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With $4.5 billion in assets under management, the fintech-focused VC firm has more than 25 unicorns in its portfolio including NuBank, Credit Karma, and Sofi and the firm is co-founded by Nigel Morris, who previously co-founded Capital One Financial Services.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Sandeep Patil, Partner & Head of Asia at QED Investors, emphasised that consumer-focused innovations remain a dominant theme for QED Investors. He believes the consumer story in India is just beginning to unfold, signalling immense potential for growth. “We think the India consumer story is just starting to explode,” he asserted.
Another critical area of interest for QED Investors is embedded finance. Patil highlighted how financial services are becoming integral to various economic activities. “Embedded finance is about financial services becoming a part and parcel of every economic play around,” he explains.
Globally, Patil views artificial intelligence (AI) as a revolutionary force comparable to the internet’s transformative impact two decades ago. He cautions, however, that while the short-term effects of AI may be overestimated, its long-term potential remains vastly underestimated.
QED Investors operates with a global approach to capital allocation, devoid of geographical constraints. Patil explained that the firm assesses opportunities based on their individual merits rather than regional considerations.
This global investment strategy has led QED to make significant inroads into the Indian market, with notable investments in startups such as OneCard, Jupiter, Upswing, and Efficient Capital Labs.
Watch the accompanying video for the entire conversation.