Behind Genius Ventures

After managing two successful funds, we now present YourNest Innovative Products VC Fund III. Focused on disruptive technologies to enhance the way mankind leverages the value of time, this US$ 75 mn fund will invest in startup founders across a spectrum of DeepTech domains: AI, IoT, Robotics, AR/VR/MR, Dev. Tools, Edge Cloud and other Digital products. As always, our intent is to create an opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to scale into global markets with IP-led innovations: many of our portfolio companies in YourNest VC Fund II have secured patents and attracted customers in international markets. As a pioneering, pre-Series A, early-stage venture capital fund established in 2011 to support audacious startups building life-changing businesses, YourNest strongly believes in the human capability and works with the dictum of ‘what is impossible today is routine tomorrow’. We believe, too, that we are Challengineers: a team that actively pushes boundaries and engineers outcomes, standing shoulder to shoulder with our founders and supporting them with ‘Nurture Capital’. With an established network of professionals, innovators, business leaders, advisors and mentors, we offer the most enabling eco-system for any startup whose business is validated by customers. Our team prides itself on identifying committed entrepreneurs with the highest level of integrity, enabling their business ambitions and helping them to scale for international markets. In 2020, we launched our fast-track funding program SOAR which invested in five startups. The year also saw us exiting Uniphore and SmartQ from our first fund – YourNest Angel Fund – with a 0.7x DPI. Between the two funds, we are confident of multiple exits to deliver significant returns to our investors in the foreseeable future. Investment Thesis With the rise of entrepreneurs and the growth of startups in the past few years, we believe there are critical sectors, rooted in technology, that will fuel the next level of disruption in the coming decade. YourNest Innovative Products Fund-III will primarily seek to invest in enterprise-oriented, innovative, IP-led, tech-product startups. Its mission is to select products that are built around emerging technologies and have applications at scale. These product companies could be in sectors including Mobile Internet, Cloud Technology, Automation of Knowledge Work, Low-code or No-code Platforms, AI-based Cybersecurity, IOT, Edge Computing, Digital Twinning, Autonomous Technologies, Robotics, Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM). The focus of the Fund will be to invest in unlisted companies. The investment may start at an early seed stage and continue investing in promising companies at various stages of their growth. One or more rounds are likely to be made with co-investment from other investor(s) who may be an individual or an institution or an AIF or international investor such that the risk and reward of the portfolio company’s success is shared. ESG Policy Statement The YourNest Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd. i.e. Investment Manager (“IM”) of the Fund, commits to being a responsible investor, considering environmental, social and governance issues across all its investments. The IM is committed to comply with its ESG policy, applicable laws of the land and to be responsive to existing and emerging ESG concerns. We adhere to our responsibility to people and the planet while setting the stage for long-term success. Through ESG integration in our investment approach, we will endeavour to maximise business and investment opportunities. ESG integration will enable us to grow and improve the companies in which we invest, for long-term value generation opportunities for the benefit of all stakeholders. At the same time, we believe that ESG integration will help mitigate any liability, credit, market or reputation risks emanating from such issues. Nurture Capital Philosophy YourNest is a sharply focused early-stage DeepTech VC fund from India. The first fund established in 2012, raised US$ 14 mn and has several companies in the portfolio that have had multiple up-rounds and are on their way to a 4X+ return. Having completely invested its first two funds, YourNest is currently raising its third fund of US$ 75 mn to invest in Indian start-ups with a focus on DeepTech domains like AI, IoT, Robotics, AR/VR/MR, Dev. Tools, Edge Cloud and other Digital products. The YourNest team combines what may well be India’s widest access to prospective investees along with a rigorously prudent selection process that enables us to stay true to our investment thesis of nurturing high-potential entrepreneurs. In addition, we give our investors transparent access and exposure to high-growth, under-the-radar tech start-ups in India. In a country where entrepreneurship is encouraged but comes with its own challenges, the Indian DeepTech eco-system is rapidly evolving. As local Fund Managers, the YourNest team of experienced partners operates as unified enablers who have become adept at spotting emerging enterprises, nurturing and guiding them up the ladder of success. With a leadership coach as a founding partner, other partners bring complementary skillsets that including M&A, Financial Governance & Restructuring, Executive Development, Deal Flow Management, Building Intellectual Property and Global Scale. Brand building, Marketing and HR Practices are other competencies which have been added via the Venture Partners and Entrepreneur-in-Residence and are available to the portfolio companies. Our portfolio companies benefit from:‘Nurture Capital’ rather than plain ‘Venture Capital’. Our ability to mentor and coach entrepreneurs of investee companies. Our advisory expertise in key entrepreneurial matters: strategy, compliance, legal, HR, secretarial, talent sourcing, etc. Our network of corporates and individuals who can collectively multiply advantage for our investees.

