General Catalyst, a prominent U.S.-based venture capital firm known for its investments in high-profile companies like Airbnb, Canva, and Stripe, has acquired Venture Highway, an early-stage investor in the Indian market. This acquisition marks a significant deepening of General Catalyst's involvement in India, where it plans to invest between $500 million to $1 billion in the coming years.

Venture Highway, founded in 2014 by former WhatsApp Chief Business Officer Neeraj Arora and entrepreneur Priya Mohan, has been instrumental in funding Indian startups such as Meesho and Moglix. The integration of Venture Highway into General Catalyst is poised to create a robust platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent in India.

General Catalyst has previously supported global tech leaders and has invested over $30 billion across more than a thousand startups. Its venture in India began in 2019, with investments in notable companies like CRED and Spinny. This merger aims to enhance General Catalyst's seed and early-stage investment strategy, leveraging Venture Highway’s extensive local network and insights.

In a conversation with CNBC-TV18 and Techcrunch, Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, highlighted the strategic nature of the acquisition, noting the alignment in vision and values between the two firms and emphasizing the importance of local expertise in understanding the diverse Indian market. Priya Mohan expressed enthusiasm about the merger, citing it as a significant opportunity to leverage their combined strengths for the benefit of Indian startups.

This merger is not just a financial investment but a strategic move to foster a global ecosystem that supports Indian startups not only locally but on a global scale. With this partnership, General Catalyst reaffirms its commitment to the Indian market, aiming to support the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs in achieving global success.