Info Edge, the parent company behind Naukri.com, has been officially recognized as India's most successful venture investor, largely due to its strategic and long-term investments in pioneering Indian startups such as Zomato and Policybazaar. Led by founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani, often dubbed 'India's Warren Buffett', the firm has solidified its pivotal role in the country's burgeoning startup ecosystem.

Over the past decade and a half, Info Edge has deployed a total capital of ₹3,959.16 crore across various platforms, yielding a fair market value several times higher than the initial investment. A report by the Economic Times specifically highlighted Info Edge's investments in Zomato and Policybazaar, made between 2011 and 2015, which are now valued at approximately ₹53,000 crore. These ventures proved exceptionally successful, especially after the initial public offerings of both companies, positioning Info Edge as a major beneficiary of the startup listing boom.

Bikhchandani's journey into entrepreneurship and investing began 28 years ago, sparked by a chance encounter with the internet at a Delhi trade fair. This moment not only led to the creation of the job portal Naukri.com but also marked the inception of his illustrious career as a serial investor. Info Edge's substantial stakes in Zomato (12.40 per cent in Eternal, the listed entity) and Policybazaar (19.63 per cent) have been particularly transformative.

Specifically, Info Edge invested ₹483.78 crore in Zomato and ₹591.40 crore in Policybazaar. The current valuation of its shareholding in Eternal (Zomato) is roughly ₹38,350 crore, while its stake in Policybazaar is valued at ₹15,133 crore. Collectively, Zomato and Policybazaar boast a market capitalization exceeding ₹3.8 lakh crore.

In an annual letter to shareholders at the end of FY25, Bikhchandani revealed that Info Edge, which initiated its financial investing activities in 2007, has achieved an estimated 36 per cent gross Internal Rate of Return (IRR) across all its investment vintages. Beyond these two giants, Info Edge has actively backed 111 companies to date, including diverse startups like men's grooming brand Ustra, B2B e-commerce platform Shopkirana, edtech platform Adda247, omni-channel inter-city bus travel platform Zingbus, and travel tech platform ixigo.

Founded in 1995, Info Edge is one of India's oldest internet-based companies, operating across multiple sectors through its core platforms: recruitment (Naukri), real estate (99acres), matrimony (Jeevansathi), and education (Shiksha). Its journey as a financial investor has unfolded over four distinct phases.

The initial phase, from 2007 to 2012, laid the groundwork for its most significant triumphs, with Zomato and Policybazaar emerging as breakout successes from over half a dozen investee companies. The second phase, spanning 2012 to 2015, saw Info Edge adopt a more cautious approach as it awaited the clear emergence of winners from its earlier bets.

The third phase, from 2016 to 2019, began once the potential of Zomato and Policybazaar became evident. During this period, Info Edge invested in companies like Adda247 and Shipsy. Bikhchandani expressed optimism that some of these investments would also become multi-baggers, noting that many have since attracted further investments at higher valuations from prestigious investors like Westbridge Capital, Google, Peak XV Partners, and A91 Partners. These emerging winners are generally well-capitalized, with ample runway for execution and future public listings.

The fourth and current phase of its early-stage investing journey commenced in 2019, marked by the establishment of the Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF) as a SEBI-registered AIF vehicle. Through IEVF, Info Edge Capital, and Capital 2B, the firm has continued its strategic investments across four distinct schemes, reinforcing its commitment to fostering the next generation of Indian startups.