Suzuki Motor Corp. launched a dedicated $40 million impact fund 18 months ago for startups in India, the Japanese automaker’s biggest market. While most corporate venture funds focus on investment opportunities aligned with their core businesses, Suzuki’s Next Bharat Ventures invests broadly in economic inclusion.
It’s latest deal is MeMeraki, an online marketplace where hundreds of traditional artisans sell their arts and crafts worldwide. In addition to MeMeraki’s online sales to individuals, its B2B platform helps artists deliver larger projects, including public murals and corporate commissions, to “allow traditional artists to participate meaningfully in modern markets,” founder Yosha Gupta said.
Next Bharat Ventures did not disclose the size of its investment.
Green transition
Separately, Japanese financial giant Nomura is investing in Drivn to support electric vehicle adoption in India. Drivn is working to increase commercial EV uptake by leasing electric buses and trucks to India’s fleet operators.
“For electric mobility to work at scale in heavy transport, the solution has to go beyond vehicles. It also has to address capital intensity, operational risk, and long-term reliability,” said Drivn’s Manav Bansal.
Bansal previously led British International Investment’s work in India before launching Drivn last year with Alpna Jain, formerly with the International Finance Corp. and India’s state-backed National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
Nomura committed $80 million.
