Articles by Suhas Bhat
Fund focus: Quona doubles down on financial inclusion
Financial technology player Quona's $203 million second fund is expected to feature more early-stage rounds, more 'adjacency' plays in previously inaccessible segments, and more start-ups outside of India and Indonesia
Norwest leads Series E for Indian NBFC Veritas Finance
Norwest Venture Partners has led a INR3.5 billion ($46 million) Series E round for Veritas Finance, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) that issues loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
India allows weighted voting rights in domestic IPOs
Founders, promoters and private equity investors in Indian companies will be able to pursue domestic IPOs with superior voting rights following amendments to existing regulations.
India's IL&FS PE unit loses CEO
IL&FS Investment Managers (IIML), the private equity arm of India’s Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), has announced the departure of CEO Krishna Kumar Gangadharan.
India’s Oyo closes Series F round at $1.5b
Indian hotel platform Oyo has concluded a $1.5 billion Series F round by raising $807 million from RA Hospitality Holdings, an entity controlled by founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal, and SoftBank Vision Fund.
Deal focus: Spinny aims to be more than a marketplace
Spinny - alongside industry peer Truebil - has taken the used car sales model that works for Carvana in the US and applied it to India. Combining online reach with offline legitimacy is the key
Lightstone leads $50m Series B for Indian debt marketplace
LGT Lightstone Aspada has led a $50 million Series B round for Vivriti Capital, which operates CredAvenue, an Indian platform that helps companies raise debt.
Binance launches $50m Indian blockchain fund
Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange reportedly based in Malta, has launched a $50 million fund that will invest in “projects and start-ups” in India that will use blockchain technology.
Carlyle secures partial exit from India's SBI Cards
The Carlyle Group has generated proceeds of approximately INR70.3 billion ($951 million) through a partial exit from SBI Cards & Payments, the State Bank of India's (SBI) credit card issuing arm, through a recent IPO.
Q&A: Prosus Ventures' Martin Tschopp
Martin Tschopp, head of Prosus Ventures – formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers – discusses future plans and emerging internet consumer trends
Singapore's Gateway invests $100m in TVS Supply Chain Solutions
Gateway Partners, an emerging markets-focused private equity firm based in Singapore, has invested $100 million in TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS), an Indian supply chain management services company.
Singapore’s Credence hits $50m first close on debut VC fund
Credence Partners, a growth-stage private equity firm in Singapore, has achieved a $50 million first close for a venture capital fund that will invest in Southeast Asia. The full target is $100 million.
Indian payment network for teens raises $4.7m
A group of investors including Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital India and angel investors have contributed $4.7 million in funding to FamPay, a social network for Indian teenagers centered on a parent-supervised payment service.
Fund focus: Quadria's health check
Having raised $595 million for its second healthcare fund, Singapore-headquartered Quadria Capital has a bulky war-chest for investments in fast-growing companies in India and Southeast Asia
Deal focus: UTEC positions Tricog for Japan expansion
University of Tokyo Edge Capital built an unusual bridge between the start-up worlds of Japan and India when backed Tricog's artificial intelligence-enabled healthcare solution
Deal focus: Vogo pursues transformation on two wheels
Vogo and Bounce are both scooter rental start-ups targeting the Indian market, but they are going about it in very different ways. Lightstone Aspada is backing the former's more inclusive approach
Northern Arc reaches first close on India debt fund
Northern Arc Investments, an India-focused private debt investor, has achieved a first close of $23 million on its Northern Arc India Impact Fund.
India proposes rescue package for Yes Bank
The State Bank of India (SBI) plans to acquire a 49% stake in troubled lender Yes Bank as part of a rescue package set to dilute the holdings of a number of private equity backers.
Quona closes second fintech fund at $203m
Quona Capital, a VC focused on financial inclusion in emerging markets, has raised $203 million for its second fund. It will target financial technology across India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Motilal Oswal invests $32m in Indian TB diagnostic player
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has committed INR2.4 billion ($32.4 million) to Molbio Diagnostics, a molecular diagnostics manufacturer that specializes in low-cost diagnosis of tuberculosis and other diseases.
Singapore's Quadria closes second healthcare fund at $595m
Quadria Capital, a Singapore-headquartered private equity firm that invests in healthcare companies across India and Southeast Asia, has raised $595 million for its second fund.
Eight Roads hires new India venture partner
Eight Roads, an independent investment firm backed by Fidelity International, has appointed pharmaceutical industry veteran Shirish Belapure as a venture partner in its India office.
Indian cardiac analytics firm Tricog raises $10.5m
Tricog, an India-based cardiac analytics firm, has raised $10.5 million in Series B funding from a group of domestic and international VCs.
India technology: The Jio effect
Nearly three months have passed since Reliance Industries launched Jio Platforms as a holding company for its digital and telecom businesses. Is it poised to reshape India’s technology landscape?