Roots Ventures, announced bringing in Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the Founder of Paytm as an anchor investor in its maiden fund. The fund is raising INR 200 crore with a green shoe option of INR 100 crore to invest in opportunities arising out of increasing per capita income, changing spending pattern of the consumers and technology disruption around these segments. The anchor investors and partners have contributed 20% to the target fund corpus.

Roots Ventures is an alternative investing platform founded by Mr. Japan Vyas who previously set up and was heading the alternatives platform of IDFC Investment Advisors and then was the Co-founder of Sixth Sense Ventures.

Speaking on this new development and coming on as an LP in Roots Ventures, Vijay Shekhar expressed, “Japan is one of the few investors I know who have had a successful track record for more than a decade picking winners across his funds and business cycles. He is also one of the early shareholders in Paytm when he invested in us from his first fund at IDFC. I am happy to be an investor in his alternative investing platform and wish the team continued success.” 

Japan Vyas

“I am thrilled to have Vijay as one of the anchor investors of our maiden fund. I got to know VSS when I bought into his vision very early on in 2010 and was fortunate to be an early shareholder in One97 (Paytm) through my first fund at IDFC IA. I am glad we have been able to develop a relationship where today he has reposed his trust in us as an anchor LP and we hope it's just the beginning of this leg of our relationship. The fund also counts industry stalwarts like Mr. Pravin Gandhi of Seedfund, Mr. Sandeep Kohli ex CEO of Yum International for the Indian subcontinent and Mr. Kushal and Mr. Chaitanya Desai of Apar Industries as its other key investors."

"At Roots, we are building our portfolio around opportunities arising from increasing per capita income, changing consumer spends and impact of technology around these segments. Our portfolio will comprise early stage, growth and small mid listed investments. Our fund raise is on track and we are in advance discussions with two fund of funds and looking to close our fundraise over the next 2-3 months,” said Japan Vyas.

Over the last few months since inception, Roots has closed 6 investments ranging across consumer products, consumer tech and fintech and in the process of closing two more investments in the mobility and consumer space. 

About Roots Ventures Roots Ventures is a multi-stage, sector agnostic alternative investment platform set up by a founding team of Japan Vyas and Ravinder Vashist. They come with a successful track record and a history of working together across funds and business cycles. Roots ventures is where their multi-decade investing experience and relationships converge to be the “roots” in an entrepreneur’s quest to build a stable and sustainable business. Roots Ventures manages a category II SEBI registered AIF (alternative investment fund). Their maiden fund, keeping their "investor first" philosophy in mind allows an investor to take exposure to high growth startup investments marrying with late-stage and listed investments thus reducing the portfolio risk.

To know more, please click Roots Ventures.