Deeptech VC and Investment Bank Announce Key Leadership Hires Amid Expansion
January 22, 2026, 3:35 pm
Deeptech venture capital firm Speciale Invest fortifies its leadership. Vishnu Rajeev ascends to Investment Partner. This move underpins the firm's expanding capital deployment. Speciale Invest targets early and growth-stage deep-tech companies. It actively deploys capital from its third pre-seed fund. A second growth-stage fund is set for launch in 2026. This fund aims for significant deep-tech investments. Vijay Jacob joined as General Partner. Krishnaswamy Srinivasan became General Partner and CFO. These additions bolster growth strategy and financial oversight. Simultaneously, Pantomath Capital Advisors makes a key leadership appointment. Mitul Shah is now Managing Director for investment banking. Shah will enhance institutional investor coverage. He will boost equity capital markets sales. These strategic hires mark a period of significant expansion. Both firms are poised for amplified market impact. They strengthen their positions in India's dynamic financial landscape. The appointments reflect a drive for robust, future-focused growth across sectors.
Speciale Invest, a prominent deeptech venture capital firm, recently announced a pivotal leadership elevation. Vishnu Rajeev now serves as an Investment Partner. This promotion signals the firm's commitment to strengthening its senior ranks. It also supports Speciale Invest's aggressive expansion plans. The VC firm seeks to deploy capital across both early-stage and growth-stage deep-tech companies.
The move coincides with active investment from Speciale Invest's third pre-seed fund. This fund successfully closed in 2025. It reached a corpus of Rs 600 crore. The firm now prepares for its second growth-stage fund. This new fund targets a significant Rs 1,500 crore. Its launch is slated for 2026. This capital will specifically back growth-stage and later-stage deeptech startups. The fund illustrates Speciale Invest's long-term vision. It targets the maturation of Indian deep-tech innovation.
Additional senior leadership appointments underscore the firm's growth. Vijay Jacob joined as General Partner. He leads the firm's growth-stage strategy. Krishnaswamy Srinivasan also came aboard. He holds roles as General Partner and Chief Financial Officer. Srinivasan oversees finance, governance, and institutional scale-up. These hires ensure comprehensive leadership across all operational facets.
Vishnu Rajeev's tenure at Speciale Invest spans several years. He has closely collaborated with founders. His expertise covers diverse deep-tech sectors. These include advanced manufacturing, space technology, and climate/energy solutions. Health and biosciences also fall within his focus. He specializes in AI-led platforms. His responsibilities have been broad. They encompass early-stage diligence. He develops investment theses. He provides hands-on support for portfolio companies. This support covers strategy, governance, and follow-on fundraising.
Rajeev brings a rich background to his new role. He previously worked in venture capital. His experience also includes strategy consulting. Policy research forms part of his diverse past. He engaged in early-stage entrepreneurship. His career consistently focused on deep technology. Climate-linked innovation has been a particular area of interest. Rajeev boasts impressive academic credentials. He holds degrees from IIT Kharagpur, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of Oxford.
Speciale Invest was founded in 2017. Vishesh Rajaram and Arjun Rao established the firm. Its core mission involves backing deep-science and deep-technology companies. These ventures often emerge from academic research. They also stem from breakthrough engineering. The firm maintains offices in Chennai and Bengaluru. It collaborates closely with research institutions. It partners with industry leaders. Speciale Invest aims to deepen its presence in the growth stage. Indian deep-tech startups are moving towards global commercialization. The firm supports this critical transition.
The VC firm's portfolio showcases its diverse deep-tech bets. Key companies include Ultraviolette, a leader in electric mobility. Agnikul Cosmos focuses on space technology. ePlane Company innovates in urban air mobility. Cynlr advances industrial AI. Qnu Labs explores quantum computing. Galaxeye Space offers earth observation solutions. Uravu Labs develops sustainable water technology. NewTrace works on green hydrogen. e-TRNL Energy provides advanced battery solutions. Wingman enhances sales productivity. StreamAlive builds interactive live streams. Airboxr offers data analytics tools. Trainn develops AI-driven learning platforms. These investments reflect a broad, strategic approach to deep technology.
Concurrently, Pantomath Capital Advisors strengthens its investment banking division. The Mumbai-headquartered firm appointed Mitul Shah as Managing Director. Shah will oversee coverage and equity capital markets (ECM) sales. This appointment aligns with Pantomath's strategy. The firm seeks to scale its institutional franchise. It targets long-term investment banking growth.
Mitul Shah’s role is critical. He will focus on expanding institutional investor coverage. He aims to enhance ECM sales capabilities. Shah will also deepen engagement between issuers and investors. These efforts are central to Pantomath’s market objectives.
Shah brings extensive experience to Pantomath Capital. His career spans over 25 years. He has worked in sell-side equity research. Investor engagement is another core competency. Manufacturing engineering also forms part of his background. Prior to Pantomath, he served as Executive Director at DAM Capital. There, he led research coverage for the automobile and auto ancillary sectors. He cultivated strong relationships with domestic and global institutional investors. Shah has held senior roles at other prominent financial institutions. These include Reliance Securities, Quant Broking, Karvy Stock Broking, and First Global Securities.
Pantomath Capital operates as a merchant banker. The firm advises companies on various financial transactions. These include IPOs, institutional share sales, and private placements. It also handles M&A transactions. Pantomath primarily serves mid-market clients. It covers a wide range of sectors. The firm combines in-house research with capital markets expertise. Its regulatory knowledge is also a key asset.
