Bessemer Venture Partners, a leading global venture capital firm, has appointed Pankaj Mitra as Partner in its India team. This strategic move strengthens Bessemer’s commitment to backing innovative startups in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and cybersecurity, as India’s tech ecosystem continues to thrive.
Strengthening India’s Startup Ecosystem
The appointment comes on the heels of Bessemer’s recent $350 million India-focused fund, dedicated to investing in early-stage companies across AI, fintech, digital health, and cybersecurity. With India’s digital economy booming, Bessemer aims to support founders building solutions for both local and international markets.
Pankaj Mitra: A Wealth of Experience
Pankaj Mitra brings over 25 years of experience in technology, corporate development, and venture investing. He previously led investments and M&A for Cisco’s global Customer Experience portfolio and managed India investment operations. His investment track record includes startups like Fiddler (AI observability), Uniphore (conversational AI), and Whatfix (digital adoption platform).
Earlier, Mitra was a founding member of Infosys’s $500 million innovation fund, where he backed Ideaforge, now a public company, and fitness tech brand Whoop. He has also worked at VMware and started his career with Deloitte. Mitra holds an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Bessemer’s Growing Impact in India
Bessemer has already backed more than 80 Indian startups, including BigBasket, Urban Company, Livspace, and PharmEasy. Nine of its Indian portfolio companies have gone public, showcasing the firm’s long-term commitment to India’s growth story.
Vishal Gupta, Partner at Bessemer, highlighted that Pankaj’s unique blend of investment expertise and industry knowledge will be key as the firm deepens its focus on AI, enterprise-tech, and cybersecurity in India.
Looking Ahead: Powering India’s Next Tech Revolution
Pankaj Mitra expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating that the current AI platform shift presents a once-in-a-generation chance for Indian founders to lead the next wave of technological evolution. He looks forward to partnering with ambitious, world-class founders in India.