Sadev Ventures Strengthens Leadership Team
Sadev Ventures has appointed former CRED and Snabbit executive Ishan Kansal as co-founder and Managing Partner as the firm prepares for its next phase of growth.
The Bengaluru based early stage venture capital firm said Kansal is expected to join the company in early June 2026 and will lead the firm’s second office in India as part of broader expansion plans.
The appointment comes at a time when Sadev Ventures is looking to scale its assets under management (AUM), launch a second equity fund and formally enter the venture debt segment.
Ishan Kansal Brings Consumer And Fintech Experience
Kansal brings experience across consumer internet, fintech, insurtech and investment banking sectors.
Before joining Sadev Ventures, he worked at Snabbit as Head of Product, where he led product, design and data functions.
Interestingly, when reports first emerged last month about his exit from Snabbit, Kansal had publicly denied plans to leave the company, stating that he remained focused on the startup’s long-term roadmap.
Prior to Snabbit, Kansal spent nearly six years at CRED as part of the company’s early leadership team.
At CRED, he worked across multiple verticals including payments, insurance, lending, deposits, user growth and monetisation.
Earlier in his career, he also held roles at Paytm and Deutsche Bank across India and APAC markets.
Industry observers believe Kansal’s operational and product building experience could help Sadev Ventures strengthen founder support and investment strategy for early stage startups.
Sadev Ventures Targets ₹1,000 Crore AUM
The leadership appointment comes as Sadev Ventures aggressively expands its presence in India’s startup investment ecosystem.
The firm is currently targeting ₹1,000 crore in assets under management over the next 18 to 24 months.
It is also preparing to launch its second equity fund while entering the growing venture debt market.
Venture debt has emerged as a fast-growing financing category in India as startups increasingly look for alternative funding options beyond traditional equity financing.
Industry experts believe Sadev Ventures’ expansion into venture debt could help the firm diversify its investment offerings while supporting startups across different growth stages.
Firm Backed By Former BharatPe Executive
Sadev Ventures was founded in 2024 by former BharatPe COO Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl.
The firm was initially launched under the name Eternal Capital before rebranding to Sadev Ventures in August 2025.
The sector-agnostic fund primarily focuses on seed-stage and pre-Series A startups with cheque sizes ranging between ₹2 crore and ₹6 crore.
Sadev Ventures currently manages a corpus of around ₹240 crore and has invested in startups including Asaya, Bidso, Atomgrid, Cleevo, Vama, Gladful, Prosperr and Liquide.
Venture Capital Industry Continues To Evolve
India’s early-stage venture capital ecosystem has witnessed rapid evolution over the last few years as more former operators, startup founders and fintech executives move into investment roles.
Analysts believe firms increasingly prefer leaders with hands-on startup scaling experience who can provide operational guidance alongside capital.
Kansal’s transition from startup operator to venture investor reflects a broader trend within India’s startup ecosystem where experienced product and growth leaders are increasingly shaping the next generation of venture capital firms.
