World's Largest Angel Network · Chennai Chapter

We Back
India's
Deep Tech Builders

First institutional catalytic anchor capital, unlocking follow-on capital and government support. We invest at TRL 6+. 45+ portfolio companies. 120+ commercialised IPs. The "Design in India" thesis, built from Chennai, invested globally.

45+
Portfolio Cos
130+
Forum Sessions
10+
Years
Scroll to explore
Design in India, not just Make in India. We back founders who architect solutions for the world, from India.
🎯

First Institutional Cheque

We anchor at TRL 6+, when the tech is proven but capital is hardest to find. The Valley of Death is our sweet spot.

🏭

Deep Tech · B2B Industrial First

Industrial AI, Robotics, Defense, MedTech. Our highest MOIC is in B2B Industrial, and we double down on what works.

🌐

Global Network · Local Conviction

55 chapters in 24 countries. When Keiretsu Chennai bets, other Keiretsu chapters follow.

Follow-on & Co-Investors in Our Portfolio
Accel Partners 3x Deep Tech
Shell Ventures
Naspers / Prosus
Ashish Kacholia Public Markets
Vijay Kedia Public Markets
Lashit Sanghvi Public Markets
Krish Gopalakrishnan FO Auxilio + Pratithi 2+
Zerodha Rainmatter
3i Partners
Indian Angel Network
100x.vc
Y-Combinator
Dholakia Ventures
Kunal Shah
Orios Ventures
Mudhal Partners
LetsVenture Digitally Native
We Founder Circle Digitally Native
IPV 4 startups
Chakra / RiSo
Accel Partners 3x Deep Tech
Shell Ventures
Naspers / Prosus
Ashish Kacholia Public Markets
Vijay Kedia Public Markets
Lashit Sanghvi Public Markets
Krish Gopalakrishnan FO Auxilio + Pratithi 2+
Zerodha Rainmatter
3i Partners
Indian Angel Network
100x.vc
Y-Combinator
Dholakia Ventures
Kunal Shah
Orios Ventures
Mudhal Partners
LetsVenture Digitally Native
We Founder Circle Digitally Native
IPV 4 startups
Chakra / RiSo
Upstream Incubation Centers & Co-Investors on Portfolio Captable
STBI Savli IC
IITM-IC IC · 8+ investments
IISc IC · 2+
Venture Centre IC · 3+
The Chennai Angels Co-Investor
IIT Bombay SINE Co-Investor
STBI Savli IC
IITM-IC IC · 8+ investments
IISc IC · 2+
Venture Centre IC · 3+
The Chennai Angels Co-Investor
IIT Bombay SINE Co-Investor
About Us

India's First
Keiretsu Chapter

Keiretsu Forum Chennai was established in February 2015, the first Keiretsu chapter on Indian soil. Over a decade, we've built a community of domain-expert investors who write anchor cheques into India's most ambitious Deep Tech startups.

Our thesis is simple: Design in India. We back founders building globally competitive technology, not just for the Indian market, but for the world. Our portfolio spans B2B Industrial AI, Mobility & EV, MedTech, Defense, and Impact. Companies we've backed today operate across 18+ countries and have raised over ₹500 Cr+ in follow-on capital.

We operate as Keiretsu Forum Chennai & Singapore, with deep roots at IIT Madras Research Park and growing reach across Southeast Asia.

Global Network

Keiretsu global presence
55
Chapters
18+
Countries
$1B+
Deployed Globally
4
Continents
Est. February 2015

The Chennai Chapter Story

Founded and based out of IIT Madras Research Park, Keiretsu Forum Chennai was born from a belief that India's Deep Tech ecosystem needed structured, peer-driven angel capital, not passive money, but active conviction from industry leaders who understand the technology they're backing.

Today we've crossed 130 forum sessions, backed 45+ companies, and produced outcomes that include a ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation from a ₹16 Cr seed (Detect Technologies), a 60x multiple, and three companies backed by Accel Partners.

