In a significant development for India’s innovation ecosystem, Bat VC, a global venture capital firm, has officially launched its India operations, committing to invest up to $100 million through its second fund. The fund will focus on early-stage deeptech and artificial intelligence (AI) startups, particularly in sectors such as fintech and B2B SaaS.
Bat VC’s India Entry Signals Confidence in AI Growth Potential
Founded by tech veterans Manish Maheshwari (former Twitter India head), Aditya Mishra (ex-Yahoo), and Ravi Metta, Bat VC brings deep technical expertise and global investment experience. All three serve as General Partners at the firm, with Maheshwari leading the India operations from Bengaluru.
“My move to Bengaluru underscores our conviction in India’s potential to lead the next wave of AI-driven global growth,” said Maheshwari.
Bat VC sees India as a fertile ground for cutting-edge technology development, thanks to its growing tech talent, maturing startup ecosystem, and increasing global market access.
“Our technical depth enables us to identify high-impact AI startups early and guide them through global scale-up,” added Ravi Metta.
Riding the AI Wave: India’s Strategic Importance
According to Bat VC, India’s AI sector is currently growing at 32% CAGR and is projected to reach $23 billion by 2027. Additionally, US-India cross-border AI investments surged 180% in 2023, hitting $4.7 billion, signaling heightened investor interest in the region.
Bat VC’s India expansion aims to capitalize on this momentum by backing promising startups from seed to scale, enabling them to grow globally.
Notable Portfolio and Future Outlook
Bat VC’s first fund featured investments in successful AI and deeptech ventures including:
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Wand AI
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StockGro
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Nickelytics (acquired)
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Accern (acquired)
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*Uptiq AI
With its new India-focused strategy, Bat VC aims to support visionary founders building the next generation of AI-driven platforms and solutions with global scalability.