Venture Catalysts’ appoints ex-Goldman Sachs exec Sidhi Dalmia as Founding Partner and Co-lead for VC Grid

Venture Catalysts++, a Mumbai-based multistage investment group, has onboarded Sidhi Dalmia as the founding partner and co-lead for its newly launched syndicate fund, VC Grid.

Dalmia brings a robust portfolio of experience from her time at prominent institutions, including Goldman Sachs, The Chesapeake Group, Bennett, Coleman & Co, Sumedha Fiscal Services, and Srei Group.

Her professional journey spans several global financial hubs like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and New York.

Dalmia's expertise covers a wide range of activities, from cross-border M&A transactions to venture capital investments and strategic guidance to startups in sectors like technology, retail, FMCG, logistics, distressed assets, and infrastructure.

What will Dalmia's role entail at VC Grid?

As a founding partner and co-lead, Sidhi Dalmia will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of VC Grid.

Over the past few months, she has been instrumental in catalyzing the inception of VC Grid, helping to cement its value proposition within the investment ecosystem.

Her broad experience will drive the syndicate fund's focus on high-alpha opportunities across the Seed to Series A stages, ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million in investments.

What is VC Grid?

VC Grid is an exclusive community that includes family offices, Corporate VCs, and U-HNIs. 

The syndicate fund focuses on leveraging the collective expertise and resources of its members to provide more than just capital to the startups it invests in. It aims to provide unparalleled market access and business opportunities, fostering growth and innovation within the Indian startup ecosystem.

What does the leadership at Venture Catalysts++ say?

Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharna, Founder and Managing Director of Venture Catalysts++, expressed his enthusiasm about Dalmia’s joining.

He stated, "We are happy to have Sidhi help us launch VC Grid and strengthen our leadership team. She brings considerable experience and expertise in venture capital, early-stage investments, and building sustainable businesses, in addition to her financial savvy and leadership abilities. We look forward to working with her as we aim to boost the value for family offices/legacy businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Future plans for VC Grid

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Venture Catalysts is planning to close funding for VC Grid later this year with a total corpus of approximately Rs 900 crore (about $110 million).

The syndicate aims to expand its network of limited partners. It has already onboarded 32 family offices and plans to increase this number to 100 by the end of the year.

The expansion is part of a broader strategy to strengthen VC Grid's position as a leading player in the venture capital community, offering substantial support and resources to emerging startups across India.