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Granatus Ventures
Manuk Hergnyan co-founded Granatus Ventures in 2013 as Armenia's first institutional venture fund, backing seed-stage tech startups from Yerevan.
Granatus Ventures
Granatus Ventures is the first Venture Capital firm in Armenia to provide funding, expertise and networks to promising technology-driven startups based in, or having core value-add activities in Armenia. Granatus Ventures is backed by an experienced team of investment professionals with a passion for building great companies. Granatus was established in 2013, and has offices in Yerevan, London and Singapore. For more information please visit: www.granatusventures.com.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2013
AUM
<$50M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Armenia
City
Yerevan
Corporate office
Yerevan, Armenia
Principals
Manuk Hergnyan
Managing Partner
Yervand Sarkisyan
Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Granatus Ventures?
Manuk Hergnyan and Yervand Sarkisyan lead investment decisions as Managing Partner and Partner, respectively. Both have been with the firm since its 2013 founding and jointly manage sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio support. Investment committee decisions are made internally by the partnership.
How does Granatus Ventures source deal flow?
The firm sources primarily through deep integration with the Armenian startup ecosystem. Founding ties to the Armenian Startup Academy and relationships with diaspora engineering networks in San Francisco and London generate proprietary pre-seed visibility. Granatus typically encounters companies before they appear on the radar of broader Caucasus or emerging-Europe funds.
What is Granatus known for in the Armenian tech ecosystem?
Granatus is recognized as the first institutional venture fund in Armenia. It is known for professionalizing early-stage startup investing in a market that previously relied on informal angel networks. Its portfolio includes PicsArt, one of the country's most prominent startup exports, which later attracted major institutional backing from Sequoia and Insight Partners.
What investment stages does Granatus Ventures target?
Granatus focuses on pre-seed and seed stages, with initial check sizes typically ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The firm aims to be the first institutional investor in a company and often helps portfolio companies position for follow-on rounds from US and European venture funds.
Does Granatus Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Granatus makes direct equity investments. It does not operate as a fund-of-funds or participate in LP commitments to other venture managers. The firm's model involves direct exposure to startups with Armenian founding teams or substantial operational presence in Armenia.
Which sectors does Granatus Ventures focus on?
The firm concentrates on enterprise software, AI/ML applications, and fintech infrastructure. It has also invested in digital health and agtech analytics via companies like IntelinAir. The sector focus aligns with the technical strengths of the Armenian engineering talent pool.
How does Granatus help portfolio companies access follow-on capital?
Granatus leverages its network of US and European funds to create pathways to Series A and beyond. The firm's model involves bridging Armenian-founded startups to accelerators and later-stage venture investors in major tech hubs. Portfolio company Krisp, for example, secured follow-on funding from Sierra Ventures after Granatus's initial involvement.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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