Chiratae Ventures

Established in 2006 as IDG Ventures India, Chiratae (meaning "leopard" in Kannada) has earned a solid reputation over nearly two decades. The firm rebranded to Chiratae Ventures in 2018 to emphasize its identity as a homegrown venture capital firm with deep Indian roots and global aspirations.

With over $1.1 billion in assets under management, Chiratae has supported more than 130 startups, participated in over 50 exits, and consistently delivered value across various sectors and cycles. Based in Bengaluru, it focuses on India-first but globally scalable concepts.

Investment Focus

Chiratae is recognized for its sectoral expertise and ability to support category creators. Key investment sectors include:

Consumer Tech – e.g., FirstCry.com (BrainBees Solutions Ltd.), Flipkart (partial exit)

Fintech – e.g., KreditBee, Policybazaar.com

HealthTech – e.g., HealthifyMe App, Curefit

SaaS / Enterprise Tech – e.g., Uniphore, Hevo Data

Deep Tech & Climate Tech – increasingly active with forward bets on AI, Agritech, and sustainability.

They typically invest in Seed to Series C rounds, writing checks between $500K to $10M, with strong follow-on participation.

Notable Portfolio Highlights

Lenskart.com: India’s eyewear giant and unicorn.

Curefit: Leading health and wellness platform.

Uniphore: Conversational AI player with a global clientele.

(FirstCry.com Bees Solutions Ltd.): Baby products e-commerce brand turned omnichannel powerhouse.

Leadership That Understands Founders:

Chiratae's leadership — Sudhir Sethi (Founder & Chairman), TC Meenakshisundaram (Vice Chairman), Ranjith Menon, Karthik Prabhakar, and others — bring a unique blend of operating and investing experience. Their "founder-first" approach, combined with deep mentorship and hands-on involvement, provides startups with the advantage they need.

Why Chiratae Matters in 2025

As India moves towards becoming a $5 trillion economy and a startup powerhouse, Chiratae remains a crucial growth partner for tech-first businesses. Their early investments in health, climate, and AI-backed tools demonstrate their forward-thinking thesis and readiness to drive the next wave of Indian innovation.

The VC Verdict:

If you're a startup with a bold vision and technology at your core, Chiratae might be your ideal partner. They don’t just write checks — they accompany you on the journey.