72 Portfolio Intelligence

Kunal Bajaj serves as the firm's founder and chief investment officer, leading all investment decisions. He established 72 Portfolio Intelligence after returning to India from New York, where he worked at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Bajaj's background in cross-border investment banking informs the firm's early-stage direct equity approach.

The firm sources primarily through Bajaj's network built over two decades in India's early-stage ecosystem, including repeat founder relationships and co-investor referrals. As an early backer of companies before the venture boom, the firm has maintained access to deal flow that often bypasses broader syndicates. Multiple portfolio companies have been sourced through introductions from existing founders.

The firm operates with a single limited partner providing all capital, giving it the permanent capital structure of a family office. However, its investment process, stage focus, and board engagement more closely resemble a dedicated venture capital firm. This hybrid model eliminates fundraising cycles while maintaining institutional-grade portfolio construction.

The firm deploys capital exclusively through direct equity investments into operating companies. It does not make fund commitments or invest in other venture capital vehicles. The strategy centers on direct board-level engagement from pre-seed through Series B with reserves allocated for follow-on participation.

The firm has historically avoided capital-intensive sectors including deep tech hardware, semiconductor manufacturing, and traditional infrastructure. Its focus remains concentrated on asset-light digital businesses that scale through software, network effects, or marketplace dynamics, consistent with its early-stage cheque size and Mumbai-based deal-sourcing capacity.

The firm frequently co-invests alongside established Indian venture funds including Peak XV Partners, Matrix Partners India, and Nexus Venture Partners. It does not lead rounds in every case, but maintains reserves to follow on proportionally and actively participates in board-level governance alongside co-investors.

No philanthropic foundations or impact investment vehicles are publicly associated with 72 Portfolio Intelligence or Kunal Bajaj. The firm operates solely as a for-profit early-stage investment platform with a single LP backing its deployment activities.