8i Ventures

8i Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in India, dedicated to backing founders who are building enduring companies, particularly within the fintech and consumer sectors. The firm focuses on identifying and supporting startups that aim to remove friction for consumers and small and medium-sized businesses across India. They are known for being early believers in their portfolio companies, often providing capital and strategic guidance from the very initial stages of a venture's lifecycle.

The firm was founded in 2019 by Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V, who are described as operators turned investors, having built businesses in both India and Silicon Valley. Their operational background provides them with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage companies, allowing them to offer not just capital but also clarity, patience, and genuine understanding to the founders they support. 8i Ventures received its SEBI license in November 2018 and commenced investments in 2019.

8i Ventures boasts a notable portfolio of companies that have gone on to become category leaders. Key investments include Slice, a credit-card issuing startup; M2P Fintech, a card-issuing platform and API provider for financial services; Easebuzz, a payment gateway; and Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, a prominent consumer brand. Other significant portfolio companies mentioned are TransBnk, Bbetter, and BobaBhai. The firm's investment in M2P Fintech, for instance, yielded a significant 12x return, demonstrating their ability to identify high-potential ventures.

The team at 8i Ventures, led by founding partners Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V, brings a wealth of experience from their entrepreneurial and operational backgrounds. They are committed to a founder-first approach, aiming to simplify the fundraising process for entrepreneurs. The firm typically invests at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with follow-on investments extending to Series B and beyond, and has launched initiatives like 'Origami' to streamline early-stage funding.