Shell E4

Rohit Prasad, as CEO, leads the investment team and decision-making process from the firm's Bengaluru headquarters. Prasad reports into Shell's global ventures organization, which coordinates corporate VC activity across multiple geographies. Day-to-day deal sourcing and execution is handled by the local team.

The firm leverages Shell's deep industrial presence in India — including its retail fuel network, lubricants business, and R&D center in Bengaluru — to identify startups solving real operational problems. It also maintains relationships with the Indian venture ecosystem through accelerators, co-investors, and direct founder outreach.

Shell E4 operates as a corporate venture capital unit, not an independent fund. It invests directly from Shell's balance sheet rather than raising external limited partner capital. This structure gives it longer holding periods and strategic flexibility, but ties its investment thesis to Shell's corporate priorities.

The firm focuses on early-stage companies, typically seed and Series A rounds. Check sizes range from roughly $500,000 to $5 million. Shell E4 will follow on in later rounds when companies continue to demonstrate strategic and commercial alignment with Shell's energy transition goals.

Shell E4 was established specifically to cover the Indian market and its portfolio is concentrated there. Shell operates other venture units globally — including Shell Ventures in the US and Europe — which invest in their respective regions.