Founded in 2011, IvyCap Ventures is one of India's leading homegrown venture capital funds leveraging IIT and IIM alumni networks to power the Indian startup ecosystem. Headquartered in Mumbai with offices in Delhi, Bengaluru, US and Singapore, the company is currently managing assets in excess of USD 530 million with a portfolio of 30+ companies spread across sectors such as ConsumerTech, HealthTech, Fintech, EdTech, Saas, Enterprise Tech, DeepTech and others. We are a sector agnostic fund stemming from our strong belief in people’s power to spark innovation & disruption. We invest in early to growth stage start-ups (Seed Pre-series A, Series A and Series B) that are building innovative technology-based products, services & business solutions and have the potential to scale and adapt to lead in a cut-throat market and became India’s first homegrown VC fund to have successfully created a dragon company' As a homegrown VC fund, we are proud to have more than 20 institutional investors investing across our funds. Promising start-ups, in addition to funding, could receive invaluable advice and scale-up support within the IvyCap Ventures ecosystem under the Mentorship Program. We also have an alumni-driven engagement platform for all the stakeholders in the start-up ecosystem under the name IvyCamp which helps in enabling engagement, accelerating business, design corporate innovation programs, and help early stage start-up communities to connect with investors. IvyCap Ventures also have direct support from over 5,000+ IIT and IIM graduates globally. Our core philosophy lies in creating enduring value for all our stakeholders through capital and expertise. We nurture relationships with our investors, and portfolio companies and believe in creating a meaningful impact while generating financial returns. Our current portfolio includes Purplle.com, Bewakoof.com, Biryani By Kilo and more, together we are accomplishing a meaningful difference.

Sierra Ventures invests in the future of The Enterprise. We invest early – primarily Seed and Series A – and look for proven product market fit, disruption in the market, and strong IP. We tend to lead investment rounds and reserve capital for follow on rounds to support our entrepreneurs as they grow. We believe that partnership is paramount. We work closely with all of the entrepreneurs we invest in, guiding them with expertise and capital to help their companies grow and deliver on their promise. We understand that great companies don’t get built overnight, and we don’t mind rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty. In fact, we enjoy it. Sierra’s Investment FocusDATA/AI The volume of data has exploded, and with the emergence of the cloud, new tools are being developed with many data infrastructure software platforms focusing specifically on artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML). We’re excited about companies that make it easier to ingest, access, and analyze data. Sub-sectors within Data/AI include AI/ML and Big Data. VERTICAL SAAS Many industries that rely on excel or pen and paper have been forced to dramatically increase the pace of technology adoption. Vertical SaaS represents the shift to specialization where software is business-specific and is designed for a specific domain. Sub-sectors within Vertical SaaS include FinTech, EnterpriseApps, and Security. INFRASTRUCTURE Next-Gen Infrastructure will be the core connecting fabric for all future technology capabilities. Wide-scale improvement is needed in order to enable applications to run consistently in almost any location across the globe. Organizations have expedited infrastructure modernization strategies which continues to drive growth in the sector. Sub-sectors within Infrastructure include Cloud and IoT. Next-Gen TechnologiesDIGITAL HEALTH Adoption of Health software has been faster than ever before due to the pandemic tailwind and technology trends that put the consumer in charge. New tools are being developed to reach patients creating opportunities with Pharma, Providers, and Payers. We anticipate a dramatic shift towards more value based care (payer / provider) and digitization and decentralization (pharma). WEB3 Web3 promises to make the internet as accessible, open sourced, secure, and decentralized as possible with the goal of benefiting the people engaging, not central organizations. We are looking at the full Web3 ecosystem including Decentralized Applications (DApps), Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), Cryptocurrencies, and more. A sub-sector we focus on within Web3 includes Blockchain. INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION Digitally non-native industries like Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Logistics are seeking ways to find cost parity and production reliability while adhering to increasing demand across the globe. Humans alone will not be able to keep pace with these market trends and automation will be a key driver in movements like Industry 4.0. Sub-sectors within Industrial Automation include Robotics and Devices. CONSUMER The ubiquity of smartphones has enabled consumers to access goods and services with relative ease and companies are tuning into customer needs and engaging with their increasingly loyal customer base, leading to viral adoption patterns. Additionally, Consumer social platforms have allowed individuals to express themselves and make money doing it, giving more power to the “Creator Economy”. We are interested in Creator Economy and mission driven D2C Applications & Marketplaces. ECOMMERCE A fast growing eCommerce market has been bolstered by the pandemic and every part of the value chain is seeing disruption. The eCommerce software market is driven by market trends like headless eCommerce and ReCommerce. B2B eCommerce has exploded globally and we think the US market will catch up in the coming years. A sub-sector we focus on within eCommerce is Marketplaces. EDTECH Digital and tech-enabled learning has been accelerated in the classroom and the boardroom by the pandemic and social trends such as “the great resignation”. Trends like VR/AR and the Metaverse becoming mainstream combined with the price of enablement devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers decreasing to make technology more accessible than ever have created a market that is ripe for EdTech to flourish.

