Trident Growth Partners, a newly launched growth-stage investment firm, has marked a successful first close of its debut fund at more than Rs 1,000 crore. The firm had received its Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) license in July 2024. Now, it is also exercising a greenshoe option to raise an additional Rs 1,000 crore. With this move, Trident Growth Partners is aiming to achieve a total fund size of Rs 2,000 crore by the year 2025.
The firm was established by seasoned investors Atul Gupta, Rajesh Ramaiah, and Pravan Malhotra, all of whom bring strong experience from their time at Premji Invest and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Together, the founders have more than fifty years of combined investment expertise. They have invested in 40 companies, 14 of which have achieved unicorn status and 8 have either gone public or were acquired. Their impressive portfolio includes Flipkart, Policybazaar, KreditBee, and Lenskart—some of the biggest names in India’s startup ecosystem.
Fund Will Focus on Growth-Stage
Trident Growth Partners aims to lead or co-lead Series B and later-stage investment rounds. The firm prefers to acquire significant minority stakes in companies with strong growth potential. While the fund is sector-agnostic, its investment strategy mainly revolves around themes like consumer goods, financial services, enterprise technology, manufacturing, and healthcare. The team believes in backing businesses that are building lasting value and have strong governance and clear unit economics.
The first close of the fund was made possible with backing from several prominent investors. These include Claypond Capital, the family office of Dr. Ranjan Pai, the Fund of Funds for Startups (managed by SIDBI), and the Self Reliant India Fund (SRI). Over 30 well-known startup founders from companies like Lenskart, Livspace, Amagi, KreditBee, and Persistent Systems have also invested in the fund. It is further supported by respected family offices and general partners from major venture capital and private equity firms.
Trident Growth Partners has already made its first investment by co-leading a Series B round in Spotdraft, a contract lifecycle management SaaS platform. The firm is also in the final stages of closing a second investment and has a strong pipeline of opportunities for the rest of the year. The team emphasizes that their experience across different market conditions allows them to offer more than just capital—they bring strategic guidance, operational expertise, and a founder-first mindset to every partnership.
About Trident Growth and Its Mission
Trident Growth Partners is committed to being a long-term strategic partner to startups and emerging companies in India. By offering not just funding but also mentorship, market insight, and governance support, the firm positions itself as a catalyst for sustainable scale and category leadership. The fund’s goal is to help businesses thrive in a competitive market while maintaining solid financial and ethical standards.
