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Backing The Audacious Entrepreneur
Managed by Chiratae Ventures
SEBI-encouraged funds — venture capital, SME, social-impact and infrastructure. Close-ended, generally unleveraged.
Chiratae Trust (IN/AIF1/15-16/0174) is a SEBI-registered Category I Alternative Investment Fund managed by Naigama Investment Manager LLP — part of Chiratae Ventures, India's largest home-grown venture capital firm. Originally founded as IDG Ventures India in 2006 (backed by International Data Group, co-founded by Patrick J. McGovern), the firm rebranded to Chiratae Ventures in 2018. Headquartered in Bangalore, Chiratae manages USD 1.3 billion in AUM across 7 funds with 130+ investments, 56 exits, 5 IPOs, and 8 unicorns including Flipkart, Myntra, PolicyBazaar, Lenskart, Cult.fit, FirstCry, GlobalBees, and Uniphore. The firm invests in disruptive technology startups across SaaS, ConsumerTech, HealthTech, FinTech, EdTech, AgriTech, Mobility, ClimateTech, Deep Tech, and B2B — with a thesis-driven approach targeting white spaces in large Indian markets. Chiratae's platform includes programs such as Chiratae Sonic (48-hour seed investment decisions up to USD 2 million), Chiratae Spotlight (India's largest follow-on funding program), Chiratae Showcase, Chiratae Midas (for family offices), and the annual McGovern Awards (instituted 2016) and Pride of India Awards. The fund is registered at 7B, 7th Floor, Sobha Pearl No. 1, Commissariat Road, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Sudhir Sethi
Founder & Chairman
Sudhir Sethi is Founder and Chairman of Chiratae Ventures India Advisors. He has over 30 years of technology and investment leadership experience. Under his leadership, Chiratae has managed USD 1.3 billion across 7 funds, made 135+ investments, achieved 60 exits including 18 M&A transactions and 5 IPOs, and backed 8 unicorns. Over USD 300 million has been invested in 60+ DeepTech companies across AI, Climate, Healthcare, Medical Devices, Robotics, SpaceTech, and Agile Manufacturing. He has served on advisory roles with EMPEA, IVCA, NASSCOM, SEBI's AIF Committee, and IIM Bangalore's Entrepreneurship Centre, and was named a Visionary Venture Capitalist by Bloomberg UTV. He is an engineering graduate in Electronics and Telecommunications and holds an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi.
TC Meenakshisundaram
Founder & Vice Chairman
TC Meenakshisundaram (TCM) is Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Chiratae Ventures with 38+ years of industry experience including 18+ years in venture capital. He has served on the boards of Lenskart, AgroStar, Vayana, Kristal.ai, Metadome, Bounce, HUVIAiR, and Pando. He led investments in PolicyBazaar, Lenskart, Zivame, Cloudcherry, Fintellix, and Vayana Network. Previously at Walden International (investments in Mindtree, Jobstreet) and CFO & President at Venture Infotek, and 14 years at Wipro.
Venkatesh Peddi
Managing Director
Venkatesh Peddi is Managing Director at Chiratae Ventures with 20+ years of experience including 14 years in venture. He leads the SaaS/Cloud practice and has authored the annual 'Indian SaaS Revolution' report. Investments include Deepfence, Healthplix, Hevo Data, Pixis, Questt, Rentomojo, SquadStack, and GetVantage. Prior roles at Reliance Ventures, Credit Suisse, and Blue Star Infotech. CFA charterholder; B.E. from VJTI Mumbai, MBA from JBIMS.
Ranjith Menon
Managing Director
Ranjith Menon is Managing Director at Chiratae Ventures focusing on early-stage health-tech and online B2B. He has been investing in Indian tech startups since 2007. Portfolio includes Uniphore, Redcliffe, and ExMyB; past investments include Myntra (acquired by Flipkart) and Fintellix (acquired by Verisk). Previously designed aircraft engines at Pratt & Whitney. B.E. from Bangalore University; MBA from Great Lakes Institute of Management.
