Warmup Ventures
Overview
Warmup Ventures is a micro-venture capital firm founded in 2023 in Jaipur, India, by Sharad Bansal, Rajendra Lora, and Yogesh Chaudhary. Specializing in early-stage startup investments, the firm has built a substantial portfolio targeting sectors such as deep-tech, climate, and sustainability. As of late 2024, Warmup Ventures launched its second fund, the Warmup Fund II, with a corpus of Rs 300 crore. The fund is designed to support about 30 startups with investments ranging from Rs 5-7 crore, aiming to empower innovative businesses while bridging traditional industry values with modern entrepreneurial efforts.
Recent Developments
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December 2024: Warmup Ventures announced the launch of Warmup Fund II, a SEBI-registered Category 2 AIF, with a corpus of Rs 300 crore. The venture capital firm aims to invest in 25-30 early-stage startups, focusing on sectors including deep-tech, climate, and sustainability.
- The fund not only provides financial backing but also aims to equip founders with critical knowledge and networks to enhance decision-making and scalability.
- The announcement aligns with an increasing trend of investment in early-stage ventures within the Indian startup ecosystem.
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Throughout 2024: The company increased its focus on expanding the startup network, explicitly targeting collaborations with family offices and second-generation entrepreneurs to combine legacy business insights with new-age startup innovation.
- Significant investments were made in startups such as Bobabhai, Nitro Commerce, MiniMines, and RocketPay.
- Notably, Bobabhai expanded to nearly 45 stores nationwide, showcasing the potential of effective collaborative growth.
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Mid-2023: Initially established as a syndicate fund, Warmup Ventures had already backed over 15 startups by mid-2023. This laid a solid foundation for the scaling initiatives seen in subsequent years.
Warmup Ventures' strategic move to launch another substantial fund with a focus on growth sectors indicates its commitment to fostering a robust startup ecosystem in India. This aligns with broader trends in venture capital where emergent sectors such as sustainability are recognized as key future growth drivers.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Jaipur, India |
| Founders | Sharad Bansal, Rajendra Lora, Yogesh Chaudhary |
| Revenue | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profits | Not publicly disclosed |
| Key Investors | Family Offices, Second-Generation Entrepreneurs |
| Industry | Venture Capital |
| Number of Employees | Not publicly disclosed |
Early History
Warmup Ventures was founded in 2023, initiated as a syndicate fund directed by seasoned entrepreneurs with notable backgrounds. Sharad Bansal, an alumnus of IIT Delhi and founder of Tinkerly, alongside Rajendra Lora of IIIT Jabalpur and founder of Freshokartz, and Yogesh Chaudhary, associated with Jaipur Rugs, laid the foundation for the firm. The team capitalized on their extensive angel investment experience, previously backing over 100 emerging startups, which facilitated rapid growth in the venture capital landscape. This foundation enabled Warmup Ventures to establish itself quickly in the sector by offering not just funds, but also mentorship and strategic guidance to early-stage ventures.
Company Profile and Achievements
Warmup Ventures operates as a micro venture capital firm dedicated to supporting early-stage startups with the right capital and resources to thrive. Its business model is centered around the creation of a supportive ecosystem for startups in transformational sectors.
- 2023: The firm was established as a syndicate fund and made its first major investments in companies like Bobabhai and RocketPay.
- 2024:
- It successfully launched Warmup Fund II with significant financial support aimed at deep-tech, climate sustainability, and other high-impact sectors.
- Notable achievements include the expansion of its investment portfolio with startups making significant growth strides such as MiniMines and Biva Analytics.
- The firm emphasized bridging traditional business nuances with innovative startup culture, leading to collaborative growth across its portfolio.
Warmup Ventures has earned reputation for its innovative approach in connecting legacy businesses with forward-focused startups. By nurturing this cross-generational linkage, Warmup Ventures enhances strategic growth prospects and optimizes investment returns across multiple sectors.
Current Operations and Market Position
Currently, Warmup Ventures engages in diverse venture capital activities with its focus on maximizing the growth trajectory of early-stage startups within transformative sectors. The Fund II initiative reflects its commitment to deepening its market presence in India’s burgeoning innovation landscape.
- Strategic Initiatives: Emphasis on creating platforms that integrate family business expertise with modern entrepreneurial vigor.
- Market Impact: Positions itself as a notable player in the venture capital scene, especially in sustainability-oriented startups.
- Competitive Advantage: Leverages its extensive network and industry insights from its founders to provide comprehensive support to its portfolio companies.
Conclusion
Warmup Ventures stands out in the micro VC landscape for its strategic focus on high-growth potential sectors like climate and sustainability. Since its inception in 2023, the firm has made significant strides in supporting and scaling early-stage startups, reinforced by the launch of its second significant fund in 2024. Going forward, Warmup Ventures aims to continue leveraging its unique platform that mixes heritage and future-oriented growth. With its well-rounded support system combining capital with strategic insights, Warmup Ventures is poised to significantly contribute to India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.