Mars Shot Ventures

Mars Shot Ventures represents an innovative Angel fund established by Razorpay co-founders Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar, focusing exclusively on early-stage startup investments. With a vision anchored in India's economic transformation, the fund operates on the principle that achieving a $10 trillion economy requires exponential growth and impact from the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their investment philosophy combines financial support with strategic guidance to help promising ventures scale effectively in India's rapidly evolving business landscape.

The fund draws its distinctive strength from a leadership team comprising seasoned operators and entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the challenging journey from startup to unicorn status. This founder-led investment approach provides portfolio companies with rare access to executives who understand firsthand the obstacles and opportunities that early-stage ventures encounter. Their collective experience building Razorpay into one of India's most valuable fintech unicorns informs their investment decisions and mentorship capabilities.

Mars Shot Ventures offers portfolio companies access to multidisciplinary expertise spanning critical business functions including product development, design thinking, sales strategy, marketing execution, financial planning, operational excellence, and strategic growth initiatives. This comprehensive support system extends well beyond capital infusion, creating a partnership model where founders can leverage the fund's extensive network and domain knowledge. The team's hands-on experience in scaling technology businesses in the Indian market provides unique insights for navigating regulatory complexities, customer acquisition challenges, and talent management.

While maintaining a sector-agnostic approach, the fund demonstrates particular interest in technology-enabled solutions addressing India's unique challenges and opportunities. Mars Shot typically engages at pre-seed and seed stages, providing not just financial backing but also strategic guidance during a startup's formative period. Their investment thesis emphasizes sustainable business models with potential for significant market impact rather than pursuing growth at all costs. By combining capital with operational expertise, Mars Shot Ventures aims to cultivate the next generation of transformative Indian startups capable of contributing meaningfully to the nation's economic ambitions.