Dutch technology investor Prosus and US-based venture capital firm Accel have joined forces to invest in early-stage Indian startups working on advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and AI-powered automation.
Announced on Monday, this partnership marks Prosus’s first-ever early-stage investment initiative. It will complement Accel’s Atoms X program, which supports young entrepreneurs, with Prosus committing to match Accel’s funding for each selected startup.
According to Accel partner Pratik Agarwal, total seed funding through this collaboration will range between $200,000 and $2 million.
Agarwal explained that the goal is to back startups innovating in deep technology or pioneering new business models. “Initially, both sides will invest between $100,000 and $1 million in each company. That level of support can really move the needle for early-stage ventures. Over time, we hope to identify opportunities to further invest in promising founders,” he said.
The partnership builds upon Accel’s Atoms X program, which launched in July to help “leap tech” startups — ventures tackling large-scale, systemic challenges.
Agarwal added that startups addressing problems for massive populations often face difficulties securing adequate seed capital, as their long development cycles can lead to heavy equity dilution before achieving significant progress.
He emphasized that India’s startup scene is evolving beyond adapting global models to creating uniquely Indian solutions that can help the country leap ahead in its journey toward becoming a developed economy.
Traditionally, Prosus has focused on late-stage investments globally and in India, where it holds major stakes in Swiggy, Meesho, and PayU.
While Prosus plans to match Accel’s funding in this collaboration, it does not intend to take an equivalent equity stake in the startups, said Ashutosh Sharma, Head of India Ecosystem at Prosus.
Sharma noted that although Prosus is known for late-stage deals—such as its investments in Rapido, Mintifi, and Vastu Housing last year—it also completed seven early-stage deals during the same period. “Early-stage investing isn’t new for us,” he said. “But our approach is highly selective. We prefer to back only the most exciting startups—typically around five to six a year, not dozens.”
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