Naukri.com-parent Info Edge has been recognized as India’s top venture investor, highlighting its strong presence in the nation’s start-up ecosystem. According to a report from Economic Times, Info Edge has made significant long-term investments in various start-ups, including Zomato and Policybazaar, resulting in substantial financial returns. Over the past 15 years, the firm, led by founder and executive vice chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani, has invested ₹3,959.16 crore across multiple platforms, with the fair market value of these investments vastly exceeding the initial amount.
Bikhchandani, often dubbed India’s Warren Buffett, has experienced notable success with his investments in Zomato and Policybazaar, which together are now valued at around ₹53,000 crore. His journey as a serial investor began with a chance encounter with the internet at a Delhi trade fair nearly three decades ago, leading to the formation of Naukri.com.
As of now, Info Edge holds a 12.40% stake in Zomato and a 19.63% stake in Policybazaar, with these investments becoming major contributors to the firm’s success. In fact, the company is not only recognized as a leading venture investor but also as one of the largest beneficiaries of recent start-up IPO listings.
In his annual letter to shareholders for FY25, Bikhchandani reported that Info Edge has achieved an estimated 36% gross internal rate of return (IRR) across all its investments since initiating financial investing activities in 2007. The firm has notably backed major companies, having invested ₹483.78 crore in Zomato and ₹591.40 crore in Policybazaar. The current market value of Info Edge’s holdings represents approximately ₹38,350 crore in Zomato and ₹15,133 crore in Policybazaar, with a combined market capitalization exceeding ₹3.8 lakh crore.
In addition to Zomato and Policybazaar, Info Edge has diversified its investments across various sectors, including grooming brand Ustra, B2B e-commerce platform Shopkirana, ed-tech platform Adda247, inter-city bus platform Zingbus, and travel tech platform ixigo. To date, the firm has invested in 111 companies.
Founded in 1995, Info Edge is one of India’s pioneering internet-based companies, operating across multiple domains such as recruitment (Naukri), real estate (99acres), matrimony (Jeevansathi), and education (Shiksha).
The firm’s investment trajectory has unfolded over four distinct phases. The first phase, from 2007 to 2012, laid the groundwork for its most successful ventures, with Zomato and Policybazaar emerging as standout investments. The second phase, from 2012 to 2015, was characterized by cautious investment strategies as the potential of earlier investments became evident.
In the third phase, from 2016 to 2019, a clearer picture emerged of Zomato and Policybazaar’s prospects, leading to investments in growing companies like Adda247 and Shipsy. Many of these firms have subsequently attracted capital from notable investors such as Westbridge Capital and Google, positioning them well for potential public listings.
The fourth phase, initiated in 2019, involved the establishment of the Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF), a SEBI-registered alternative investment fund. Since then, the firm has actively engaged through three distinct funds (IEVF, Info Edge Capital, and Capital 2B) across several investment schemes.
Published on September 27, 2025.
