Ex-BharatPe Executive Pratekk Agarwaal Launches Maiden Operator VC Fund

Updated on: 4 August 2023 4:54 am

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Pratekk Agarwaal, the former Chief Business Officer at BharatPe, has unveiled GrowthCap Ventures, a category II fund to raise Rs 50 crore. It will focus on early-stage investments, from seed to pre-Series A rounds, with a primary emphasis on the fintech, software as a service (SaaS), and deep-tech sectors.

The fund is set to invest in 12 to 15 promising deals over the next two years, with cheque sizes ranging from $250,000 to $750,000.

The fund's first close is anticipated within two months, as confirmed by Agarwaal, the founder and general partner of GrowthCap Ventures, during an interview with ET. The uniqueness of this venture lies in its Operator VC model, making it the first of its kind.

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The strategy is centred around backing exceptional founders with a tech-first approach and profound product insights. Eligibility for investment requires the product to have already demonstrated early traction and the potential for significant scalability.

Agarwaal expressed that apart from providing capital, GrowthCap Ventures will actively engage with its portfolio companies. The approach entails offering a distinctive blend of operational expertise, tailored advisory services, and access to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) within the portfolio, along with network capital from mentors, operators, and venture capitalists.

With his background as an alumnus of IIM-Kozhikode and previous associations with companies like Bajaj Finsev, Fullerton India, Indostar Capital, and BharatPe, Agarwaal has already invested in over 35 companies and serves as an advisor to numerous start-ups.

Some of his notable investments include Decentro, FidyPay, Klub, Karmalife, Fundly, Transbnk, EximPe, Finsire, Threedots, Coffeee.io, Coverself, PumPumPum, among others.

GrowthCap Ventures is committed to becoming the preferred early-stage fund, offering founders access to capital, experiential business advisory, and a powerful institutional network that can fuel exponential growth. The distinguishing factor that sets them apart is their dedication to providing value beyond traditional equity and debt capital.