Singapore’s Antler to pour $100m into Indian startups within the next 4 years

Early-stage VC platform Antler said it plans to invest over US$100 million in India across a number of funds in the next four years.

Antler’s second cohort in Singapore / Photo credit: Antler

These funds will support founders from the idea stage, all the way to their series A and B raises, according to a statement. Antler also announced the appointment of Nitin Sharma as a partner and co-lead for all of the company’s initiatives in India.

Sharma brings with him over a decade of VC experience, having invested in over 50 tech startups worldwide. He had previously helped set up Lightbox Ventures, which now has US$400 million in assets under management, as well as EverFi, an edtech major that reaches 41 million learners.

Most recently, he founded FirstPrinciples, a thesis-driven investment firm with a portfolio of over 35 startups. They include companies such as OnJuno, Niki, Kutumb, and the Google-backed Fynd, which was acquired by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries in 2019.

According to Sharma, India has a treasure trove of investment opportunities, but currently faces a lack of global partners that can provide the resources and follow-on support needed for startups to hit their full potential.

“This is exactly why Antler can fill the gaps and have a transformative impact,” he added. “In addition, all of FirstPrinciples’ portfolio startups will now have access to Antler’s vast global network, capital, and resources.”

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Antler was founded in Singapore in 2017 and has since helped build over 250 companies globally. Some of its recent investments include its participation in the US$5 million series A round of Indonesian workforce platform Sampingan and the US$1.1 million seed round of Singapore’s Appboxo.