Mamaearth, Ola, Razorpay: Kunal Bahl on why Titan Capital backs only the best startups

With over 280 portfolio companies built over 14 years, Titan Capital—co-founded by Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal—has emerged as one of India's most selective and influential startup venture capital investors. Despite seeing 5,000 proposals annually, the firm invests in just 15–20 startups per year, making it one of the most rigorous selection processes in the industry.

“We are as far from spray-and-pray as possible,” Bahl tells Fortune India. “We deeply analyse businesses before investing. Founders know we are long-term partners, not just capital providers,” says Bahl, whose fund has backed established names such as Mamaearth, Ola, and Razorpay.

Titan’s investment approach is rooted in first-hand experience. The firm focuses on sectors it has built businesses in—marketplaces, fintech, SaaS, logistics, and brands—allowing them to provide hands-on strategic guidance.

Beyond Hype

Unlike trend-chasing investors who flood "hot sectors," Titan Capital evaluates businesses based on micro-level fundamentals: strong execution, rigorous governance, and a team’s "right to win."

“You can have great businesses in so-called bad spaces and terrible businesses in so-called good spaces,” Bahl explains, adding. “The key is execution and deep insight.” The fund has backed SaaS firms such as CloudFiles, ClickPost, Invideo and Yellow.AI.

As an investor with a long-term vision, Titan remains in its portfolio companies for years—often from seed stage to IPO. In fact, Titan Capital-owned Unicommerce, an e-commerce enablement SaaS company, has a stellar debut with its shares listing at 118% premium.

Titan’s track record of patient investing also challenges the short-term, “hire fast, fire fast” mentality that has plagued the startup ecosystem. Instead, Bahl emphasises building for endurance. “Hiring is not just about filling positions—it’s about building a culture. The quality of people you hire determines your company’s trajectory,” he says. Titan actively helps its portfolio companies recruit top talent, ensuring they have the right leadership for sustainable growth.

“We need to stop chasing growth at all costs. If you scale too fast without strong fundamentals, you're not moving forward—you’re setting yourself up for collapse,” warns Bahl.

With several Titan-backed companies heading for IPOs, including Urban Company and OfBusiness, Bahl remains optimistic about India's entrepreneurial future. As more startups mature and prepare for a public market debut, Bahl remains optimistic about the future. "India’s startup wave is still accelerating, but founders must focus on fundamentals. The companies that build strong foundations today will be the giants of tomorrow," he concludes.

But for startups looking to attract his firm’s backing, the message is clear—have a solid business, not just a flashy idea.