Leadership

Subramaniam Iyer
Subramaniam Iyer
Co-Founder
LinkedIn
Gowtham Sarvesh R R
Gowtham Sarvesh R R
Partner & COO
LinkedIn
S V Krishnamoorthy
S V Krishnamoorthy
Co-Founder & Advisor
LinkedIn
RS
Ex-Founder
Dr. Rajan Srikanth
Co-Founder (2015-2024)

Operations

Padmavathi Dealflow & Portfolio padmavathi@keiretsuforum.com
Aruna Membership & Eco-System aruna@keiretsuforum.com
M&M

Money & More, Our Guiding Philosophy

In 2015 when we started, capital was a rarity. Today we believe capital is commoditised. The real edge Keiretsu delivers is the structured, hands-on involvement of our investor community, handpicked industrialists and domain experts who provide structured mentoring, open doors, GTM support, and co-create alongside founders at every stage.

Strategic Guidance
Market Access
Governance Support
Industry Partnerships
Portfolio

45+ Bets on
India's Builders

⚙️ B2B Industrial & Deep Tech
Our strongest cohort by returns, Industrial AI, Robotics, Aerospace, Energy
Highest MOIC 60x Peak Multiple

Why B2B Industrial leads our returns: We backed deep-tech hardware and AI companies solving real operational pain in oil & gas, aerospace, underwater inspection, and manufacturing, sectors where switching costs are high and defensibility is structural.

Detect Technologies grew from ₹16 Cr to ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation, is present in 12 countries, and counts Shell Ventures and Naspers among follow-on backers. Planys closed a ₹100 Cr round backed by Ashish Kacholia. Fabheads, an ISRO supplier, is Accel-backed.

B2B · Industrial AI

T-Pulse: AI + IoT for real-time industrial monitoring at Shell, Vedanta, and global majors. ₹16 Cr → ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation. Present in 12 countries. Backed by Shell Ventures and Naspers.

🌐 12 Countries
B2B · Inspection Robotics

India's first compact ROVs for underwater inspection, dams, bridges, ports, oil & gas. AI-powered robotics. ₹100 Cr round backed by Ashish Kacholia.

B2B · Aerospace Manufacturing

Carbon fiber 3D printing (FibrBot series) for aerospace and clean energy. Accel-backed. ISRO supplier.

B2B · Access Control

Cloud-based wireless access control for enterprises. $8M Series A led by Accel, third Keiretsu portfolio company to receive Accel backing.

🚗 Mobility & EV
From 2-wheelers to tractors, building India's electric future
Emerging MOIC 70x Peak Multiple

Mobility is our second-strongest cohort. We backed the EV transition early, from battery swapping OS to electric retrofits and connected logistics fleets.

Fyn Mobility: Seed ₹5 Cr → ₹350 Cr+ valuation, operating 1,500+ vehicle fleet across India. Konwert India Motors is already exporting retrofit kits to Sri Lanka, expanding outside Bangalore. AutoNxt built the world's first electric autonomous tractor.

EV · Logistics

Connected EVs across 2-, 3-, and 4-wheeler segments for last-mile logistics and shared mobility. Seed ₹5 Cr → ₹350 Cr+ valuation. 1,500+ vehicle fleet.

EV · Retrofit

Advanced retrofitting kits for autorickshaws with battery security and predictive maintenance. Kit-sale + battery-leasing model. Exporting to Sri Lanka.

🌐 Sri Lanka
EV · AgriTech

World's first electric autonomous tractor, 6-hour runtime, 80 km range, reducing operating costs up to 4× vs conventional tractors.

EV · Battery

OS for battery swapping in Tier-1 India, sachetising payments and converting Battery CAPEX into OPEX for EV owners.

EV · Drivetrain

Hybrid and electric drivetrain solutions for two- and three-wheelers, advancing efficiency and sustainability in urban mobility.

Mobility - Micro Gas Turbine

India's first micro gas turbine, 100 kW compact generator for heavy vehicles and gensets. Higher efficiency, lower emissions.

🏥 MedTech
From rural India to global hospitals, hardware-deep healthtech with clinical validation
Emerging MOIC 10x Peak Multiple

Our MedTech cohort started in rural India and is now global. These aren't app plays, they're regulated, hardware-deep devices with AIIMS, Apollo, AFMC, and ICMR validation behind them.

AI Health Highway started in rural Tamil Nadu and is now deployed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Pragmatech (Cervicheck) has shipped units to Nigeria and won the Pfizer Indovation Award. These are companies building global healthcare infrastructure from India.

