Anuvrat Jain, vice president at Lightspeed, has become one of the youngest senior investors in India’s venture capital space. At 28, Anuvrat Jain works at the centre of Lightspeed’s growth-stage investments across India and Southeast Asia. His role focuses on later-stage technology companies that are moving from scale-up to sustained growth.

Anuvrat Jain was promoted to vice president in January 2023. He is also one of the founding members of Lightspeed’s India and Southeast Asia Growth investment team. The group backs companies in sectors such as fintech, enterprise software, logistics, and consumer platforms. These are businesses that already show scale and now need structured capital and governance support.

A Career Built on Early Responsibility

Those who work with Anuvrat Jain describe him as measured and clear in thought. He does not approach venture capital as a deal-by-deal activity. Instead, he focuses on long-term engagement with founders and companies, even when there is no active transaction.

Jain spends time meeting founders, tracking sectors, and understanding business models. He believes that good investing starts with listening. He also places importance on sharing views within the investment team and learning from global peers.

As part of his role, Jain joins weekly discussions with Lightspeed’s global growth team. These sessions cover technology shifts, market cycles, and deal structures across regions. This exposure helps align local investments with global trends.

Lightspeed does not disclose the size of individual growth deals. Industry estimates suggest that the firm has deployed about $200 million in net new growth investments from a global growth fund of nearly $5 billion. Apart from the growth fund, Lightspeed has raised close to $1.08 billion since 2015 through four dedicated funds focused on India and Southeast Asia.

Board Roles Across Portfolio Companies

Anuvrat Jain has also taken on board responsibilities at several Lightspeed-backed companies. He has served on the boards of Yubi (earlier known as CredAvenue), shared workspace provider Awfis, and Indonesia-based logistics and warehousing firm Shipper.

These roles place him close to founders during key growth phases. Board work involves discussions around capital use, expansion plans, risk management, and governance. The exposure also gives Jain insight into how companies operate across different Asian markets.

His portfolio experience spans financial services, real estate-linked services, and supply chain infrastructure. This range has helped him build a broad understanding of growth-stage challenges, including regulation, hiring, and operational scale.

The Razorpay Deal

One of the most noted milestones in Anuvrat Jain’s career came in May 2022. Lightspeed invested in a $75 million secondary share sale in Razorpay, one of India’s largest fintech firms.

The transaction was not a standard funding round. Razorpay was already well capitalised and privately valued at $7.5 billion in December 2021. The opportunity came through a secondary deal, which allowed early shareholders to sell part of their stake.

Jain and his colleague Bejul Somaia had stayed in regular contact with Razorpay co-founders Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar through fintech events and ongoing discussions. This relationship played a key role in closing the deal.

Jain has said the opportunity required patience and a flexible structure. The long-standing relationship helped Lightspeed enter the company in a meaningful way. Razorpay has since continued to expand its offerings and has indicated interest in deeper growth across Southeast Asia.

Experience Before Lightspeed

Before joining Lightspeed, Anuvrat Jain worked at ChrysCapital, one of India’s established private equity firms. During his time there, he helped develop frameworks for investing in new-economy companies.

In 2020, Jain worked on approaches to back digital-first businesses. This included exposure to companies such as Dream11, Awfis, and FirstCry. The experience gave him insight into both traditional private equity thinking and venture-style growth investing.

Kunal Shroff, co-founder and managing partner at ChrysCapital, has described Jain as someone who brought clarity and energy to discussions. He noted that Jain was willing to express his views and worked well across teams.

Focus on Asia and Technology

Anuvrat Jain remains focused on Asia and technology-driven sectors. He believes the region continues to offer strong opportunities as digital adoption increases across finance, logistics, and enterprise services.

He also believes venture investing requires restraint. Not every meeting leads to a deal, and not every opportunity needs speed. Jain places value on timing, fit, and founder alignment.

His position at Lightspeed places him between global capital and local execution. As more Indian and Southeast Asian startups reach later stages of growth, investors like Jain play a key role in helping companies scale with discipline.

A Young Investor in a Changing Ecosystem

At 28, Anuvrat Jain represents a shift in India’s venture capital landscape. Younger professionals now take on leadership roles earlier, based on experience rather than tenure. Jain’s journey reflects this change.

With board roles, cross-border exposure, and involvement in major transactions, he has built a profile that continues to draw attention within the investment community. As Lightspeed expands its growth presence in Asia, his role is expected to deepen.

For now, Jain remains focused on core work. He continues to engage with founders, track sectors, and contribute to investment decisions with care. His approach reflects a belief that steady execution matters more than visibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Who is Anuvrat Jain?
Anuvrat Jain is an Indian venture capitalist and vice president at Lightspeed, working on growth-stage investments in India and Southeast Asia.

Q2. What is Anuvrat Jain’s age?
Anuvrat Jain is 28 years old.

Q3. Which companies has Anuvrat Jain served as a board member?
He has served on the boards of Yubi, Awfis, and Shipper.

Q4. Which major deal is Anuvrat Jain known for?
He played a key role in Lightspeed’s $75 million secondary investment in Razorpay in 2022.