• NuVentures will invest in four to five startups annually, with investment sizes ranging from $250,000 to $750,000.
  • The firm has expanded its leadership team by adding three new partners—Visveswaran Kartik, Neel Mukerji, and Prabhakar DJ—to enhance decision-making.

Early-stage venture capital firm NuVentures founded by investor Venk Krishnan, has unveiled a $75 million fund aimed at supporting startups with a strong India connection.

The firm, headquartered in the United States, will primarily invest in AI, SaaS, and consumer technology startups that either originate in India and target the US market or are based in the US with engineering teams in India.

A More Structured Investment Approach

Krishnan has been actively investing in India's startup ecosystem since 2002, backing companies like Mu Sigma, BigBasket, Acko, HomeLane, Third Wave Coffee, Geist Beer, Lucidity, and Foxtale.

While his earlier investments followed an angel investor model—focusing on founder passion and market potential—NuVentures now takes a structured approach, offering capital alongside strategic support and market access.

“We will take our startups directly to our customers to get real market feedback, including a proof of concept (PoC),” Krishnan said.

New York-based technology company NuWare, also founded by Krishnan, will serve as a bridge between NuVentures’ portfolio companies and potential customers in sectors such as financial services, retail, and healthcare.

Investment Strategy and Growing Team

NuVentures plans to invest in four to five startups per year, with investment sizes ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. The fund has already secured commitments from high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and a Fund of Funds in the US. Initial investments include four startups, among them Pivot Robotics and a startup founded by Carnegie Mellon University alumni.

As venture capital firms become more selective due to the funding slowdown, Krishnan emphasized that investors now expect startups to demonstrate a clear path to revenue or profitability.

Unlike many VC firms, NuVentures will not charge a large management fee, allowing investors greater flexibility in choosing which startups to back.

Additionally, NuVentures has expanded its leadership team, moving away from Krishnan’s solo investment approach. The firm has brought in three new partners—Visveswaran Kartik, Neel Mukerji, and Prabhakar DJ—to strengthen its investment strategy through collective decision-making.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah