Sequoia India and Southeast Asia raise $2.85 bn to empower founders

New Delhi, June 14 Sequoia India and Southeast Asia have raised $2.85 billion across a set of funds, including a $2 billion early-stage, venture and growth fund for India and an $850 million Southeast Asian fund, to help founders build companies from idea to IPO and beyond.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sequoia as a global firm, 16 years in India, and 10 in Southeast Asia.

"This fundraise, which comes at a time when markets are starting to cool after a very long bull run, signals our deep commitment to the region and the faith our Limited Partners have in the long-term growth story of India and Southeast Asia," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The region's startup ecosystem has grown rapidly in the last decade, thanks to the acceleration of digital adoption and rising consumer incomes.

Last year, India emerged as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, after the US and China. India currently has more than 100 unicorns.

In 2021, Indian startups raised $42 billion across 1,583 deals, resulting in 42 unicorns.

Southeast Asia, meanwhile, is on track to become a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.

"Our initiatives in the region continue to reflect our desire to actively contribute to building and supporting the ecosystem in ways that go beyond capital," said the company.

It launched 'Surge', a 16-week programme of early stage startups, in 2019.

The programme has grown to a community of 246 founders from 112 startups across more than 15 sectors.

"The startup and venture capital ecosystem in India and Southeast Asia has made great strides in the last decade and will continue to mature. Valuations and velocity will move with markets," said the company.

Sequoia Southeast Asia has over 40 people across 12 nationalities, a large portfolio of seed, venture and growth investments, "and a hub for programs like Surge and Spark, all driven by a growing conviction in the potential of our markets".