Unicorn India Ventures opens US arm to take Indian deep-tech start-ups abroad
By Elena D’SouzaStartups & Innovation Correspondent, Peepals Global
Representative image: fahribaabdullah14 / Pixabay
Mumbai venture firm Unicorn India Ventures said on October 22, 2026 it has launched US operations, led by ex-Google executive Kishore Kanakamedala, to help Indian deep-tech start-ups.
What Happened
Unicorn India Ventures, a Mumbai-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage deep-tech companies, announced on October 22, 2026 that it has launched operations in the United States. The firm has appointed Kishore Kanakamedala, a former Google executive, as a venture partner to lead the expansion. According to the firm, the US arm will help its Indian portfolio companies enter the American market, build a team of investors in the US and widen its base of US investors.
Key Facts
- Announcement date: October 22, 2026.
- New appointment: Kishore Kanakamedala, formerly with Google, joins as venture partner and will be part of the investment team.
- His mandate, according to the firm: build a team of mid- to senior-level operator-investors in the US, create networks that help portfolio companies enter the US market, and grow the firm's US investor base.
- The firm says it manages about $350 million across its funds and backs 54 companies, mostly at an early stage.
- Its third fund closed at Rs 1,200 crore earlier this year, and the firm says US investors showed strong interest in Indian deep-tech during that fund-raise.
- Sectors in its portfolio include space technology, robotics and semiconductors.
- The firm was co-founded by Anil Joshi and Bhaskar Majumdar in the middle of the last decade.
Why It Matters
Deep-tech start-ups build products based on hard science or engineering, such as satellites, chips, robots and advanced materials. They take longer to reach revenue than consumer apps and often need customers that are large companies, governments or defence buyers. For many Indian deep-tech founders, the United States is the biggest single market for such customers, but entering it is costly and slow without local contacts. A venture firm with people on the ground in the US can open doors to buyers, partners and follow-on investors.
The move also concerns how the firm itself raises money. By building a US investor base, a firm can raise larger funds in future and give its companies access to American capital at later stages. Unicorn India Ventures linked its decision directly to interest from US investors during the raising of its third fund.
Hiring operators, people who have run businesses or product teams at large technology companies, is a common way for venture firms to add practical help to their money. A former Google executive can advise start-ups on product, partnerships and sales to large enterprises, areas that matter when a young company tries to sell abroad.
| Detail | Unicorn India Ventures |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mumbai |
| New market | United States |
| US lead | Kishore Kanakamedala, venture partner |
| Assets under management (firm's figure) | About $350 million |
| Portfolio (firm's figure) | 54 companies |
Impact
Short-term: The firm will begin building its US team and network. Portfolio companies in space, robotics and semiconductors that are planning to sell in the US can expect introductions to customers and partners, according to the firm's stated plan.
Long-term: If the US investor base grows, the firm's future funds could be larger and include more foreign money, which would allow it to back companies for longer. A track record of Indian deep-tech companies winning US customers could also make it easier for other Indian start-ups in the sector to raise money abroad.
Who is affected: Founders of Indian deep-tech start-ups, especially those in the firm's portfolio, US-based investors looking for exposure to Indian technology, engineers and researchers who might join such companies, and other Indian venture firms weighing similar expansions.
Key Takeaway
Unicorn India Ventures has opened a US arm under former Google executive Kishore Kanakamedala to help its Indian deep-tech companies reach American customers and investors.
Questions and Answers
What did Unicorn India Ventures announce?
On October 22, 2026, the Mumbai-based venture capital firm said it had launched operations in the United States and appointed former Google executive Kishore Kanakamedala as venture partner to lead them.
What will the US operations do?
According to the firm, the US team will help its portfolio companies enter the US market, recruit operator-investors in the US, and build a base of US investors for the firm's funds.
How big is Unicorn India Ventures?
The firm says it manages about $350 million across its funds and supports 54 companies. Its third fund closed at Rs 1,200 crore earlier in 2026.
What kinds of start-ups does it back?
It focuses on early-stage deep-tech companies, with investments in sectors such as space technology, robotics and semiconductors.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Elena D’Souza, Startups & Innovation CorrespondentCovers Start-ups & Opportunities and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Elena D’Souza
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Elena D’Souza is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
