The Case of the 36% Payday: How Info Edge Cracked the Startup Investment Code
The streets of venture capital are littered with broken dreams and empty wallets. Most investors play the game like amateurs—throwing cash at shiny ideas, praying for a unicorn, and ending up with a stable of donkeys. But then there’s Info Edge, the grizzled old-timer who’s been quietly stacking chips since 2007 like a poker shark counting cards. This ain’t luck, folks. It’s a masterclass in strategy, patience, and knowing when to double down.
With a 36% return on investments over 16 years, Info Edge isn’t just winning—it’s rewriting the rulebook. From early bets on Zomato and Policybazaar to a portfolio now worth nearly 10x its initial stake, this company’s ledger reads like a detective’s case file: *Follow the money, and you’ll find the truth.* So let’s dust for prints and see how they pulled it off.
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The Long Game: Why Patience Pays (and Pays… and Pays)
Most VCs have the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. They want quick exits, flashy IPOs, and bragging rights at cocktail parties. Info Edge? They’re the guy in the corner nursing a whiskey, waiting for the real payoff.
– 111 startups. 76 follow-on investments. That’s not a spray-and-pray strategy—it’s a sniper’s playbook. They don’t just write checks; they stick around, feeding winners until they’re fat enough to slaughter.
– Rs 3,959 crore in → Rs 36,855 crore out. That’s a 10x return, or as I like to call it, *the art of not screwing it up.* Compare that to the average VC fund, where 60% of investments flame out before Series B.
– 36% IRR. For context, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway averages about 20%. Info Edge isn’t just beating the market—it’s lapping it.
The lesson? In a world obsessed with overnight success, the real money’s in playing the long con.
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Picking Winners: How Info Edge Spots the Real Deal
You think picking startups is about gut instinct? *C’mon.* That’s how you end up investing in blockchain pet rocks. Info Edge’s secret? They’ve got a checklist sharper than a tax auditor’s pencil.
Result? A portfolio where the winners don’t just *win*—they dominate.
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The Ripple Effect: How One Investor’s Wins Lift an Entire Ecosystem
Here’s the twist: Info Edge’s success isn’t just about lining their pockets. It’s proof that smart capital can *build* markets, not just exploit them.
– Zomato didn’t just deliver food—it created a whole damn industry. Gig jobs, cloud kitchens, hyperlocal logistics. That’s not a startup; that’s an economic stimulus package.
– Policybazaar didn’t just sell insurance—it forced the entire sector to clean up its act. No more fine-print scams, no more opaque pricing. Transparency? That’s a public service.
– Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Between their portfolio companies, we’re talking *tens of thousands* of jobs. Try that with your meme-stock portfolio.
This ain’t just about returns—it’s about legacy.
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Case Closed: The Verdict on India’s Smartest Money
Let’s cut through the noise. Info Edge’s 36% return isn’t a fluke—it’s forensic. They picked sectors that matter, backed founders who execute, and stayed patient while everyone else panicked.
But here’s the real kicker: They’re not done. With unrealized gains still cooking in their portfolio and a pipeline of new bets, this story’s got sequels.
So next time someone tells you startup investing is gambling, hit ’em with the facts. Because in the right hands? It’s a science.
*Case closed, folks.*
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