Accelerator fund 9Unicorns to invest in150 startups globally in 2022

Accelerator fund 9Unicorns is planning to invest in 150 startups globally in 2022. It has witnessed over 30 up-rounds in 2021 and 10 times co-investing in its portfolio by multiple global VCs, family offices, Unicorn founders and top CXOs.

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In 2021, the fund witnessed a 3x increase in the number of deals at 101 deals as early-stage investments pick up pace in India. It invested in 32 deals in 2020, which was also the fund’s first year of operation.  During the year, 9Unicorns invested in 90-odd unique startups with a total round size of $465 million. On a standalone basis, 9Unicorns invested a total amount of $32 million.  

The Mumbai-based accelerator fund is on track of creating several billion-dollar startups from its stable in over the next few year. It has to be noted that it has charted a new and very unique funding strategy where in it would be investing in both idea-stage and Series C stage startups. For idea-stage it looks to invest $.5 million to $1million.

For Series C and above, it plans to write cheques up to $3 million in high-growth stage startups. In 2021, the two-year-old fund has already deployed 25 per cent of the capital in high growth Series C and B startups even as it would continue to develop great idea-stage companies into potential Unicorns.

9Unicorns invested by leading in up rounds of several innovative and disruptive startups.

Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder and Managing Director, 9Unicorn said, "Besides, the birth of 40-odd Unicorns in 2021, the highest ever, speaks volumes about the potential the country has to create over 200 Unicorns over next 2-3 years. The pandemic has created a sea of opportunities for many of these startups and we expect to invest in about 200 startups in the coming year."

It has to be noted that  9Unicorns, which is being touted as the Y Combinator of India, also conducted its first virtual demo day in August where in about 32 of its portfolio companies raised around $108 million in just two days from about 50 global VCs.  The investment firm plans it second demo day in January, where about 60-odd startups are waiting to raise funds from some marquee Tier 1 VCs.