Bengaluru: Rising investor enthusiasm is fueling early-stage investments in quick commerce and AI in India, according to RTP Global’s Nishit Garg. With larger funds and riskier bets, investors are keen on these sectors, which are attracting higher valuations and bigger ticket sizes. RTP Global’s recent investments include a $3 million seed round in Trupeer AI and $9.6 million in Kluisz.ai, the largest seed round this year in the AI realm. Despite a 20% decline in overall funding in 2024, early-stage investments surged by 25% to $355 million, driven by optimism in direct-to-consumer brands. Garg highlighted the high startup mortality rate in AI, but investors remain undeterred, betting on substantial returns from successful ventures. In quick commerce, RTP Global is actively investing in firms like FirstClub and Outzidr, adopting a strategy of securing larger stakes early to mitigate potential future dilution.
