Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath is making daring bets on megatrends shaping the longer term: local weather tech, healthcare, and sustainability. Via Rainmatter, Kamath has backed 47 startups over the previous yr, specializing in long-term influence over short-term returns.
“We aren’t a typical VC,” Kamath wrote on X. “What’s the usage of cash if the planet we reside on is destroyed and our well being is ruined?”
Rainmatter is targeted on sectors like local weather tech, fintech, healthcare, and storytelling. With no exit mandates or board seat necessities, the fund offers affected person capital.
It extends assist past funding via mentorship, business networks, monetary APIs, and infrastructure to assist validate enterprise fashions.
Kamath shared a submit that confirmed local weather tech main Rainmatter’s portfolio with ₹120 crore invested throughout 15 offers, reflecting its dominance within the fund’s technique.
Healthcare follows carefully with 16 investments, albeit at decrease ticket sizes, whereas fintech secures ₹70 crore throughout eight offers, boasting the best common deal dimension at ₹8.75 crore per funding.
Storytelling and different experimental bets spherical out the portfolio with 4 offers every, emphasizing Rainmatter’s balanced method to high-impact and exploratory sectors.
Certainly one of Kamath’s key investments is Akshayakalpa, a enterprise remodeling rural farming practices by serving to farmers undertake natural strategies. “They go to villages, work with farmers, and introduce sustainable practices like beekeeping and natural farming. It’s inspiring to see how this transforms incomes and influences neighboring communities,” he had written in an earlier submit.
One other instance is Two Brothers Natural Farms, which emphasizes holistic farming methods. These investments replicate Kamath’s perception that meals manufacturing and environmental influence will face rising scrutiny. “In some unspecified time in the future, everybody will begin questioning what goes behind the meals on their desk—pesticides, herbicides—particularly after moments like COVID,” he added.
Past investments, the Rainmatter Basis helps broader local weather and sustainability efforts. Kamath is pragmatic about timelines however assured within the route. “Will it occur in 5 or ten years? You don’t know. However betting on these basic truths is sensible.”
