Prime Venture Partners

PrimeVP is a Bengaluru-based VC fund focused on early-stage investments in tech-driven, category-defining companies in India since 2012. Initially launched as AngelPrime and rebranded in 2015, the firm is led by experienced entrepreneurs Sanjay Swamy, Shripati Acharya, Amit Somani, and partner Brij Bhushan, all of whom have firsthand experience in the founder journey.

Identity and Thesis:

Prime typically provides the first institutional funding, supporting companies from seed and pre-Series A to significant growth, with a long-term commitment to remain involved until IPO or major acquisition. The fund is sector-agnostic but focuses on tech-driven ventures in fintech, SaaS, AI/ML, and "digital India" infrastructure, supporting startups with the potential to become market leaders rather than just achieving quick successes.

Funds and Cheque Sizes:

The firm recently announced Fund V, a $100M vehicle, marking its fifth consecutive early-stage fund, a milestone achieved by only a few Indian VCs. From this fund, Prime aims to support 16–18 startups, typically starting with initial cheques of $2–4M and providing up to $12M to successful companies over multiple rounds; throughout a fund's life, it usually invests $6–8M per company.

Portfolio and Impact:

Prime has supported over 50 startups, including notable names like Mygate, Niyo Solutions Inc., WheelsEye, Wayground (formerly Quizizz), PlanetSpark, Dozee, and Zuper. It has achieved significant exits through acquisitions and IPOs, with outcomes such as Happay (Cred), Recko | A Stripe company (Stripe), Perpule (Amazon), Ezetap (Razorpay), and Tracxn (IPO), reflecting its strategy of achieving multiple substantial wins with meaningful ownership rather than pursuing a single unicorn at low stake.

How Prime Works With Founders:

Prime invests in only 3–5 companies annually, allowing for deep, hands-on involvement in product development, go-to-market strategy, hiring, and follow-on fundraising. The team emphasizes disciplined growth, clear paths to profitability, and maintaining strategic focus—striving to be the kind of partner they wished they had when they were founders themselves.