Info Edge (India) has approved a commitment of up to Rs 250 crore to B8 Fund I, a newly launched investment vehicle targeting growth-stage technology startups in India, according to media reports. Through this move, the company continues to deepen its presence in India’s evolving startup investment landscape.
The fund will receive the investment either directly from Info Edge or through its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Smartweb Internet Services Ltd., which will act as the sponsor and investment manager. The company disclosed this development in a stock exchange filing dated February 26.
B8 Fund I has been established by B8 Trust and has received registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund. Launched on February 12, 2026, the fund will primarily back growth-stage, tech-enabled companies that operate in or focus on the Indian market. As a result, the fund aims to create long-term value for investors while strengthening the domestic startup ecosystem.
Info Edge’s Rs 250 crore commitment represents the total value agreed under the contribution arrangement. Meanwhile, the company will deploy capital in phased tranches over the fund’s lifecycle, depending on market conditions and the availability of suitable investment opportunities.
The fund will carry a base tenure of eight years from the date of its first closing, with an option to extend the term by up to two additional years, subject to investor approval. Once the investment management agreement comes into effect, B8 Fund I and its associated schemes will fall under the related-party classification as per SEBI listing norms. However, Info Edge clarified that its promoter group holds no interest in the transaction and that the investment will proceed strictly on an arm’s-length basis.
This commitment further strengthens Info Edge’s diversified investment framework. Currently, the company manages multiple capital pools, including Info Edge Ventures, which oversees commitments of nearly Rs 2,300 crore across three funds. In addition, Capital2B manages around Rs 280 crore through one fund, while the early-stage Redstart programme has deployed close to Rs 110 crore. Separately, Info Edge also maintains balance-sheet financial investments worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore.
Earlier, in May 2025, shareholders approved an allocation of up to Rs 1,000 crore to Info Edge Venture Investment Fund III, another Category II AIF managed by Smartweb. Therefore, the launch of B8 Fund I further expands Info Edge’s structured exposure to expansion-stage startups, effectively complementing its existing early- and mid-stage investment platforms.
