QUEST FOR THE BEST

TWO YEARS AFTER IT CARVED OUT A NEW IDENTITY, PEAK XV CHARTS THE WAY FORWARD AS IT AIMS TO BUILD GLOBAL CATEGORY LEADERS FROM THE INDIA-APAC REGION, SAYS MD SHAILENDRA SINGH.

- BY RUKMINI RAO

IN 1972, WHEN American venture capitalist Don Valentine founded Sequoia Capital, he chose to name it after a tree that lives for thousands of years. In 2023, when Sequoia India & Southeast Asia was rebranded to Peak XV Partners, the management took a leaf out of Valentine's book to name it after the original name given to Mount Everest, a representation of its ambitious roadmap for startups.

This aspiration was on display as founders of Peak XV's late-stage and IPO-bound investee companies huddled together at The St. Regis Mumbai in September for a 'crash course' to better understand India's capital markets, in preparation for an eventual IPO. The sessions were led by the likes of Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey; Raamdeo Agrawal, chairman and co-founder, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd; and fund managers Navneet Munot, MD & CEO, HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd; and Neelesh Surana, chief investment officer, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd.