. With a sharp eye for high-growth startups, he has been instrumental in backing some of the country’s most promising financial technology ventures. His expertise spans across early-stage investments, helping founders scale and navigate the complexities of the market.
Ravi Gupta (Partner, Sequoia Capital): A distinguished financier with a keen eye for disruptive fintech ventures, Ravi Gupta plays a pivotal role at Sequoia Capital, one of the world’s most influential venture firms. With deep expertise in scaling businesses and a sharp understanding of financial ecosystems, he has been instrumental in backing game-changing fintech startups.
Vani Kola (Managing Director, Kalaari Capital): Vani Kola is the Founder and Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, one of India’s leading early-stage venture capital firms. Vani has successfully led more than 30 investments at Kalaari in e-commerce, gaming, digital content, healthcare and more. Some of her successes include: Dream11, Myntra, Cure.fit, and Snapdeal. Vani currently serves on the board of several companies that are redefining the landscape of Indian business.
Ashish Fafadia (Partner, Blume Ventures): Ashish Fafadia leads the Fintech and Growth portfolios at Blume Ventures, supporting the growth and success of notable portfolio companies such as Slice, Purplle, Turtlemint, Jai Kisan, and Stellapps. He also spearheads fundraising initiatives for Blume’s core, opportunity, and continuity funds across MENA, SE Asia, and India.
Sunitha Viswanathan (Partner, Kae Capital): With a sharp eye for disruptive fintech innovations, Sunitha Viswanathan, Partner at Kae Capital, has been instrumental in backing early-stage startups that redefine financial services in India. Leveraging her deep expertise in venture investing, she plays a pivotal role in identifying, nurturing, and scaling high-potential fintech ventures.
Sahil Anand (Founder & Managing Partner, Cedar-IBSi Capital): Sahil founded and manages Cedar-IBSi Capital, India’s only pure-play early-stage FinTech VC fund that invests primarily in B2B/BankTech and infra companies. He also works closely with the Cedar-IBSi FinTech Lab, their in-house accelerator that has been home to 48+ successful BankTechs and FinTechs since 2017.
Tarana Lalwani (Partner, Innoven Capital): Tarana Lalwani is a Partner at InnoVen Capital where she heads sourcing and execution of venture debt transactions, as well as portfolio management. Given her deep understanding of the Indian startup ecosystem, she plays an active role within the portfolio companies, leveraging an established network and senior relationships.
Ritu Verma (Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Ankur Capital Fund): Ritu Verma is a leading venture capitalist driving fintech innovation in India. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ankur Capital Fund, she backs early-stage startups transforming financial services through technology. Known for her hands-on mentorship, Ritu plays a crucial role in scaling startups, making her one of India’s most influential investors in fintech.
Anand Lunia (Founding Partner, India Quotient): Anand is the Founding Partner at India Quotient, a venture capital firm focused on start-ups operating in fintech, edtech, social networking, logistics, healthcare and other consumer businesses. Anand focuses on raising the investment fund from Limited Partners, and shaping and driving the fund’s investment strategy. Also, along with his team, he plays an active role in the investee companies’ development.
Padmaja Ruparel (Founding Partner, India Angel Network): A stalwart in India’s early-stage investment ecosystem, Padmaja Ruparel is the Founding Partner of India Angel Network (IAN), one of the country’s largest angel investment platforms. With a keen eye for identifying high-potential startups, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the venture capital landscape, particularly in fintech and emerging tech sectors. She has been awarded as one of the ‘Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business’ by Fortune India for 4 years.
Varun Malhotra (Partner, Quona Capital): Varun Malhotra, Partner at Quona Capital, has over a decade of venture investing experience across technology, financial services and impact. Varun focuses on Quona’s investment activities and portfolio in South and Southeast Asia. Varun was recognized as part of Forbes 30 under 30 for Finance & Venture Capital in Asia, and is a Kauffman Fellow.
Karan Mohla (General Partner, B Capital): Karan Mohla is a General Partner at B Capital where he co-leads the South and Southeast Asia team. Karan has two decades of global financial sector experience and nearly 15 years in technology-focused venture investing. At B Capital, he has invested primarily in early-stage venture investments, including Sugar.fit, Turno, Nektar, Brik and Accacia, among others.
Rishi Navani (Founder & Managing Partner, Epiq Capital): A veteran venture capitalist with over two decades of experience, Rishi Navani is the driving force behind Epiq Capital, a growth-focused investment firm backing some of India’s most promising technology startups. Before founding Epiq, he co-founded Matrix Partners India, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s early-stage venture ecosystem. Under his leadership, Epiq Capital continues to fuel India’s innovation economy by partnering with visionary entrepreneurs in fintech and beyond.
Anirudh A. Damani (Managing Director, Artha India Ventures): A dynamic investor and entrepreneur, Anirudh A. Damani is the Managing Director of Artha India Ventures, an influential early-stage investment.