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Anoop N Menon
Principal – Investments
Anoop N Menon leads the ConsumerTech sector and APAC investor/strategic partner network at Chiratae. 18+ years across management consulting, family office VC, and startup operations. Previously at Accenture Ventures (led India's lone acquisition of a Data-AI startup in 2020). Investments include PlayShifu, Shopdeck, Tamasha, and Railofy. MBA from IIM Indore.
Amish Dedhia
Principal – Growth & Exit
Amish Dedhia leads Portfolio Growth and Exits at Chiratae, including the Spotlight platform for LP-portfolio engagement. 15+ years in investment banking across YES Bank and PwC (where he built the New Age Digital and TMT vertical for Corporate Finance). Started career at McKinsey & Co. MBA from IIM Indore.
Mandeep Julka
VP – Investments
Mandeep Julka is VP – Investments at Chiratae leading Seed and Series A deals. Previously at Ola (Head of Business Finance, Ola Financial Services), IFC Washington DC (FinTech investing), Brightriver Capital (Singapore), and SBI Capital Markets. CFA charterholder; B.E. from PEC Chandigarh; studied at FMS Delhi and Chicago Booth.
Saharsh Sharma
VP – Investments
Saharsh Sharma leads Northern India investments at Chiratae across Seed to Series B. Previously investor at Orios Venture Partners, founder (health-tech exit), and growth roles at Ola and Rivigo.
Chandraneel
AVP – Investments
Chandraneel focuses on early-stage investment evaluation at Chiratae. Previously Investment Banking Associate at JP Morgan (North American Healthcare M&A and equity raises). B.E. (Hons) EEE from BITS Pilani; CFA Level 3 candidate.
Swaminathan Shankar
Chief Financial Officer & Compliance Officer
Swaminathan Shankar is Chiratae's CFO, Compliance Officer, and E&S Manager. Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with 12+ years of experience overseeing finance, treasury, investor relations, and compliance. Previously VP-Finance at Sequoia Capital India. Specialises in tax structuring, financial reporting, and portfolio company IPO/secondary exits.
Amritha Salian
General Counsel
Amritha Salian heads the legal team at Chiratae, handling complex portfolio matters, fund formation, and commercial agreements. 16+ years post-qualification experience; previously partner at leading Indian law firms for a decade. Gold medalist, B.A. LL.B. from University Law College, Bengaluru.
Kris Gopalakrishnan
Advisor
S. 'Kris' Gopalakrishnan is Co-founder of Infosys and Chairman of Axilor Ventures. Former CEO & MD of Infosys (2007–2011) and Vice Chairman (2011–2014). Recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2011). Past President of CII (2013–14) and co-chair of WEF Davos (2014). Holds M.S. degrees in physics and computer science from IIT Madras.
Ratan Tata
Senior Advisor
Ratan N. Tata was Chairman of Tata Sons (1991–2012), overseeing the group's revenues growing to over USD 100 billion. Recipient of the Padma Vibhushan (2008). B. Architecture from Cornell (1962); Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School (1975). Senior Advisor to Chiratae Ventures.
Bruno Raschle
Advisor
Bruno Raschle is Founder and Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Schroder Adveq, which he founded in 1997. 15+ years in venture capital investing. M.S. in Construction Engineering from ETH Zurich; M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University; Advanced Management Program, Harvard.
Dr Andreas Hettich
Advisor
Dr. Andreas Hettich is Chair of the Hettich Group Advisory Board (€1.1 billion global furniture fittings manufacturer) and Managing Partner of Dr. Hettich Beteiligungen GmbH.
Manish Choksi
Advisor
Manish Choksi is Vice Chairman and Board Director of Asian Paints Limited, having joined in 1992 and led International Business, IT, Supply Chain, and HR functions. Previously President – International Business, IT, HR and Chemicals at Asian Paints. Active angel investor focused on consumer and data/analytics companies.
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