Lightspeed raises $500Mn for India and Southeast Asia

Global venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners has announced the closure of a $500 million fund for India and SouthEast Asia as it seeks to double down its investments in the startups in the regions.

Lightspeed will now invest further into early-stage startups with the new fund. The company invests in growth-stage companies in the India and South East Asia regions from its Select and Opportunity fund vehicles. This fund announcement by Lightspeed may boost the Indian startup ecosystem.

The firm said, “The closing of Lightspeed India IV at its $500M hard-cap reflects the firm's deepening commitment to the India and South East Asia region, since our first India investment in 2007. We continue to witness the broadening and deepening of the opportunity in the region, led by world-class founders and an ever-expanding scope for technology to reshape the economy in India and Southeast Asia.”

Lightspeed made its first investment in India in 2007, with unicorns like OYO, Udaan, BYJU'S, Razorpay, and ShareChat under its portfolio. It will now invest further into early-stage startups with the new fund. It had raised $275 million in its third fund in 2020.