BAT VC Floats $100 Mn Fund To Back Indo-US Startups

Former X India head Manish Maheshwari’s VC firm, BAT VC, has entered the Indian market with a $100 million fund to support early-stage startups.

The firm said its second fund will invest in startups in both India and the US, focusing on sectors like AI, fintech and SaaS.

BAT VC is co-founded by Manish Maheshwari, ex-Yahoo executive Aditya Mishra (now Managing Director), and former Finastra CTO Ravi Metta (who leads US operations). All three are general partners, with Maheshwari leading the firm’s expansion in India.

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The US-based firm said the fund has already attracted strong interest from top institutional investors, strategic partners, and family offices in both countries.

"My move to Bengaluru underscores our conviction in India's potential to lead the next wave of AI-driven global growth," said Manish Maheshwari, General Partner and India Head at BAT VC.

"We aim to back Indian founders building globally relevant AI products, supported by capital and perspective from both the US and India," said Aditya Mishra, Managing Director and General Partner.

"Our technical depth enables us to identify high-impact AI startups early and guide them through global scale-up," said Ravi Metta, General Partner.

BAT VC explained its investment strategy by highlighting three key focus areas. First, it invests in startups before they reach product-market fit and helps reduce risks by offering active support and in-house frameworks. Second, it assists founders in connecting with customers, raising capital, and hiring talent across both India and the US. Third, it prioritizes startups that put AI at the core of their products and business models.

The firm believes India’s AI sector is entering a "golden era," with 4.5 lakh AI and machine learning professionals and a strong ecosystem ready for global growth. BAT VC added that the mix of talent, funding, and market access makes India an exciting place for AI investments.

About BAT VC

Founded in 2021, BAT VC is a New York-based venture capital firm that supports early-stage, AI-focused startups in areas like fintech and SaaS. The firm helps founders reach product-market fit and grow globally.

BAT VC launched its first fund in 2022. It claims to have achieved a 30% internal rate of return (IRR) and a 1.61x return on invested capital. The startups in this fund reportedly saw an average revenue growth of 210% in just 18 months.

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