MedTech · Cardio AI

AI-powered smart stethoscopes for cardio-respiratory care, converting heart and lung sounds into visual waveforms for early detection. Deployed in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

🌐 Nepal · Sri Lanka
MedTech · Women's Health

Cervicheck, self-sampling kit for cervical cancer screening. Partnered with Adyar Cancer Institute. Shipped units to Nigeria. Pfizer Indovation Award winner.

🌐 Nigeria
MedTech · Diagnostics

World's first smartphone-integrated digital microscope for clinical and research applications. Remote access, high-resolution imaging.

MedTech · Surgical

World's lightest surgical helmet, protecting hip and knee replacement surgeons from blood splashes, bone debris, and cautery smoke.

MedTech - Wearable Rehab

Fitknees, sensor-based knee injury monitoring validated through clinical trials. Fitmust muscle strength dynamometer for rehabilitation.

Consumer B2B SaaS
Tech-enabled platforms bridging businesses and their customers
ActiveAvg Entry: Seed

BusinessOnBot is YC-backed, operating across India, LATAM, SEA, and Europe. peAR Tech powers loyalty and payments for 150+ restaurant brands with 240 Cr+ in transactions.

B2B SaaS - WhatsApp Commerce

YC-backed. D2C customer acquisition and conversion on WhatsApp and Instagram. Present across India, LATAM, SEA, and Europe.

B2B SaaS - Loyalty + Payments

RewardsPay + Konnect: loyalty, payments, and AR marketing for SMB restaurants. 240 Cr+ transactions, 150+ brands.

Energy and CleanTech
Solar, clean energy, and industrial IoT for energy efficiency
ActiveAvg Entry: Seed

Devi Dayal / DD Solar serves rural India with off-grid solar DC refrigeration. Renkube builds next-gen solar technology improving energy yield. Impensus provides IoT monitoring for energy-intensive post-harvest storage.

Energy - Solar Cold Chain

Solar-powered cold storage for rural livelihoods. Off-grid DC refrigerators for food, vaccines, and rising farmer incomes.

Energy - Solar Tech
Renkube

Next-generation solar panel technology improving energy yield and efficiency, enabling higher output from the same footprint.

Energy - IoT Monitoring

IoT solutions for real-time monitoring of energy-intensive post-harvest storage and logistics, reducing energy and crop losses at scale.

📱 Consumer & Wearables
Global consumer hardware and D2C platforms
Active

Muse Wearables built Ring One, the world's first smart ring with cuff-less BP measurement, present in 40+ countries. Founded by KLN Sai Prasanth, this is a truly global consumer hardware play designed and manufactured in India.

Consumer - Wearable

Ring One, world's first smart ring with cuff-less BP measurement, multi-vital health tracking, and tap-to-pay. Present in 40+ countries.

40+ Countries
Consumer - D2C FMCG

India's first clean-label brand for swirl lollipops, candy canes, and marshmallows, global quality, healthier ingredients.

Consumer - Healthy Foods
Millet Magic

Millet-based healthy food products bringing nutritious, traditional grains to modern Indian consumers in convenient formats.

EdTech
K-12, live learning, and skills platforms
ActiveAvg Entry: Seed

Our EdTech cohort covers the full learning stack from K-12 STEM to live expert-led sessions. Kruu brings global university experts into project-based live sessions. Rhapsody and Srjna focus on K-12 innovation.

EdTech - Live Learning
Kruu

Live, project-based learning experiences led by global university experts.

EdTech - K12
Rhapsody

High-quality K-12 learning platform focused on creative and holistic education.

EdTech - AI Learning
Srjna

AI-powered personalised learning platform adapting curriculum to individual pace and style.

EdTech - K12
Learning Matters

High-quality K-12 education made simple, affordable, and engaging.

EdTech - AI Upskilling
SkilloVilla

AI-driven upskilling under $500. Empowers youth with job-ready skills and enables companies to hire faster.

🌾 AgriTech
Technology for India's farmers and rural supply chains
Active

India's agricultural sector is ripe for deep tech disruption. Our AgriTech cohort covers the full stack, from D2C farmer-to-consumer channels to IoT-powered cold chain logistics and bio-protection inputs.

AgriTech - Solar Irrigation
Fibsol

Solar-powered irrigation solutions for Indian farmers, reducing energy costs and improving water access across rural agricultural communities.

