The Indian startup ecosystem has been a hotbed for high-flying investments over the past years, with billions of dollars being pumped into various ventures. However, this year, the market seems to have taken a significant hit. According to market intelligence platform Tracxn, Indian startups have only managed to raise about $7 billion in 2023, a steep decline from the $25 billion in 2022 and $37 billion in 2021.
Investors managing hundreds of millions of dollars in India are taking a cautious approach, making early-stage bets they hope will yield significant returns. With leading venture capital firms like Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, Lightspeed, Nexus, and Accel raising $500 million-plus in the past two years, it appeared that there was no shortage of capital. However, the prevailing mood has shifted this year, with investors struggling to identify fund-returning opportunities in the world’s most populous nation.
VC firms usually make between 20 to 30 investments per fund, banking on a select few startups that can potentially generate massive returns. However, the surplus of capital has made investors abnormally cautious and picky. Firms are scrutinizing deals at Series A and B stages for up to 6 months, a process that previously required far less diligence.
Bessemer Venture Partners’ India team has only sealed one new net deal this year, while Prosus recently lowered the valuation of Byju’s to below $3 billion. Pharmeasy, Vanguard, Swiggy, Pine Labs, and Gupshup have all faced write-downs this year, indicating a shift in the market landscape.
Other areas that are coming under increased scrutiny are Southeast Asia and India’s SaaS opportunity. Investors are questioning whether they may have overestimated India’s SaaS potential, with concerns about companies struggling to scale their revenue beyond a certain point. At the same time, the market remains focused on seed transactions, with the Series A round proving to be a significant hurdle for startups.
The investment climate in Indian startups is undoubtedly facing challenges, as investors struggle to identify fund-returning opportunities and the value of many top startups diminishes. The cautious approach being taken by VCs could have significant implications for the future of the Indian startup ecosystem.
