Elevar Equity

Elevar Equity is a Bengaluru-headquartered impact venture firm, founded in 2008, that invests at the intersection of inclusivity, affordability and scale to fuel the economic resilience of underserved low-income customers and what it calls 'Entrepreneurial Households'. Over a 15-plus-year journey it has raised five funds, manages roughly $400 million in AUM, and has catalysed billions in follow-on capital while serving more than 50 million households — supporting around 70,000 jobs and providing loans to some 20 million women borrowers. Its investment themes span financial inclusion, education, healthcare, agri-supply chains and MSME solutions, typically at seed to Series A. The firm's latest vehicle, Elevar India V, targets $225 million and reached a first close of about $126 million, backed by development-finance investors such as British International Investment, focusing on early-stage SMEs delivering essential goods and services. Led by Founder and Managing Partner Johanna Posada and Managing Partner Jyotsna Krishnan, with a 29-person team including eight partners, Elevar applies its proprietary 'Elevar Method' to back businesses serving marginalised customers. Across roughly 56 investments it has produced three unicorns, two IPOs — notably Ujjivan Small Finance Bank and Bharat Financial Inclusion — and nine acquisitions, with portfolio names including InCred, Varthana, Aye Finance, TapFin and Hippo Stores; the firm also invests across India and Latin America.