Google Invests in India Via New Investment Firm Seedfund
You’re reading it here first: Google has made its first investment in India, and it has taken a different route than usual: it is investing in Seedfund, a new India-based seed investment firm founded by Mahesh Murthy, Pravin Gandhi, Bharati Jacob, and Paula Mariwala, ContentSutra has learned. The fund will utilize this investment for further investments in tech and internet startups. The amount of investment remains undisclosed. We contacted Murthy, but he was unavailable for comment. Gandhi and Jacob had earlier invested in companies like Indiagames and Indiabulls at early stage and had great exits. Murthy’s investments include Geodesic and Pinstorm.
Seedfund launched late last year with a fund size of about $10-13 million and plans to invest up to $500,000 per venture. Fund investors include: Motorola Ventures, Reliance ADA Group, SVB Financial Group, an affiliate of Silicon Valley Bank, Sierra Ventures, Mayfield Fund, Edelweiss Capital, and individuals like Kanwal Rekhi, KB Chandrashekhar, B V Jagadeesh and Sridar Iyengar.
Related:
—Seedfund Launches With Rs 45-60 Crore Corpus; Scouting For Early Stage Deals
—Seed Fund To Closely Look At Mobile Apps, Content Firms
—Seed Fund Attracts Silicon Valley Investors
Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Venture Capital
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Comments (10)
Jan 23, 2007 12:46 PM
google clearly preferring the gift of the gab approach.
murthy is hardly tech…pinstorm at the elbow grease end of the advtg value chain a internet bpo…what a dumb approach fior a smart co
mehboob
Jan 26, 2007 1:45 AM
Like always Google has been innovative in this investment decision. They are aiming for big return from the small investment and they have chosen a right partner in Mahesh Murthy.
Mahesh is a wise entreprenuers and an evangelist of search marketing through his company..Pinstrom. it complementary to google business..
happy friendship for google and seedfund!
Nidhi
Jul 18, 2007 10:37 AM
I have many new ideas and looking for dedicated co-founders in web business who could help me go through these ideas, i am based in jalandhar, punjab, india. i have personal industrial family background for over 65 years (before independence). moreover, i am thinking registering my company in U.S as inc. or LLC. Preferably aged between 18-22. If interested contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Moreover, i want funds for startup how to get funding external not from family.
Sep 22, 2007 4:17 AM
Well I have been reading a lot on Seed Fund India and Mr. Murthy from the launch of Seed Fund. I find it quite amusing that there are a lot of sceptics criticizing him. He has a demonstrated track record in the industry as well as some real concealed gems that he has funded. It is only a matter of time that he, along with Pravin Gandhi, Bharati Jacob, and Paula Mariwala will be regarded as the proponents of the Seed Capital in India.
My best wishes to them and my thoughts are you people are doing a real great job and will India would witness some real great global firms from your portfolio of investments. It is only natural that everyone faces ridicule when they start a new concept, after some time the ridicule will be replaced by opposition and finally all the ridicule and opposition will give way to ACCEPTANCE. I am sure that Seed Fund has all the best wishes and blessings from budding entrepreneurs like me.
Aug 15, 2008 6:42 AM
I am an expert in remanufacturing of printer cartridges. looking for starting an industry. It seems to be hard to get the ideas financed in India. Not only India, this is a big market globally.I am looking for funds.
Dec 15, 2008 1:38 PM
Seedfund’s a good idea. the country needs it. Mahesh Murthy is a good talker with an amplified profile. Lots of fluff….they could do better….
Dec 22, 2008 7:39 AM
Can any body help me in getting seed funding companies address and numbers….at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Regards,
Anuj saxena
Feb 22, 2009 12:57 AM
if anybody wants to double your investments within 2 months please contact me
we can trade in forex assured 50% per month
Feb 22, 2009 12:59 AM
my email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Feb 22, 2009 1:57 AM
I have been an avid fan of Mahesh Murthy and his new found venture Pinstorm. Mahesh Murthy is a classic example of how a determined man who begin as a marketing guy selling vacuum cleaners turned out to be a succesful businessman.