Bessemer Venture Partners Welcomes Pankaj Mitra as Partner in India

Bessemer Venture Partners has appointed Pankaj Mitra as a Partner in its India team. Mitra will spearhead investments in AI, enterprise-tech, and cybersecurity, as Bessemer intensifies its strategy in India.

Pankaj Mitra’s Background

Mitra joins Bessemer from Cisco’s corporate development team, where he oversaw global investments and mergers & acquisitions for the Customer Experience portfolio. His impressive track record includes significant investments in companies like Fiddler, Uniphore, and Whatfix.

In his prior role, he played a key part in launching Infosys’s $500 million innovation fund, where he invested in promising companies such as Ideaforge and Whoop. Mitra’s career began at VMware and Deloitte, equipping him with a unique mix of product, strategy, and venture insight.

Insights from Pankaj Mitra

Mitra believes that the ongoing shift in AI platforms presents a rare opportunity. He expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with ambitious founders who are steering this transformation.

Bessemer’s Recent Initiatives

This latest appointment comes shortly after Bessemer’s announcement of its second India fund, amounting to $350 million. The fund aims to focus on areas such as AI, fintech, enterprise, digital health, consumer, and cybersecurity. The firm has previously invested in notable companies including Swiggy, Urban Company, Mediassist, Perfios, and recently, Boldfit, Easebuzz, Protectt, and Shopdeck.