Key Takeaways
- • Sadev Ventures appoints Ishan Kansal as co-founder and managing partner, effective early June 2026, marking a significant leadership expansion for the early-stage venture capital firm founded by former BharatPe COO Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl.
- • The firm is targeting ₹1,000 crore ($120 million USD equivalent) in funds under management over the next 18-24 months, more than quadrupling its current corpus of ₹240 crore, while planning to launch a second equity fund and enter the venture debt space.
- • Kansal brings 15+ years of experience spanning consumer internet, fintech, insurtech, and investment banking, including six years as an early team member at CRED and recent tenure as head of product at home services startup Snabbit.
- • Sadev Ventures' geographic expansion includes establishing a second office in Bengaluru, signaling its intent to deepen presence in India's startup ecosystem and strengthen sourcing capabilities for early-stage founders.
- • The firm currently manages a portfolio of eight early-stage companies including Asaya, Bidso, Atomgrid, Cleevo, Vama, Gladful, Prosperr, and Liquide.
Summary
Sadev Ventures, founded in 2024 by Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl following his tenure as COO at fintech unicorn BharatPe, has appointed Ishan Kansal as co-founder and managing partner. Kansal, an IIM Indore alumnus, will assume the role effective early June 2026 and will be based in Bengaluru as part of the firm's planned geographic expansion and second office establishment in India.
Kansal's professional background spans multiple high-growth sectors. He spent nearly six years at CRED as part of its founding team, gaining early-stage company expertise. Prior to joining Sadev, he served as head of product at Snabbit, a home services startup, where he oversaw product, data, and design functions. His earlier career includes roles at Paytm and Deutsche Bank across India and Asia-Pacific markets, providing investment banking and fintech exposure. This blend of operating experience and growth-stage startup familiarity directly aligns with Sadev's investment thesis.
The appointment coincides with a critical growth inflection for Sadev Ventures. The firm is currently managing ₹240 crore in assets and has set an ambitious target of ₹1,000 crore in funds under management within 18-24 months. Beyond capital deployment, Sadev plans to launch a second equity fund and formally enter the venture debt market, diversifying its product offerings. Bahl stated that Kansal's integration strengthens the firm's capacity to identify founders and evaluate companies through an "operator-focused lens," particularly during critical 0-to-1 and 1-to-10 growth phases.
Sadev's current portfolio includes eight portfolio companies—Asaya, Bidso, Atomgrid, Cleevo, Vama, Gladful, Prosperr, and Liquide—reflecting a focus on early-stage businesses building sustainable ventures in and from India. Kansal's appointment represents an institutional maturation step, adding co-founder-level leadership capacity as the firm scales both its capital deployment and geographic footprint.
Kansal's professional background spans multiple high-growth sectors. He spent nearly six years at CRED as part of its founding team, gaining early-stage company expertise. Prior to joining Sadev, he served as head of product at Snabbit, a home services startup, where he oversaw product, data, and design functions. His earlier career includes roles at Paytm and Deutsche Bank across India and Asia-Pacific markets, providing investment banking and fintech exposure. This blend of operating experience and growth-stage startup familiarity directly aligns with Sadev's investment thesis.
The appointment coincides with a critical growth inflection for Sadev Ventures. The firm is currently managing ₹240 crore in assets and has set an ambitious target of ₹1,000 crore in funds under management within 18-24 months. Beyond capital deployment, Sadev plans to launch a second equity fund and formally enter the venture debt market, diversifying its product offerings. Bahl stated that Kansal's integration strengthens the firm's capacity to identify founders and evaluate companies through an "operator-focused lens," particularly during critical 0-to-1 and 1-to-10 growth phases.
Sadev's current portfolio includes eight portfolio companies—Asaya, Bidso, Atomgrid, Cleevo, Vama, Gladful, Prosperr, and Liquide—reflecting a focus on early-stage businesses building sustainable ventures in and from India. Kansal's appointment represents an institutional maturation step, adding co-founder-level leadership capacity as the firm scales both its capital deployment and geographic footprint.
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