Kettleborough VC Launches Rs 80 Crore Fund II for Early-Stage Startups
Kettleborough VC, led by Nisarg Shah, has launched its second fund, targeting Rs 80 crore. The firm aims to back founders at the 'last straw moment' with a high-conviction, low-velocity approach. Fund II will write initial seed cheques between $300,000 and $500,000 (Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 4.2 crore) and allocate follow-on capital.
Kettleborough VC's Fund I has successfully deployed capital, backing 12 startups and providing the first institutional cheque to nine of them. The firm expects to complete this deployment this quarter and is preparing for its first set of exits. Fund II will retain a sector-agnostic approach but prefers 'Dhandha-first' businesses in financial services, full-stack commerce, and vertical SaaS.
The fund has announced the first close at Rs 35 crore, with commitments from family offices and entrepreneurs in India and the US. Several of these startups have raised follow-on rounds from marquee institutional investors, although specific details about these investors are not available. Kettleborough VC focuses on inception-stage investing in deeply experienced founders, backing them at a critical juncture.
Kettleborough VC's Fund II is poised to continue the firm's strategy of high-conviction, low-velocity investing. With a successful Fund I deployment and a strong first close for Fund II, the firm is well-positioned to support promising founders and businesses in the early stages of their growth.
