New Delhi, India – Venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners, known for its investments in Indian startups like Swiggy and BigBasket, believes that the cybersecurity segment is ripe for significant investment in India. Driven by the increasing prevalence of data fraud and the passage of data protection regulations, the firm sees a promising future for cybersecurity startups in the country.
Vishal Gupta, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, highlighted the firm’s global experience in cybersecurity, noting that they have invested in over 30 companies in this space worldwide. He emphasized that while the cybersecurity question has been around for decades, the current Indian ecosystem, with its maturing data protection laws and rising instances of fraud, presents a favorable environment for investment.
Bessemer has been actively evaluating opportunities in the Indian cybersecurity market but has yet to finalize any deals. The firm is also exploring other investment areas, such as direct-to-consumer (D2C) and health-insuretech.
Gupta’s career trajectory, from working at HCL Technologies to leading Reliance Capital’s private equity arm, has equipped him with valuable insights into the Indian business landscape. He joined Bessemer in 2006 to establish its India office, focusing initially on scaled businesses seeking growth capital. Over the years, the firm has evolved to invest in early-stage startups, from seed stage to series B or C.
Bessemer’s investment strategy emphasizes “platforms,” which involve investing in companies that enable other businesses rather than competing directly with them. This “picks and shovels” approach has allowed the firm to invest in fintech and insurtech segments without assuming the credit risk associated with these industries.
Many of Bessemer’s portfolio companies, including Motilal Oswal, Indian Energy Exchange, and Bharat Matrimony, have achieved significant scale and are now poised for public offerings. The firm’s successful investment track record and its focus on emerging sectors like cybersecurity position it as a key player in the Indian venture capital landscape.
