In a shareholders’ letter explaining its investment thesis, Zomato-backer Info Edge revealed that it has invested ₹1,003 Cr across 54 AI and deeptech startups from 2020 until March 31, 2026 .
The company labelled its “AI and deeptech portfolios represent a broad, early position across the technologies expected to shape the coming decade for India and beyond”.
Info Edge’s AI portfolio comprises 28 companies (of which 26 are active) including Aftershoot, Gnani.ai, Jurisphere, Pascal AI, and Phot.ai. While it had deployed ₹614 Cr across these companies, it values its investments worth as of now to be at ₹1,268 Cr. This indicates a 2.1X internal rate of return (IRR) and gross IRR of 31%.
Meanwhile, the Naukri parent’s relatively younger deeptech portfolio consists of 30 companies (of which 26 are active), including Anscer, CynLr, Manastu Space, Temple, and Unbox Robotics.
Info Edge has poured ₹455 Cr across these 30 investments, which span deeptech sub-sectors like robotics, immuno-oncology, semiconductors, and electric mobility, mainly backing these companies at the IP creation and R&D stage. These holdings are currently valued at ₹559 Cr, indicating a 1.2X multiple and gross IRR of 15%.
Meanwhile, Info Edge, which has been an early backer for consumer tech majors like Eternal and PB Fintech, views consumer internet as the mainstay of its investing franchise. At the end of FY26, Info Edge had invested ₹2,755 Cr across 45 consumer tech and consumer-AI startups which is now valued at ₹37,214 Cr, a 13.5X multiple and 34% gross IRR.
However, its consumer internet investment thesis is now shifting towards AI.
“We also believe leading consumer businesses built in the pre-AI era have significant scope to reimagine their consumer touchpoints, product offerings, customer service and internal operations using AI which is playing out across our portfolio companies and in our own operating businesses like Naukri,” Info Edge’s shareholder note read.
In total, Info Edge reported that it has invested ₹4,900 Cr across 135 startups to date. Its portfolio is now valued at ₹41,300 Cr, signalling a 8.4X multiple and gross IRR of around 33%. Out of the sum invested, the company noted that external Limited Partners supplied ₹1,300 Cr via managed AIFs, with the remainder coming from Info Edge itself as well as its group companies.
(The story will be updated shortly)
The post Info Edge’s AI, Deeptech Playbook: ₹1,003 Cr Portfolio Across Over 50 Startups appeared first on Inc42 Media.
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