Bertelsmann wants to invest $200-250m in Indian start-ups
What's the story
German media group Bertelsmann plans to deploy $200-250 million in India's start-up ecosystem over the next four years. Bertelsmann India Investments (BII) currently has a deployment book of $150 million and has already made 30 deals in the country. The firm has been in the Indian scene since 2013-end and now it wants to invest $50-60 million annually. Here's more about it.
Plan
What's the plan?
Pankaj Makkar, MD of Bertelsmann India Investments, said to ET that if they include all the commitments that the firm has lined up for the next 12 months to make deals, it would be about $200 million and that's just for their follow-on investments. The new deals that the company intends to carry out will be "over and above this," said Makkar.
Investments
Where it comes in?
This venture capital fund usually invests in three to four deals a year. Makkar said, "Series B is a great space to be in right now because there is more demand than supply. That means we will, hopefully, get better deals and therefore end up building a good portfolio." Some of its Indian investments are Pepperfry, Lendingkart, Saavn, and Treebo.