AgriTech · D2C

Single-origin, chemical-free mangoes and value-added products, training farmers through market clusters across South India.

AgriTech · Bio

Herboliv+ protects crops from wild animals using botanical extracts, doubles as a bio-fertilizer and pest control.

🌱 Impact & ESG
Startups where returns and purpose move together
Active

We believe the best impact investments are also the best commercial bets. Our Impact cohort covers ESG compliance automation, rural digital services, and clean water, sectors where India's scale creates structural tailwinds.

Impact · ESG
Impactree

AI-powered sustainability platform for ESG, carbon, energy, supply chain, and social impact with automated compliance.

Impact · Rural
Anaxee Digital

Nationwide "Digital Runners" for doorstep verification, data collection, and customer engagement in rural and semi-urban India.

Our Investors

Industry Specialists.
Not Just Capital.

Our members are C-suite leaders, founders, and domain experts, not passive capital. Every deal is supported by people who have spent careers in the relevant industry. We do not publish member names; we let their professional profiles speak.

Electronics and Hardware
Executive Director, Listed Electronics Manufacturer
Electronics - IPO Experience - 39+ yrs
Electronics and Hardware
Former MD, Global Electronics MNC
Multinational Operations - 20 yrs
Automotive and Mobility
Senior Consultant, Global Mobility and Sustainability
Automotive - WRI - OEM Networks
Automotive and Mobility
Retired Automotive Industry Leader
HUL - Sanmar - BASF
Electronics and Hardware
Executive Director, Listed Electronics Manufacturer
Electronics - IPO Experience - 39+ yrs
Electronics and Hardware
Former MD, Global Electronics MNC
Multinational Operations - 20 yrs
Automotive and Mobility
Senior Consultant, Global Mobility and Sustainability
Automotive - WRI - OEM Networks
Automotive and Mobility
Retired Automotive Industry Leader
HUL - Sanmar - BASF
Medical and Healthcare
Senior Cardiologist, Super-Specialty Hospital
Cardiology - Clinical Research - 38 yrs
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
Head of Product and Analytics, AI Platform Co.
Applied ML - Computer Vision
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
Analytics Leader, Global Analytics Firm
Data Science - Fortune 500 - 23 yrs
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
VP and Co-Founder, Data Product Company
Product - Enterprise AI - Consulting
Medical and Healthcare
Senior Cardiologist, Super-Specialty Hospital
Cardiology - Clinical Research - 38 yrs
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
Head of Product and Analytics, AI Platform Co.
Applied ML - Computer Vision
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
Analytics Leader, Global Analytics Firm
Data Science - Fortune 500 - 23 yrs
IT - Data Science - AI/ML
VP and Co-Founder, Data Product Company
Product - Enterprise AI - Consulting
Sustainability and Construction
Director BD, Global Infrastructure Software Co.
IIT Madras - Cornell - 30 yrs
Sustainability and Construction
CEO, IIT Madras Clean Water Initiative
Clean Water - Non-Profit - 32 yrs
Agriculture and Supply Chain
Founder-CEO, AgriTech and Supply Chain Ventures
Agritech - Supply Chain - FinTech
Sustainability and Construction
Director BD, Global Infrastructure Software Co.
IIT Madras - Cornell - 30 yrs
Sustainability and Construction
CEO, IIT Madras Clean Water Initiative
Clean Water - Non-Profit - 32 yrs
Agriculture and Supply Chain
Founder-CEO, AgriTech and Supply Chain Ventures
Agritech - Supply Chain - FinTech
Partners & Sponsors

Our Ecosystem

Past Sponsors
Ecosystem Partners
Chapter Meetings & Events

130+ Forum
Meetings & Counting

Our chapter meetings are where deals get made, structured sessions where startups present to curated accredited investors. The calendar below is live.

Live Event Calendar, Keiretsu Forum Chennai
Media

In The Press

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Get In Touch

Ready to Move?

Founder seeking capital or a leader who wants to invest with purpose, this is where it starts.

Investor Membership

Join a curated community of C-level professionals and domain specialists who back India's most ambitious Deep Tech founders.

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Startup Funding

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General Enquiries

Partnerships, media, ecosystem collaborations, or any other enquiries, reach out to relevant operations person below directly.