Peak XV Partners Faces Leadership Departures Amid AI Investment Focus
Peak XV Partners, a prominent venture capital firm operating in India and Southeast Asia, is undergoing significant leadership changes as senior partners exit the firm, following a trend of departures over the past year. These exits come as Peak XV intensifies its commitment to artificial intelligence (AI) investment and prepares to establish a presence in the U.S., while maintaining India as its primary market.
Company spokesperson Singh declined to detail the reasons behind the recent departures, emphasizing a desire to prioritize professionalism and discretion. He noted that such transitions are typical in large, multi-stage venture firms and expressed an eagerness to move forward following a lengthy collaboration with the exiting partners.
The firm is poised to fill all departing board seats “imminently,” as Singh mentioned that many existing general partners and operating partners are already engaged across various portfolio companies, ensuring continuity within the organization.
Among the notable exits are seasoned investors such as Agrawal, who dedicated over 13 years to Peak XV, and colleagues Ishaan Mittal and Tejeshwi Sharma, who spent more than nine and seven years with the firm, respectively. Agrawal announced his intention to launch a new venture capital firm in collaboration with Mittal and Sharma, describing the move as an exciting opportunity to create a new institution with trusted partners.
During his tenure at Peak XV, Agrawal spearheaded investments in sectors like fintech, consumer goods, and software, contributing to major successes such as Groww, which made headlines with its IPO in 2025. He, along with Mittal and Sharma, has played an instrumental role in shaping Peak XV’s expansive portfolio over the last decade.
In light of these departures, Peak XV has also announced internal promotions, elevating Abhishek Mohan to general partner and appointing Saipriya Sarangan as chief operating officer, responsible for the firm’s operational strategies.
This leadership overhaul arrives during a landmark year for Peak XV, as five of its portfolio companies — including Groww and Pine Labs — achieved successful public offerings, generating around ₹300 billion (approximately $3.33 billion) in unrealized market gains and an additional ₹28 billion (around $310.61 million) from share sales.
Over the preceding 12 months, Peak XV has experienced considerable turnover in its senior staff. Key departures include long-time investment leaders Harshjit Sethi and Shailesh Lakhani, alongside other notable exits in the Southeast Asia team.
Addressing concerns regarding leadership instability, Singh refuted claims that the firm’s past performance is now compromised due to these exits. He highlighted that the firm continues to be led by experienced professionals who have driven significant achievements in Peak XV’s investment landscape.
Currently, the firm manages over $10 billion across 16 funds, having separated from Sequoia Capital in 2023. Singh disclosed that Peak XV has undertaken approximately 80 investments in AI, underscoring the firm’s focus on expanding its AI funding initiatives. The firm anticipates opening a new office in the U.S. within 90 days as it seeks to broaden its global influence while continuing to prioritize the Indian market.
Singh predicts that AI will revolutionize venture capital investment more dramatically than previous technological advancements, and he stressed the necessity for investors to possess deep technical expertise in this field, rather than simply generalized knowledge. Peak XV aims to recruit more talent with specialized backgrounds in machine learning and AI development to enhance their portfolio, which comprises over 400 companies, achieving more than 35 IPOs to date.
