From AI to fintech and consumer tech, Peak XV Partners’ newest cohort highlights the future of innovation across India, SEA, and global markets
Surge 11: Spotlight on the Future
Peak XV Partners has launched Surge 11, the latest edition of its acclaimed early-stage accelerator program. The cohort includes 23 startups from India, the US, and Southeast Asia, reflecting a global scope and sectoral diversity.
- 12 startups are India-based, with others from Australia, UK, Singapore, UAE, and USA.
- Surge continues to offer $3 Mn in seed funding, alongside company-building workshops, peer learning, and access to a founder-led community.
- AI dominates the cohort, with over 50% of the startups innovating in artificial intelligence, followed by fintech, consumer brands, and infrastructure enablers.
A Surge in AI-Led Innovation
AI leads the Surge 11 narrative, with applications ranging from trading systems and content creation to candidate screening and industrial automation.
- AIR Trading (Australia): AI-native intelligent trading platforms for self-optimising markets.
- Finster AI (UK): AI copilots for finance professionals, founded by an ex-DeepMind researcher.
- Just Words (USA): AI-driven marketing platform for personalised content at scale.
- Pre6 (India): Manufacturing automation via AI, founded by ex-Udaan execs.
- Round1 AI (India): Job-matching platform where one interview opens multiple career doors.
- Tonbo.io (USA): A serverless, open-format database for devs and startups.
AI infrastructure and tooling startups like Qbeast, Nirmata, and SixSense further show how deep tech is enabling scalability across sectors.
Fintech & Wealth Management Make Strong Play
Four fintech and wealth startups stand out with unique propositions:
- Ignosis (India): BFSI data intelligence for better financial insights.
- Cybrilla (India): Mutual fund infrastructure via API for AMCs and fintechs.
- OnFinance (India): GenAI-powered financial copilots using in-house LLM NeoGPT.
- Vault Wealth (UAE): Transparent digital wealth management for the Middle East.
These startups demonstrate growing global confidence in India’s and MENA’s fintech innovation pipelines.
Consumer Brands and Lifestyle Startups Find Their Footing
Surge 11 also spotlights next-gen consumer brands with strong founder stories:
- Aretto (India): Adaptive kids’ footwear backed by investors like Hardik Pandya.
- Neude Skin (India): Skincare brand fusing dairy science with modern actives.
- Ten X You (India): Cricket-focused activewear co-founded by Sachin Tendulkar.
- NEAU (NA): High-performance outdoor lifestyle brand leveraging textile innovation.
- Thanks (NA): Personalized brand loyalty and ad tech platform.
These startups are building premium, scalable brands with high D2C and ecommerce potential.
Emerging Infrastructure & Deep Tech Innovators
A handful of startups in the cohort are focused on infrastructure, data, and automation, bringing critical tools to developers and enterprises:
- Qbeast (India): Query optimisation engine for Lakehouse platforms.
- Nirmata (USA): AI-powered Kyverno control hub for secure infrastructure management.
- SixSense (Singapore): Predictive insights for semiconductor manufacturing via no-code deep learning.
These companies aim to simplify complex systems with automation, no-code tools, and data intelligence.
Global Founders, Local Impact
Surge 11 features diverse founder profiles, from ex-Googlers and enterprise veterans to young innovators backed by sports icons and tech leaders. The global spread includes hubs like San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Singapore, while India leads with 12 startups, mostly based in Bengaluru, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
Peak XV’s managing director Rajan Anandan highlighted AI’s transformative potential across sectors:
“AI is beginning to transform traditional industries from banking and healthcare, to semiconductors and manufacturing…”
Peak XV’s Continued Commitment to Early-Stage Innovation
Since its inception in 2019 (as Sequoia Capital India & SEA), the Surge platform has backed companies like Plum, MasterChow, and Atlan. With $9 Bn+ in assets under management, 13 funds, and 31 IPOs, Peak XV continues to solidify its position as a powerhouse in early-stage VC across the region.
