San Francisco- and Bengaluru-based Arise Ventures is bridging the gap between Indian tech startups and the US market. Led by seasoned venture capitalist Ankita Vashistha, the firm provides startups with a structured entry into global markets, leveraging an extensive network of partners and industry experts.
For Indian startups, securing marquee clients and establishing a presence in larger economies like the United States can be challenging. Arise Ventures is building a robust India-US corridor to ease this transition.
“Our focus is on helping startups build for global markets, particularly the US, with a clear go-to-market strategy,” says Vashistha, who has been active in venture capital and private equity since 2008.
The US, as the world’s largest economy, offers immense opportunities, but Indian startups often struggle to gain a credible entry point. Challenges include acquiring customers, understanding pricing models, and establishing an on-ground presence. Arise Ventures aims to address these hurdles, providing essential early-stage support to accelerate startups’ growth trajectory.
Strategic Support and Market Access
Arise Ventures connects Indian startups with key industry players and decision-makers in the US. A testament to its success is Streamingo, a deep-tech video analysis startup in its portfolio, which secured a major US FMCG corporation as a client—leading to a fivefold increase in revenue.
The firm also helps startups raise venture capital from US investors. “The way one sells or prices in the US is very different from other markets, and we offer a lot of handholding through the process,” Vashistha explains.
A Strong Track Record in Venture Capital
Arise Ventures is Vashistha’s third venture capital firm. Her previous funds, Tholons Capital and Saha Fund, have successfully invested in high-growth startups. Tholons Capital backed companies in both India and the US, including meat delivery startup Licious. Meanwhile, Saha Fund, India’s first VC firm focused on women-led businesses, raised Rs 100 crore, made 11 investments, and delivered 3X returns to investors before Vashistha exited.
Unlike her previous funds, which focused on seed to Series A funding, Arise Ventures targets pre-seed investments. “We chose pre-seed because the market is now more mature, and we can identify promising startups much earlier,” she explains.
Future Growth and Investment Plans
Arise Ventures is currently raising Rs 500 crore, having already completed its first close. The firm plans to invest in 15-20 startups across enterprise tech, deep tech, SaaS, and consumer tech, with investment amounts ranging from $250,000 to $2 million. To date, it has backed 10 startups, including Assiduus, Velmeni, Streamingo, and CoreFactors.
The firm also runs an accelerator program aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs, ensuring 50% female participation. Over 400 startups have benefited from this initiative.
Scaling Up with Value-Added Investments
Looking ahead, Arise Ventures plans to be a strategic investor with deep relationships in its portfolio companies. Beyond early-stage funding, it is also exploring support for Indian startups in their growth and late-stage funding rounds.
As the Indian startup ecosystem matures, more companies are focusing on building global products rather than mimicking US counterparts. With an increasing number of serial entrepreneurs and new market segments emerging, Arise Ventures is well-positioned to guide Indian startups toward international success.
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