Investor Profile: SamVed — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

SamVed funding is built around one conviction: India's next decade of entrepreneurship will be driven by companies serving the middle and aspiring class. For founders asking how to get funding from SamVed, the first test is whether the business serves that vast, underserved customer base. SamVed is a US-incorporated, India-focused early-stage firm that launched its inaugural fund in January 2025.

Thesis and investment focus

SamVed invests in India Two, the middle-income and aspirational population its managing partner describes as a 400-million-strong middle class plus a 750-million-strong aspirational population. Its site says it partners with founders to create companies that drive lasting value across the Indian middle and aspiring class. Instead of chasing only premium metro consumers, it seeks tech-enabled businesses closing everyday gaps in education, healthcare, finance and lifestyle, including in smaller cities and towns.

Sectors, stages and cheque size

SamVed invests from pre-seed to Series A, in B2B and B2C companies. Target sectors include artificial intelligence, agritech, healthcare, fintech, e-commerce, upskilling and consumer brands, alongside financial services. Cheques are clearly stated: $80,000 to $120,000 for early-stage rounds and $250,000 to $1 million for pre-Series A rounds. It is a first-institutional-cheque investor, suited to founders with a product and early demand who need help scaling technology and distribution.

Fund size and track record

SamVed launched with a target corpus of $50 million, and was reported at launch to be targeting a first close of about $20 million. It had already backed three startups at launch, though their names were not disclosed then. As a young fund, its record is best judged on its early bets and operating help rather than exits, of which none have been publicly reported.

Notable portfolio

FarmDidi, a technology-led food brand working with rural women through self-help groups, raised seed funding of over ₹7 crore led by SamVed Ventures, with LetsVenture participating, at a reported ₹18 crore annual revenue run rate. Gullak, a Y Combinator-backed fintech for middle-income families, raised a $7.5 million Series A led by Chiratae Ventures with SamVed participating. Harajuku Tokyo Café raised ₹19 crore in a seed round led by the Indian Angel Network with SamVed participating.

Partners and programmes

SamVed is led by managing partner Amit Srivastava, formerly of Bridgewater Associates, with general partners Shanti Mohan of LetsVenture, Vivek Khare, formerly of Info Edge, and Gagan Saksena, formerly of Google. The LetsVenture partnership supplies deal flow and founder networks. Beyond capital, the firm offers an in-house, on-demand chief technology officer bench, a network spanning customers, policymakers and regulators, and a memorandum of understanding with IIT Kanpur's FIRST linking research to market applications.

How to apply for funding from SamVed

Start at samved.vc, which sets out the thesis, stages and cheque range. Lead with the India Two customer: who they are, what gap they face, and why a tech-enabled model reaches them profitably. Show early traction and the specific help needed, whether technology leadership or distribution. Founders in the LetsVenture ecosystem can also reach the team through that network. Be ready to show how the business scales beyond one city.