Eximius Ventures Opens Bengaluru Office for Pre-Seed

Eximius Ventures strengthens Bengaluru presence

Bengaluru’s standing as India’s startup capital just got a new boost. Eximius Ventures, a Gurgaon-based dedicated pre-seed venture capital firm, has opened a new office in the city to work more closely with founders building in fintech, AI and consumer technology. The move underscores a clear strategy: be physically embedded where early-stage innovation and AI product development are concentrated.

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Event, partners and ecosystem response

The office launch was hosted in partnership with Google Cloud, Goyel & Goyal and Metamorph, with media support from YourStory. Founders, investors and ecosystem enablers attended an informal evening designed for organic networking and conversation — an approach that reflects Bengaluru’s collaborative culture. Attendees called the expansion long overdue, and the turnout from the venture community highlighted the city’s importance for pre-seed investing.

Why Bengaluru matters for Eximius

Eximius already counts 13 portfolio companies based in Bengaluru, and more than half of the startups it has backed operate from the city. For a fund focused on pre-seed checks and hands-on value add, being local accelerates access to founders, spontaneous collaboration and in-person support that goes beyond scheduled calls.

Fund progress and investment activity

Eximius operates as a dedicated pre-seed fund, a model that differentiates it from generalist early-stage investors. The firm backed 24 companies from its first fund of 10 million dollars and is actively deploying a second fund of 30 million dollars. Since the first close of the second fund in February 2025, Eximius has made six new investments, signaling continued momentum at the earliest stages.

Sector focus: fintech, AI and consumer tech

Eximius is pursuing a thesis-driven approach with specific sector plays:

• Fintech: emphasis on programmable rupees, central bank digital currencies for cross-border flows, and AI-driven compliance and automation.
• AI: heavy bets on vertical and functional AI companies, including enterprise solutions in legal tech and domain-specific models.
• Consumer tech: interest in AI companions for mental health, personalized commerce experiences, subscription and retention products, and specialized education platforms.

Founders on the ground-level support

Founders who have worked with Eximius highlighted the fund’s early, hands-on involvement. One founder praised the team for supporting hiring, industry research and competitive intelligence even when the fund was new. Another founder said having investors who are rooted in the same ecosystem makes guidance more practical and timely — especially for day-to-day operational challenges.

Notable founder perspectives

What I like about them is they punch above their weight right from the beginning. Even when they were just setting up their first fund, they had a team of people who would help startups with hiring, industry research and competitive intelligence. More than 50 percent of startups are in Bengaluru. Not having a base here doesn’t make sense. I’m glad that they are here to be in action.

Having investors who are embedded in the same ecosystem as us has been incredibly reassuring. Eximius isn’t just providing funding from a distance; they really understand how the market works here and the day-to-day challenges founders face. That insight makes their guidance and support truly valuable.

Community turnout and networking

The evening attracted a wide range of VC firms and ecosystem participants, reflecting the collaborative fabric of Bengaluru. Representatives from 3One4 Capital, Kae Capital, Waterbridge Ventures, India Quotient, Accel, IvyCap Ventures, SeedStars, Peer Capital, Campus Fund, Gemba Capital and 8i Ventures were among those who joined, helping create an informal setting for founder-investor conversations and potential partnerships.

What this means for founders and the local startup scene

For early-stage founders building in AI, fintech and consumer tech, Eximius’ local office means faster access to capital, mentoring and operational support. The physical presence enables spontaneous interactions — quick coffee meetups, ad-hoc brainstorming sessions and faster feedback cycles — which are crucial in the pre-seed phase. With a lean team of around 15 people and a clear thesis-driven approach, Eximius aims to be the first institutional check for promising founders in Bengaluru and beyond.

Looking ahead

By embedding itself in Bengaluru, Eximius Ventures is positioning to tap the next wave of Indian startups building category-defining products. The combination of a focused pre-seed mandate, sector expertise and on-the-ground presence creates a powerful value proposition for founders who need more than capital: they need partners who understand the market, the talent landscape and the operational realities of scaling early-stage ventures.

For founders, investors and ecosystem enablers, the new office is a signal that Bengaluru remains the primary stage for India’s next generation of AI and technology companies.