Monday, March 30, 2026: Info Edge (India) Ltd, the parent company of Naukri.com, is recalibrating its investment strategy. The company signed a contribution agreement with A88 Fund I, a scheme managed by the SEBI-registered A88 Trust. Info Edge plans to invest up to ₹250 crore in the fund, aiming to back early-stage companies focused on complex technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics.
Recent regulatory filings show the firm is moving away from some established holdings to tap into a new interest in India’s burgeoning deep-tech sector.
The ₹250 Crore Commitment
This fresh capital will flow through its subsidiaries, primarily Smartweb Internet Services Ltd. In a move that gives Info Edge more control over the capital, Smartweb will serve as both the sponsor and the investment manager for the fund. The goal is to identify startups with high growth potential within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Exiting Shopkirana via Singapore
While Info Edge eyes new tech, it is also changing its position in the B2B e-commerce space. The company is exiting its associate firm, Shopkirana E Trading Pvt Ltd, through a share-swap deal with Singapore-based Trustroot Internet Pvt Ltd (TIPL).
The mechanics of the deal involve Startup Investments (Holding) Limited (SIHL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Info Edge:
- The Stake Transfer: SIHL will transfer its entire 26.14% stake in Shopkirana to TIPL.
- The Valuation: The parties valued this stake at $32.97 million.
- The Equity Swap: In return, TIPL will issue 1,04,868 preference shares to SIHL, representing a 2.021% stake in the Singaporean entity.
To round out the deal, SIHL will also invest $1.72 million in fresh capital into TIPL to acquire an additional 5,484 preference shares.
These moves suggest a dual-track strategy. On one hand, Info Edge is streamlining its older bets through international swaps. On the other, it is positioning itself as a primary player in the next wave of Indian innovation. By managing its own AIF, the company gains a direct hand in shaping the deep-tech landscape.
Both components of the TIPL transaction have a target completion date of June 30, 2026.
