Peak XV’s Mohit Bhatnagar: Indian founders now build for the world

Peak XV Partners managing director Mohit Bhatnagar has said Indian startup founders are increasingly building companies “rooted in India but built for the world,” citing AI as a key enabler. The statement aligns with the firm’s recent moves to expand its Surge seed program, which last month raised its investment ceiling to $5 million per startup and unveiled an 18-company cohort collectively securing over $50 million.

Most of the cohort’s startups are targeting markets outside India, extending a trend Peak XV has leaned into since lifting the Surge ceiling from $3 million. Rivet, a dating startup focused on the US, is among the latest examples; it raised a $10.5 million seed round led by Peak XV in September.

Bhatnagar’s comments suggest the firm sees Indian founders’ ambitions growing beyond domestic scaling, though it remains unclear whether this reflects broader market shifts or Peak XV’s own investment thesis. The Surge program’s latest cohort is its 12th, and the firm has not disclosed whether the global focus will persist in future batches.

Founder salaries in India rose 8.2% in FY26, but the data does not break out whether compensation trends differ for globally oriented startups. Peak XV’s positioning contrasts with earlier phases of India’s startup ecosystem, where scaling within the country was often the primary goal.

Sources: yourstory.com