Suzuki-backed Next Bharat Ventures has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 3one4 Capital and Antler India to support early-stage startups.

Next Bharat Ventures, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp Japan focused on supporting early-stage impact-driven startups in India, has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Bengaluru-based venture capital firm 3one4 Capital and Antler India, both of which invest in early-stage startups domestically and internationally. Siddarth Pai, Founding Partner at 3one4 Capital, and Vipul Nath Jindal, Managing Director and CEO of Next Bharat Ventures, signed the MoU. Similarly, Lakshmikant PB, Director - Finance at Antler India, also signed an MoU with Vipul Nath Jindal.

The partnerships aim to provide strategic guidance, funding opportunities, and extensive networks to early-stage startups in mainstream business and social sectors through a cohort-based approach. Vipul Nath Jindal emphasized that these strategic alliances with Antler India and 3one4 Capital are deliberate steps to nurture and empower the early-stage startup ecosystem, believing in the transformative power of socially driven entrepreneurship to positively impact informal and rural economies in India.

Rajiv Srivatsa, Partner & Investor at Antler India, noted that combining Antler’s expertise in cohort-based investments with Next Bharat’s vision for social impact can significantly enhance the current entrepreneurial landscape in India. He mentioned that Antler has a tailored approach to nurturing startups through its selective Antler Residency Platform.

The press release also announced that entrepreneurs in the social impact space can apply for the 4-month Residency Program by Next Bharat Ventures, with applications accepted until August 12, 2024. The process is designed to ensure broad participation, including submissions via WhatsApp, with a maximum two-week review time. The program is set to begin on October 14, 2024.