Rahul Chandra (Managing Director, Arkam Ventures):
Rahul Chandra is a seasoned venture capitalist with a strong focus on fintech and financial inclusion. As the Managing Director at Arkam Ventures, he has been instrumental in backing startups that are transforming India’s financial landscape, particularly in lending, payments, and digital banking.
Pranav Pai (Founding Partner, 3one4 Capital):
Pranav Pai is a key figure in India’s fintech investment ecosystem. As a Founding Partner of 3one4 Capital, he leads investments in early-stage companies that are leveraging technology to revolutionize financial services. His firm has backed companies such as Open, Jupiter, and Khatabook.
Siddharth Pai (Founding Partner, 3one4 Capital):
Siddharth Pai, alongside his brother Pranav, co-founded 3one4 Capital. His expertise in financial technology and data-driven investments has helped numerous fintech startups scale rapidly. His firm focuses on early-stage investments in startups solving critical problems in finance, SaaS, and deep tech.
Jinesh Shah (Managing Partner, Omnivore Partners):
Jinesh Shah is a pioneer in impact investing, with a strong focus on agritech and rural fintech solutions. As the Managing Partner of Omnivore Partners, he backs startups that provide financial inclusion to underserved communities, bridging the gap between technology and financial services.
Pankaj Jain (Managing Partner, Saka Ventures):
Pankaj Jain is a well-known investor in India’s fintech ecosystem. Through Saka Ventures, he invests in early-stage startups that are addressing financial inclusion, payments, and lending challenges with innovative solutions. His hands-on approach helps startups navigate complex market dynamics.
Shailesh Lakhani (Managing Director, Peak XV Partners – formerly Sequoia India & SEA):
Shailesh Lakhani is a leading venture capitalist with a track record of investing in some of India’s most successful fintech startups. His keen understanding of financial markets and consumer behavior has made him a sought-after investor in the space.
Siddharth Nautiyal (Partner, Omidyar Network India):
Siddharth Nautiyal is a Partner at Omidyar Network India, where he focuses on fintech, financial inclusion, and impact investing. He has played a crucial role in backing startups that cater to underserved populations and enhance financial accessibility.
Bhavik Vasa (Founder & General Partner, GetVantage):
Bhavik Vasa is the Founder of GetVantage, an alternative financing platform for digital-first businesses. His venture fund is helping fintech startups scale by providing non-dilutive funding, enabling entrepreneurs to focus on growth without giving up equity.
Sanat Rao (General Partner, MD, Lightspeed India Partners):
Sanat Rao leads Lightspeed’s fintech investments in India and Southeast Asia. He has backed several high-growth startups in lending, digital payments, and wealth management. Lightspeed India is known for its strategic investments in market leaders such as Razorpay and Cred.
Kunal Khattar (Founder & Managing Partner, AdvantEdge Partners):
Kunal Khattar is a seasoned investor with a strong focus on mobility fintech, lending, and insurance tech. Through AdvantEdge Partners, he invests in startups that are leveraging technology to improve access to financial services across diverse sectors.
Rajesh Raju (Managing Partner, Kalaari Capital):
As Managing Partner at Kalaari Capital, Rajesh Raju has been an early backer of fintech innovations that are reshaping India’s financial ecosystem. His focus on early-stage investments has led to the success of multiple high-growth startups in the sector.
Mukul Singhal (Co-Founder & Partner, Pravega Ventures):
Mukul Singhal has been a prominent figure in India’s early-stage investment landscape. Through Pravega Ventures, he invests in fintech startups that are pioneering solutions in digital lending, wealth management, and insurtech.
Sumer Juneja (Managing Partner, SoftBank Vision Fund India):
Sumer Juneja leads SoftBank’s investments in India, backing some of the biggest names in fintech, such as Paytm and Zeta. With access to a massive global fund, he plays a significant role in fueling fintech innovation and expansion.
Varun Dua (Founder, Acko & Investor):
Varun Dua, the founder of Acko, is not just a fintech entrepreneur but also an active investor in emerging startups. His deep understanding of the insurtech space has made him a valuable mentor and backer for new-age financial technology companies.
Gopal Jain (Managing Partner, Gaja Capital):
Gopal Jain has over two decades of experience in private equity and venture capital. Through Gaja Capital, he invests in fintech companies that focus on financial inclusion, SME lending, and digital financial services.
Rajat Agarwal (Managing Director, Matrix Partners India):
Rajat Agarwal leads fintech investments at Matrix Partners India. His keen eye for identifying disruptive startups has resulted in successful investments in companies like Jupiter, Razorpay, and M2P Fintech.
Conclusion:
These 30 venture capitalists are playing a crucial role in shaping India’s fintech revolution. By providing capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance, they are enabling startups to innovate and scale, ultimately transforming the financial landscape of the country. As fintech continues to evolve, these investors will remain at the forefront, backing the next generation of disruptive financial solutions.
–Authored and edited by Sandhya Bharti, Deputy Editor, Indian Startup Times.
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 welcomed for improvement.
