Key Takeaways
- • Shahan Sud has departed JAFCO Asia after a 3.5-year tenure, during which he established the Japanese VC firm's presence in India as its first India hire, joining in July 2022.
- • Sud is now pursuing three areas: corporate business development, advisory for family offices, and operational support for profitable start-ups preparing for fundraising or IPOs.
- • He is currently supporting defence and EPC companies with active orders worth around Rs 4,100 crore.
- • Sud has engaged with around 100 family offices on investment priorities and fund-of-funds appetite, advising select ones on a pro bono basis.
- • India investments have been handed to Supriya as JAFCO Asia transitions to its new identity, JIF Capital.
Summary
Shahan Sud has moved on from JAFCO Asia after a 3.5-year stint, according to BW Disrupt. He joined the Japanese venture capital firm in July 2022 as its first hire in India and the fifth member of its global investment team. During his tenure he worked across investment sourcing, due diligence, hiring, team building, community engagement, thought leadership and limited partner relations, and helped build the firm's brand in India and support investment ties between India and Japan.
Following his departure, Sud is focusing on three areas. In corporate business development, he is helping companies generate revenue across sectors, and is currently supporting defence and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies with active orders worth around Rs 4,100 crore. He is also working with select family offices as India's family office ecosystem matures. He has engaged with around 100 family offices to understand their investment priorities, interest in direct investments and changing appetite for fund-of-funds investments, and advises select family offices on a pro bono basis.
His third focus is helping profitable start-ups strengthen operations and prepare for fundraising and potential initial public offerings. Sud noted that such companies are finding it difficult to raise venture capital because they face challenges restructuring operations to meet investor expectations. His advisory work aims to improve investor readiness for both venture funding and public listings.
Sud described his second year at JAFCO Asia as challenging and a significant learning experience. He has handed responsibility for India investments to Supriya as the firm transitions to its new identity, JIF Capital. Sud said he would share details of his next steps in due course.
Following his departure, Sud is focusing on three areas. In corporate business development, he is helping companies generate revenue across sectors, and is currently supporting defence and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies with active orders worth around Rs 4,100 crore. He is also working with select family offices as India's family office ecosystem matures. He has engaged with around 100 family offices to understand their investment priorities, interest in direct investments and changing appetite for fund-of-funds investments, and advises select family offices on a pro bono basis.
His third focus is helping profitable start-ups strengthen operations and prepare for fundraising and potential initial public offerings. Sud noted that such companies are finding it difficult to raise venture capital because they face challenges restructuring operations to meet investor expectations. His advisory work aims to improve investor readiness for both venture funding and public listings.
Sud described his second year at JAFCO Asia as challenging and a significant learning experience. He has handed responsibility for India investments to Supriya as the firm transitions to its new identity, JIF Capital. Sud said he would share details of his next steps in due course.
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