z21 Ventures secures $20M first close for $40M Fund II with WestBridge backing
z21 Ventures has secured the first close of $20 million for its $40 million Fund II. The investment round includes a major commitment from anchor investor WestBridge Capital. The fund will target early-stage startups with strong leadership and innovative technologies. The venture capital firm was founded by Raj Singh, Abhinav Shashank, Jyotika Gupta, and Sudarshan Ravi Jha—all alumni of IIT Kharagpur. Singh previously co-founded Innovaccer and IBC, while Shashank remains CEO of Innovaccer. Their combined experience in technology and consulting shapes z21 Ventures’ investment strategy.
The fund focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage startups, particularly in AI, enterprise software, and healthcare. WestBridge Capital, which manages over $7 billion in assets, has backed companies like Innovaccer, Rapido, and PhysicsWallah. Its $20 million commitment to Fund II signals strong confidence in z21 Ventures’ approach.
z21 Ventures operates a community-led model, using its limited partner network to provide mentorship and strategic support. This structure aims to help startups scale effectively while leveraging industry expertise. Fund II will prioritise disruptive technology companies with significant market potential. The initial $20 million close sets the stage for further investments in early-stage innovation. WestBridge Capital’s involvement reinforces the fund’s credibility in the startup ecosystem.
