Suzuki Motor Launches Rs 340 Crore Next Bharat Ventures Fund to Empower India’s Impact Entrepreneurs

Japanese automobile firm Suzuki Motor launched its first investment fund in India called Next Bharat Ventures. This is a Rs 340 crore fund dedicated to fostering impact entrepreneurs who create value in Tier-II and below geographies. The initiative aims to support social impact startups in the domains of agriculture, financial inclusion, rural supply chains, and rural mobility through a residency programme.

Next Bharat will invest in growth-stage impact firms and early-stage impact entrepreneurs through its flagship residency programme. Additionally, it will invest in Indian Early Stage Venture Capital firms to improve synergy among its early-stage portfolio. The selected impact entrepreneurs will go through a 4-month hybrid residency programme, receiving extensive mentorship, access to resources, and networking opportunities with industry experts and peers to scale their ventures organically. Post completion of the programme, the startups will receive equity investments worth Rs 1-5 crore.

The core value of Next Bharat lies in nurturing and empowering impact entrepreneurs driven by Cause, Contribution, and Community. The fund aims to empower underrepresented regions, promote economic development, and foster a culture of innovation addressing unique challenges faced by these communities.

Next Bharat Ventures aims to support impact entrepreneurs to empower ‘India’s next billion’. Toshihiro Suzuki, President and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, stated, “Bharat has about 1.4 billion people, but we have only reached about 0.4 billion with our mobility business. Our goal is to connect with the ‘Next Billion’ people of India, extending beyond mobility and becoming a part of India’s future story.”