BlackSoil

India continues to cement its position as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with 1,812 VC firms reshaping the funding landscape in 2024. As highlighted in a recent article by S Shanthi in Financial Express (India), over 30 new boutique VC firms have entered the market this year, bringing fresh perspectives, domain expertise, and a focus on regional opportunities in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Speaking on the shifting landscape, Chirag Shah, President of Fundraising and Strategy at BlackSoil aptly noted, "Economic uncertainty in 2024 created opportunities for agile VC firms to address gaps overlooked by traditional funds." With a surge in domestic and international capital, coupled with sectoral focus and regional investments, 2025 looks set to be another landmark year for the Indian startup ecosystem. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gAF9hyfn #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Innovation #BlackSoil #FinancialExpress #IndianStartups

With the holiday spirit in full swing, here's how we celebrated the festive season with our team🎄❄️🎁. Cheers to new beginnings, new achievements, and an exciting year ahead! 🥂✨ Somaira Khan | Tanisha R | Aaisha Ansari | Ankur Bansal | Mohinder Pal Bansal

Drones are revolutionising India's industries! From agriculture to logistics, these flying marvels are creating employment opportunities, empowering rural communities, and driving scalable growth. With over 21,000 drone pilots certified in 2024, initiatives like the Namo Drone Didi scheme and training programs in Tier II & III cities, India is bridging skill gaps, empowering communities and unlocking new possibilities. As Surabhi Sanyukta, VP - Investments at BlackSoil, highlights, "By focusing on Tier II and III cities, these programs are creating pathways for scalable growth, especially for startups introducing drone-as-a-service models to reduce upfront costs." Dive into Pooja Malik's article in YourStory Media to explore how drones are shaping India's future! https://lnkd.in/g85n-vfh Soumita Ghorui | Himanshu Gakhar

Mansi Verma's story in today's Mint highlights how venture debt has become a game-changer for Fintechs amidst a 38% drop in equity funding this year. Startups raised $671.1M through 49 venture debt rounds in fintech—more than doubling from 2023—pushing total venture debt funding in India to $1.48B, up 10% in 2024. "Venture debt offers capital efficiency, avoids dilution, and ensures fiscal prudence," said Ankur Bansal, Managing Director of BlackSoil, noting a 15-20% YoY rise in demand. "With Fintechs becoming profitable and scaling well, we are confident to lend even as VC activity slows," added Apoorva Sharma, Managing Partner at Stride Ventures . Read the full story in Mint for more insights: https://lnkd.in/ggidrZ9K Soumita Ghorui | Himanshu Gakhar #VentureDebt #Fintech #StartupFunding #Mint

As the year draws to a close, we at BlackSoil want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, clients, and team for their support and trust throughout the year. 🤝🙏 Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄🎊 May this festive season bring joy, peace, and prosperity, and may the coming year be filled with new opportunities and success for all. ✨✨ Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and an even brighter year ahead! 🎉

India stands at the cusp of a new growth era, with emerging industries like DeepTech, ClimateTech, HealthTech, Agritech, and FinTech 2.0 leading the charge. These sectors are redefining possibilities and creating exciting opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs alike, reported Prince Kariappa in a recent story in Entrepreneur India. Ankur Bansal, Managing Director at BlackSoil, remarks, "India's 2025 investment hotspots are DeepTech and ClimateTech, both poised for significant growth. With supportive policies, ClimateTech is accelerating clean-tech adoption, while DeepTech, powered by AI and advanced technologies, is set to revolutionise industries globally." For more insights into the future of venture capital in India, read the thoughtful piece by Kariappa. https://lnkd.in/gh_ePZpE #VentureCapital #Innovation #EmergingSectors #DeepTech #ClimateTech #BlackSoil #IndiaStartups

We are thrilled to celebrate Santosh Patil’s 8th work anniversary at BlackSoil! 🎉 Santosh began his journey with us in December 2016 as an Accounts Officer and, through consistent dedication and excellence, has risen to the role of AVP - Accounts & Finance. His meticulous attention to financial details, expertise in accounting processes, and strong leadership have been instrumental in driving the success of our finance operations. Thank you, Santosh, for your unwavering commitment and hard work. Your contributions continue to inspire us, and we are excited about the milestones we will achieve together in the years to come. Here’s to many more years of success and growth! 🤝✨ Mohinder Pal Bansal | Ankur Bansal | Anuj Gothi | Somaira Khan | Tanisha R #WorkAnniversary #TeamBlackSoil #Leadership #FinanceExcellence #GrowthJourney #BlackSoil

