Seethalakshmy Narayanan Premji Invest has become a key reference point in India’s private equity space. At 29, Seethalakshmy Narayanan is the youngest vice president in the 17-year history of Premji Invest. She has led seven investments worth over $300 million and worked across major deals in consumer, fintech, and supply-chain finance. Her career shows how steady execution and clear thinking can shape leadership early.

Seethalakshmy Narayanan did not enter finance through privilege or connections. She comes from Pallasaana village in Kerala’s Palakkad district and grew up in a middle-class household. Her journey reflects planning, discipline, and a strong grasp of fundamentals.

Early life and education

Seethalakshmy Narayanan moved to Mumbai to pursue higher studies. She chose chartered accountancy after watching her elder sister build a finance career abroad. The choice was deliberate. The CA path demands accuracy, stamina, and structure.

In 2016, she cleared the CA final exams with an All India Rank of 35. After qualifying, she avoided traditional audit roles. She wanted exposure to deals, valuations, and decision-making.

Entry into investment banking

Her first professional role came at Investec, which hired analysts that year. Over three years, she worked on transactions, financial models, and due diligence. The role exposed her to credit risk, deal structuring, and negotiation.

This phase built her ability to assess businesses under pressure. She learned how investors, lenders, and founders approach risk in different ways.

She later joined True North as an investment associate. At True North, she focused on business evaluation, sector research, and founder interaction. This helped her link financial data with operational reality.

Joining Premji Invest

In early 2021, Seethalakshmy Narayanan joined Premji Invest. Premji Invest manages capital from the Azim Premji Foundation and follows a long-term ownership model. The firm invests across financial services, consumer brands, manufacturing, industrials, and enterprise technology.

Premji Invest manages assets worth $10–12 billion across India and the United States. Its approach differs from short-cycle funds. The focus stays on building companies over time.

Seethalakshmy Narayanan joined the investment team and began working on active deals soon after.

Deal experience and track record

At Premji Invest, she worked on early investments in GlobalBees, FirstCry, and KreditBee. These companies operate in consumer brands, children-focused e-commerce, and digital lending.

In 2023, she led and supported deals involving Lotus Surgicals and Mintifi. Mintifi operates in supply-chain financing and provides payment, invoicing, and credit solutions to distributors and retailers.

Mintifi’s CEO Anup Agarwal has stated that Seethalakshmy Narayanan handled commercial and financial due diligence for the deal. She also worked on negotiations for investor exits and structured management stock option plans.

By 29, she had led seven investments with a combined value exceeding $300 million.

Work style and strengths

Seethalakshmy Narayanan follows a hands-on approach. She stays involved from evaluation to closure. Her work includes financial modeling, legal review, founder discussions, and stakeholder coordination.

Colleagues describe her style as direct and methodical. She prefers clarity over speed and depth over volume. This fits well with Premji Invest’s long-hold strategy.

View on India’s growth areas

Seethalakshmy Narayanan believes MSME financing will remain a key driver of India’s economy. Many small businesses still lack structured access to credit.

She also points to cross-border supply-chain financing as a growing space, driven by exports and digital trade systems. Wealth management, she says, will expand as more Indian households seek formal investment solutions.

Her investment view focuses on backing founders who can operate through market cycles rather than chasing short-term returns.

Career plans and future goals

Seethalakshmy Narayanan plans to move into a principal role and then become a partner over the next three to five years. Before turning 40, she aims to start her own private equity firm.

She has said that building a fund requires trust, experience across cycles, and consistent results. For now, her focus remains on execution and learning through live deals.

Why her journey stands out

Seethalakshmy Narayanan’s rise at Premji Invest comes at a time when private equity in India is becoming more competitive. Firms now seek professionals who combine financial skill with founder understanding.

Her journey also reflects a slow shift in finance leadership, where more women are entering senior roles, though numbers remain limited. At 29, her position sets a clear benchmark.

Seethalakshmy Narayanan continues to work with low visibility and high responsibility. In a results-driven field, her track record speaks for itself.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Seethalakshmy Narayanan?
Seethalakshmy Narayanan is an Indian private equity professional and the youngest vice president in the history of Premji Invest.

Q2. What is Seethalakshmy Narayanan’s age?
She is 29 years old.

Q3. Where does Seethalakshmy Narayanan work?
She works at Premji Invest, a private equity firm backed by the Azim Premji Foundation.

Q4. Which sectors does Seethalakshmy Narayanan focus on?
She focuses on MSME financing, supply-chain finance, consumer businesses, and financial services.