Venture Catalysts Raises Rs 150 Crore at $200 Million Valuation

Venture Catalysts, a Mumbai-based multi-stage venture investing platform, has raised approximately $17-18 million through a combination of primary and secondary share sales, valuing the company at about $200 million post-money. The fresh capital will be used to expand leadership teams, launch new funds, and develop AI-driven tools for due diligence and reporting to limited partners. The funding round attracted a diverse set of new investors, including prominent figures such as Ashish Kacholia, Shah Rukh Khan's family office, and actress Aishwarya Rai, alongside existing backers like DMart founder Radhakishan Damani and startup founders Aman Gupta and Ritesh Agarwal. Founded in 2016 as an angel network, Venture Catalysts has grown to manage over $500 million in assets across funds and has deployed around $200 million through syndication from ultra-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth investors, and family offices. The platform has invested in over 400 companies, including notable names like BharatPe, InsuranceDekho, Renee Cosmetics, Zypp Electric, and Kissan Konnect, and operates both deal-by-deal syndication and a venture capital arm structuring Category II AIFs with institutional anchors. The infusion of capital underscores the firm's strategy to deepen its presence in India's startup ecosystem and enhance technological capabilities, particularly through AI integration.