These recent leadership appointments signal robust growth. Both Speciale Invest and Pantomath Capital are making strategic moves. They aim to capitalize on India's evolving financial and technological landscapes. The deep-tech sector continues to attract significant investment. Capital markets play a crucial role in funding this innovation. These hires bolster the capabilities of both firms. They drive forward-thinking strategies. They strengthen the broader ecosystem. Both institutions are well-positioned for sustained impact and expansion.
Speciale Invest, a prominent deeptech venture capital firm, recently announced a pivotal leadership elevation. Vishnu Rajeev now serves as an Investment Partner. This promotion signals the firm's commitment to strengthening its senior ranks. It also supports Speciale Invest's aggressive expansion plans. The VC firm seeks to deploy capital across both early-stage and growth-stage deep-tech companies.
The move coincides with active investment from Speciale Invest's third pre-seed fund. This fund successfully closed in 2025. It reached a corpus of Rs 600 crore. The firm now prepares for its second growth-stage fund. This new fund targets a significant Rs 1,500 crore. Its launch is slated for 2026. This capital will specifically back growth-stage and later-stage deeptech startups. The fund illustrates Speciale Invest's long-term vision. It targets the maturation of Indian deep-tech innovation.
Additional senior leadership appointments underscore the firm's growth. Vijay Jacob joined as General Partner. He leads the firm's growth-stage strategy. Krishnaswamy Srinivasan also came aboard. He holds roles as General Partner and Chief Financial Officer. Srinivasan oversees finance, governance, and institutional scale-up. These hires ensure comprehensive leadership across all operational facets.
Vishnu Rajeev's tenure at Speciale Invest spans several years. He has closely collaborated with founders. His expertise covers diverse deep-tech sectors. These include advanced manufacturing, space technology, and climate/energy solutions. Health and biosciences also fall within his focus. He specializes in AI-led platforms. His responsibilities have been broad. They encompass early-stage diligence. He develops investment theses. He provides hands-on support for portfolio companies. This support covers strategy, governance, and follow-on fundraising.
Rajeev brings a rich background to his new role. He previously worked in venture capital. His experience also includes strategy consulting. Policy research forms part of his diverse past. He engaged in early-stage entrepreneurship. His career consistently focused on deep technology. Climate-linked innovation has been a particular area of interest. Rajeev boasts impressive academic credentials. He holds degrees from IIT Kharagpur, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of Oxford.
Speciale Invest was founded in 2017. Vishesh Rajaram and Arjun Rao established the firm. Its core mission involves backing deep-science and deep-technology companies. These ventures often emerge from academic research. They also stem from breakthrough engineering. The firm maintains offices in Chennai and Bengaluru. It collaborates closely with research institutions. It partners with industry leaders. Speciale Invest aims to deepen its presence in the growth stage. Indian deep-tech startups are moving towards global commercialization. The firm supports this critical transition.
The VC firm's portfolio showcases its diverse deep-tech bets. Key companies include Ultraviolette, a leader in electric mobility. Agnikul Cosmos focuses on space technology. ePlane Company innovates in urban air mobility. Cynlr advances industrial AI. Qnu Labs explores quantum computing. Galaxeye Space offers earth observation solutions. Uravu Labs develops sustainable water technology. NewTrace works on green hydrogen. e-TRNL Energy provides advanced battery solutions. Wingman enhances sales productivity. StreamAlive builds interactive live streams. Airboxr offers data analytics tools. Trainn develops AI-driven learning platforms. These investments reflect a broad, strategic approach to deep technology.
Concurrently, Pantomath Capital Advisors strengthens its investment banking division. The Mumbai-headquartered firm appointed Mitul Shah as Managing Director. Shah will oversee coverage and equity capital markets (ECM) sales. This appointment aligns with Pantomath's strategy. The firm seeks to scale its institutional franchise. It targets long-term investment banking growth.
Mitul Shah’s role is critical. He will focus on expanding institutional investor coverage. He aims to enhance ECM sales capabilities. Shah will also deepen engagement between issuers and investors. These efforts are central to Pantomath’s market objectives.
Shah brings extensive experience to Pantomath Capital. His career spans over 25 years. He has worked in sell-side equity research. Investor engagement is another core competency. Manufacturing engineering also forms part of his background. Prior to Pantomath, he served as Executive Director at DAM Capital. There, he led research coverage for the automobile and auto ancillary sectors. He cultivated strong relationships with domestic and global institutional investors. Shah has held senior roles at other prominent financial institutions. These include Reliance Securities, Quant Broking, Karvy Stock Broking, and First Global Securities.
Pantomath Capital operates as a merchant banker. The firm advises companies on various financial transactions. These include IPOs, institutional share sales, and private placements. It also handles M&A transactions. Pantomath primarily serves mid-market clients. It covers a wide range of sectors. The firm combines in-house research with capital markets expertise. Its regulatory knowledge is also a key asset.
These recent leadership appointments signal robust growth. Both Speciale Invest and Pantomath Capital are making strategic moves. They aim to capitalize on India's evolving financial and technological landscapes. The deep-tech sector continues to attract significant investment. Capital markets play a crucial role in funding this innovation. These hires bolster the capabilities of both firms. They drive forward-thinking strategies. They strengthen the broader ecosystem. Both institutions are well-positioned for sustained impact and expansion.