
Fireside Ventures
Description
Fireside Ventures, established in 2017 by veteran investor Kanwal Singh, is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm based in Bengaluru, India, specializing exclusively in consumer brands. The firm has carved a niche by focusing on the burgeoning direct-to-consumer (D2C) market, investing across diverse sectors including food and beverage, personal care, fashion, and home goods. Fireside's investment philosophy extends beyond capital infusion, emphasizing active mentorship and operational support to help its portfolio companies scale and establish strong brand identities in a competitive landscape.
The firm has successfully raised multiple funds, demonstrating its growing influence and investor confidence. Its maiden fund, Fund I, closed at approximately $50 million in 2018. This was followed by Fund II, which secured $118 million in 2021, significantly expanding its investment capacity. Most recently, Fireside Ventures announced the final close of its third fund, Fund III, at $175 million in April 2024, surpassing its initial target. This brings their total assets under management to over $340 million, solidifying their position as a key player in the Indian consumer VC ecosystem.
Fireside Ventures typically targets seed, pre-Series A, and Series A rounds. For initial investments, the firm generally deploys cheques ranging from $1 million to $5 million, reflecting its commitment to backing promising startups at their foundational stages. They also reserve capital for follow-on investments, with the capacity to inject up to $10 million into successful portfolio companies as they mature. Their strategic focus on consumer brands and hands-on approach has enabled them to build a robust portfolio of companies poised for significant growth in the Indian market.
Investor Profile
Fireside Ventures has backed more than 29 startups, with 13 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 10 rounds, about 34% of its total and boasts 5 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in India, United States, Singapore.
- Strong thematic focus on E-Commerce, Wellness, Food and Beverage.
- Led 8 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (41%)
- Series A (24%)
- Series B (17%)
- Series Unknown (10%)
- Series C (3%)
- Angel (3%)
Country Focus
- India (93%)
- United States (3%)
- Singapore (3%)
Industry Focus
- E-commerce
- Wellness
- Food And Beverage
- Health Care
- Fashion
- Fitness
- Consumer Goods
- Lifestyle
- Retail
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
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