Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri and a notable investor in India’s tech space, has invested over ₹1,000 crore across 54 AI and deeptech startups since 2020, with its AI portfolio delivering more than double returns and its deeptech bets showing promising growth.
- ₹1,003 Cr invested across 54 AI and deeptech startups since 2020
- AI portfolio shows 2.1X return with a 31% gross IRR
- Deeptech investments valued at ₹559 Cr with 15% gross IRR
What happened
Info Edge disclosed its investment program covering ₹1,003 crore deployed across 54 AI and deeptech startups over the past six years. The AI portfolio consists of 28 companies including Aftershoot, Gnani.ai, Jurisphere, and Pascal AI. These investments, tracking technologies expected to transform India and beyond, have appreciated to a valuation of ₹1,268 crore.
The company’s deeptech portfolio includes 30 firms focusing on robotics, immuno-oncology, semiconductors, and electric mobility. Despite being a younger segment, these investments, including those in Anscer and Manastu Space, have started to show value gains with a current valuation of ₹559 crore. Info Edge also shared aggregate portfolio data, showing a total of ₹4,900 crore invested across 135 startups.
Why it matters
Info Edge’s investment thesis underscores its confidence in AI and deeptech as pivotal sectors that will define India’s technological landscape in the coming decade. The strong internal rates of return on the AI portfolio, combined with steady growth in deeptech, demonstrate the company’s ability to identify and nurture early-stage, high-potential startups in these fields.
This investment approach reflects a strategic pivot from traditional consumer internet businesses, where Info Edge has also been highly successful, toward technology-driven innovation with broader industrial and enterprise use cases. The company believes AI will further revolutionize consumer touchpoints, internal business operations, and product ecosystems across its portfolio and operating companies.
What to watch next
Market participants should monitor Info Edge’s continued capital allocation to AI and deeptech startups, especially how these companies evolve from IP creation and R&D phases to commercialization and scale. The performance of portfolio companies in critical areas such as robotics, semiconductors, and immuno-oncology will provide insight into the long-term viability of deeptech in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Additionally, the integration of AI capabilities into Info Edge’s consumer internet ventures like Naukri and others may set new benchmarks in productivity and user engagement. Investors and industry observers will also watch for further fund deployment rounds or partnerships indicative of growing institutional confidence in deeptech and AI sectors within India.