Bengaluru’s place as India’s startup capital simply grew stronger with the entry of Eximius Ventures. Final week, the Gurgaon-based devoted pre-seed enterprise capital agency introduced the opening of its new workplace within the metropolis, signaling a deeper dedication to working carefully with founders in fintech, AI, and shopper know-how.
The occasion, held in partnership with Google Cloud, Goyel & Goyal, Metamorph, and YourStory as media companion, introduced collectively founders, buyers, and ecosystem enablers to have a good time what many in attendance known as a long-overdue transfer.
Pearl Agarwal, Founder and Managing Accomplice of Eximius Ventures, articulated the agency’s conviction within the pre-seed section:“There’s a want for extra pre-seed capital to return in and assist founders on the very early stage, not simply with capital, but in addition with worth add. With Bengaluru and the expansion in AI merchandise taking place right here, I believe that is the suitable place to search out the following set of 100 founders we wish to again.”
Eximius Ventures operates as a devoted pre-seed fund, a class that distinguishes it from generalist early-stage buyers. The agency has invested in 24 corporations by way of its first $10 million fund and is presently deploying its second $30 million fund, having already made six investments since its first shut in February 2025.
The choice to ascertain a bodily presence in Bengaluru displays the agency’s recognition of the town because the beating coronary heart of India’s startup ecosystem. With 13 of its current portfolio corporations already primarily based right here, the growth was a pure subsequent step.
Eximius’ sector-focused technique additional underlines this transfer. The fintech apply is doubling down on programmable rupees, CBDCs for cross-border transactions, and AI-driven compliance and automation. In AI, the fund is betting closely on vertical and practical AI corporations, together with enterprise performs in authorized tech equivalent to DecoverAI. On the buyer tech entrance, the workforce is bullish on AI companions for psychological well being, personalised commerce, and specialised schooling.
The validation for Eximius’ method comes from the founders they’ve backed. Srivatsan Sridhar, Founder & CEO of Skydo, a cross-border B2B funds firm, shared, “What I like about them is that they punch above their weight proper from the start. Even once they had been simply establishing their first fund, they’d a workforce of people that would assist the startups with hiring, business analysis, and aggressive intelligence. Greater than 50% of startups are in Bengaluru. Not having a base right here doesn’t make sense. I’m glad that they’re right here to be in motion.”
Including to this, Aditya Uttaravalli, Founder & CEO at Fleek, a one-stop subscription administration platform, stated: “Having buyers who’re rooted in the identical ecosystem as us has been extremely reassuring. Eximius isn’t simply offering funding from a distance, they actually perceive how the market works right here and the day-to-day challenges founders face. That perception makes their steerage and assist really invaluable, far past simply the monetary funding.”
Portfolio corporations echoed this sentiment. One founder famous, “As a Bengaluru-based startup, it is reassuring to have our buyers embedded in the identical ecosystem. Eximius understands the heartbeat of what is taking place right here, and that exhibits within the type of assist they supply.” One other added, “Bengaluru’s ecosystem thrives on spontaneous collaborations. Having Eximius bodily current right here means these essential conversations can occur over espresso, not simply scheduled Zoom calls.”
The night noticed sturdy illustration from the enterprise capital group, with attendees from 3One4 Capital, Kae Capital, Waterbridge Ventures, India Quotient, Accel, IvyCap Ventures, SeedStars, Peer Capital, Campus Fund, Gemba Capital, and 8i Ventures, amongst others. The casual format of the occasion facilitated natural networking, reflecting Bengaluru’s collaborative startup tradition.
For Eximius, the brand new location represents greater than geographical growth. It’s about embedding themselves within the ecosystem the place India’s subsequent era of AI and know-how corporations are being constructed. With a lean workforce of round 15 folks and a transparent thesis-driven funding method, the agency is positioning itself to be the primary institutional examine for India’s most promising pre-seed founders.
