Bessemer Venture Partners, a global venture capital firm, has appointed Mayank Khanduja as a Partner in its India practice, nearly nine months after he exited Elevation Capital following a 15-year stint there. He will be based in the firm's Bengaluru office and will focus on early-stage investments, partnering with founders from their first institutional round onward. The appointment strengthens Bessemer's India investment team at a time when the firm is expanding its early-stage activity across the country.
Leadership and Investment Focus
Khanduja brings 15 years of venture investing experience across consumer tech, gaming, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and deeptech. Before joining Elevation Capital, he worked with McKinsey, and he holds an MBA from IIM-Calcutta and an engineering degree from IP University. His mandate at Bessemer will prioritize early-stage partnerships in India, where he aims to support founders from their first institutional round.
Track Record Across Key Sectors
During his tenure at Elevation Capital, Khanduja backed startups including ShareChat, NoBroker, PlaySimple Games, Jeh Aerospace, MOC Cancer Care, and Loop Health. He also worked with Atlys, Seekho, General Autonomy, and PierSight, building a portfolio that spans consumer platforms, healthcare, gaming, and advanced technology. This track record aligns with Bessemer's focus on backing founders at the earliest stages of company building.
Bessemer's India Momentum
Bessemer has been investing in India for more than two decades, with a portfolio that includes Medi Assist, Perfios, Swiggy, and Urban Company. Its more recent partnerships include Sarvam, Boldfit, Vetic, Easebuzz, Inrisk, and Pluro. The firm continues to deepen its presence in sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, enterprise technology, health, consumer, and cybersecurity.
Strategic Capital Commitments
In March 2025, Bessemer announced its second India fund with US$350 million in capital, targeting sectors including AI, fintech, enterprise tech, health, consumer, and cybersecurity. Globally, the firm recently raised US$5.75 billion to invest across stages from Seed to growth. These commitments provide substantial resources for the firm's early-stage strategy in India.
Executive Perspectives
Vishal Gupta, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, said Khanduja has spent 15 years partnering with founders at the earliest stages and helping them build enduring companies. Gupta added that Khanduja's depth across consumer technology and artificial intelligence strengthens the firm's early-stage practice in India. Khanduja said Bessemer's research-led approach and track record made it a strong platform to partner with founders from the early stages.
India Opportunity and Founder Focus
Khanduja said India is producing a generation of founders building with real conviction, and the earliest stages are where an investor can be most useful. He will work closely with startups seeking their first institutional capital, leveraging Bessemer's global platform and research capabilities. This focus places him at the center of a competitive early-stage ecosystem that is attracting increased venture attention.
Khanduja's appointment reflects Bessemer's broader ambition to expand its early-stage investing footprint in India at a pivotal moment for the startup ecosystem. His experience across consumer technology and artificial intelligence positions him to help founders navigate the earliest phases of growth. With its second India fund and its global capital pool, Bessemer is well placed to partner with the next generation of Indian startup founders.