8i Ventures
8i Ventures is a Mumbai- and Bangalore-based early-stage venture capital firm that deploys capital into Indian fintech, consumer, SaaS, and AI startups through its Origami pre-seed program and direct seed-to-Series A investments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMumbai, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 8i Ventures does
8i Ventures is a Mumbai- and Bangalore-based early-stage venture capital firm, founded in 2018, that invests in Indian startups across fintech, consumer, SaaS, mobility, AI, and content categories. The firm operates through Eight Innovate Investment Trust I, a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund managed by Eight I Advisory LLP, and deploys capital via two primary channels: the Origami pre-seed funding program and direct seed-to-Series A investments led by General Partners Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V. Origami — the firm's core technology — is a process rather than a software platform: a structured, time-bound decisioning framework that commits to a 1-week application response, 2-week term sheet, and 4-week deal closure, distinguishing 8i from accelerator cohorts and traditional VC timelines.
The firm's business model rests on standard VC economics: recurring management fees on assets under management (with a $25M first close on the second fund in January 2024) and carried interest from successful exits, with the 12X full exit from M2P Fintech in October 2024 and the Difenz acquisition by Signzy serving as headline realizations. The 25+ active portfolio companies span marquee names (Slice, M2P, Easebuzz, TransBnk, Blue Tokai, Boba Bhai) and a long tail of newer bets (Cautio, Refold AI, Oolka, ReelSaga, Dalvoy, Jurisphere.ai, PowerUp Money). Distribution is founder-led and community-driven, leveraging operator credibility and public testimonials rather than outbound sales, with the 8ivc.com Origami landing page and [email protected] inbox as the primary inbound channels.
The firm serves two distinct customer segments: (1) early-stage Indian founders raising pre-seed and seed capital, who value 8i's operator empathy and rapid timelines, and (2) Limited Partners committing capital to the fund vehicles, who gain exposure to operator-led India early-stage deal flow. Co-investors (Bessemer, Peak XV, Accel, Titan Capital, Info Edge Ventures, Antler, Flourish Ventures, Nazara Technologies, Picus Capital) validate deal quality and reinforce sourcing networks, while select cross-border investments (Refold AI in San Francisco, TripleA in Singapore, RetailX in London) indicate an emerging global aperture within an otherwise India-domestic mandate.
8i Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 8i Ventures
- Legal name
- Eight I Advisory LLP
- Website
- https://8ivc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 8i Ventures is a Mumbai- and Bangalore-based early-stage venture capital firm that deploys capital into Indian fintech, consumer, SaaS, and AI startups through its Origami pre-seed program and direct seed-to-Series A investments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
8i Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (525990)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where 8i Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mumbai
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
8i Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: As a SEBI-registered Category II AIF (Eight Innovate Investment Trust I) managed by Eight I Advisory LLP, the firm earns recurring management fees on assets under management across its fund vehicles (including the second fund with a reported $25M first close in January 2024).
- Carried Interest / Fund Returns: Carried interest on successful portfolio exits, demonstrated by a 12X return on full exit from M2P Fintech (October 2024) and the Difenz exit via acquisition by Signzy in 2024.
- Pre-Seed Origami Investments: Capital deployed through the Origami pre-seed program into early-stage Indian startups, with portfolio company appreciation generating downstream fund returns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Origami pre-seed program — process timeline disclosed but equity/valuation terms not public |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
8i Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
8i Ventures is an India-focused early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups, with a primary focus on fintech and consumer brands. Capital is deployed through the SEBI-registered Category II AIF vehicle Eight Innovate Investment Trust I (managed by Eight I Advisory LLP), via the structured Origami pre-seed program and direct seed-to-Series A investments led by general partners Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V.
Product overview
8i Ventures operates as a single unified early-stage venture capital platform for Indian founders, anchored by the SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund Eight Innovate Investment Trust I (managed by Eight I Advisory LLP). Capital is deployed through two primary channels: the signature Origami pre-seed funding program, which provides a fast-track path from application to deal closure, and direct seed-to-Series A investments led by General Partners Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V. The active portfolio spans fintech (Slice, M2P, TransBnk, Easebuzz, BharatX, Creditail, Oolka, PocketFin, ZenStatement, TripleA), consumer brands (Blue Tokai, Naagin, Boba Bhai, BBetter, Grest), AI and SaaS (Refold AI, Dalvoy, OnArrival, Descrypt), mobility (Blinq Mobility, Cautio), content (ReelSaga), and other sectors. Earlier portfolio company Difenz was acquired by Signzy in 2024, and M2P Fintech delivered a full exit with a 12X return.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Origami: 8i Ventures' pre-seed funding program offering early-stage capital to startups in India, with a stated timeline of response within 7 days, term sheet within 14 days, and deal closure within 30 days.
