Pioneered iSAFE notes for India in July 2019 — now widely replicated by other funds. Sector-agnostic (tech and non-tech). Over 10,000 applications per year for 15-20 spots per cohort. Becomes de facto lead investor and actively promotes portfolio companies to growth-stage investors for follow-on rounds.
100X.VC is a Mumbai-based, SEBI-registered Category I Alternative Investment Fund founded in 2019 by Sanjay Mehta and Ninad Karpe. It was the first venture capital fund in India to adopt iSAFE (India Simple Agreement for Future Equity) notes, a standardized single-document instrument designed to remove the extended legal negotiation typical of early-stage Indian term sheets. The fund runs a biannual, cohort-based selection process and has backed 180+ companies across 12+ cohorts to date.
Why 100X.VC?
First VC fund in India to use SAFE-note-style instruments (iSAFE), a structure now widely copied across the ecosystem. Fully transparent, application-only selection process — no warm intro needed, unlike most VCs on this list. Runs a 9,000+ member global scout network (Superscout) to source deals beyond its own team's reach.
How to pitch
Apply via 100x.vc during an open cohort window. Competitive, application-based selection — no warm introduction required, which particularly benefits first-time founders without existing VC connections.
