World's Largest Angel Network · Chennai Chapter

We Back
India's
Deep Tech Builders

First institutional anchor cheques at TRL 6+. 35+ portfolio companies. The "Design in India" thesis — built from Chennai, invested globally.

35+
Portfolio Cos
130+
Forum Sessions
10+
Years
Scroll to explore
Design in India — not just Make in India. We back founders who architect solutions for the world, from India.
🎯

First Institutional Cheque

We anchor at TRL 6+ — when the tech is proven but capital is hardest to find. The Valley of Death is our sweet spot.

🏭

Deep Tech · B2B Industrial First

Industrial AI, Robotics, Defense, MedTech. Our highest MOIC is in B2B Industrial — and we double down on what works.

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Global Network · Local Conviction

55 chapters in 24 countries backing our portfolio. When Keiretsu Chennai bets, the world follows.

Follow-on Investors in Our Portfolio
Accel Partners 3× Deep Tech
Shell Ventures
Naspers / Prosus
Ashish Kacholia
Blume Ventures
Accion Labs
Social Alpha
TDK Ventures
Chakra India Growth Fund
Accel Partners 3× Deep Tech
Shell Ventures
Naspers / Prosus
Ashish Kacholia
Blume Ventures
Accion Labs
Social Alpha
TDK Ventures
Chakra India Growth Fund
About Us

India's First
Keiretsu Chapter

Keiretsu Forum Chennai was established in February 2015 — the first Keiretsu chapter on Indian soil. Over a decade, we've built a community of domain-expert investors who write anchor cheques into India's most ambitious Deep Tech startups.

Our thesis is simple: Design in India. We back founders building globally competitive technology — not just for the Indian market, but for the world. Our portfolio spans B2B Industrial AI, Mobility & EV, MedTech, Defense, and Impact. Companies we've backed today operate across 12+ countries and have raised over ₹500 Cr+ in follow-on capital.

We operate as Keiretsu Forum Chennai & Singapore — with deep roots at IIT Madras Research Park and growing reach across Southeast Asia.

Global Network

Keiretsu Forum global presence
55
Chapters
24
Countries
$1B+
Deployed Globally
4
Continents
Est. February 2015

The Chennai Chapter Story

Founded at IIT Madras Research Park, Keiretsu Forum Chennai was born from a belief that India's Deep Tech ecosystem needed structured, peer-driven angel capital — not passive money, but active conviction from industry leaders who understand the technology they're backing.

Today we've crossed 130 forum sessions, backed 35+ companies, and produced outcomes that include a ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation from a ₹16 Cr seed (Detect Technologies), a 60× multiple, and three companies backed by Accel Partners.

Leadership

Subramaniam Iyer
Subramaniam Iyer
Co-Founder
LinkedIn
Gowtham Sarvesh R R
Gowtham Sarvesh R R
Partner & COO
LinkedIn
S V Krishnamoorthy
S V Krishnamoorthy
Co-Founder & Advisor
LinkedIn
RS
Ex-Founder
Dr. Rajan Srikanth
Co-Founder (2015–2024)

Secretariat

M&M

Money & More — Our Guiding Philosophy

Capital is a commodity. The real edge Keiretsu delivers is the structured, hands-on involvement of our investor community — domain experts who mentor, open doors, and co-create alongside founders at every stage.

Strategic Guidance
Market Access
Governance Support
Industry Partnerships
Portfolio

35+ Bets on
India's Builders

⚙️ B2B Industrial & Deep Tech
Our strongest cohort by returns — Industrial AI, Robotics, Aerospace, Energy
Highest MOIC 60× Peak Multiple

Why B2B Industrial leads our returns: We backed deep-tech hardware and AI companies solving real operational pain in oil & gas, aerospace, underwater inspection, and manufacturing — sectors where switching costs are high and defensibility is structural.

Detect Technologies grew from ₹16 Cr to ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation, is present in 12 countries, and counts Shell Ventures and Naspers among follow-on backers. Planys closed a ₹100 Cr round backed by Ashish Kacholia. Fabheads, an ISRO supplier, is Accel-backed.

B2B · Industrial AI

T-Pulse: AI + IoT for real-time industrial monitoring at Shell, Vedanta, and global majors. ₹16 Cr → ₹1,000 Cr+ valuation. Present in 12 countries. Backed by Shell Ventures and Naspers.

🌐 12 Countries
B2B · Inspection Robotics

India's first compact ROVs for underwater inspection — dams, bridges, ports, oil & gas. AI-powered robotics. ₹100 Cr round backed by Ashish Kacholia.

B2B · Aerospace Manufacturing

Carbon fiber 3D printing (FibrBot series) for aerospace and clean energy. Accel-backed. ISRO supplier.

