Early‑stage venture capital firm Expert Dojo has launched an India‑focused plan to invest $15 million in domestic startups in FY26, the first slice of a new $100 million third global fund.
The announcement was made during the Expert Dojo Investors Conclave 2025 in Bengaluru, underscoring the firm’s growing appetite for India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.
Investing in 20-25 early-stage startups
Founded in 2018, the Southern California accelerator said the money will back 20 to 25 young startups in sectors such as SaaS, fintech, B2B, and artificial intelligence (AI). While sector-agnostic, the fund will focus on ventures with global scalability.
The firm has already invested in more than 300 American startups and more than 30 Indian startups, including Bhive, Cloudworx and Doqfy.
“Having previously invested in over 300+ startups globally, we are now setting our sights on replicating that success with our India-focused fund,” said Brian Mac Mahon, Founder and Managing Partner of Expert Dojo.
“This fund connects global investors to India’s growth story. For founders, we bring three things: capital, experience, and a network that opens doors. By building strong partnerships, we want to help Indian startups grow and compete internationally,” he said.
Cheques from $50,000 to $1 million
Under the new program, Indian founders can seek investments ranging from $50,000 to $1 million, along with mentoring and access to the go-to-market network.
Over the following two to three years, Expert Dojo aims to commit another $30 million to Indian startups, taking its total planned exposure to $45 million.
Opens office in Bengaluru
The firm has opened an office in Bengaluru to handle scouting, founder support and partnerships. Ashutosh Kumar Jha, general partner for India, said the fund is designed to fix gaps in cross‑border capital, mentorship and go‑to‑market strategy.
“India’s entrepreneurial talent pool is unmatched. However, challenges remain, especially in cross-border capital access, international mentorship, and go-to-market expansion. This fund is structured to bridge these exact gaps,” he said.
“We’re building more than a portfolio — we’re building an India-US innovation corridor that opens doors for Indian startups to scale globally. From Bangalore to Boston, from Delhi to Dubai, we want our founders to think and build borderlessly,” Jha added.
