Stellaris Venture Partners, a prominent venture capital firm, has successfully closed its third India-dedicated fund, securing $300 million to continue its investment in early-stage startups. This new fund increases Stellaris’ total assets under management (AUM) to over $600 million, reinforcing the firm’s position as a significant player in India’s venture capital space.
The third fund saw strong backing from both existing Limited Partners (LPs) and new global investors, including university endowments, foundations, pension funds, and renowned fund of funds. Stellaris plans to deploy this capital to support 25-30 startups across high-growth sectors such as consumer technology, enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), and financial services.
Since its inception in 2017 by founders Ritesh Banglani, Alok Goyal, and Rahul Chowdhri, Stellaris has invested in 44 startups through its previous funds. Notable investments include early-stage stakes in MamaEarth, a leading consumer brand, and Whatfix, a digital adoption platform. The firm has also supported brands such as Nestasia, Zouk, and Kiwi, which are making waves in their respective sectors.
Stellaris’ growth has been impressive, with its first fund closing at $90 million and the second fund growing to $225 million. With Fund III, the firm is now poised to further its commitment to nurturing innovative startups and shaping the future of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Additionally, the firm has promoted Naman Lahoty, who joined Stellaris in 2019, to the role of partner. Lahoty has been instrumental in driving the firm’s consumer investment strategy, and his elevation highlights Stellaris’ growing expertise in key sectors.
With this new funding, Stellaris Venture Partners aims to continue its mission of identifying and scaling transformative startups that are poised to lead the next wave of innovation in India.