At Upfront, we like to come in at the earliest stages and stick with you as you grow. In today's world, that means we're your first check in at the seed (or even pre-seed) stage. And as you build and raise subsequent rounds, we can support that with our growth fund as well. Bottom line - we want to get to know you as early as possible and work together for a long time. With investment professionals in both LA and the Bay, we invest nationally and even globally for the right deal. Working With Upfront Some VCs have great networks. Some have great megaphones. Some VCs offer great counsel. We value all of those but most strongly believe in rolling up our sleeves and doing the hard work alongside you in your moments of need. When your company goes immediately up-and-to-the-right, everybody is your friend. When your company hits a bump in the road we’re there - even if that means telling you the tough messages others may not. The LA Advantage We invest nationally (sometimes internationally) but our entire team is in LA, giving our portfolio valuable leverage. How? Los Angeles is at the crossroads of Asia, Latin America, and North America, providing global perspective and a diverse talent pool to compete with any city in the world. As the country’s second largest city, LA graduates the most engineers of any US market, so we have the talent and resources to build world-changing companies. Of course, LA is also the world’s creative soul, home to the film, music, art and fashion industries as well as the influencers who set the trends and put companies on the map. Upfront Summit Every year, the Upfront Summit hosts more than 1,000 top investors, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders for an invitation-only event in Los Angeles. With two days of compelling content and conversation, our Summit showcases the best of technology, innovation, and creativity – from established global brands to bleeding edge disruptors. We take on issues like race, gender, freedom of the press, and bullying, and we tackle the conflicts and contradictions of technology industry successes. And, of course, Upfront portfolio companies are center stage, helping you build your reputation and network. Diversity & Inclusion Upfront Ventures is dedicated to increasing equality, both on our own team and with the companies and founders that we fund. It’s the right thing to do - and diverse teams make better businesses.

Born in San Francisco and Paris, Partech is one of the most active tech investors in the world, bringing together capital, operational experience, and strategic support for entrepreneurs at seed, venture and growth stages. The current portfolio includes 200+ companies in 38 countries, of which 14 are valued at more than $1B: Alan, Bolt, Cazoo, Jellysmack, Made.com, ManoMano, Merama, People.ai, Rohlik, Sorare, Toss, Wave, WorldRemit, Xendit.

At Exhort Ventures, we believe that the foundation of groundbreaking innovation lies in the hands of extraordinary people. Our focus is on identifying and empowering relentless founders - those with the vision, expertise, and tenacity to build and execute on their promises. Our mission is to be the catalyst for early-stage success, leveraging our extensive community and experienced networks to connect founders with the resources they need. Our promise is to back only companies in which we truly believe, and we are committed to doing everything within our power to support them – during both the good times and the bad. Our Approach Deal Flow Generation: We engage with an extensive network of established investors from leading venture capital firms, with whom we have built trust and relationships over the years. Venture firms partner with us to provide the additional capital required to close a funding round, understanding that while we may contribute a smaller cheque, we offer an extensive network that founders can tap into. We also engage with startups at their earliest stages, helping them find strategic investors when they reach the right scale. Lastly, we offer a share of the deal-specific profits (carry) to those who facilitate introductions to founders. Strategic Co-Investments: We do not lead investment rounds; instead, we invest alongside top-tier VCs that have a strong track record and with whom we identify strong alignments. The nimble structure of our syndicate allows us to make decisions more quickly, bypassing institutional red tape. This approach helps founders close deals quickly, enabling them to focus on building their businesses. Community at the Core: Our long-term vision is to foster a community of LPs who are as invested in the success of our startups as we are. We are building a community of LPs comprising CEOs of established companies, founders, industry operators, lawyers, and seasoned investors. The cumulative insights and reach of our community unlock tremendous value for founders who want us on their cap table, not just as a provider of capital. Sector-Agnostic: We are not bound by investment constraints, which allows us to identify and capitalise on the best opportunities across all sectors. However, we prefer to invest in software and in non-capital intensive businesses where technology is at their core. Therefore, we tend to avoid areas like BioTech, MedTech and ClimateTech with large hardware components. Secular Themes We Favour Each theme below represents not only a significant market opportunity but also mirrors broader societal and technological trends, which we expect to persist and evolve over the next decade. Cloud-Native Software Disruption: The shift towards cloud-native software is disrupting incumbents entrenched