Indian UHNIs could invest $30 billion in tech startups by 2025: Report

India’s wealthiest people could invest as much as $30 billion in technology startups by 2025, a key source of capital and a sign of the maturing investment scene, according to a new report.

Ultra high networth individuals- mostly billionaire founders, CEOs and corporate honchos, would be investing this money as startup investing is generally riskier but can also give far higher returns than most other asset classes. HNIs investing more also mirrors a similar trend in the US - where billionaires, including asset managers, politicians, businessmen and others dabble in startup investing regularly.

India could add 95 tech unicorns in addition to the 56 it already has, said the report from Praxis Global Alliance, a consultancy firm, and 256 network, a networking platform for private market investors. Unicorn is an industry term which demarcates private companies having a valuation of $1 billion or more.

“Investments in innovative startups have emerged as a lucrative alternate asset class when compared to traditional investments like equity, debt, commodities, and real estate. It is difficult to get exposure to high-growth portfolios that use innovations to solve real challenges and build large companies in a relatively short time. Funds run by professionals provide that opportunity to Indian Family Offices and UHNIs,” said Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and promoter of Pratithi Family Office.