The early-stage venture capital fund, 8i Ventures, recently opened the applications for the second edition of its pre-seed funding program, Origami, to back innovative early-stage founders. The new edition is a continuation of the successful first edition launched in March 2024, that saw the fund invest $600,000 across three startups, including Cobalt, a SaaS native integrations platform, and Cautio, a fleet dashcam and video telematics provider.
PC: The Economic Times
Accelerated Funding for Startups
The Origami program is designed to streamline the funding process for early-stage companies, providing rapid access to capital with a quick turnaround. 8i Ventures guarantees a response within one week of application, issues a term sheet within two weeks, and aims for deal closure in just four weeks. This efficient approach is particularly attractive to new startups seeking to secure funding without extensive delays.
Co-published with the second edition of Origami, 8i Ventures announced the first close of its second fund, aiming for a total of $50 million. The firm raised $25 million so far and has allocated $10 million specifically to the Origami program.
Focus on Founders with Vision
8i Ventures focuses on the vision of taking founders who understand the pain points of customers to whom they are catering. The firm seeks to support diverse-ability teams with technology, product development, and also sales savvy. This gives 8i Ventures the means to not just fund but also mentor and aid the transformation of innovative ideas into businesses.
The firm has a good early-stage investing history. It is evident in its first seed investment in M2P Technologies, where it invested $200,000, and the company has witnessed an astonishing 36x return after M2P raised funds at an $800 million valuation. The firm’s most successful investments include names such as Slice, Easebuzz, and Bbetter, which have witnessed extreme growth post seed funding by 8i Ventures.
Proven Success and Portfolio Growth
For over a decade now, 8i Ventures and its partners have backed more than 50 seed and early-stage startups. It has created over $5 billion for shareholders both in India and globally. The firm’s portfolio includes challenger brands such as Slice, Kodo, Blue Tokai, and Carwale.com, and also fintech enablers like M2P, Signzy, Easebuzz, BharatX, Transbnk, and EzeTap. It not only reflects the strategic approach to investment but also the firm’s niche in identifying and grooming high-potential startups across different sectors.
Evidently, by extending its Origami program, 8i Ventures is regaining its commitment to growing innovation at the early-stage startup level. With the fast access of funding and support, this firm asserts itself as one of the most crucial players within the venture capital landscape. 8i Ventures aims to make significant contributions to the growth of India’s startup ecosystem as it continues to identify and invest in promising founders and their ventures.
Seamless processes and focusing on the nourishment of entrepreneurial talent would promise to usher in a new wave of successful startups, signaling many future innovations. With an impressive track record and the focus of being strategic, 8i Ventures is in a position to continue taking the lead in shaping the future of early-stage investments.
