E-businesses have overshadowed the traditional businesses in India by making service easy through technology, however the traditional market is still a widely accepted option as it is accessible for both, the customers and the brands. Keeping in mind the underserved segment of the country, it has become imperative to back the traditional businesses which bring financial, social & environmental benefits into cogitation globally. Look out for these impact investment VC’s stimulating the growth of SMEs focusing on sustainable development goals.
C4D Partners, an impact fund manager established in the Netherlands in 2012, plans to extend its reach to potential investors in India by mid-2022. The firm believes that equitable economic development is critical to economic inclusion and the advancement of perspectives in underserved communities. With its investments, C4D Partners aims for risk-adjusted market-rate financial returns coupled with social returns for underserved communities. The firm seeks to invest in early and growth-stage companies in sectors such as agriculture and allied activities, food processing, retail and consumer goods, clean energy, healthcare, skilling and education, water and sanitation, financial inclusion, and others in India.
Omnivore, an India-based firm, invests in entrepreneurs who are building the future of agriculture and food systems. Since 2011, the firm has supported over 20 agritech startups in India, driving agricultural prosperity and transforming food systems across the country. The portfolio companies of Omnivore aim to make farming more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
Aavishkaar Capital, established in 2001, pioneered the venture capital approach to investing in early-growth stage enterprises in India, with a focus on geographies and sectors that were often ignored and difficult. Aavishkaar Capital has raised six funds since then, with almost half a billion dollars in assets under management today.
Ankur Capital is an India-focused micro-fund that incubates and invests in start-up businesses that have an impact on low-income communities. The firm focuses on models that can significantly improve livelihoods, as well as those that impact health and education in these communities. It works closely with young companies, providing intensive hands-on support as well as seed capital. Ankur Capital aims to establish sustainable organizations that can grow and create impact at the earliest stages of investing with an innovative approach.
