Next Bharat Ventures, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp Japan, has announced a significant partnership with two prominent venture capital firms, 3one4 Capital and Antler India. The partnership, formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), aims to strengthen and support the growth of early-stage startups in India, particularly those with a focus on social impact.
Strategic Move for Startups
The collaboration between Next Bharat Ventures and the venture capital firms is designed to provide comprehensive support to startups. This includes strategic guidance, access to funding, and extensive networking opportunities. By adopting a cohort-based approach, Next Bharat Ventures will work closely with 3one4 Capital and Antler India to nurture startups in both mainstream business and social sectors.
Vipul Nath Jindal, Managing Director and CEO of Next Bharat Ventures, expressed his excitement about the partnership: “Forging strategic associations with Antler India and 3one4 Capital is a conscious move towards nurturing and empowering the early-stage startup ecosystem. We look forward to a successful collaboration that will pave the way for a new generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs in India.”
Next Bharat Residency Programme
As part of this initiative, Next Bharat Ventures will launch its flagship program, the “Next Bharat Residency.” This program is designed to create an end-to-end support ecosystem for entrepreneurs who are focused on making a social impact. The application process for this program has been extended to August 12, 2024, with the program set to begin on October 14, 2024.
Rajiv Srivatsa, Partner and Investor at Antler India, highlighted the importance of this partnership: “We have a tailored approach to nurturing startups through our high selectivity and Antler Residency Platform. We hope the global expertise of Antler in cohort-based investments and Next Bharat’s vision to create social impact in India 2 and India 3 can together help scale solutions that will make a significant difference in India’s current entrepreneurship landscape.”
Focus on Social Enterprises
The MoUs were signed by Vipul Nath Jindal, Siddarth Pai, Founding Partner at 3one4 Capital, and Lakshmikant PB, Director-Finance at Antler India. The partnership is particularly focused on supporting startups that aim to create social impact in regions like India 2 and India 3, which represent emerging markets within the country.
Siddarth Pai, Founding Partner at 3one4 Capital, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: “By combining our strategic expertise in early-stage investments with Next Bharat’s focus on socially impactful enterprises, we aim to provide comprehensive support to further the mission of entrepreneurship and value creation in India.”
This partnership between Next Bharat Ventures, 3one4 Capital, and Antler India represents a significant step towards fostering a vibrant and socially conscious startup ecosystem in India. Through their combined efforts, these organizations are poised to make a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial landscape, driving growth and innovation across the country.
