Kriscore Capital, a newly launched venture firm focused on early-stage Indian technology startups, has announced the first close of its debut ₹100 crore fund.
An additional ₹100 crore greenshoe option has also been provisioned to accommodate future commitments.
Initial funding commitments of ₹50 crore have been secured from a selected group of family offices and high-net-worth individuals. The firm has outlined plans to invest in 16 to 18 high-potential startups addressing large-scale challenges through technology-led solutions.
Positioned as a sector-agnostic fund, Kriscore Capital will back tech-driven businesses at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a preference for founders building solutions aligned with key market trends in India. These include the growing digital consumer segment, China+1 supply chain diversification, the global export potential of India’s premium market, generative AI-powered services, and sustainability goals targeting Net Zero 2070. The firm has already completed its first investment in a startup operating in stealth mode.
Commenting on the announcement, Nilesh Balakrishnan, General Partner at Kriscore Capital, stated, India’s startup ecosystem is witnessing significant momentum, with founders creating businesses that have the potential for lasting global impact. He added that beyond providing capital, the firm will actively offer financial expertise, compliance mentorship, and strategic global connections to support founders in building transformative ventures.
The firm’s team brings decades of combined experience across early-stage venture capital, investment banking, and financial services. Kriscore Capital aims to deliver value-added support focusing on critical yet often overlooked aspects of the founder journey, helping to mitigate risks associated with early-stage investments.
In addition to its core team, Kriscore Capital is supported by a distinguished Advisory Board. This includes D Sundaram, Lead Independent Director at Infosys Ltd; Shyam Srinivasan, former Managing Director and CEO of Federal Bank Ltd; and Manish Khetarpal, Founding Partner at WaterBridge Ventures. A broader network of senior industry professionals has also been established to provide strategic guidance and operational support to the fund’s portfolio companies.