Thaindian News

Hyderabad, March 15 (IANS) Private-equity firm Sequoia Capital plans to invest $600 million in various companies in India over the next four to five years, a top company official said here Tuesday.

Sequoia, which manages about $1.5 billion funds in India, has already invested $900 million.

G.V. Ravishankar, managing director, Sequoia Capital India, told reporters that the investment would be in sectors like healthcare, education and agri-infrastructure.

The firm plans to focus on investment in start-ups. “We will focus on early stage entrepreneurship and will support both tech and non-tech companies,” he said.

The investment in each firm will range from a couple of crores to Rs.25 crore, he added.

Sequoia exited three companies last year after they went public. It is likely to exit six to seven more firms in 12 to 18 months. The investments range from $5 million to $25 million.

Ravishankar said education would be one of the key sectors for Sequoia’s future investment. He announced Rs.25 crore investment in K12 Techno Services Pvt. Ltd.

This would be the second round of investment into K12 by Sequoia along with SONG Investment Advisors. They had invested Rs.75 crore last year.

K12 manages over 70 English-medium schools run by 15 different trusts under the Gowtham Model School brand in Andhra Pradesh.

The funds will be utilised for growth as well as modernisation of classrooms, use of superior technology and upgradation of infrastructure.

Venkataranarayana, managing director, K12 Techno Services, said they require another Rs.200 crore in the next two to three years to fund their expansion plans.

K12 plans to open 25 new schools in Andhra Pradesh this year and set up 30 to 40 schools in Orissa and Chhattisgarh next year.

It has also identified Karnataka and Maharashtra for further expansion.