iSeed

iSeed is a prominent micro-VC fund based in Bangalore, India, established in 2020 by Utsav Somani. It distinguishes itself by being backed by an impressive roster of top global founders and investors, including the founders of successful Indian unicorns like Cred, Dream11, Meesho, Udaan, and Snapdeal, alongside international figures such as Balaji Srinivasan and Naval Ravikant. This unique backing provides iSeed with a powerful network and strategic insights, positioning it as more than just a capital provider but also a significant value-add partner for early-stage startups.

The fund primarily focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments within the Indian startup ecosystem. iSeed aims to bridge the critical funding gap that often exists between angel investments and larger Series A rounds, providing crucial early capital to promising ventures. Typically, iSeed writes initial checks ranging from $100,000 to $250,000. This targeted approach allows them to support a diverse portfolio of nascent companies, helping them achieve initial traction and prepare for subsequent funding stages.

For its inaugural fund, iSeed successfully raised $15 million, demonstrating strong confidence from its limited partners. With this capital, the fund initially targeted investments in 20 to 25 startups, strategically deploying capital to foster innovation across various sectors. Their model emphasizes active mentorship and leveraging their extensive network to provide operational guidance, market access, and strategic connections to their portfolio companies. This hands-on approach, combined with their focused investment strategy, solidifies iSeed's role as a key enabler for India's burgeoning startup landscape.