in outdated legacy tech stacks. New ventures are demonstrating superior scalability and efficiency at exceptionally low costs, delivering value to customers. We view the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence applications as complementary to software companies rather than disruptive. Generative AI Integration into Human Workforces: We are at the infancy of the development of generative AI, but its integration into human workforces is set to redefine productivity, creativity, and efficiency. By automating routine tasks and improving decision-making, generative AI can augment human skills and significantly boost productivity. There are numerous ventures in this space, and it is essential to navigate carefully, as the lasting impact of these innovations over the next decade is still to be determined. Digitalisation of Payments: With economies becoming more digital, the demand for secure, efficient, and adaptable payment solutions is soaring. This trend is especially relevant in emerging markets transitioning from cash to digital and in developed economies focusing on digital efficiency. The evolution of fintech, along with the adoption of blockchain and other technologies, promises to further revolutionise how transactions are conducted. HealthTech and Aging Demographics: Advancements in medicine have considerably extended average lifespans, leading to an aging population. This demographic shift presents unique challenges and opportunities. While we don't invest in Medtech (or medical hardware), we favor HealthTech solutions that aim to address critical aging-related issues, such as remote patient monitoring and personalised medicine. By leveraging AI and other technologies to deliver health-related services, HealthTech can offer more proactive and predictive care models, thereby reducing healthcare costs and enhancing the quality of life. Evolving Cybersecurity Industry: Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, with new threats and challenges emerging as technology advances. With the increasing digitisation of assets, the proliferation of connected devices, and the sophistication of threats, there will continue to be a growing need for advanced security solutions to protect our data and privacy. E-Commerce Solutions: The rise of e-commerce is reshaping consumer behavior, with a shift towards the convenience of online shopping. We are particularly interested in businesses that are changing consumer behavior and spending patterns. The ongoing evolution of e-commerce platforms, including the creator economy and integrations with social media, is creating new opportunities for brands to engage with consumers and enhance their experience. Our Investment Process Having a rigorous investment process can help filter through the noise, but it can also hinder your ability to identify non-obvious opportunities. We assess each deal on its own merit, acknowledging the following considerations: Founders: We invest in people – relentless, domain-expert leaders obsessed with solving real problems. We prefer founders that are deeply rooted into the problem they are solving and offer a unique perspective. Markets: We favour large and rapidly growing addressable markets. Though we also like niche, inefficient, and fragmented markets if they have much lesser competition and if we identify opportunities to expand into adjacent markets. Business Models: We favour capital-efficient businesses that leverage technology for rapid scaling. Our support extends to innovative business models, as well as proven models from other industries that can be effectively replicated across various geographies and verticals. We love enterprise solutions, embedded into workflows, that have short sales cycles and high contract values. Traction: We generally don't invest in ideas, we actively seek evidence of market validation. This means we look for clear indicators that the product not only solves a problem but also that it has garnered genuine customer enthusiasm and approval. Deal Terms: We play the long game, ensuring every term aligns with the potential for stellar returns. In early-stage deals, we focus on company ownership and pro-rata rights, which are the two single contributors to enhanced returns. When a company does really well, you want to own as much of it as you can. Why Now is the Time From a macroeconomic perspective, the era of cheap money is over... or at least for now. The balance between capital supply and demand has shifted back to investors, allowing us to benefit from lower valuations, less competitive deals and better terms. The following points are also structural tailwinds benefitting Australian investors. Aussie Ecosystem Boom: The Australian tech scene has exploded over the past decade, fuelled by record VC funding, government support, and a wave of experienced founders stemming from some Australia’s most successful startups – think of Canva, Airwallex, Safety Culture and many others. Global Solutions: The Australian market is small but is fertile ground for experimentation before going global. Global markets are now more interconnected than ever and we champion startups that think beyond borders, building products that can grow into enormous global markets. Undervalued Gems: Australian startups are often priced attractively compared to global peers, presenting a unique chance for higher return multiples. Early Mover Advantage: The Australian ecosystem is still young but at an inflection point, offering exponential return opportunities for early investors. The market is not as crowded and competitive, allowing you to handpick some of the highest quality deals.