Today marks an extraordinary milestone for our portfolio company, MobiKwik! ✨ We heartily congratulate the entire MobiKwik team on their successful stock market debut. 🎉 The exceptional 120x oversubscription of their ₹572 crore IPO is a testament to the incredible vision, innovative spirit, and robust financial fundamentals that MobiKwik has built over the years. This remarkable achievement reflects not just the company's current strength but also the immense potential of India's fintech ecosystem. As a proud investor and partner, BlackSoil has always believed in MobiKwik's transformative approach to digital financial services. Their journey from a pioneering digital wallet to a comprehensive fintech platform exemplifies the kind of entrepreneurial excellence we strive to support. We look forward to witnessing MobiKwik's continued growth and impact, as they play a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion and digital payments across India. Congratulations once again on this momentous occasion!🚀 Upasana Taku | Bipin Preet Singh | Ankur Bansal | Surabhi Sanyukta | Amruta Maheshwari | Kashmita Mehta | Mrinall Dey (He/Him) | Soumita Ghorui | Chirag Shah | Anand Kumar #MobiKwik #PortfolioSuccess #IPO #Fintech #StartupSuccess #BlackSoil #PortfolioIPO

✨Fund Highlights✨ We are excited to share that our second fund, BlackSoil India Credit Fund II, is targeting a final close at ₹500 crore, with ₹300 crore already secured. We are confident in achieving this milestone within the next 6-9 months. Our journey began with our first credit fund, BlckSoil India Credit Fund (BICF), in 2020, which raised ₹280 crore and deployed ₹540 crore over nearly four years, leveraging a redeployment strategy to reinvest returns. We have returned 75% of the principal to our investors and are now transitioning into the capital return phase. As Ankur Bansal, our MD, highlighted in his recent interview with Business Standard, BlackSoil's growth story is driven by strong demand for private credit as an efficient and scalable financing solution. While challenges like recovery delays and limited institutional participation persist, we remain steadfast in addressing these gaps and growing awareness about private credit opportunities in India. Thank you, Jaden Paul, for covering BlackSoil India Credit Fund's journey and shedding light on this dynamic sector! Chirag Shah | Manish Srivastava | Sandeep Anand Shaw | Soumita Ghorui | Kosha Bhalavat #BlackSoilIndiaCreditFund #BICF #PrivateCredit #CreditFund #AlternativeCredit #ImpactInvesting

🌍 Panel Discussion: Investors Speak – Driving Financial Inclusion & Growth in India 🌱 Leading investors convened at the GIFS 2024 to share insights on advancing financial inclusion and fostering economic growth in India. Moderated by Abhishek Anand, Partner at MSC (MicroSave Consulting), the session highlighted actionable strategies for aligning investments with financial inclusion goals while maximising social and economic impact. Key Takeaways from the Session: ✔️Investment Trends – Panelists discussed the growing role of fintech and microfinance in scaling innovative solutions and funding underserved populations, particularly in rural and semi-urban India. ✔️The evolving microfinance landscape – Consolidation through IPOs and mergers is unlocking scalability and liquidity, enabling greater outreach to underserved communities. ✔️ Sustainability Matters – The integration of ESG principles is shaping impactful investment strategies, focusing on climate resilience, gender equity, and community development. ✔️ Collaborative Models – Fintechs, banks, and other stakeholders must leverage technology-driven partnerships to deliver equitable financial access efficiently. ✔️ Empowering MSMEs – Emerging opportunities in secured MSME financing, vehicle financing, and climate-focused lending are driving growth while reducing risk. ✔️ Social and Economic Returns – Aligning capital with financial inclusion goals can unlock significant potential for creating equitable access and delivering sustainable outcomes. Speaker Highlights: 🔸 "Innovation and adaptability are key. By recalibrating our strategies, we can unlock new growth opportunities while addressing critical societal needs." – Ankur Bansal, Managing Director, BlackSoil 🔸 "Microfinance is not just about loans; it’s about empowerment. With the right scale and liquidity opportunities, we can create far-reaching impact." – Aditya Mohan, Investment Officer, FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank 🔸"Collaboration is the way forward. By aligning with the right technology partners, we can deliver financial access effectively, even in challenging times." – Akshay Gujar, National Business Manager, AU SMALL FINANCE BANK This insightful discussion emphasised the critical role of investors in fostering financial inclusion and equitable economic growth. Together, we can bridge gaps and create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. #FinancialInclusion #InclusiveGrowth #Microfinance #ImpactInvesting #GlobalInclusiveFinanceSummit2024 #AccessDevelopmentServices #InvestorsSpeak