
First Cheque
Description
First Cheque is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm established in 2019, headquartered in Mumbai, India. The firm has rapidly positioned itself as a key player in the Indian startup ecosystem, primarily focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage investments. With a strong commitment to nurturing nascent ventures, First Cheque adopts a sector-agnostic approach, demonstrating a willingness to back innovative companies across diverse industries that are building solutions for both the Indian market and global audiences.
The firm's investment strategy is characterized by its founder-first philosophy, emphasizing hands-on support and mentorship to help early-stage companies navigate the challenges of growth. First Cheque typically deploys initial cheques ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, providing crucial capital for startups to achieve their initial milestones and secure subsequent funding rounds. This strategic investment size allows them to be agile and support a broad array of promising ideas at their earliest stages.
Since its inception, First Cheque has built an impressive portfolio, having invested in over 120 companies. This extensive reach underscores their active role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across India. The firm successfully raised approximately $10 million for its first fund and is currently in the process of raising a second fund with a target of $30 million, signaling strong investor confidence and an expanded capacity to support a new wave of startups. Their consistent activity and growing fund size highlight their commitment to long-term engagement with the Indian startup landscape.
Investor Profile
First Cheque has backed more than 29 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 4 rounds, about 14% of its total and boasts 6 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in India, United States.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology.
- Typical check size: $100K – $300K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (59%)
- Pre Seed (38%)
- Series A (3%)
Country Focus
- India (93%)
- United States (7%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- E-commerce
- Information Technology
- Health Care
- E-learning
- Internet
- Fitness
- Wellness
- Edtech
- Saas
Frequently Asked Questions
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