Merak Ventures

Merak Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New Delhi, India. Founded by Manu Rikhye and Sheetal Bahl, Merak Ventures focuses on investing in seed-stage, B2B, and emerging technology companies that solve real-world problems and have the potential for large-scale impact. They have a particular interest in sectors like ClimateTech, InsurTech, SaaS, and the creator economy​​. Merak Ventures typically writes initial checks ranging from $0.5 to $1.5 million, with a sweet spot at $1 million, and can follow on with investments up to $5 million in subsequent rounds. They are strictly India-centric, preferring to invest in companies with significant operations or ties to India​​. Their portfolio includes companies like Helium, an AI platform for e-commerce, and Atomgrid, which focuses on specialty chemicals. Merak Ventures plans to invest in 18-20 startups over the next three to four years from their $100 million debut fund​​. The team at Merak Ventures comprises experienced professionals like Pranav Sanghvi, who brings a background in music and investing, and Ashita Gupta, a principal who focuses on sectors such as FinTech and AgriTech​. The firm’s approach is thesis-driven, investing across a broad range of industries while constantly evolving their investment frameworks to better understand the markets and startups they invest in​​.