General Catalyst has unveiled plans to invest $5 billion in India over the next five years, marking a significant expansion of its footprint in the country’s startup and technology ecosystem. The announcement was made at the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi on February 20.
Speaking at the event, CEO Hemant Taneja said the capital will be deployed across a wide range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, fintech, defence, industrial technology, and consumer technology. He added that beyond backing existing startups, the firm also intends to actively support new company creation efforts in India.
The $5 billion commitment represents a sharp scale-up from the firm’s earlier allocation of $500 million to $1 billion for India-focused investments. General Catalyst formally entered the Indian market in 2023 through the acquisition of Venture Highway, an early-stage venture capital firm known for backing Indian startups at seed and early growth stages.
Since then, General Catalyst has built a growing portfolio in India that includes companies such as Zepto, PB Health, Raphe mPhibr, and Jeh Aerospace. The firm has invested across both early and growth stages through its global funds.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Taneja highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure and deep talent pool as key drivers behind the expanded capital commitment. He also noted that the firm plans to work closely with founders and institutions as it builds and scales companies in the region.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, General Catalyst is one of the prominent global venture capital investors and has been steadily increasing its exposure to India. The latest announcement comes at a time when both international investors and domestic conglomerates are outlining large capital deployment plans across India’s technology and infrastructure sectors.
With this $5 billion pledge, the firm is positioning itself for a long-term role in shaping India’s next phase of innovation-led growth, particularly in areas where AI, digital platforms, and advanced technologies intersect with large-scale economic transformation.