B2B · Access Control

Cloud-based wireless access control for enterprises. $8M Series A led by Accel — third Keiretsu portfolio company to receive Accel backing.

B2B · Energy

India's first micro gas turbine — 100 kW compact generator for heavy vehicles and gensets. Higher efficiency, lower emissions.

B2B · Solar Cold Chain

Solar-powered cold storage for rural livelihoods. Off-grid DC refrigerators for food, vaccines, and rising farmer incomes.

B2B · Restaurants

RewardsPay + Konnect: loyalty, payments, and AR marketing for SMB restaurants. ₹240 Cr+ transactions, 150+ brands.

🚗 Mobility & EV
From 2-wheelers to tractors — building India's electric future
Strong MOIC 70× on Fyn Mobility

Mobility is our second-strongest cohort. We backed the EV transition early — from battery swapping OS to electric retrofits and connected logistics fleets.

Fyn Mobility: Seed ₹5 Cr → ₹350 Cr+ valuation, operating 1,500+ vehicle fleet across India. Konwert India Motors is already exporting retrofit kits to Sri Lanka, expanding outside Bangalore. AutoNxt built the world's first electric autonomous tractor.

EV · Logistics

Connected EVs across 2-, 3-, and 4-wheeler segments for last-mile logistics and shared mobility. Seed ₹5 Cr → ₹350 Cr+ valuation. 1,500+ vehicle fleet.

EV · Retrofit

Advanced retrofitting kits for autorickshaws with battery security and predictive maintenance. Kit-sale + battery-leasing model. Exporting to Sri Lanka.

🌐 Sri Lanka
EV · AgriTech

World's first electric autonomous tractor — 6-hour runtime, 80 km range, reducing operating costs up to 4× vs conventional tractors.

EV · Battery

OS for battery swapping in Tier-1 India — sachetising payments and converting Battery CAPEX into OPEX for EV owners.

EV · Drivetrain

Hybrid and electric drivetrain solutions for two- and three-wheelers, advancing efficiency and sustainability in urban mobility.

🏥 MedTech
From rural India to global hospitals — hardware-deep healthtech with clinical validation
Active MOIC

Our MedTech cohort started in rural India and is now global. These aren't app plays — they're regulated, hardware-deep devices with AIIMS, Apollo, AFMC, and ICMR validation behind them.

AI Health Highway started in rural Tamil Nadu and is now deployed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Pragmatech (Cervicheck) has shipped units to Nigeria and won the Pfizer Indovation Award. These are companies building global healthcare infrastructure from India.

MedTech · Cardio AI

AI-powered smart stethoscopes for cardio-respiratory care — converting heart and lung sounds into visual waveforms for early detection. Deployed in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

🌐 Nepal · Sri Lanka
MedTech · Women's Health

Cervicheck — self-sampling kit for cervical cancer screening. Partnered with Adyar Cancer Institute. Shipped units to Nigeria. Pfizer Indovation Award winner.

🌐 Nigeria
MedTech · Diagnostics

World's first smartphone-integrated digital microscope for clinical and research applications. Remote access, high-resolution imaging.

MedTech · Surgical

World's lightest surgical helmet — protecting hip and knee replacement surgeons from blood splashes, bone debris, and cautery smoke.

MedTech · Wearable

Fitknees — sensor-based knee injury monitoring validated through clinical trials. Fitmust muscle strength dynamometer for rehabilitation.

HealthTech · Benefits

Simplifies employee healthcare benefits for India's largest companies — integrating financing, insurance, and care into one platform.

📱 Consumer & Wearables
Global consumer hardware and D2C platforms
Active

Muse Wearables built Ring One — the world's first smart ring with cuff-less BP measurement, present in 40+ countries. Founded by KLN Sai Prasanth, this is a truly global consumer hardware play designed and manufactured in India.

Consumer · Wearable

Ring One — world's first smart ring with cuff-less BP measurement, multi-vital health tracking, and tap-to-pay. Present in 40+ countries.

🌐 40+ Countries
D2C · WhatsApp

YC-backed. D2C customer acquisition and conversion on WhatsApp and Instagram. Present across India, LATAM, SEA, and Europe.

D2C · FMCG

India's first clean-label brand for swirl lollipops, candy canes, and marshmallows — global quality, healthier ingredients.

🌾 AgriTech
Technology for India's farmers and rural supply chains
Active

India's agricultural sector is ripe for deep tech disruption. Our AgriTech cohort covers the full stack — from D2C farmer-to-consumer channels to IoT-powered cold chain logistics and bio-protection inputs.

