Bengaluru’s position as India’s startup capital just grew stronger with the entry of Eximius Ventures. Last week, the Gurgaon-based dedicated pre-seed venture capital firm announced the opening of its new office in the city, signaling a deeper commitment to working closely with founders in fintech, AI, and consumer technology.
The event, held in partnership with Google Cloud, Goyel & Goyal, Metamorph, and YourStory as media partner, brought together founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers to celebrate what many in attendance called a long-overdue move.
Pearl Agarwal, Founder and Managing Partner of Eximius Ventures, articulated the firm’s conviction in the pre-seed segment:“There is a need for more pre-seed capital to come in and support founders at the very early stage, not just with capital, but also with value add. With Bengaluru and the growth in AI products happening here, I think this is the right place to find the next set of 100 founders we want to back.”
Eximius Ventures operates as a dedicated pre-seed fund, a category that distinguishes it from generalist early-stage investors. The firm has invested in 24 companies through its first $10 million fund and is currently deploying its second $30 million fund, having already made six investments since its first close in February 2025.
The decision to establish a physical presence in Bengaluru reflects the firm’s recognition of the city as the beating heart of India’s startup ecosystem. With 13 of its existing portfolio companies already based here, the expansion was a natural next step.
Eximius’ sector-focused strategy further underlines this move. The fintech practice is doubling down on programmable rupees, CBDCs for cross-border transactions, and AI-driven compliance and automation. In AI, the fund is betting heavily on vertical and functional AI companies, including enterprise plays in legal tech such as DecoverAI. On the consumer tech front, the team is bullish on AI companions for mental health, personalised commerce, and specialised education.
The validation for Eximius’ approach comes from the founders they’ve backed. Srivatsan Sridhar, Founder & CEO of Skydo, a cross-border B2B payments company, shared, “What I like about them is they punch above their weight right from the beginning. Even when they were just setting up their first fund, they had a team of people who would help the startups with hiring, industry research, and competitive intelligence. More than 50% of startups are in Bengaluru. Not having a base here doesn’t make sense. I’m glad that they are here to be in action.”
Adding to this,Aditya Uttaravalli, Founder & CEO at Fleek, a one-stop subscription management platform, said: “Having investors who are rooted in the same ecosystem as us has been incredibly reassuring. Eximius isn’t just providing funding from a distance, they really understand how the market works here and the day-to-day challenges founders face. That insight makes their guidance and support truly valuable, far beyond just the financial investment.”
Portfolio companies echoed this sentiment. One founder noted, "As a Bengaluru-based startup, it's reassuring to have our investors embedded in the same ecosystem. Eximius understands the pulse of what's happening here, and that shows in the kind of support they provide." Another added, "Bengaluru's ecosystem thrives on spontaneous collaborations. Having Eximius physically present here means those crucial conversations can happen over coffee, not just scheduled Zoom calls."
The evening saw strong representation from the venture capital community, with attendees from 3One4 Capital, Kae Capital, Waterbridge Ventures, India Quotient, Accel, IvyCap Ventures, SeedStars, Peer Capital, Campus Fund, Gemba Capital, and 8i Ventures, among others. The informal format of the event facilitated organic networking, reflecting Bengaluru’s collaborative startup culture.
For Eximius, the new location represents more than geographical expansion. It’s about embedding themselves in the ecosystem where India’s next generation of AI and technology companies are being built. With a lean team of around 15 people and a clear thesis-driven investment approach, the firm is positioning itself to be the first institutional check for India’s most promising pre-seed founders.
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