Products and services
- Origami Pre-Seed Funding Program Origami is 8i Ventures' structured pre-seed funding program for early-stage Indian entrepreneurs. It commits to a response within 7 days, a term sheet within 14 days, and deal closure in 30 days, with testimonials from founders at ReelSaga, Oolka, Cautio, and PowerUp. It is positioned as a faster, founder-friendly alternative to traditional accelerators, focusing on capital access rather than mentorship cohorts.
- Eight Innovate Investment Trust I (Second Fund) Eight Innovate Investment Trust I is 8i Ventures' SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), Registration IN/AIF2/18-19/0584, managed by Eight I Advisory LLP as Investment Manager. It is the legal vehicle through which 8i Ventures raises capital from Limited Partners and deploys it into portfolio companies such as Slice, M2P, TransBnk, Easebuzz, Blue Tokai, Boba Bhai, Cautio, and others.
Quantifiable outcome
- Origami pre-seed program delivers response in 1 week, term sheet in 2 weeks, deal closure in 4 weeks
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use 8i Ventures
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
8i Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
8i Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
8i Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Antler: Global pre-seed investor with a major India presence and a structured, cohort-style founder program. Directly comparable to 8i's Origami pre-seed motion; Antler is a recurring co-investor with 8i in Cautio and Jurisphere.ai.
- Better Capital: India-focused pre-seed/seed micro-VC founded by Vaibhav Domkundwar that backs Indian founders at the earliest stages. Directly comparable mandate, cheque size, and founder-led sourcing style.
- Titan Capital: India-focused early-stage investor (Kunal Shah, Ramakant Sharma) backing consumer and fintech founders. Recurring co-investor with 8i in Boba Bhai and Instafix, with overlapping thesis in pre-seed/seed Indian consumer and fintech.
- Info Edge Ventures: The early-stage investing arm of Info Edge (Naukri parent), focused on Indian tech and consumer startups. Led Jurisphere.ai's seed with 8i participating; comparable cheque size and India-only mandate.
- First Cheque: India-focused pre-seed micro-VC writing the first institutional cheque into Indian startups. Closest direct comparable to 8i on cheque size, stage, and founder-friendly positioning.
- Kae Capital: India-focused early-stage investor backing consumer, fintech, and SaaS founders. Co-invested alongside 8i in PowerUp Money; comparable fund size, stage focus, and India-only mandate.
Broad incumbents
- Blume Ventures: One of India's longest-running early-stage funds with a multi-sector India thesis. Overlaps with 8i's seed-stage fintech and consumer bets; co-invested in PowerUp Money's Series A. Larger fund size and broader sector coverage than 8i.
- Accel India: Major global VC with a deep India practice backing seed through growth. Co-invested alongside 8i in PowerUp Money; competes for the same founder mindshare at the seed stage but with materially larger funds.
- Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India): India and SEA-focused franchise of the Sequoia/Peak XV brand with seed-to-growth capability. Co-invested in PowerUp Money Series A; competes for founders at the same stages as 8i but with a much larger fund and broader platform.
- Bessemer Venture Partners (India): Global VC with active India practice, focused on cloud, fintech, and consumer. Led the Series B in 8i's portfolio company TransBnk; competes for the same India fintech winners but with larger cheque sizes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
8i Ventures social profiles
Digital presence8i Ventures compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
8i Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
8i Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
8i Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
8i Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments49 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 8i Ventures
What does 8i Ventures do?
8i Ventures is an India-focused early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups, with a primary focus on fintech and consumer brands. Capital is deployed through the SEBI-registered Category II AIF vehicle Eight Innovate Investment Trust I (managed by Eight I Advisory LLP), via the structured Origami pre-seed program and direct seed-to-Series A investments led by general partners Vikram Chachra and Vishwanath V.
Is 8i Ventures a public or private company?
8i Ventures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 8i Ventures founded?
8i Ventures was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 8i Ventures based?
8i Ventures is headquartered in Mumbai, India, in the Asia region.
How does 8i Ventures make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Fund Returns and pre-Seed Origami Investments.
Who are 8i Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Antler, Better Capital, Titan Capital, Info Edge Ventures, First Cheque and Kae Capital. Broad incumbents are Blume Ventures, Accel India, Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India) and Bessemer Venture Partners (India).
Does 8i Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for 8i Ventures.
What industry is 8i Ventures in?
8i Ventures's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed), with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6211.