Athera Venture Partners

Athera Venture Partners, previously known as Inventus India, is a leading venture capital firm in India, recognized for its strategic investments in early-stage startups. Founded by experienced professionals with a profound understanding of the Indian startup landscape, Athera Venture Partners is dedicated to supporting innovative businesses across diverse sectors.

Based in Bengaluru, Athera Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on nurturing technology-driven startups in India. Established in 2008, the firm rebranded to Athera in May 2022, aligning its identity with its mission to guide visionary founders on their entrepreneurial paths.

The name 'Athera,' originating from Sanskrit, means 'path' or 'direction,' reflecting the firm's dedication to being a reliable partner to entrepreneurs navigating the dynamic startup environment. This philosophy is deeply embedded in their investment strategy, highlighting empathy, objectivity, and a focus on building sustainable businesses.

Alongside its rebranding, Athera announced the launch of its fourth fund, aiming for a corpus of ₹900 crore (around $120 million).

This fund is intended to invest in early-stage, technology-focused companies, particularly in sectors like Internet of Things (IoT), consumer internet, mobile, SaaS, enterprise software, fintech, Web 3.0, and deep technology.

Investment amounts range from ₹5 crore to ₹45 crore, with options for follow-on investments in later funding rounds.

Athera's portfolio includes several notable successes. For example, redBus, India's largest bus ticketing platform, and Policybazaar.com, the country's leading online insurance aggregator, are among its early investments.

Other significant portfolio companies include HealthifyMe App, an AI-powered health and fitness app; PlayShifu, an augmented reality-based educational toy company; Pixxel, a space technology startup; and Euler Motors, focusing on commercial electric vehicles.

The firm's investment strategy is marked by a long-term commitment to founders, offering patient and supportive capital. Athera takes pride in being a founder-friendly VC, accompanying entrepreneurs through the often challenging journey of building and scaling a startup.

This supportive approach has been recognized and valued by the founders they have partnered with, many of whom have become investors in Athera's funds.

Athera's transition from Inventus India represents a significant evolution in its journey, symbolizing its deepening commitment to the Indian startup ecosystem. By aligning its identity with its mission, Athera continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of technology entrepreneurship in India.