Japanese Investors make Beeline for Indian Startups

While Softbank hit the headlines in 2014 with its big ticket - leading multi hundred million dollar rounds - in growth stage companies like Snapdeal and Ola, 2015 saw the entry of lesser known Japan-based investors - like Beenos Partners and Rebright Partners - entering the early stage segment in India. Beenos Partners investments include ShopClues.com (Series B), Voonik (Series B), Droom (Series A) and CitrusPay (Series B).

 Both the number of Japanese investors - both Venture Capital and Strategic Investors - as well as startup companies in their portfolio has only grown in 2016.  Active Japanese investors in India include Beenos Partners, Rebright VC, Digital Garage and GMO.

 With some of them teaming up for bigger investments....

And what's more, newer funds from Japan have announced plans to enter India soon like Gree Ventures and Dream Incubator or made single/strategic investments like DeNA, Zenrin, Nihon Kotsu and impact investor Arun Llc,

With Silicon Valley investors turning increasingly nervous in 2016, the inflow of the new investors from Japan has helped Indian startups diversify their investor base.  Which can only be for the good, right? 

To track VC investment of all hues and flavours - American, Japanese or any other - into Indian companies, Sign Up for the FREE Weekly Edition of the Deal Digest: India's First & Most Exhaustive Transactions Newsletter.