Coromandel International Limited
Website:
coromandel.biz
Job details:
Dare Ventures Limited — Corporate Venture Capital arm of Coromandel International Limited, Murugappa Group
Location Chennai
Reports to Head – Dare Ventures Limited
Experience 4–7 years, of which a minimum of 3 years in an investing role
Qualification CA / MBA (Tier-I) / CFA, or equivalent
About Dare Ventures
Dare Ventures Limited is the corporate venture capital arm of Coromandel International Limited, one of India’s leading agri-solutions companies and part of the Murugappa Group. The Fund invests in early- to growth-stage companies building technology-led solutions to complex, long-horizon problems across agriculture and allied sectors — spanning agri-biotechnology, precision agriculture and robotics,
drones and unmanned systems, climate-smart deeptech, and sustainable inputs. The portfolio includes Ecozen, String Bio, Dhaksha Unmanned Systems and XMachines.
Unlike a purely financial investor, Dare Ventures underwrites both financial return and strategic relevance to Coromandel’s businesses. The role therefore offers exposure to the full investment lifecycle alongside direct engagement with the operating leadership of a large listed agri-inputs enterprise.
Purpose of the Role
To own the investment process end-to-end — from sourcing and evaluation through Investment Committee approval, documentation and closure — and to serve thereafter as the primary point of contact for assigned portfolio companies.
Key Responsibilities
Deal sourcing and pipeline development
- Build and maintain a proprietary pipeline of investable opportunities across agri-tech, agri-biotech, climate and allied deeptech sectors.
- Develop and sustain relationships across the startup ecosystem — founders, co-investors, accelerators, incubators, university and institutional research programmes, and sector networks.
- Track sector developments, emerging technologies, funding activity and competitive investment themes; convert these into structured thesis notes and target maps.
Evaluation and due diligence
- Screen inbound and sourced opportunities against the Fund’s investment thesis and prepare first-cut evaluation notes.
- Lead commercial, technical and financial diligence, coordinating with legal, tax, technical and other external advisors as required.
- Build detailed financial models — operating build-ups, scenario and sensitivity analysis, valuation (DCF, comparables, precedent transactions), cap table and waterfall modelling, and returns analysis.
- Assess technology differentiation, market sizing, unit economics, path to profitability, founder capability and key risks.
Investment Committee
- Prepare and present investment memoranda and pitch material to the Investment Committee, articulating investment rationale, valuation, deal structure, risks, mitigants and exit pathways.
- Address Committee queries, run supplementary analysis and drive the proposal through to approval.
- Coordinate with Coromandel’s business units and functions to establish and evidence strategic fit.
Documentation and deal execution
- Negotiate and finalise term sheets, share subscription and shareholders’ agreements and related transaction documentation in conjunction with legal counsel.
- Manage conditions precedent, closing mechanics, funds flow and completion formalities.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, statutory and internal governance requirements.
Portfolio management and single point of contact
- Act as the single point of contact for assigned portfolio companies, maintaining regular engagement with founders and management teams.
- Monitor performance against plan; prepare periodic portfolio reviews, valuation updates and reporting for management and the Board.
- Support portfolio companies on follow-on fundraising, strategic introductions, governance and value-creation initiatives, including linkages with Coromandel’s businesses.
- Track and evaluate exit options and support execution of realisations.
Candidate Profile
Essential
- Prior investing experience in venture capital, corporate venture capital, private equity, growth equity or an investment banking / transaction advisory role with substantive deal execution exposure.
- Demonstrated end-to-end transaction experience, including diligence, valuation, documentation and closure.
- Strong financial modelling and valuation capability; complete comfort building models from first principles.
- Ability to write clearly and concisely for an Investment Committee and Board audience.
- Sound commercial judgement and the maturity to engage founders, co-investors and senior internal stakeholders independently.
- High ownership and the ability to manage several live workstreams to deadline with limited supervision.
Preferred
- Experience in the agriculture, agri-inputs, agri-tech, food or allied sectors, or a demonstrated understanding of the Indian agricultural value chain.
- Exposure to deeptech, biotechnology, climate or hardware-led business models.
- Familiarity with SEBI AIF / corporate investment structures and Indian transaction documentation practice.
- Willingness to travel for diligence and portfolio engagement.
What the Role Offers
- Full ownership of the investment lifecycle rather than a narrow analytical mandate.
- Direct access to the senior leadership of Coromandel International and the Murugappa Group.
- The opportunity to invest at the intersection of agriculture, technology and sustainability, with the operating depth of a large industrial platform behind each investment.
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