AgriTech · D2C
MangoPoint

Single-origin, chemical-free mangoes and value-added products, training farmers through market clusters across South India.

AgriTech · Bio
Mivipro

Herboliv+ protects crops from wild animals using botanical extracts — doubles as a bio-fertilizer and pest control.

AgriTech · IoT
Impensus

IoT solutions for real-time monitoring of post-harvest storage and logistics — reducing crop losses at scale.

🌱 Impact & ESG
Startups where returns and purpose move together
Active

We believe the best impact investments are also the best commercial bets. Our Impact cohort covers ESG compliance automation, rural digital services, and clean water — sectors where India's scale creates structural tailwinds.

Impact · ESG
Impactree

AI-powered sustainability platform for ESG, carbon, energy, supply chain, and social impact with automated compliance.

Impact · Rural
Anaxee Digital

Nationwide "Digital Runners" for doorstep verification, data collection, and customer engagement in rural and semi-urban India.

Our Investors

Industry Specialists.
Not Just Capital.

Our members are C-suite leaders, founders, and domain experts — not passive capital. Every deal is evaluated and supported by people who've spent careers in the relevant industry. We do not publish member names; we let their professional profiles speak.

⚡ Electronics & Hardware
Executive Director, Listed Electronics Manufacturer
Electronics Manufacturing · IPO Experience
39+ years across US and India. Led a successful SME IPO and multiple manufacturing scale-ups. Deep expertise in electronics hardware design and high-volume manufacturing.
Former MD, Global Electronics MNC (India)
Electronics · Multinational Operations
20 years of leadership in the Electronics Manufacturing Industry, including MD-level roles at global multinationals operating in India.
🚗 Automotive & Mobility
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Senior Consultant, Global Mobility & Sustainability
Automotive · WRI · OEM Networks
Top leadership at Tier-1 auto component majors and OEMs across India. Decades of experience spanning seat systems, engine components, and automotive sustainability.
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Retired Automotive Industry Leader
Automotive · OEM · Chemicals
Extensive career at HUL, Sanmar, and BASF. Strong OEM and Tier-1 supplier network across India's automotive industry.
🏥 Medical & Healthcare
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Senior Cardiologist, Super-Specialty Hospital
Cardiology · Clinical Research · Teaching
Nearly four decades in medicine with 30+ years in clinical cardiology. Active practice, academic teaching, and research across leading institutions.
🤖 IT · Data Science · AI/ML
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Head of Product & Analytics, AI Platform Company
Applied ML · Product · AI
Leading product and analytics at one of India's top AI platform companies. Deep expertise in computer vision, applied ML, and AI-first product development.
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Analytics Leader, Global Analytics Firm
Data Science · AI/ML · Fortune 500
23+ years in Data Science, AI/ML, and Analytics across US, India, and Japan. Led digital transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies.
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VP & Co-Founder, Data Product Company
Product · Consulting · Enterprise AI
First-principles business consultant. Helps startups build V1 products and helps enterprises solve complex, undefined problem areas using data and AI.
🌿 Sustainability & Construction Tech
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Director BD, Global Infrastructure Software Co.
Construction Tech · IIT Madras · Cornell
30 years in construction tech. Former Founder & CEO of an IIT Madras-incubated company acquired by a global infrastructure software leader. B.Tech IIT Madras, Master's Cornell.
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CEO, IIT Madras Clean Water Initiative
Clean Water · Non-Profit Leadership
32+ years across Indian corporates and non-profit leadership. Heading IIT Madras's centre for clean water innovation.
🌾 Agriculture & Supply Chain
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Founder-CEO, AgriTech & Supply Chain Ventures
Agritech · Supply Chain · FinTech
Diverse experience across supply chain, agritech, real estate, and fintech/insurtech. Trustee of a welfare foundation serving rural communities.
Partners & Sponsors

Our Ecosystem

Past Sponsors
Ecosystem Partners
Chapter Meetings & Events

130+ Forum
Meetings & Counting

Our chapter meetings are where deals get made — structured sessions where startups present to curated accredited investors. The calendar below is live.

Live Event Calendar — Keiretsu Forum Chennai
Media

In The Press

Media Coverage Coming Soon Newspaper articles, LinkedIn posts, and press mentions will be featured here.
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Get In Touch

Ready to Move?

Founder seeking capital or a leader who wants to invest with purpose — this is where it starts.

Investor Membership

Join a curated community of C-level professionals and domain specialists who back India's most ambitious Deep Tech founders.

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Startup Funding

Deep Tech founder at TRL 6 or beyond? We write first institutional anchor cheques. Apply and let's talk.

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General Enquiries

Partnerships, media, ecosystem collaborations, or any other enquiries — reach out to the secretariat directly.