Arya Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund, dedicated to backing Indian-origin entrepreneurs, announced today that billionaire Indian entrepreneur and Global Chief Operating Officer of Komerz, Siddharth Shankar, has committed INR 4.2 crore ($500,000) in the fund.
The investment represents a significant milestone for the INR 84 crore ($10 million) fund, which specifically targets post-product, post-revenue startups founded by Indian diaspora entrepreneurs in the UK and the US.
Backing High-Performing Demographics
The fund’s thesis is built on compelling market data. Indian immigrants have founded or co-founded 72 of the 358 unicorns that emerged in the United States since 2018, collectively valued at over INR 16.4 lakh crore ($195 billion). In the UK, Indian diaspora-owned companies generate INR 3.87 lakh crore ($46 billion) in combined revenues and employ over 174,000 people.
Notable Indian-origin founders who have built multiple unicorns include Siddharth Shankar (Tails Group), Mohit Aron (Nutanix, Cohesity), Jyoti Bansal (AppDynamics, Harness), and Ashutosh Garg (Bloomreach, Eightfold.ai).
“I’m excited to back the next generation of Indian diaspora founders,” said Siddharth Shankar. “Arya Ventures has positioned itself uniquely to access and support exceptional entrepreneurs from this community. Indian-origin founders have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to build category-defining companies, and despite being just 2.1% of the US population, they’ve founded 19% of American unicorns. This fund gives us direct access to that exceptional talent pipeline, and I believe we’re investing at exactly the right moment to capture the next wave of innovation.”
Strong Early Portfolio Performance
The fund’s current portfolio includes three investments showing significant traction:
- Avi Vehicles: Raising seed round at 6x valuation with strong investor interest
- KnowYourDosh: Scaled from INR 42,000 ($500) to INR 5.2 lakh ($6,200) monthly recurring revenue
- Prescribe Life: Moving to seed stage at 4x valuation with doubled team and MVP completion
Arya Ventures makes initial investments of INR 1.68-2.1 crore ($200,000-$250,000) in seed-stage companies, with opportunities for follow-on investments up to INR 2.52 crore ($300,000). The fund targets startups valued between INR 84 crore ($10 million) and INR 336 crore ($40 million) pre-money.
Strategic Pipeline and Market Timing
Arya Ventures is currently reviewing terms with several high-potential startups in its pipeline, including companies already backed by Y Combinator and other leading venture capital firms. The fund’s strategy focuses on AI and technology startups, capitalizing on the concentration of Indian-origin talent in cutting-edge sectors.
“Early-stage venture capital success depends on identifying exceptional founders,” said Anmol Goel, Founding Partner of Arya Ventures. “Our research shows that 85% of the most highly-educated founders come from the Indian diaspora, and 32% of all Fortune 100 founders are of Indian origin. This concentration of talent and track record validates our investment focus.”
Addressing Talent Pipeline Advantage
With 78% of Indian-Americans holding at least a bachelor’s degree, more than double the US national average of 36% and Indian professionals receiving approximately 320,000 work visas in 2022-2023, the talent pipeline continues to strengthen.
Indian-origin individuals make up 73% of high-skilled work visa holders in the US, representing a sustained flow of entrepreneurial talent.
About Arya Ventures
Founded by Anmol Goel, a venture builder who has scaled 36 startups and raised over INR 546 crore ($65 million) for ventures from pre-seed to Series B, Arya Ventures combines capital with hands-on operational support. Goel previously held positions at JP Morgan, KPMG, and MMC.
The fund operates with a classical LP/GP structure and targets 20 investments across its portfolio, with a typical holding period of 5-7 years.
