Sameer Brij Verma, a former managing director at Nexus Venture Partners, has raised $155 million for his new venture capital fund, Northpoint Capital. The fund will focus on early-stage investments, aiming to support 15-20 startups with initial investments ranging from $1 million to $8 million. Northpoint Capital, launched in October last year as a Solo GP (General Partner) investment firm, is headquartered in Bengaluru.
The majority of the capital raised, approximately 90%, has come from international investors, with the remaining funds contributed by domestic family offices and individual investors. The fund will concentrate on companies integrating emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, across key sectors such as financial services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and consumer goods. Verma, who spent 13 years at Nexus Venture Partners, brings extensive experience to the new venture, having invested in around 80 startups during his tenure.
“The primary focus will be on early-stage startups, but the firm will remain open to investing selectively in follow-on rounds,” said a person familiar with the development.
Verma’s new early-stage investments
“The firm sees an opportunity emerging from technology and AI becoming deeply embedded across sectors.”
Although the fund has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, it is still awaiting certain regulatory approvals required to start onboarding limited partners.
The launch of Northpoint Capital comes amid notable leadership changes in the Indian venture capital landscape, with senior figures departing from firms such as Peak XV Partners, Mirae Asset India Venture Investments, and General Catalyst. This new fund adds to the growing pool of capital being assembled for Indian startups, although deployment has remained cautious. Recent fundraises include Accel India with $650 million, Bessemer Venture Partners with $350 million, Stellaris Venture Partners with $300 million, and Cornerstone Ventures with $200 million.
A report by DC Advisory noted that fundraising conditions have become more competitive, with limited partners placing more emphasis on large, established funds with a history of strong performance. Verma’s move reflects a broader trend of former VC executives and top industry leaders launching new funds in India. The overall funding landscape in the Indian startup ecosystem continues to grow, with startups raising $5.7 billion in the first half of 2025, up from $5.3 billion in the same period the previous year.